LAWRENCE, Kan. -- From Nevada to Oklahoma, and even outside Allen Fieldhouse, resentment over Roy Williams' departure to North Carolina was quick to surface Monday night.

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	The five candidates to replace Roy Williams at Kansas, sources who will be involved in the hiring process have told ESPN.com's Andy Katz: Bill Self, Illinois Tom Crean, Marquette Mike Brey, Notre Dame Mark Few, Gonzaga Mark Turgeon, Wichita State

Before deciding to leave Kansas after 15 successful and popular years, Williams apparently did not call any of the four topflight high school recruits he had signed for next season.

"The main reason we were interested in seeing our son go to Kansas was to play for Roy, because we felt like what he said you could count on," said Pete Padgett, father of 7-foot David Padgett of Reno, Nev. "We're almost stunned. We had never seen that side of coach Williams before."

The recruits, who comprise one of the best classes Williams has ever attracted to Kansas, will all have the option of asking to be released from their commitment. If Kansas does grant that release, they would be free to sign with another school.

Jeremy Case of McAlester, Okla., a guard Williams called the best shooter he ever signed, admitted he was bothered by the lack of a phone call from Williams, but said he's not interested in going anywhere else.

"I love KU," said Case, who averaged more than 25 points a game during his senior year. "I love the way they are."

Diana Giddens, mother of recruit J.R. Giddens, said she was "shocked" to hear the news.

"We weren't expecting this," she said from her home in Oklahoma City. "J.R. is away at a high school all-star game. I'm pretty sure he'll still want to go to Kansas. But I haven't talked to him about it."

Pete Padgett, whose son had narrowed his choices to Kansas and North Carolina, said he was "more than upset about it, to be honest."

"You look at your son and see him absolutely devastated by what he hears on TV and what the media are saying when they call. I really think it was poor the way it was handled. We'll just have to sit down as a family and decide what we want to do."

Williams turned down North Carolina three years ago, saying he just couldn't bear to tell his players "that I'd found a team I'd rather coach than them."

Having reached a different decision this time around, he apparently encountered some anger when he gave the Jayhawks the news Monday -- just one week after they lost to Syracuse by three points in the NCAA championship game.

Whether any current players will transfer -- and by rule sit out a year -- remains to be seen. Sophomore center Wayne Simien, who missed most of this season with an injured right shoulder, said before the meeting he would not want to go anywhere else.

But Simien emerged from the meeting very upset, saying as he stomped to his car, "I gave my right arm for that man, literally. I gave that man my right arm."

Another key returning player, sophomore Keith Langford, had already raised the prospect of transferring should Williams leave, saying last week, "I can't see myself playing for anybody else at this school."

Pete Padgett said Williams' decision will prompt his family to reconsider his son's future.

"Coach Williams told us he would coach David for four years. Now we need to take a step back and see what happens. People are astounded he hasn't contracted the incoming players for next year."