By Joe Henricksen

While watching the IBCA All-Star game at Illinois Wesleyan University Saturday night, a casual observer of basketball who came out to watch the top seniors in Illinois, asked, "Where is he going to play at in college?" The answer was Southern Illinois. Just moments later the fan asked, "What about him, where's he headed?" The answer, again, was Southern Illinois.

This was just 8 or 9 minutes into the game after watching Homewood-Flossmoor's Kevin Dillard drop in three straight three-pointers and then Marshall's Ryan Hare go coast-to-coast and finish with a dunk in transition. Both Dillard and Hare, a pair of top 10 players in the City/Suburban Hoops Report's final 2008 player rankings, shined in their final high school event. And yep, both are headed to Carbondale to play for coach Chris Lowery.

Southern Illinois may have missed the NCAA Tournament last year after reaching the Big Dance a remarkable six straight years, but the recruiting fortunes have not slowed. The cupboard is hardly bare and an awfully impressive new stock is coming in. Dillard will work a year backing up senior star point guard Bryan Mullins, while Hare will have time to polish his game before being asked to do too much. Dillard's lack of physical strength could be a hindrance early on as he adjusts to life in the MVC, but his ballhandling (although he has to cut it down some) and vastly improved shot will be just fine in time. And if Hare does all the right things once he sets foot on campus, he has a chance to be special.

And this doesn't even include SIU's most prized recruit, 6-8 Anthony Booker of Florissant, Mo. Booker was a consensus top 100 player nationally and even top 50 in one national recruiting list. Justin Bocot, a 6-3 athletic guard out of Bloomington, is eligible after sitting out a year and all reports are he has looked terrific leading up to this year. Big 6-11, 250-pound Nick Evans redshirted last season and will be eligible, and 6-4 Torres Roundtree, a high school teammate of Booker, is a versatile freshman. Plus, guard Tony Freeman will be yet another player to count on in two years after he sits out a season following his transfer from Iowa.

There is no question the success the Salukis have enjoyed this decade continues to carry over in recruiting. While SIU may not like being called a "mid-major" due to its ability to compete against the majority of teams in high-major conferences, it presently remains on top of the mid-major mountain.

Brandon Paul continues to impress
After watching several high-profile players over the weekend of all ages and with different fanfare, including Sterling's Joseph Bertrand, Washington's Dyricus Simms-Edwards, Rock Island's Chasson Randle, Downers Grove South's Malcolm Herron, and East Aurora's Ryan Boatright among others, it was again Warren's Brandon Paul that stood out. Paul was the one that showed why he is what he is -- the Hoops Report's top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2009. He continues to set himself apart from the rest in that class. His perimeter shot gets more and more consistent, while he has the ability to get his shot when he wants to due to his great athleticism. As a basketball athlete and prospect he's just on another level compared to others in the Class of 2009. You can just see him rounding into the player you envision he will be when he gets to college, which will be a scoring 2-guard with the potential to be a lockdown defender because of that athleticism and length. What will be interesting to see is how Paul stacks up nationally following the July evaluation period. The plan right now is that Paul will play for Larry Butler and the Illinois Warriors in the Peach Jam, which should provide Paul even more exposure.

North Lawndale No. 1?
If the rumors are correct and the move becomes official as its expected, Class of 2010 star Crandall Head will be making the move to North Lawndale. Head, who played at Rich South last season and committed to Illinois last winter, would very likely vault coach Lewis Thorpe's team to preseason No. 1. North Lawndale makes the move up to Class 3A after winning a 2A state championship last year and returns everyone from that team except one role player. A roster that includes 6-10 Paul Bunch, 6-4 Jonathan Mills, an eligible John Taylor, 6-3 Jermaine Winfield, underrated guard Zilijan Jones and now Head could be scary. But will all the talent on paper come together?

Tough break
Nick Wasburn, a strong, up-and-coming 6-8 post prospect out of Mahomet-Seymour, suffered a tough break -- literally. Washburn, who just started generating college interest this past spring while playing for the Illinois Wolves, suffered a broken foot that couldn't have come at a worse time with the July evaluation period right around the corner. Washburn, arguably the fastest rising player in that class as he has gone from complete obscurity to a top 35 or 40 player in that class, should still have his suitors in the end due to his tremendous frame and body.

A true point
The Hoops Report really likes what it sees from Springfield Southeast tiny point guard Lawrence Thomas. He may be just 5-7 but he's an absolute disruptive pest defensively. He always has his hands in things guarding the opposing team's point guard. He plays in control, gets into the lane and kicks. He's a true point guard that is generating interest from Wichita State, Missouri State, Illinois State and Santa Clara but, due to his size, may play at a little lower level than a true mid-major.

Boatright rumors
It seems there have been rumors surrounding where East Aurora's Ryan Boatright will end up playing next season. Boatright, a sophomore-to-be who committed to USC last summer, has actually seen his stock drop since his commitment. However, he played pretty well at the Willowbrook Shootout and remains one of the top dozen or so prospects in a loaded Class of 2011. The rumors have swirled, from Boatright going to another school in the Aurora area to making the move to the Chicago Public League to heading out to California. The one that has the most legs due to family considerations is Boatright moving to California, although someone close to the situation says he thinks it's "50/50 whether that move happens."

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By Joe Henricksen

After a busy few days of basketball over the weekend, the City/Suburban Hoops Report had a chance to get out and see different teams, players and events -- and hear a little of this and that around the high school basketball scene.

If there is one player in the Chicago area that has received little or no recognition but should be it's Downers Grove South's Malcolm Herron. Whether it's been due to playing for a Downers Grove South team that was just .500 a year ago or just not finding the right fit on any AAU team up to this point, Herron has flown under the radar.

Herron, who had a solid junior year playing for coach Paul Runyon, is one of the best scoring guards in the Class of 2009. He can flat-out stroke it from the perimeter. He is shooting it consistently from three-point range and doing a lot more off the dribble. Herron, who has good size at 6-3, has really improved his ballhandling skills.

There is a good chance Herron will be hooking up with Meanstreets for the remainder of the summer, which would look to be a nice fit. With a talented point guard in D.J. Cooper and a big man in Shaun Pratl, Meanstreets could use a perimeter scorer and shooter like Herron. We'll see if it materializes.

Speaking of scorers....
While Herron is a terrific scorer with good size for a 2-guard, the Hoops Report continues to be one of the biggest fans of St. Rita guard Terry Johnson. He was nursing a tender ankle while playing for the Mustangs this weekend but still showed his great knack for simply putting the ball in the basket. He's always been a true scorer, but his outside shot has steadily improved, become less streaky and more consistent and is now near automatic. He can put points on the board in a hurry. And don't tell me about his size. I don't care if he's 5-11 or 6-0, the kid makes plays and can score at will. He's a combo guard and there is nothing wrong with being a talented combo guard and a little on the small side when you can score like that.

The mass exit out of Hales Franciscan continues. Another player has left as junior Pat Miller, a promising guard, has enrolled and is playing for St. Rita.

More interest generating for Simms-Edwards
With eight offers already from Missouri Valley schools, Washington star Dyricus Simms-Edwards, who plays in the summer for the Illinois Wolves, has more high-major interest as both Providence and West Virginia have come on lately in their pursuit of the talented guard. Colorado, Kansas State, Minnesota and Purdue have all shown varying degrees of interest as well.

Conrad Krutwig of Jacobs, a hard-working and underappreciated 6-5 combo forward, recently gave unofficial visits to Evansville, Murray State and Loyola.

New Kids on the Block
A new name on the high school basketball scene is Kyle Anderson. Huh? The kid can really play. He's an athletic 6-2 guard from Newark, a tiny school (enrollment 187 students) about 25 miles southwest of Aurora. The last Division I player produced from Newark was Dave Olson, who led the state in scoring averaging over 35 points a game in the late 1980s before signing with Eastern Illinois. Anderson, who will be just a sophomore next season, has a chance to be the next Division I player.

Anderson had a big season as a freshman, although it was obviously against very weak competition. However, he has the physical tools and basketball skills to eventually become a Division I prospect. The competition he faces is going to be an obstacle. But make no mistake, he has a lot to offer. He's already an outstanding shooter for his age and then will surprise you in transition by finishing with a dunk. And for his age and experience he really composes himself well on the floor. Anderson is one to watch over the next three years and should put up ridiculous numbers playing for Newark.

Another new name on the scene is Duje Dukan, a junior from Deerfield. He has a nice body, very skilled and can shoot it with range. He's 6-5 and looks as if he will surely grow. He has great bloodlines as he's the son of Ivica Dukan, who played 14 years of professional basketball in Europe and is the Director of International Scouting for the Chicago Bulls.

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By Joe Henricksen

Jereme Richmond has been evaluated, gawked at, talked about, written about and analyzed almost as much as any high school player in the history of this state has been in his first two years of high school. That's what happens when you are 6-6 and your skill level far exceeds those your age and you commit to a major Division I university as a freshman. It's sometimes hard to believe he has yet to even start his junior year.

There has been plenty written about Richmond over the past 8-10 months that has painted the young kid in a negative way. In this day it's no longer just NBA players and college stars that have their critics. Whether it's fair or not, those stars of tomorrow-- today's young prep phenoms -- are scrutinized and talked about from the day they become the "Next Big Thing." And for Richmond it's been that way for the last two years.

After watching Richmond for two days at the Illinois Team Camp at Moody Bible Institute and spending a little time talking with him, it's clear Richmond is starting the process of maturing and handling the hoopla that surrounds his game and actions on and off the court. Nonetheless, it's still baby steps -- as it probably should be for someone his age.

There are times you watch Richmond and think, yep, he's putting it all together. In his early games last Friday he played with much more assertiveness and was aggressive, especially on the offensive end. He was playing hard, running the floor, finishing with authority. He would showcase his vast array of talents, scoring four straight baskets at one point with a thunderous two-hand dunk, a three-pointer, a beautiful pull-up mid-range jumper and an offensive putback. Already at 6-6 or 6-7 with size 18 shoes, you can see how he would resemble a Kevin Durant if he were to add a couple more inches.

After going on a radio show early Saturday morning with a glowing report of Richmond, I came back Saturday afternoon to see some of the tendencies that turn you off from star players -- disinterested, hands on the hips, flat-footed and an impression of boredom. I realize these kids play countless number of games throughout the spring and summer. And it can get tiresome. But you also remember players like Dee Brown, Quentin Richardson, Dwyane Wade, Brian Wardle and Jon Scheyer that rarely ever took a day off -- or a trip down the floor, for that matter. You would walk out of a gym and just appreciate the heart and effort those kids put in, no matter the stage they were on. Again, a lot of times it comes with maturity.

As far as the off-the-court issues Richmond has had to deal with, he has put them all in a positive light. He showed his growth in our conversation by staying positive and admitting he has learned from past mistakes.

"As far as I'm concerned it's a clean slate," says Richmond of his return to Waukegan after being kicked off the team late in the year. "Last year didn't go the way anyone wanted it to go. Our goal this summer is to play well together, grow together as a team."

Richmond continued to talk about the lessons he learned from the controversy of the 2007-2008 school year.

"That's what life is about -- going through trials and tribulations," he says. "You learn from them and get better as a person and make better decisions. You work on differences you have with people and try to react differently."

Yes, Richmond is saying the right things and is on the right path toward repairing what was damaged last year -- both to his reputation and team. Everyone has to realize these are teenagers, some of which are dealing with more pressure and scrutiny than 90 percent of kids their age have to deal with. This is one teenager that has learned a lot and has matured to the point where he knows things will have to change. All of it will not come overnight, but we all can leave a little room for a kid to grow up.

And then there is the Illinois angle. Despite actions that have shown otherwise, there continues to be talk of a Richmond de-commitment out there. But typically when a player de-commits there is a pattern that takes place. The player and family suddenly go into seclusion, the contact between player and university tends to drift. That has been far from the case for Richmond, whose father has regularly gone public about his son's commitment to Illinois and Jereme himself makes trips to Champaign and has even helped in the recruitment of other players. Richmond has developed a terrific relationship with assistant Jerrance Howard, which you can see as Howard interacts with Richmond, whether it be during a stop in play of a game or sitting side-by-side on a gym floor having a big brother/little brother conversation. And when you speak with Howard, his genuine care and concern for Jereme as a person is so clear.

When asked if he has become somewhat of an ambassador for the future of Illini basketball, Richmond says that's not really the role he plays. "To be an ambassador for Illinois basketball is not my job," he says. "But I'm there to show the upside of Illinois."

And the upside of Illinois basketball is so bright with Richmond in it.

To subscribe to the City/Suburban Hoops Report, now in its13th year of publication, e-mail hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call the Hoops Report at (630)-408-6709.

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By Joe Henricksen

Simeon's Jeremy Jones is obviously not the prospect Derrick Rose was or even as hot of a commodity as teammate Stan Simpson was last year. But the little-known 6-1 guard is one of the most under-the-radar players in Illinois and a legitimate Division I prospect.

Jones, who has shined for Larry Butler and the Illinois Warriors this past spring, was absolutely terrific this past weekend at the University of Illinois Team Camp at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. After playing a small role for coach Robert Smith last year as a designated shooter off the bench, Jones continues to do what he does best -- shoot the basketball from the perimeter in this day where shooting is a lost art. Whether it's spotting up or shooting off the dribble, Jones is a shooter by definition but quickly emerging as a true scorer. With continued experience and opportunities, as well as a rising confidence level, Jones is doing more and more off the dribble and attacking the lane and basket. With the little experience he's had in his role, he still shows he wants the ball at the end of games and makes plays. There were times over the weekend where he absolutely sparkled on the offensive end and showed a willingness to get after it defensively.

The Hoops Report has had Jones pegged as a low-Division I prospect, but with the ability to score and the obvious rapid development he's showing with the expanded opportunities he's receiving, there is little doubt he can play at a higher level with the huge strides he's making. And in the little conversation I had with him over the weekend, he seems to have a good head on his shoulders and a terrific demeanor.

State's best point guard prospect in 2009
Whitney Young's Chris Colvin continues to play with more consistency and is no doubt the best point guard prospect in the Class of 2009. When an updated list of the Hoops Report's top players in the Class of 2009 comes out in the near future, Colvin will rank among the top four players in the class overall. Colvin's strength remains breaking down anyone he wants to off the dribble and getting to the basket. He also seems more and more comfortable playing the role of a true point guard. As his shooting from the perimeter develops -- this remains his biggest weakness -- Colvin can become a complete player.

Watch out for Hyde Park
The Chicago Public League will have Whitney Young and North Lawndale at the top next season, but a team -- and program to watch for in the future -- is Hyde Park. Coach Donnie Kirksey has it going. Malcolm Griffin, a high-scoring guard, is the go-to player but 6-7 Jerome Moore and 6-5 Anthony Dixon are opening eyes. Moore was especially impressive with his athleticism and versatility. And look for Kirksey's presence to be felt in the Public League in the future.

Eerie resemblance
As Brooks makes continued strides with its bevy of young talent in the program, the type of players and style they play eerily resembles those of the great Westinghouse teams earlier this decade. Probably no real surprise, considering Chris Head, the former Westinghouse coach, is the man building the Brooks program that has the makings of a powerhouse in a year or two.

Huge plus for Illini
Following the one-day Elite Camp in Champaign a week ago, the quick-but-worth-it junior high Elite Camp in Deerfield on Thursday night, which included a few of the most highly-regarded junior high prospects, and the two-day satellite camp at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago over the weekend, the last week was a huge boon for exposure and recruiting for coach Bruce Weber and his staff. What a huge positive it's been, especially with all the prominent Chicago Public League coaches and many AAU coaches at Moody Bible. It's free and easy access and exposure to not only players, but all the "players" in high school basketball. That can go a long way in building relationships.

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By Joe Henricksen

Kudos to Indiana State and Illinois State, the only schools to have offered Richards big man Shaun Pratl. And shame on all the other schools that have been so slow to pull the trigger. In this day where big men are at such a premium and so often over-recruited, it's a mystery why the 6-8, 220-pounder has just the two offers.

"It's been frustrating, really frustrating," says Pratl of the recruiting. "I see these other players getting offers I feel I am better than and it's frustrating."

A big part of it is Pratl is a hot commodity both in basketball and football. He believes coaches are waiting for him to decide what sport he will choose. Pratl actually had hoped he would at least be able to choose which sport he was going to play in college by mid-summer. But he also admits he thought he would have more offers in both football and basketball by now to help him sort things out. Now he's taking a wait-and-see approach as he sorts it all out.

Right now Pratl is simply trying to get healthy. He has been in and out of the hospital trying to figure out the ailment that he's been battling for over a week. He has a tonsil abscess that has drained him physically and, as a result, he's lost 10 pounds.

As a player, though, what's not to like? Pratl is not your typical football-playing big man in basketball. He's agile, runs the floor with ease, can get off the floor and finish in transition with a dunk. If Pratl had been a 12-month basketball player, as opposed to splitting time 50/50 between two sports, there is no telling how much more advanced he would be as a player. That reason alone is why the Hoops Report thinks so highly of Pratl. You could see how far he came from December to March last season after getting off to a slow start following a long football season. By March he was a dominating big man helping his team to a Class 4A state championship. He scored 18 points on 8-of-9 from the floor in the state semifinal win and scored 16 points, blocked two shots, pulled down 8 rebounds and was a man among boys down the stretch in the state championship game win over Zion-Benton.

Pratl is a skilled power forward with a solid package of size and athleticism. He possesses a good handle for a player his size, range on his shot is improving and his frame is perfect to get bigger and stronger. He will show a mean streak from time to time, bang a little and play with an aggressive style that plays to his advantage. He can work in the high post and is getting more comfortable on the block with his back to the basket. He has to get better finishing at the rim after contact. His straight court speed is very good, while his overall foot speed lacks a little. And while he has a soft touch and can shoot out to 20 feet, he will have to get his release up higher at the collegiate level. But a lot of the nit-picking evaluating will be e