July 12, 2007

Richmond flashes his brilliance

DEERFIELD - Like he was editing a movie trailer, Jereme Richmond pieced together a 52-second string of highlights.

The 15-year-old, who last November became the first high school freshman to commit to Illinois, did not show too much - just enough to make you wonder how it will end.

On one possession Monday at the Chicago Summer Classic, a basketball event in the north suburbs, Richmond deftly tipped in a missed jump shot. On the next, his gawky, size-18 Air Jordans lifted high for a one-handed dunk.

Finally, as if the credits were rolling, he swished a three-pointer from the right wing.

"Those are things we see him do in spurts," said Brian Davis, Richmond's AAU coach on the Rising Stars Gold squad.

Flashes - those are currently what you see from Richmond. He's a five-star prospect by Scout.com and starts driver's ed in August.

"In some games, in terms of getting tip dunks with one hand; in terms of going baseline and dunking over someone; in terms of doing things in practice that make you shake your head; he can do those things," Davis said. "We'd like to see him do it consistently throughout the whole game."

Now, on the summer AAU circuit, Richmond is playing an unfamiliar role: that of best supporting actor. He was bumped up an age group - sometimes two - and competes with and against 16- and 17-year-olds.

Richmond's commitment to Illinois made him a target as a freshman at Winnetka's North Shore Country Day School. On one occasion, coach Dan Powers pulled Richmond from the game after he was undercut on a dunk attempt. Triple teams became more common as his profile grew.

"I think any time there is a player that has a particular amount of known ability, other players step up their game against that player. I don't think it really has too much to do with the Illinois commitment," said Bill Richmond, Jereme's father. "It's the same with him and other players like him: If other players know he's a good player, their game rises. I don't think it has much to do with the Illinois thing. He's marked because he's a good player."

Still, the Rising Stars player who generates the loudest buzz - off the court, in particular - is Marcus Jordan, a powerful 6-foot-3 point guard with the loftiest pedigree. Richmond may be the Illinois recruit, but when he and Jordan strolled past the bleachers Monday, the whispers were directed at Michael's son, not Richmond.

Jordan and Richmond are not alone, either. Toss in Chris Colvin, a 6-2 guard and high-major recruiting target, and Cortney Bell, a 6-5 forward whose recruitment is heating up. Richmond's next challenge, his coach said, is to not defer to talented teammates.

"When you play on this team, people want to go after Marcus Jordan. Kids guard Marcus and they take it like they're guarding Michael Jordan," Davis said. "With Jereme, on all the other teams he's played on, he's been the man. With this team everybody shares the ball, and he's just trying to fit in. We don't want him to try to fit in. We want him to just play and let his ability take over."

Though Richmond attended North Shore Country Day as a freshman, he might not be there as a sophomore. Bill Richmond declined to confront rumors Jereme will transfer to Wau-kegan High School, where older brother Justin was a senior last year.

The family lives in Waukegan, and Jereme played with Waukegan's team in June. Bill Richmond indicated Jereme will attend the school that can best develop his athletic and academic talents for the college level.

He would play with a much higher level of competition at Waukegan, which is the main reason he will compete with the Rising Stars' Under-16 and -17 squads at different times the rest of the summer. His July schedule includes events in Georgia, Orlando and Las Vegas.

"The competition level will help him when he goes to college to play," Davis said of the jump in age groups.

The initial buzz of Richmond's early commitment has been toned down. Media interest has subsided, he said, and the family has not received letters or calls from schools other than Illinois. Their commitment to the Illini is firm, Bill Richmond said.

"I talk with (Illinois assistant) Tracy (Webster) all the time," added Bill Richmond, who said Jereme avoids media interviews. "We talk about a lot of things. We talk about so many other things than basketball you wouldn't believe it. He's just a great guy to talk to."

The growth process for Jereme is years from over. At the Nike Hoops Jamboree in June, he was measured at 6-6 and 190 pounds. 'It's not a matter of when he eats, but when he isn't eating,' said his dad, who projected Jereme to top out at 6-7, maybe 6-8.

He primarily plays on the wing, though Davis positioned him at point guard for stretches Monday.

"I have a feeling that when he's in college," Davis said, "he'll be a player who can (play point guard) at the next level."