Colorado didn't just beat West Virginia in football last week.

It turns out that the Buffs also edged Kansas State for Alec Burks, a promising 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Grandview, Mo.

Burks gave Jeff Bzdelik and his staff a verbal commitment on Thursday, a week after he took in the sights and sounds of Boulder, including the Buffs' 17-14 victory over the Mountaineers on national television.

"Just the visit I had," Burks, who also took an official visit to Manhattan, Kan., told the Camera when asked why he chose CU. "I liked the mountains and everything."

On Tuesday night, talented Los Angeles-area small forward Keegan Hornbuckle announced his plans to play for the Buffs. Bzdelik has two more scholarships to offer for the 2009 class.

"They were good," Burks said of the CU coaching staff. "My game fits in perfect. ... I'm good at shooting, passing and rebounding."

Burks, who averaged 19.9 pointsand 4.8 rebounds for Grandview High School as a junior, said his goal this year is to win a state championship to cap his prep career before helping rebuild the Buffs in 2009-10.

Bzdelik -- who is not allowed to comment on recruiting until after the players sign their letters of intent on Nov. 12 -- will have a very young roster the next few years.

The 2008-09 Buffs only have one senior (Jermyl Jackson-Wilson) this season and could be starting as many as three freshmen and two sophomores.

The 2008 recruiting class includes freshmen Toby Veal, Nate Tomlinson, Austin Dufault, Trey Eckloff and Ryan Kelley. Junior Dwight Thorne and sophomores Cory Higgins and Levi Knutson are suddenly the seasoned veterans on the team.

Next weekend will be another important recruiting opportunity for Bzdelik's program in terms of hosting potential student-athletes for their official visits around the CU-Texas football game on Oct. 4 at Folsom Field.

The Buffs open the season on Nov. 14 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.