KANSAS CITY, Mo.  -- Tony Severino hears the rumors almost daily. And ignores them.

The Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst football coach said there is no truth to the talk.

CHAMPAIGN – Efrem Winters hasn't visited the Illinois campus in roughly 18 years, about the time when current freshmen were born.

But for those who might have forgotten, his name was magic when he enrolled in the fall of 1982, labeled by some as the nation's premier center after earning MVP honors with 19 points in the McDonald's all-star game. He represented a major breakthrough in Chicago and particularly at King High, then the Public League power.

IlliniHQ.com will profile all 18 high school standouts that have verbally committed to Illinois leading up to signing day.

Ask college basketball beat writer Paul Klee about recruiting during Wednesday's online chat. Submit questions now.

Each year, we ask beat writer Bob Asmussen for his preseason Top 10 ... in January. He's taken enough heat about having Missouri No. 2 last year, so we've decided to give him an out. As the national title is decided Thursday, here is his 2009 Top 10 with an asterisk attached to each of his picks:

Staff writer Jeff Huth reviews and previews all things Illinois:

Tony Bleill breaks down Thursday's Illinois-Michigan women's basketball game: