Moderator: Welcome to the IlliniHQ.com recruiting chat, everybody. We have a good list of questions already, so we'll get started in about five minutes.

It's definitely a busy time in the world of recruiting with Illinois football receiving two verbal commitments yesterday and the July basketball evaluation period looming.

Ron, Champaign, Peoria: Is Illinois Kyle Praters top school?

Moderator: Ron,

I don't have enough confidence to say Illinois is Kyle Prater's top school, especially with USC and Oklahoma in the mix — along with about 25 other top BCS programs.

But I think Illinois is doing as well as it can given its past 10-year history on the gridiron.

He attended and participated at the June 6 Nike camp at Memorial Stadium. He also attended the one-day camp at Chicago Lane Tech last weekend, though he did participate in drills.

At the Nike camp, he spent a lot of time chatting up with Illinois verbal commitments Corey Cooper and Chandler Whitmer, and they all seem close. He also spoke with Illini starting quarterback Juice Williams.

Prater is an elite talent, some think the best wide receiver prospect in the nation.

It seems like his decision will come down to whether he wants to play for a perennial top-10 team to get maximum exposure or go to a team close to home that he feels comfortable with but that may not win as many games or have as much national attention.

He'll make his choice in January and Illinois will be at the top of his list until the end.

Illini1973, Scott AFB, ILL...ini: How close are we with Beal? I think he's the 'real deal'. What contact is Weber allowed to have with Beal and Randle through his USA Committee membership?

Moderator: Scott,

I spoke with Beal a few weeks ago. Smart kid and a heck of a scorer.

He told me he talked to Illinois assistant coach Jay Price and told him Illinois is still in his 'top few.'

But at the moment, it seems like Kansas and Florida are his top choices with Illinois and Missouri next. Illinois will remain in the mix, but whether they can beat out the Kansas and Floridas of the world for a top-30 recruit remains t o be seen.

According to men's basketball beat writer Paul Klee, Weber – who serves on the U19 team committee — should have no advantage with recruiting the USA U16 team members because he was in Colorado Springs at a different time. The U16 team is coached by high-school coaches and college coaches have to follow the same rules in regards to contact with recruits.

Dave, Wheeling, IL: Been trying to look at recruiting of linebackers and now defensive line (areas of need); can you give us an update.

Moderator: Dave,

Well, Illinois did just receive a commitment from Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln linebacker Mark Wilson. Bob Asmussen has a story on IlliniHQ. Sounds like the coaches said he has a chance to play early. Like you said, LB is a need for the Illini, so securing a solid verbal is big for them.

As for defensive linemen, Illinois seems to be ratcheting it up a notch. Bruce Gaston, DT from Chicago St. Rita, received an offer from Illinois a few weeks ago and had a tremendous performance at the Nike camp. He will be a priority for the Illini, who look like they are in good positon with Gaston.

Dave C., Champaign, IL: Jeremy:

What's your opinion of the the the recruiting web sites, particularly, Scout.com and Rivals.com? Do you think one tends to be more accurate than the other on predicting recruits leanings? Are there certain features if these sites or others you find especially intersesting?

Moderator: Dave,

These sites have been the leaders in recruiting coverage and are the main reasons recruiting has become such a big deal for fans.

I think both do a tremendous job. Scout.com's Dave Telep and Evan Daniels are about as good as it gets when it comes to basketball recruiting, and Rivals.com is all over football coverage.

Evaluating and predicting recruiting is a difficult business, and I think both sites do a pretty good job at both.

Flo, Nap town, Indiana: What kind off athlete is Easterly?

Moderator: Flo,

I watched Easterly at the Nike camp on June 6. The thing that surprises you when you first see him is his height. You don't find 6-foot-4 defensive backs very often.

Easterly is known as a big-time hitter, which is why he could become a linebacker if he beefs up his lanky frame. He recently ran a 40-yard dash in the 4.6-4.65 range, so he's not the fastest kid on the field. But I think what sold Illinois coaches on this kid is his willingness to put his shoulder pads into people.

Brett, Lexington, KY: Hey Jeremy: There's a freshman All-American camp in Lexington next week. What can you tell me about Alex Foster of Plainfield and Tommy Hamilton of Chicago, who are scheduled to attend? Should I be asking them about Illinois?

Moderator: Brett,

I'm predicting the Knicks miss out on Jordan Hill and Stephen Curry in next week's NBA Draft and end up with Johnny Flynn.

But to your question: Alex Foster and Tommy Hamilton are both high priorities for Illinois in the Class of 2013 (odd that we're already talking about these kids).

Foster attended the World's Biggest Basketball Practice at Memorial Stadium in the fall, and Hamilton was with Whitney Young at the Illinois Team Shootout on June 7.

Hamilton is already 6-foot-8 and looks like he has a pretty good chance at topping out at or over 7-foot.

He, Foster and Chicago Simeon freshman Jabari Parker are going to be the focus of Illinois recruiting for 2013. It's a safe bet they'll all have offers from Illinois by the end of the summer and possibly even sooner.

Stan, Pittsfield, IL: Jeremy, thanks for the chat. Where does Ron Zook rank among Big Ten coaches as a recruiter

Moderator: Stan,

Great question, and it's a difficult one.

Zook has done a pretty good job with recruiting in his first four seasons at Illinois. But he was selling a "Come to our program, and be a part of the revival of Illinois football." Now, he's been there for four years and have had one Rose Bowl appearance and three losing season. Will he continue to have top classes?

Jim Tressel has to be high on any list because of the talent he brings there. He has Buckeye tradition and plenty of national championship appearances to sell, but he keeps stocking the cupboard full of talent.

Tim Brewster from Minnesota is quickly becoming one of the best recruiters. He reminds me of Zook two years ago. The Michigan State staff has done a tremendous job in recent years as well.

frank, geneseo, illinois: Jeremy,

how much does illinois miss locksley in recruiting?

Moderator: Frank,

There's no question that Locksley brought in plenty of talent to Illinois, including first-round NFL draft pick Vontae Davis and likely first-rounder Arrelious Benn. Without Locksley, the Illini might not have as many players come from the Maryland-Washington D.C. area.

I still think people underestimate the job former offensive line coach Eric Wolford did in Ohio, as well.

With that said, I think Illinois has found capable recruiters in new offensive coordinator Mike Schulz and first-year defensive line coach Keith Gilmore.

Gilmore was key in helping secure a commitment from Daniel Easterly of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech.

With his expertise in Michigan and Schulz's connections in Texas, Illinois could start pipelines from those areas just as Locksley did from D.C.

Recruiting coordinator Reggie Mitchell also brought in plenty of talent last year and has had a good start in the Class of 2010 as well.

Rick, Wilmette, IL: Do you think the basketball staff will take 4 or 5 recruits for the 2011 class or bank one for 2012? tale

Also, is Quincy Miller, thented 2011 small forward from North Carolina, interested in Illinois? I understand he has an offer.

Moderator: Rick,

I think it depends on who they can get. They'll almost certainly take four kids. If a fifth kid wants to commit and he's a can't-miss talent, I can't see them passing on it. However, if a possible fifth commitment plays a similar role to a player already on the team, I think they'll keep that spot for 2012 to try and nab a more elite talent.

The Illini are a player for North Carolina prospect Quincy Miller, who used to live in Chicago. If Illinois can get him away from the four Tobacco Road schools, I think people will find it hard to question Weber on recruiting for a while. But that's going to be a tough assignment.

Diesel, Atlanta, GA: What would you say is the most common thing used against Illinois when it comes to recruiting in football?

Moderator: Diesel,

I think you know the answer to that question. If I were a rival school, I would tell a kid to just look at their record over the past 10 seasons.

Sure they made the 2008 Rose Bowl, but they followed that up with a 5-7 season. Coaches could easily dismiss that as a "fluke" season.

Illinois seems to have a good thing going with recruiting and many kids call the program a family-like atmosphere. But sooner or later, wins help a program recruit more than anything.

Jimmy, Bloomington, IL: How good is Illinois standing with Mike Shaw? Any sense of when he might pull the trigger? His stock has seemed to drop lately from what I am reading.

Moderator: Jimmy,

Since Tracy Abrams commitment, Illini fans have been itching to get the next one, with a lot of speculation being that Mike Shaw would be the next to give his verbal commitment.

I'm not sure where that is coming from.

Illinois has recruited Shaw as well as anybody. But they are one of many schools nationally that are in the mix. It doesn't look like he'll be making a decision this summer and maybe not during the next school year.

The Illini are definitely in the mix, but they are one of many.

Calinois, San Jose, CA: How is Illinois going to handle being over the scholarship limit in the coming years?

Moderator: Klee tells me it doesn't sound like Richard Semrau will be around for a fifth season, and that's how the last scholarship slot will open for the Class of 2010 (Jereme Richmond, Crandall Head and Meyers Leonard).

But that doesn't mean Semrau has no role on the Illini. He's been working hard in the offseason and could be a nice big body off the bench next season.

Al Ryle, Champaign, Il: Paul,

I'm thrilled that Chester will be the GA this year, hopefully his intensity will help our young guards understand what it takes. Your thoughts?

Moderator: Al,

Klee said Chester is working out with the team "as if he is going to play next season." Sounds like Chet.

Chester is close to the young guys, but Klee says its his relationship with the older guys that has a bigger impact. He worked hard with Mike Davis before the injury and the two are very close.

Chester gives the team a leader during a time that it's looking for its next leader. It might be a nice transition for the team into next season when its going to need a more vocal presence to fill in for Chester on the floor.

Joe, Chicago, IL: Do you have any information about how our 2010 recruits have been doing so far in at the NBA Top 100 Camp?

Moderator: Klee is hoping to have an update on that in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Have to wrap this up. Thanks for the questions. Keep checking IlliniHQ for recruiting updates throughout the busy summer.