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Jalen James isn't your typical high school basketball player. At least not judging from his words.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore point guard from Chicago Hope Academy said the best part of the game is - get this - defense.

"I love defense," James said.

Really?

"That's how I get my points in a game," James went on. "Ever since I was young, I was taught defense first."

It's that attitude that has helped James grab more attention on the recruiting trail recently. The sophomore cited interest from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, DePaul, Dayton and Cleveland State, the last of which is his only offer. James got a live look at the Illini when he was in Champaign on Feb. 26 to watch Illinois defeat Iowa.

It's not just James' defense that is attracting Division-I looks. He said he can score as well, as evidenced by his 25 points in an 81-51 regional-title win against Chicago St. Benedict on Feb. 25.

"I control everything, get my teammates involved, just try to knock down the open shot," James said.

As of now, James said he plays almost exclusively at the point. He could move to a wing position if he grows more, which he expects, as he added, "Doctor said 6-5 or 6-6." Either way, James said he's "cool with" playing the point.

To further his basketball career, James has been working out at Attack Athletics, the facility run by trainer Tim Grover, who has worked with basketball legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. James said it's been a great experience, saying, "If you don't work hard, (Grover) will kick you out. So you got to work hard."

It was at Attack Athletics that James said Illinois Wolves director Mike Mullins discovered him. That has led to James joining the AAU program that has produced Illinois point guard Demetri McCamey and current signees Tracy Abrams and Nnanna Egwu. James will play on the under-16 Wolves this summer, he said.

James doesn't expect to rush into his recruitment. He said he hopes to have a decision - or at least a good idea - by the end of his junior year of high school. Until then, he plans on working on his point-guard skills, with those who have played in the Windy City before him as his models.

 "I try to put all the styles of point guard into one. Patrick Beverley, Sherron Collins, Derrick Rose. I like them all," James said.