Moderator: Good afternoon everyone, thanks for coming by for another Illinois basketball chat. I'll be here for about an hour. Fire away.

Klee

Dave, Urbana, IL: Klee,

I think the consensus is that DJ will get playing time next season. How do you see Brandon, Joseph and Tyler doing next season? Will they be able to earn minutes? Or is redshirting a possibility?

Moderator: Dave- Always maintained D.J. Richardson will be a starter, and he’ll play starter’s minutes. The reviews thus far support that idea. I think the best part about his game is that he can get you 7-8 points, 4-5 rebounds and 4-5 assists. A little of everything.

He also wants to guard the opponent's best player. Case in point: last week Alex Legion made a few shots, and the next day Richardson decided he was going to defend Alex. Not saying Richardson is perfect, but he’s the most "game ready," as Chester Frazier told me yesterday.

"As far as playing both ends of the court and hustle and scrappiness, he could step in and do my role right now," Frazier said.

I see Brandon Paul battling Alex Legion for that third guard spot in the starting lineup. Early reviews on Joseph Bertrand are mixed, though more players are convinced he'll play than redshirt. Chester told me Tyler Griffey might have a tough time cracking the rotation if the season started today. But it doesn't, and he also noted these are only pickup games and big men don’t get enough touches in pickup games. In short: it’s too early to tell, but that’s the best insight you’ll find on the freshmen.

Klee

Bob, chicago, Illinois: Do you think that Keller has a good chance at Big Ten 6th man of the year?

Moderator: Bob- It’s a good question. I think that’s one of the challenges Bruce Weber will have for Dominique Keller, kind of like the coach did with then-senior Calvin Brock last season.

Dominique averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg in 12.3 mpg last season. Here’s what the previous Sixth Man of the Year winners - there have only been four - averaged during their award-winning seasons:

2009: B.J. Mullens - 8.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 20.3 mpg

2008: Jason Bohannon - 8.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 26.3 mpg

2007: Daequan Cook - 9.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 19.7 mpg

2006: Doug Thomas - 4.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 17.4 mpg

So the first challenge for Keller is earning more playing time. The next challenge is to grab every rebound that he can.

Klee

Jon, Chicago, IL: Various rankings of the 2011 players continue to be released. They seem to be all over the map on guys like Blackshear, Shaw, Siakam, Egwu, Abrams, etc. How would your rankings break down on the IL guys, and do you think UofI will get any out of staters (IN)?

Moderator: Jon- At some point I think you have to value production over potential. Tracy Abrams produces. He's the best prospect in that class. He's going to win a lot of games at Illinois.

Off the top of my head, the next five I would want on my team in three years: Chasson Randle, Nnana Egwu, Wayne Blackshear, Sam Thompson and James Siakam. I like James Siakam more than most. He battles. Mike Shaw is right there too.

What I don't understand is how the Mac Irvin Fire doesn't win more games. But that's for another day.

Joe Henricksen has the state’s most accurate, agenda-less rankings. And by accurate, I mean Joe and I think alike when it comes to evaluating prospects.

Klee

James, Peoria, IL: Klee, Give me some good recruiting news. I pretty much wave goodbye to Shaw after hearing he took a visit to Pitino land Louisville.

Moderator: James- You quit too easy. Illinois is very much in the mix for Mike Shaw. Some good news: Bruce Weber told me last night he leaves Sunday for the July evaluation period. Since the NCAA prohibited coaches from attending events in April, it's been a while for these guys. So I think it's good news the July recruiting period is upon us. And I think Illinois is in decent shape with Bradley Beal, at least this week, another example of how recruiting is fluid from week to week.

Klee

Mike M, Naperville, IL: Just how good is Meyers Leonard? From what I have seen, he looks to be awfully good

Moderator: Mike- Over the long term - and I mean over a four-year period - Meyers Leonard could be the best player committed or signed with Illinois. Key words: could be.

Klee

JEllis, Decatur, IL: The Illinois Weber youth basketball camp the past couple of years have been really down. Have you heard any reasons for that? I'd imagine some being the economy but since I had taken my son thier the last 4 yrs its way down.

Moderator: JEllis- I think the numbers of campers, like attendance at the Assembly Hall, are directly affected by winning. The camps were exceedingly popular when Illinois was advancing to Sweet 16s and the Final Four. And it’s relative. Camp numbers were down after the 16-win season, but we’re comparing those numbers to a very high number of campers when the Illini were coming off big seasons. It looked to me like the camps were successful this June. (And the Illini were coming off a successful season.) After one day of camp, Bruce Weber told me there were 420 campers, which seems like a lot to me. I'm sure the economy has an impact as well, as you said.

Klee

Tanner, Gary, Indiana: Tennessee fans think that they could go 3 for 3 with Fulton, Milton, and Prater. Does UT lead for Milton and where do they sit with Prater? I know the Fulton's and Prater's have become close friends, could this hurt Illinois?

Thanks,

Tanner

Moderator: Tanner- I polled HQ recruiting writer Jeremy Werner for his thoughts on the football prospects. Here's what Jeremy said:

"Everyone in the country is after Prater, including USC, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Illinois is in pretty good shape with Prater given the teams they're contending with. Not sure if the Fultons and Praters are close, but Illini commit Chandler Whitmer and his family are definitely close with Kyle and his family. Prater was also talking it up for quite a while with Juice Williams and commit Corey Cooper after the Nike combine in Champaign on June 6. Right now, Illinois is near the top of Prater's list along with Oklahoma and USC.

"Matt Milton visited Tennessee recently. He was impressed with the visit and the Volunteers will definitely be an option. The fact that Lane Kiffin was in the NFL - even though it was a short stint - has attracted many recruits. I'll try and get an update from Milton soon, but Illinois and it's offense is definitely attractive to the 6-foot-6 senior."

Thanks for the question, Tanner. And thanks, Mr. Werner.

Illini1973, Scott AFB, ILL...ini: Frazier offered his philosophy for the next Illinois squad.

"Well, you have to play to your strengths. With this team I would like to see them get up and down a little more. Full-court pressure, maybe," he said. "We have a lot of guys in the rotation, so we could play an up-tempo game, kind of like Missouri plays. It would give us a chance to rotate guys and get more guys in the game."

Hope Weber will listen. I would like to see Nolan Richardson's ’40 minutes of hell’ tested with this squad. Spread the minutes, keep players happy, keep players fresh, we’d have the fouls to give, it’s exciting BB, and a 'below the radar’ Misery squad went deep into the dance using it last year. Thoughts?

Moderator: Illini- This could be a long response but I'm going to keep it short. Weber's said many times he didn't use the bench last season as well as he would have liked. I don't necessarily think you'll see him use a deeper rotation, but I think he'll be more inclined to play different guys. He won't stick with a rotation if it's not productive.

You're not going to see Nolan Richardson's style at Illinois. Illinois has been a fine defensive team. Not sure you want drastic changes on that end. I do think they'll look for the easy basket more often, and this team has more of an attack mentality.

I remember Coach Henson saying, after the Illinois whipping of Missouri, that the full-court pressure scheme is moody, and that it can only work against certain teams. "There are too many quick guards out there that can beat it," Henson said. Missouri was a No. 3 seed, too, not exactly under the radar. That's my quick response.

Klee

Jeremy W., Paxton, IL: Paul,

With July recruiting set to heat up, where are the Illinois coaches headed and who do you think they are really going to target this summer?

Moderator: Jeremy- Weber told me last night his travel schedule for July has already changed three times - and he hasn't left town yet. When the coaches find out a player will be somewhere else, they change their travel schedule accordingly. At least one assistant will be in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando and at the Peach Jam. With up to four more scholarships available in that class, they're going to target the 2011 guys, while paying close attention to the committed prospects in 2010.

Klee

John, Mattoon, Illinois: I just wanted to say that I will truly miss seeing Jeff Jordan on the court this year. With that being said does that mean Illinois will have the chance to offer another high school or juco player a scholarship since Jeff was on scholarship?

Moderator: John- Illinois will have a 13th scholarship available for the 2009-10 season but not for the 2010-11 season. So right now, no.

Klee

Jazz BB, Mattoon, IL: Where did Weber go on vacation this year?

Moderator: Jazz- Jamaica. The veteran snorkeler swam with sharks and fed stingrays while on vacation with SIU coach Chris Lowery. He also pulled a hamstring while playing tennis.

Klee

Marcus, Monument, CO: Paul,

Have you been allowed anymore access to the new freshmen? What is the new word from summer practices?

What do you think of the nuggets picking up Ty Lawson? What do they need to add besides getting Bird Man back in the fold to put them over the top?

Moderator: Marcus- Illinois has closed pickup games and workouts from media. As of right now, they're not allowing interviews with the freshmen, either. But you've seen information on the pickup games from when I was allowed in the gym, and second-hand reports from guys like Chester Frazier on HQ.

Loved the Ty Lawson pick-up. Fitting that one of the Nuggets' best drafts in years was a draft in which they didn't have a first-round pick. Looks like the money they got for the second-round pick will be put toward re-signing Birdman. If the Nuggets can make a move for Rasheed Wallace, they can contend again in the West. But I think the Spurs are now the team to beat in the West.

Klee

Todd, Atlanta, Georgia: When will the schedule be released? Specifically, do we know dates for the game against Georgia and date/opponent for ACC/Big 10 Challenge?

Tanner Mammen, Morton, Illinois: I was wondering when does the basketball schedule for the 2009-2010 season come out and any idea who the Illini will be playing this upcoming season.

Travis, Dekalb, il: Awhile back I heard mumblings about the Illini trying to schedule the Vanderbilt homegame on the same day as an Illini football game. Illini football in the afternoon, big basketball game in the evening. This would make for a great day! Any further news on this?

Moderator: Travis, Tanner, Tood- The basketball/football combo is possible, but assistant coach Jay Price, who handles basketball scheduling, keeps his schedule under lock and key. That’s the way he works. It usually takes the Big Ten a long while to finalize the conference schedule, and Illinois won’t release its nonconference schedule until the conference portion is finalized.

The Illinois schedule wasn’t released until Aug. 19 last year.

The Georgia game will be played on Dec. 19, according to the good people at the Gwinnett Center. The ACC/Big Ten Challenge game is Dec. 2 at Clemson.

Hope that helps.

Klee

Brats and Hotdogs, Johnsonville, Brats: Klee we in Bratville always appreciate your chats. I was wondering if you could touch on a couple topics. Is it indeed true that the Henry brother are going to pull out of Kansas because they have to go to class? Do you think that Jerrance Howard will be a head coach in the next three years. Also one more how much do you think the next 2011 committ will start a domino effect of people committing?

Moderator: B&B- Thanks. Jeff Goodman from foxsports.com reported this morning that Xavier Henry will honor his commitment to Kansas. Jerrance will be a head coach one day, though three years might be quick. Illinois also put an incentive in his reworked contract that would give him a one-time bonus of $75,000 if he stays at Illinois through the 2012-13 season. Not saying that would keep him at Illinois, just saying it's there. He wants to be a head coach, and if that opportunity presents itself, he'll go. Though they weren't head coaching positions, the Memphis/Kentucky courtships were very real.

As for your final question, I think what's especially interesting about the 2011 class is how a single commitment could really change things not only for Illinois, but for several other schools. At Illinois, that could be one more scholarship that disappears, or one more guard spot that's gone. I think it would trigger another commitment or two - not just at Illinois, but elsewhere. Illinois probably isn't going to take three guards in '11, and it already has one.

Klee

Michael Jackson, Neverland, Heaven: Paul,

Do you think I would have been a good basketball player in my youth?

Moderator: Too soon, too soon.

Will , Urbana, IL: I hear alot about the new guards that Illinois is getting, but what about the big men? Who do you think of the new recruits can become that physical presence down low that Illinois has been lacking in the past?

Moderator: Will- I'll consider Stan Simpson with this question. For all intents, he's a new guy. Players like the way he's performed, especially on the glass, and how that translates when the coaches are watching will be a key subject when practice opens in October. He's a big body and arguably the team's best shot-blocker. Other than that, I think Meyers Leonard is the next guy that fits that mold. He's physical and not afraid of contact. Plus, he's a 7-footer.

Klee

Brett, Urbana, IL: The talent at guard looks pretty deep, even with Jordan out. Will Alex Legion have trouble getting minutes? Also, if Chester gets his coaching wish for an, "up-tempo game" how do you see Legion fitting into that style of play?

Moderator: Brett- I think Alex is the returning guard that will be pushed the most. That’s just my opinion, and it’s not a slight to Alex, who's a workhorse in the gym. He plays a position where Illinois will have the most competition.

Klee

Michelle O., Chicago, IL: Any word on what the DIA is planning for a kickoff to the basketball season (like the World's Biggest Basketball Practice or Paint the Hall Pink)?

Having President Obama scrimmage with his home state basketball team might spark some interest. Just a thought. :-)

Moderator: MO- Last I was told, the date is Oct. 16. Bruce Weber met with the likes of Chris Hanna and Rod Cardinal in the spring to begin planning for the midnight madness event. We'll pass along any further info as we hear of it.

Klee

Colorado Mike, Boulder, CO: What is the latest word on the suspension of Crandall Head? Seems like Tate spoke about it weeks ago but we haven't heard much about it?

Thanks!!

Moderator: Mike- I've said several times I don't think Crandall Head will be back at Crane next season. I'm not certain where he'll attend school for his senior season. Illinois isn't certain yet, either.

Go Buffs.

Klee

Moderator: Going to wrap this up. Another successful chat, thanks for the questions and I apologize to those that didn't get answered. See you here next week.

Klee