Nutt appears to have his first assistant

~ Jeremy Case has been a graduate student manager at Kansas.

All signs point to Dickey Nutt's first hire as Southeast Missouri State's basketball coach being Jeremy Case.

The Lawrence-Journal World reported this week that Case, a former Kansas University player, has landed a job as a Southeast assistant.

Nutt, when contacted Friday, would neither confirm nor deny that Case will be joining the Redhawks.

"Nothing is set. No job has been offered," Nutt said. "We could possibly have an announcement soon.

"My biggest priority right now is recruiting, getting in as many homes as I can, putting together a roster. Second is putting together a staff."

Sources told the Southeast Missourian that the Lawrence-Journal World story was accurate and that Case will join Nutt's staff, likely beginning his duties some time next week.

Proper university guidelines have to be followed before Case's hiring can be finalized, which should be in the next several days.

Case worked as a graduate student manager this past season on Bill Self's KU staff.

Case, a reserve guard, played in 94 games in his four-year KU career that ended in 2008, averaging 4.9 minutes and 1.8 points. He averaged 4.9 minutes and 1.6 points on the Jayhawks' 2007-08 national championship team.

"I'm really happy for Jeremy," Self told the Lawrence-Journal World. "It's a great opportunity for Jeremy to get on the road recruiting. At age 24, to be out recruiting, he's ahead of the curve.

"I'll really miss him. We'll all miss him. But for his personal development, this is something he needs to do."

Case, a native of McAlester, Okla., was a two-time Academic All-Big 12 first-team selection. He graduated with a degree in communications in May 2007, and took graduate courses this past season.

Case's father, Win Case, is an assistant coach at Middle Tennessee State. Win Case, Nutt and Self all played basketball at Oklahoma State.

Nutt hits the road

Nutt has spent plenty of time on the road recruiting since being hired at Southeast on March 12.

"I've hit the ground running," Nutt said Friday.

While Nutt is prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting on specific recruits until they sign letters of intent, he said he believes recruiting is progressing well.

"It's going good," he said. "I've been extremely excited about some possibilities."

The spring signing period begins April 15.

"I am excited about our recruiting," he said. "I'm hoping to have good news in the coming weeks."