Eye on the (future) Illini: LaTulip nearing record
Troy Gentle's weekly update on the four players headed Bruce Weber's way and the two players headed Jolette Law's way:
MEN
MALCOLM HILL (Belleville East) — Edwardsville held Hill to four points on 1-of-9 shooting in a 45-41 loss last Friday. He recovered quite nicely Tuesday, leading the way with 29 points as the Lancers whipped Althoff 76-45. Hill currently leads the team with 21.8 ppg. They host East St. Louis tonight.
JALEN JAMES (La Lumiere, Ind.) — Gary Lew Wallace was no match for La Lumiere, falling 83-51 on Tuesday. The Lakers travel to Indianapolis on Saturday to face Detroit County Day and DePaul recruit Jordan Price at the Indiana Scholastic Classic. La Lumiere will host Michigan/USA Today No. 3-ranked Detroit Consortium College Prep next Thursday.
MIKE LATULIP (Prospect) — Despite an off night from the field (6 for 16 field goals, 5 for 9 free throws, 18 points), LaTulip's nine assists contributed to Prospect's 72-45 drubbing of Wheeling last Friday. The senior is seven points shy of breaking the school record for career points (1,282, held by Craig Anderson). His next opportunity comes tonight in a matchup with Elk Grove.
MICHAEL ORRIS (Crete-Monee) — The last three of Orris' nine points were the biggest last Friday as he drained a three-pointer with two seconds left to lead Crete-Monee to a 51-49 victory over Rich East. The Warriors (14-5) have had the week off, and will take on Kankakee tonight.
WOMEN
NIA MOORE (Bolingbrook) — Last Thursday, Bolingbrook easily defeated St. Joseph's Academy of St. Louis 64-32 with Moore leading the team with three blocks. Two days later, Moore was one of five Raiders in double figures (12 points) as Bolingbrook rolled over visiting Lockport 89-32. Tuesday's 60-35 win over Homewood-Flossmoor ended a hectic three-games-in-six-days schedule. Teammates Morgan Tuck and Cabriana Capers combined with Moore to pull down 23 rebounds. Bolingbrook hosted Joliet West on Thursday, then have the weekend off before facing Joliet on Tuesday.
MCKENZIE PIPER (Iowa City West) — Defending Iowa Class 3A champion Davenport Assumption ended the Women of Troy's hopes for an undefeated season with a 52-48 win last Saturday. Iowa City West went 3 for 25 in the second half and Piper was held to a season-low seven points. Tuesday saw them return to form as nine of Iowa City West's players scored in a 61-41 romp over Mount Pleasant. After Thursday night's game against Cedar Rapids Prairie, they stay over to take on Cedar Rapids Jefferson tonight.
So does JALEN JAMES (La Lumiere, Ind.) officially end Illinois streak of never recruiting an Indiana BB player ? Or does the transfer of an Illinois player to the Indiana prep school just add an asterisk?
Wouldn't it be great if a prefferred walk-on continues to raise his/her game and lead the Illini to the national championship game? Butler must have similar stories....
Go Illini!









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