IlliniHQ.com
Shootout recruiting notebook
Saturday December 13, 2008
Holly Hart/The News Gazette
Chasson Randle of Rock Island has plenty of big-time programs courting him.
Paul Klee's recruiting review
The scoop from our college baskeball beat writer, who was courtside Saturday for the third Shootout at the Hall
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Expectations? Illinois' recruits are setting the bar high.
"I have the utmost trust in U of I recruiting and the staff. I think they've brought in the necessary components and pieces to compete for that national championship," said UI recruit Jereme Richmond, a Waukegan junior who can sign a letter of intent next November. "The talent will be in place. The biggest key for us in 2009 and 2010 is to come down here and play every day in practice to win a national championship."
Asked for their thoughts on Richmond's statement, recruits Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand each offered a grin.
"I think he's right," Paul said.
"That's definitely one of our goals is to get back up there," Bertrand said.
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Illinois took an oral commitment from Meyers Leonard, a 6-10, 210-pound junior at Robinson, based on his potential. And while his stats won't knock you over, that potential is apparent.
"He reminds me of a more-skilled version of Robert Archibald," said recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen of Chicago's City/Suburban Hoops Report.
For Illinois, it was important to get a commitment early in Leonard's recruitment . This time last year, Leonard was an unknown commodity. Now he's a top-40 prospect in the nation's 2010 recruiting class, according to Scout.com.
"I never in a million years thought this would happen," Leonard said of his rapid ascension, adding that he's grown 2-3 inches in the past year and probably will grow to 7-feet. "I kind of just came out of nowhere."
Neither did the experts. Scout.com's Dave Telep and Evan Daniels discovered Leonard in the spring and passed along the good word to the Illinois coaches.
"In my 14 years covering high school basketball in Illinois, I have never seen a guy go from complete obscurity to a legitimate top-100 candidate and high-major prospect in that amount of time," Henricksen said.
With Leonard, who had 15 points, six boards and five blocks Saturday, it isn't about what he is now. It's about what he can become.
"I can't wait to play in front of the Orange Krush," Leonard said.
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It's rare to see a prospect make a Meyers Leonard-like leap. The most recent big man to follow a similar path?
"Probably JaVale McGee," Henricksen said.
At Hales Franciscan, McGee was "under-recruited" before he committed to the University of Nevada-Reno, Henricksen said. He developed into a first-round pick in the 2008 NBA draft.
"He's the last good big man to go under the radar in Illinois," Henricksen said. "That's what's so good for Illinois (with Leonard). To secure a quality big man - for any college program - is pivotal. Because they (will) have the guards to go around him."
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The Shootout's highlight came from the state's premier prospect.
In the second half of a win against Rock Island, UI commitment Jereme Richmond drove the lane, skied high and dunked over a defender.
In his seat, Bruce Weber smiled. Sitting courtside, Chester Frazier covered his mouth and kicked up his legs.
"He's (Richmond) just a junior in high school," said Scout.com recruiting analyst Evan Daniels. "If he continues to develop at this rate, he has a chance to make money playing this game some day."
Scout.com ranks Richmond as the 13th-best prospect in the nation's 2010 recruiting class. Daniels said "it's definitely possible" Richmond will be a top-10 recruit in the end.
It's been 25 months since Richmond became the first prep freshman to commit to Illinois, and there are still 11 more months before he can sign a letter of intent. The 16-year-old is coming into his own, averaging about 18 points and eight rebounds.
But the biggest change is an attitudinal change and his relationship with Waukegan coach Ron Ashlaw, who called Richmond "our leader on the court."
"Time matures people. I was only 15 last year," Richmond said. "There was a lot of pressure being put on me to perform and be an upstanding citizen."
At 6-foot-7, Richmond brought the ball up the court at times Saturday. That versatility will allow Illinois to use Richmond as a bigger point guard, sort of like the Illini did with Sergio McClain at times.
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Illinois' three committed prospects - Richmond, Leonard and Head - form the nation's second-ranked recruiting class in 2010, according to Scout.com.
"It's just a loaded class," Scout.com's Daniels said.
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Rock Island sophomore Chasson Randle has been on the UI's radar for some time. And he's in no hurry to make a decision.
"Right now I'm just enjoying it," he said.
Randle listed Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Bradley, Florida, Kansas, Iowa, Iowa State and Wake Forest as some of the schools he's considering. He's taken visits to Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Iowa State and Bradley and has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State and Bradley.
"I thank God for where I am now," Randle said.
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Chicago Curie's Wayne Blackshear is a remarkable talent, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound athlete that loves to dunk. Scout.com ranks the sophomore as the No. 8 prospect in the nation's 2010 recruiting class.
Illinois figures to have its hands full trying to land Blackshear, and all four coaches watched his game against Warren on Saturday.
"I'm going to decide on my college my senior year probably," Blackshear said.
In no particular order, Blackshear listed Memphis, USC, Texas, Purdue, Illinois, LSU, Kentucky, Kansas and Marquette as some of the schools he's considering. Illinois has extended an offer, he said.
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There appears to be a big five in the state's 2011 class: Blackshear, Randle, Whitney Young's Sam Thompson, Mount Carmel's Tracy Abrams and De La Salle's Mike Shaw.
Illinois was hoping to have De La Salle and Mount Carmel in the Shootout field, as well. De La Salle was scheduled for another event. In Mount Carmel's case, the Illini were a long shot with Abrams when the field was finalized, though they are firmly in the picture now.
"I like Abrams the best of those guys," said Chicago Sun-Times boys' basketball writer Michael O'Brien.
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Of the current Illini in attendance Saturday, freshman Stan Simpson put the most time in. The Simeon product watched the final six games from the courtside bleachers.
The rest of the roster - minus sophomore Mike Davis - also made an appearance. Coach Bruce Weber said Davis has the flu. He was unable to attend practice Saturday morning.
Illinois State junior Osiris Eldridge, arguably the state's best college player, also was in attendance. He joined Redbirds assistant Paris Parham.
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Ever wonder what the Illinois coaches are watching for?
"I'm watching (for) what do they need to do to get better. That's the whole thing, keep improving," Bruce Weber said as he watched UI recruit Brandon Paul from a courtside seat. "The signed guys, you can really help them. The committed guys, you have to be a little more tactful, I guess."
Weber rarely left his spot under the basket near the tunnel at the Assembly Hall. He watched as Paul, a senior at Warren, got 17 points and 10 rebounds against Curie.
"He's really, really talented physically. He's got unbelievable potential," Weber said. "You just look at his body; he's more developed than the other kids."
Paul, who signed with Illinois in November, has grown accustomed to playing at the Assembly Hall. He played there at the UI team camp in June and at last year's Shootout.
"I still feel like he hasn't touched the surface of what he can become," Warren coach Chuck Ramsey said.
Paul's defensive efforts on Wayne Blackshear helped Warren hold Blackshear to eight points on 4 of 13 shooting.
"I just wanted to shut him down and limit the offensive production from him," Paul said.
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An overlooked factor in the UI's recruiting success: the Illini recruits are recruiters.
Crane junior Crandall Head and Richmond are at the forefront of their recruiting efforts.
"We've been on a lot of guys trying to get them to come here - Wayne Blackshear, Tracy Abrams, Mike Shaw and Reggie Smith," Head said. "It'll be very important, I hang out with a lot of them most of the time."
"I think it's a great movement," Richmond said of the recruiting successes.
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The third Shootout at the Hall seemed to go off without a hitch.
"For us it's a really positive thing, and I hope it continues in the future. I hope the community keeps backing it," Weber said. "It gives us a chance to get kids on campus and play on this court. We didn't really have that when I first got here."
But for Illini fans, the main attraction was the five signed or committed prospects - Paul, Bertrand, Richmond, Leonard and Head. They combined for 85 points, 41 rebounds and their teams went 4-1.
"You want them to play well. For a lot of our fans, this might be the only time they see them," Weber said. "Fans create an opinion and you want to create as much excitement as possible. Last year it was the ultimate. I think they all went crazy. And the guys have played well today."
-Paul Klee
- For a Live Report from the Hall, go here.
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