Although there were few big-named coaching jobs open this offseason, there was perhaps as much turnover and movement in the high school coaching ranks as we've seen in quite some time. There were more than two dozen coaching changes in the Chicago area alone.

The biggest name that moved was Bob Williams, who built a power at Schaumburg and is now the head coach at a struggling Niles West program. Williams spent 18 years at Schaumburg. In the last 16 years his teams averaged 20 wins a season, won nine regional titles and went to the Elite Eight in Peoria three times, winning a state title in 2001.

The City/Suburban Hoops Report takes a look at many of the coaching changes throughout the Chicago area.

LOYOLA ACADEMY
Previous Coach: Bryan Tucker
New Coach: Tom Livatino
Comment: Livatino steps in after having success at Lincoln Park, where he never won fewer than 18 games and went 100-41 in five years. There is young talent within the program, including talented freshman David McCoy. The potential is there to have a private school power on the North Shore.

LINCOLN PARK
Previous Coach: Tom Livatino
New Coach: Brian Murphy
Comment: The transition should be minimal as they kept it within the program in hiring Murphy, an assistant in the program under Livatino. The cupboard is not bare, with the return of big man Mike Gabriel and perimeter players Greg Tucker, Demarko Nash, Aric Dickerson and junior Rashad Wahab.

BARRINGTON
Previous Coach: Marty Dello
New Coach: Bryan Tucker
Comments: After 10-plus years as a head coach at private schools (Loyola Academy and Marian Catholic), Tucker moves to the Mid-Suburban League and public schools at Barrington. The Bronco program, which has struggled the last three years, would love the success Tucker had at Loyola.

ST. RITA
Previous Coach: Rob Sarmiento
New Coach: Gary DeCesare
Comment: Although it's a football and baseball school, DeCesare brings some impressive credentials in helping build the basketball program at the Southwest Side school. Some feel it could be a sleeping giant. DeCesare, who was most recently an assistant coach at DePaul, was one of the most successful high school coaches in the country in his 16 years at St. Raymond's Catholic in the Bronx. He compiled a 282-141 record and produced 35 Division I players.

ST. LAURENCE
Previous Coach: Tom Pallardy
New Coach: Mark Sevedge
Comment: Sevedge takes over a program that Pallardy has run for the last 16 years, which included a 26-win, sectional title season in 2003. Sevedge has been the sophomore coach at St. Laurence for the last five years.

MAINE EAST
Previous Coach: Glenn Olson
New Coach: Huey Crawford
Comment: This program has been hit hard. In addition to losing its head coach, Glenn Olson, the program lost two very valuable players this offseason as well. Senior Charles McKinney headed to a prep school and 6-6 junior Abdul Nader transferred to Niles North.

NILES WEST
Previous Coach: Fritz Wulfram
New Coach: Bob Williams
Comment: Williams brings instant credibility for a program that has won just 25 games in the last four seasons. In the short term Williams will surely make Niles West more competitive; in the long term don't underestimate what one of the top coaches in the state can get done.

SCHAUMBURG
Previous Coach: Bob Williams
New Coach: Matthew Walsh
Comment: A longtime assistant coach at Conant, where he compiled an 82-14 record on the sophomore level over the last four years, Walsh takes over a program that Williams built into a Chicago area power with three trips to Peoria and state title in 2001.

NILES NORTH
Previous Coach: Bill Pistorius
New Coach: Glenn Olson
Comment: Olson helped revive a downtrodden Maine East program that had not won anything in years, capturing a regional title in 2008 and winning 19 games a year ago.. While the history has been rough at Niles North with only one regional championship and several single-digit win totals, those in the area truly believe this program can be a winner and is an underrated job.

NAPERVILLE NORTH
Previous Coach: Mark Lindo
New Coach: Jeff Powers
Comment: Longtime coach Mark Lindo steps down after 18 years and eight regional and two sectional championships. Enter Jeff Powers, who assisted Al Biancalana at York last year after 11 years as head coach at Timothy Christian, where he went 201-110. The Huskies return a ton of size and experience.

JULIAN
Previous Coach: D'Arcy Stanfield
New Coach: Loren Jackson
Comment: Is there any doubt this program will have an influx of talent coming sooner than later? Look for Julian to be a player before long with Jackson back at the school where he once coached. Jackson, who was at Fenger last season, produced some elite talent, including former Julian stars Sean Dockery, Brandon Ewing and Mac Koshwal.

LARKIN
Previous Coach: Larry Hight
New Coach: Deryn Carter
Comment: Hiring the young Carter (29 years old) may be just what the doctor ordered in getting someone with roots to the school and program after having heavy turnover in recent years. Carter, who was a Division II assistant coach for eight years, graduated from Larkin in 1998 and is the school's fourth all-time leading scorer. The program has had its dips, including a 9-45 mark the last two seasons, but has had success. Coach Dom Cannata won back-to-back sectional titles in the early 1990s and the Larkin won another sectional title in 2005.

JOLIET CATHOLIC
Previous Coach: Mike O'Toole
New Coach: Jeremy Izzo
Comment: Since coach Mike Gillespie enjoyed success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the football powerhouse has never been able to get it going on the hardwood. JCA hopes Izzo can bring some stability. He's young (28) but learned a thing or two while at the University of Illinois, where he was a student manager for both Lon Kruger and Bill Self and student manager/graduate assistant for Bruce Weber. He does have a player to build around in junior shooter Wes Koral.

LAKE PARK
Previous Coach: Cray Allen
New Coach: Josh Virostko
Comment: The program has hit some hard times since coach Dan Batka enjoyed success earlier this decade, particularly last season. Allen resigned during the season, interim coach Tom Bergen took over and the team finished 5-23. Although just 31 years old, Virostko has plenty of head coaching experience at Plainfield Central (2 years) and Paris (4 years).

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH
Previous Coach: Paul Runyon
New Coach: Jay Baum
Comment: Runyon enjoyed success at DGS, which included a three-year run from 2003-2005 with 81 wins, three sectional titles and two trips to the Elite Eight in Peoria. The program stayed within and hired Baum, a fixture within the Mustang basketball program. Baum has coached DGS basketball in some capacity for 23 years.

PLAINFIELD CENTRAL
Previous Coach: Josh Virostko
New Coach: Steve Lamberti
Comment: After just two years Virostko left for Lake Park. The first-year coach inherits arguably the most talented team in the league, with 6-6 Winston Williams and 6-2 junior Derrick Marks.

WEST CHICAGO
Previous Coach: Kevin Gimre
New Coach: Kevin Baldus
Comment: After a 22-win regional championship season in 2005, West Chicago has struggled mightily. The program has suffered through a 17-90 record over the last three seasons. Baldus, a 1993 West Chicago graduate, has his first head coaching job after coaching at every other level in stints at both Glenbard West and Willowbrook.

HINSDALE CENTRAL
Previous Coach: Ed Lynch
New Coach: Lee Maciejewski
Comment: Lynch handled things well during some turbulent times at the school, going 62-47 and winning two regional titles in four years. While Lynch will remain in the program as a lower level coach, the Red Devils will turn to the veteran Maciejewski, who has had lengthy head coaching stints at both Glenbard West and West Chicago.

LEMONT
Previous Coach: Rob Wostratzky
New Coach: Rick Runaas
Comment: Lemont turns to a veteran coach who has had some success. Runaas compiled a 64-43 record at T.F. North from 1998-2002, including the school's first regional championship since 1946.

ST. FRANCIS DE DALES
Previous Coach: Jeff Haynes
New Coach: Deon Tolliver
Comment: Has it really been that long since this program won big under coach Mike Kaczmarz in the 1980s and coach Larry Moore in the 1990s? A tough job in a tough league for Tolliver, who takes over a program that hasn't had much success since 2000.

PAYTON
Previous Coach: Charles Demas
New Coach: Larry Faines
Comment: A third coach in three years is not exactly the way to build a program in the Public League, especially one that many coaches feel is a program with real potential in the city.

WAUCONDA
Previous Coach: Rich Wolf
New Coach: Scott Luetschwager
Comment: The 29-year-old Luetschwager takes over after Wolf led the program for the last nine years. If anything Wauconda, which finished 3-25 last season, has the tallest coach in the state in the 6-10 Luetschwager, who coached the sophomore team last year.

DUNBAR
Previous Coach: Brandon Moody
New Coach: George Montgomery
Comment: The program at 31st and King Drive on Chicago's South Side may get a wake-up call with new coach George Montgomery. The father of current NBA player JaVale McGee of the Washington Wizards and a former player at the University of Illinois in the 1980s, brings a name, face and presence to the Mightymen program not seen since coach Fate Mickel was on the Dunbar bench.

KANELAND
Previous Coach: Dennis Hansen
New Coach: Brian Johnson
Comment: Johnson, who was an assistant under West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman and previously worked at Dundee-Crown, takes over a program that features a Division I recruit in 6-9 Dave Dudzinski.

AURORA CHRISTIAN
Previous Coach: Marc Davidson
New Coach: Steve Hanson
Comment: Unbelievably, lost an Aurora Christian icon in Davidson due to some funding/seniority issues at the school.

BURLINGTON CENTRAL
Previous Coach: Chris Payne
New Coach: Brett Porto
Comment: BC lost a good one in Payne. Porto, meanwhile, is the youngest coach in the state. He graduated from college in 2008 and is just 23 years old.

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, now in its 15th year of publication, is due out this week. To subscribe or for more information email hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report is in the mail this week, with profiles on teams, conferences, current issues and rankings in the preseason issue. Here is a sneak peak at a few programs that are rather new to the ranked scene and a few programs that are just fine with the sleeper label.

NEW FACES
These programs are all ready to rise this winter and offer a new, fresh look to the Chicagoland area's top 25.

• Mundelein
The Mustangs haven't finished among the top three in the North Suburban Lake since the 2000-2001 season. That includes four-win and six-wins seasons in the middle half of this decade. Now every coach in the North Suburban Lake that was surveyed had Mundelein at the top. And why not? Iowa-bound guard Ben Brust is an elite player who has the ability to carry a team, while 6-7 junior Ryan Sawvell is a monster. Throw in junior guard Leavon Head and hotshot freshman Robert Knar and it's easy to see why coach Dick Knar's club is making its first appearance in the Hoops Report's Top 25.

• Riverside-Brookfield
Remember, a year ago this team won 24 games and beat Oswego, the eventual Class 3A state runner-up. Now fresh off a summer in which they beat nearly everyone they faced and returning its nucleus, the Bulldogs look ready to make a deep run in 3A. The trio of Brown recruit Sean McGonagill, talented junior Ryan Jackson and guard Billy VanderMerkt should lead R-B to its first regional crown since 2002.

• Glenbard East
Another team that really opened eyes with its play this summer after winning 20 games last season. The Rams were picked by each DuPage Valley coach as the preseason favorite and should be as good -- or better -- than the 25-3 team from 2006-2007. Senior Lee Skinner is back and has the potential to be the DVC Player of the Year. And the junior tandem of point guard Zach Miller and 6-2 Jonny Hill are a year older and better.

• Orr
Orr? Really? Time will tell if this team is still a little too young to be a serious threat to other Red-West powers like Whitney Young, Marshall and North Lawndale. However, Curtis "C.J." Jones is special. The 6-0 sophomore can score in bunches and won't be afraid of the bright lights. And this could be junior Mycheal Henry's coming-out party. "He will be the difference," says Orr coach Lou Adams of Henry's development. Throw in talented junior guard Santino Siggers and transfer Malik Logan and the school on the corner of Pulaski and Chicago is set to make a name for itself.

• Maine South
The football power is ready to make a name for itself in the gym. Experience goes a long way and coach Tony Lavorato, Jr. has plenty of it. The Hawks return four players who are entering their third varsity season, including a pair of All-CSL South players in 6-7 Kevin Schlitter and P.J. Killean. Everyone returns from a team that won 17 games, finished second in the rugged Central Suburban League South last year and was picked by coaches to finish second again behind powerful Waukegan. The experience and confidence gained from last season will do wonders this coming winter. This team expects to be good.

Note: Unfortunate news this week in that Maine South's top player, 6-7 Kevin Schlitter, suffered a torn ACL and will be lost for the season.

SLEEPERS
• Bolingbrook
The Raiders lost a lot from last year's regional championship team, including a pair of Division I talents in Diamond Taylor and Troy Snyder. However, Wisconsin commit Devon Hodges, a 6-7 transfer from Romeoville, is cleared to play and will provide an immediate presence inside. Ryan Walker returns at the point and Antoine Cox and Delorean Weatherall on the wing could evolve into an athletic, exciting and dangerous tandem. Plus, keep an eye on up-and-coming 6-5 sophomore Nick Molonga, who will provide depth.

• RICHARDS
A regular in the Hoops Report Top 25 over the last few seasons with 100 victories in the last four years, the Bulldogs this year become a sleeper. Coach John Chappetto's program has become accustomed to success and it should continue with the trio of Brandon Snowden, Adonis Bailey and sophomore Dean Danos.

• YORK
Al Biancalana can coach. If he can take middling talent and form it into a team that wins 15 games and a regional title like he did a year ago, it should be fun to see what he can do with a group that has solid, veteran guard play, can shoot and includes a rising talent in junior Will Sullivan. In addition to Sullivan, the Dukes have a three-year varsity point guard in Kevin Kahovec and senior shooter Evan Fendley. If this team can overcome its lack of size and rebound it will be in the thick of the West Suburban Silver race with Lyons Twp. and Oak Park.

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, now in its 15th year of publication, is due out this week. To subscribe or for more information email hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709

You just wanna believe. You want to think your school, your basketball program got the job done. You want to look back in four years and see that this day did make a difference. This is the time, after all, when there is reason for optimism with new recruits coming on board in 12 months.

There wasn't a whole lot of drama leading up to the signing period. The state's best player has been committed for three years. And there weren't an abundance of mouth-watering high-major guys in the class. We may have a little more dialogue four months from now after the season plays out. Remember last March when everyone was wondering how Ohio snuck in and nabbed talented guard James Kinney of state champion Champaign Centennial and how fortunate Fairfield was for locking up Waukegan star guard Colin Nickerson when they did? Who will those guys be this year?

The City/Suburban Hoops Report takes a look at the early signing period as it relates to Illinois prep prospects.

BEST RECRUITING HAUL
A no-brainer here with Illinois locking up arguably the top three prospects in the state in Waukegan's Jereme Richmond, Robinson's Meyers Leonard and Rich South's Crandall Head. That makes it two years in a row coach Bruce Weber -- you know, the guy that can't recruit -- has nabbed the top two prospects in the state (we're counting D.J. Richardson as an Illinois product), which the Illini have not been able to do in recent years. And this year's top two are top 50 national talents. Richmond and Leonard certainly possess the ability to be difference-makers at the college level. Yes, those are Illini fans pinching themselves after watching the Eric Gordon saga and Derrick Rose fiasco just three years ago.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Wow, did it take some high-majors awhile to get on board. But finally Duje Dukan, the 6-8 skilled shooting wing from Deerfield, received some love. Arizona State and Wisconsin came in hard and offered, while both Virginia and Florida inquired late in the process. But to Dukan's credit, he picked the perfect fit for him at the high-major level. No, there is no truth to me taking Dukan with the first pick in the IHSA fantasy basketball draft!

NEW PLAYERS IN ILLINOIS
The in-state Missouri Valley schools have had to battle one another for prospects at the mid-major level throughout the state of Illinois. Now Saint Louis and coach Rick Majerus are in the mix. Saint Louis landed both Mike McCall of Foreman and Dwayne Evans of Neuqua Valley, a pair of top 15 players in the Class of 2010.

And Drake, with Illinois native and assistant coach Kareem Richardson leading the charge, was heavily involved with Illinois prospects throughout the process. Drake signed both Rayvonte Rice of Champaign Centennial and Karl Madison of Springfield Lanphier, while also being deeply involved with DeKalb big man Jordan Threloff and Neuqua Valley's Dwayne Evans to the very end.

BIGGEST HIGH-MAJOR STEAL
While Robinson big man Meyers Leonard is now a hot name nationally and even ranked among the top 50 in the country by some, it's an absolutely huge recruiting coup for Illinois. Big men are at such a premium and so difficult to find, especially legitimate big men with talent, skill and the physical package he possesses. Having been a relative late bloomer and hiding in downstate Robinson, people around the state don't realize what a huge upside this 7-footer has. He's long, athletic, skilled and has an edge to him. He has the potential to be scary good.

BIGGEST SMALL SCHOOL STEAL
When it comes to the level of the school and the caliber of player, Brown (yes, I said Brown out of the Ivy League) may have the best recruiting steal out of Illinois with Riverside-Brookfield's Sean McGonagill. A top 30 senior in Illinois in the most recent Hoops Report rankings, he was vastly overlooked by local programs in Illinois and the Midwest. What more did this kid have to do? He's just good. The keys will be handed over to the 6-1 point guard from day one and he has all the makings of an All-Ivy League player in the future. And someday with the Brown degree he will be the smart one. (For more information on joining the Sean McGonagill Fan Club, send inquiries to P.O. Box 1028, Oswego, IL 60543)

BIGGEST SMALL SCHOOL STEAL: Part II
Again, quality big men are so hard to find. And for Holy Cross to come from Worcester, Massachusetts and nab a player with the potential of Dave Dudzinski of Kaneland is pretty impressive. The Hoops Report has loved his development -- he continues to get better and better -- while still maintaining the upside you covet in a 6-9 player with skills and coordination.

BIGGEST SMALL SCHOOL STEAL: Part III
Gotta throw Pat Miller of Hales Franciscan in here. Yes, he's on the small side but Tennessee State closed it out before he shined this winter.

UNDER-THE-RADAR RECRUITING JOB
There may not be a "wow" factor with the Eastern Illinois recruiting class among fans, but coach Mike Miller and his staff were able to get into the city and add defense, toughness and athleticism on the wing as they continue to upgrade the talent in Charleston. Foreman's Tommy Woolridge and Leo's Isaac Smith, III are both undervalued a bit. I'm not sure people realize all these two bring to the table. Lost in the shuffle this fall as everyone watched and waited for the talented Foreman tandem of Lavonte Dority and Mike McCall to make their decision was coach Terry Head's third talented guard -- Tommy Woolridge.

BEST UNSIGNED PLAYER
The highly athletic and entertaining Reggie Smith of Thornton is still in the recruiting process. The No. 10 ranked player in the Hoops Report Class of 2010 player rankings continues to be heavily linked to both USC and Marquette. USC coach Kevin O'Neill, though, has already signed a terrific five-man class that includes several perimeter players. But then again, defections following Tim Floyd's resignation left the program dry of talent. Those around the Smith camp insist Southern Illinois will be a player until the end.

BEST UNSIGNED PLAYER: Part II
Phillip Jackson of Hyde Park will still be a coveted man no matter what lies ahead of him. The 6-8 long but still raw big man will play it out until the end and will remain in high demand. Jackson and Smith are the lone uncommitted prospects in the Hoops Report's top 15 players.

BIGGEST PROJECTED BUST
You didn't really think I was going to divulge that, did you?

FLASHBACK
How about this? The Hoops Report looks back at the Class of 2010's top 10 in the winter of their sophomore year -- 2 1/2 years ago. The top didn't change a lot, but the rest? Yikes can things change .... 1. Jereme Richmond, 2. Crandall Head, 3. Lenzelle Smith, 4. Anthony Johnson, 5. Alex Rossi, 6. Mike McCall, 7. Lavonte Dority, 8. Paul Punch, 9. DeAndre McCamey, 10. Ben Brust

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, now in its 15th year of publication, is due out next week. To subscribe or for more information email hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709

Yes, it took some time to get the high-major coaches on board. In the end, though, that's where Deerfield's Duje Dukan, one of the top five ranked players in the Hoops Report's Class of 2010 rankings, is headed. The skilled 6-8 dead-eye shooter committed to Wisconsin and found the ideal fit at the Big Ten school.

"It certainly got a little frustrating," says Dukan of the mild high-major interest early on. "There really is nothing you can do about it, though, except work hard and go out and play your best. Thankfully there were some people who helped get my name out there and now I think I found the best fit possible."

As is the case sometimes, the City/Suburban Hoops Report does become a billboard for certain players. Typically it's those players that are vastly overlooked or being under-recruited that receive the gratuitous plug. That was the case with Dukan throughout the summer. Shouting from a mountain top, the Hoops Report called Dukan "the single most overlooked player in the class" and a "high-major player" to anyone who would listen and "in the right system could absolutely flourish." That all materialized for a kid who is just now beginning to evolve into the player he eventually will be. The key for Dukan was finding the right fit and system.

"I love the swing and I think it plays to my advantages as a player and showcases my strengths," says Dukan of the style Wisconsin plays. "Plus, I felt so comfortable with coach Ryan and the staff, and it's big to be able to play close to home where my family can see me play."

Now it's about being happy for the kid, who put in the time and made bigger strides in the last 12 months than any player in the Class of 2010. Dukan progressed nicely this offseason with Steve Pratt's Chicago Elite and was given responsibilities and was showcased in a variety of ways. Now he's committed to Wisconsin and is poised for a huge year for Deerfield.

While mid-majors coveted the skilled 6-8 wing, the high-majors remained hesitant. Coaches can question his foot speed and quickness all they want, but he clearly had a high-major skill: shooting the basketball. He is one of the best -- if not the best -- shooter in the state of Illinois. He can catch-and-shoot, shoot coming off screens or shoot off the dribble. And with his combination of size, length and release point, he's able to get shots off when he wants and with range. What people have missed, however, is just how skilled he is as he's an above-average ballhandler and passer with the ability to play multiple positions.

Dukan, who has great bloodlines as he's the son of former 14-year European professional star and current Chicago Bulls Supervisor of European Scouting Ivica Dukan, is starting to get stronger and, ultimately, will be able to use his size and post up a little.

While it's sometimes a cliché, Dukan has found the perfect fit in Wisconsin's swing offense, where it encourages guards to post up and forwards to shoot from the outside as players go to assigned spots but react to the defense. The offense needs players with patience, discipline, some size and efficient shooters, which Dukan offers. A lot of credit goes to Wisconsin assistant coach Howard Moore who was the front man in the Dukan recruiting.

Since Eastern Illinois head coach Mike Miller took over the program, he and his staff have hit the Chicago area hard. The Panther staff snatched one up from the south suburbs last year in Richards star Shaun Pratl, tapped into the Chicago Public League with a commitment from Tommy Woolridge of Foreman earlier this fall and now have a commitment from Chicago Catholic League star Issac Smith, III of Leo.

The Hoops Report has felt all along that Smith, who did have a bit of an up and down summer, was a player that was flying under the radar. The 6-1 guard is poised for a breakout year as he becomes the center piece for coach Noah Cannon at Leo this winter. Smith played a smaller role last year for Leo, while James Pointer dominated the basketball. But Smith, who is among the top 30 prospects in the Class of 2010 in the Hoops Report player rankings, evolved into an athletic, lockdown defender who brought toughness to the floor each time out. While he still needs to get more consistent with his shot, he's a pretty versatile offensive player who is best at getting to the rim off the dribble but also capable of knocking down perimeter shots.

The combination of Smith, who played for Steve Pratt and Full Package during the summer circuit, and Woolridge will certainly upgrade the perimeter athleticism and toughness to the Eastern Illinois roster.

This is typically the time of year to celebrate the high school senior who signs the letter-of-intent or glamorize the recruiting class hauled in by a particular college basketball program. Today, it's time to salute Illinois coach Bruce Weber.

I remember a conversation I had with a respected Division I basketball coach over two years ago who was willing to bet me that Jereme Richmond would never sign with Illinois. And there were other doubters out there, including many in the media. Even the fans were skeptical (and some worse than skeptical) following the Eric Gordon saga, Derrick Rose fiasco and a couple of other recruiting misses, including the gut-wrenching loss of Evan Turner to Ohio State. A good friend of mine, a diehard Illini fan and Illinois graduate, told me he wouldn't bother getting excited until signing day. Even I had a timetable in place where Illinois had to have certain recruits in place by a certain time before things could have gotten ugly. Ironically, that timetable was the fall of 2007 and the dominoes started to fall (and they haven't stopped) with the commitments of D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul joining the already committed Jereme Richmond.

Now, after back-to-back terrific recruiting classes, it's time to get excited. And time to credit the man in charge.

The highly-regarded Richmond will sign this week with Illinois. While Tracy Webster, the former Illinois assistant coach, should get plenty of credit for helping secure the commitment three years ago, and current assistant Jerrance Howard should be applauded for helping keep Richmond committed, the bottom line is Weber has maintained his and the program's integrity, done things the right way, changed a few philosophies up and has hit it big.

In addition to Richmond, Weber found Robinson big man Meyers Leonard early on and locked up a player virtually few people in the business knew about before he became what he is today -- a top 50 player nationally with tremendous upside. Rich South's Crandall Head will also sign with Illinois. Though his star has faded somewhat, he's still an intriguing prospect with limitless physical abilities. And this class comes on the heels of last year's class of Richardson, Paul, Tyler Griffey and Joseph Bertrand.

There was certainly a point where there was some deserved pessimism by those who follow Illinois closely. No, they didn't truly capitalize as much they should have following the magical Final Four run during the 2004-2005 season. But that is now so Jon and Kate Gosselin -- old and done with. The program is on solid ground with a very bright future.

And much-deserved credit needs to go to Weber, who doesn't always get it -- mostly because he doesn't appear to be as hip or savvy as some others in the business. He's a blue-collar workhorse. While he lets his assistants do their jobs, he also has enough CEO in him to keep a pulse on things throughout the program.

The guy has won over 72 percent of his games at Illinois, with a Final Four appearance, two Big Ten titles and two runner-up finishes in his six years. He owns the highest winning percentage of any coach in Big Ten history who has coached at least six years in the conference. Plus, one of his great underrated abilities that often goes unnoticed is his knack for developing players, making them better and preparing them. By and large, the players that come into Illinois are taught and clearly get better during their careers. That can often get lost in the recruiting battles and conversations.

But the doubt surrounding him was always centered on his recruiting efforts and potential, with the perception being he just doesn't have the natural ability to recruit. But those on the outside are missing something.

"He is so honest and genuine," says Illini assistant coach Jerrance Howard of his boss. "He doesn't play games. The players and their families appreciate that. When he sits down in front of those kids and their parents, they see his sincerity. He's a man of his word."

And he works at it. Hard.

First, there may not be a high-major Division I head coach who puts in more time and effort into recruiting than Weber. No high-major head coach, at least here in the Midwest, is out and about more than Weber. He sees players, even cross-checking prospects much like a Major League Baseball scout would. While a few other high-major coaches are flying private jets and have personal drivers during the July evaluation period, Weber is taking red-eye commercial flights and punching in to the GPS in the rental car.

I remember the last day in Las Vegas in July. Most everyone had fled, especially the head coaches, by that point. But in a 14-and-under tournament game, involving prized Class of 2013 prospects Jabari Parker and Tommy Hamilton, there were only three coaches in the entire gym -- a couple of assistants and Bruce Weber, the only head coach in the building.

It's not as if Weber is this young pup, fresh and eager and just getting into the recruiting rat race. He's going on three decades of what really is the grunt work of a college coach -- evaluating and recruiting. Believe it or not, there truly are some coaches who don't put the time into it and generally have a distaste for it. But Weber is just a blue collar coach when it comes to recruiting.

Now he has built recruiting momentum. He has a pair of impressive back-to-back classes in the fold, plus Class of 2011 star Tracy Abrams of Mt. Carmel, the Hoops Report's No. 2 prospect in the class, and 6-9 Nnanna Egwu of St. Ignatius already committed. He's now knocking on the door with one of the nation's best players in the Class of 2011, Bradley Beal out of St. Louis. Where just two or three years ago when a top player was mentioned with Illinois it was an afterthought. Now there is a belief that, yes, they just might land him.

Kudos, Bruce Weber. Enjoy the week.

Adonis is a complex figure of Greek mythology. This fall Adonis Bailey of Richards began as a myth, almost a tale with no proven factual basis. But there is no fiction or half-truth about Bailey's talents.

It's not very often a player makes a name for himself in a high school fall league, but that's exactly what the unheralded Bailey has done throughout the South Suburban Fall League the last couple of months. Although there are a few more well known and bigger names, Bailey has been the eye-opener and arguably the best player in the league. He's averaged over 21 points a game and nearly five assists in seven weeks of fall league play.

The 6-3 Bailey isn't a relative unknown. He's completely unknown. He began high school attending Shepard as a freshman and sophomore. While he did play lower-level basketball there, an injury cut short his sophomore season. He transferred to Richards and sat out his junior year due to eligibility issues. And he didn't play AAU ball in the spring or summer. He's now poised for a breakout year for coach John Chappetto and the Bulldogs this winter after word began to spread this fall of his vast potential and talent.

Maybe it's because he hasn't played varsity basketball, missed out on the AAU scene or simply hasn't played the game much, but what jumps out at you when watching Bailey, aside from his physical abilities, is the high energy and relentlessness he plays with. He's full throttle and would absolutely thrive in an up-tempo, ball-trapping, get-up-and-down full-court style.

Chappetto, who led his program to a state championship in 2008, sees the same from Bailey.

"It appears to me when I watch Adonis play that he is trying to make up for all the lost time in each and every single game he is playing," says Chappetto. "He plays with a desire to be the best player on the floor. As a player he wills himself to run faster, jump higher, and play without fear. He is an incredible athlete who plays the game with an energy I haven't seen before."

While he's still learning exactly how to play defense, he still manages to get his hands on so many balls with his quickness and length. His quick leaping ability and energy translates to being a terrific offensive rebounder, particularly on his own misses, as he's always around the rim.

Offensively his shot is far from pure and his mechanics and release point need a little work, but he is capable of knocking down shots from the perimeter. But he's an absolute force in the open court, on the wing off the dribble and getting to the basket. He's a decent ballhandler who is an excellent finisher as his athleticism allows him to finish at the rim with ease. While still very much a work in progress, he's far from raw and is filled with untapped potential. With a little individual desire, work ethic and two years at a junior college program, Bailey, who has shot up the rankings this fall and is now among the Hoops Report's top 25 prospects in the Class of 2010, can be as good as he wants to be. He's no myth.

Harris comes up big
Oswego East's Jay Harris has been solid in the South Suburban Fall League and was a difference-maker in his team's semifinal win in the league playoffs. At certain times Harris can look effortless on the offensive end and be a real force with his perimeter shooting ability. The 6-0 combo guard was lights out in his team's semifinal win with a game-high 27 points. He also came up big at the end. With his team down by one point, Harris knocked down two game-winning free throws in the closing seconds.

South Suburban Fall League Observations
A junior who has opened eyes this fall is Tevin Harris of Providence St. Mel. The 6-4 undersized 4-man possesses great athleticism and a terrific body and frame for a player his age. He has a ways to go in terms of skills and knowing how to play, but he is a physical and athletic specimen... A couple of other juniors who have played well in the South Suburban Fall League are 6-2 Wes Koral of Joliet Catholic and 6-3 Demetrius Mobley of Immaculate Conception. Koral, who put together a nice season a year ago as a sophomore, can really shoot the basketball. While he's not real fluid he does have a nice feel for the game. Mobley is a versatile threat on the wing with some scoring ability.... Evergreen Park's Darius Welch, a 6-1 senior guard with some length, can look impressive and should be one of the better players this winter in the South Suburban Red.... While Argo figures to challenge for the top spot in the South Suburban Red, the trio of Bailey, underappreciated 6-0 senior Brandon Snowden and sophomore shooter Dean Danos keeps Richards as the team to beat until further notice. Snowden, who did just about anything and everything for Richards last season, is a competitor and intangibles guy who has really made strides with his perimeter shot.... Marian Catholic's Dominic Jackson is a talented guard who would be an ideal fit at the Division III level or the junior college route. He has some room to grow as a shooter, but he can slash, get to the basket, has a mid-range game and plays hard.... Marist shooter Kyle Maggio, who hit a huge shot for his team down the stretch in semifinal action, is another nice Division III prospect.... The Hoops Report has been a fan of St. Rita guard Lane Barlow. He brings some strength and size to the point guard position and has improved his ability to knock down shots. He is a player first-year coach Gary DeCesare can lean on this season in Catholic League play.

Finally, a huge tip-of-the-cap goes out to Kevin Devitt, the organizer of the South Suburban Fall League. All fall long Devitt's South Suburban League has made it easy for those in attendance, whether it be college coaches, scouts or fans, to watch and evaluate the players and games in this extremely organized league. It would be wise for other spring and summer leagues and tournaments to take a page out of Devitt's book in terms of running and doing things the right way and the passion he brings to prep hoops.

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, which is now beginning its 15th year of publication, is due out in two weeks. To subscribe or for more information email hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709.

Slowly but surely Kaneland big man Dave Dudzinski has opened the eyes of college coaches and moved up the City/Suburban Hoops Report's player rankings over the past two years. The fast-improving and often overlooked 6-9 face-up 4-man committed to Holy Cross late Monday night after several Division I schools picked up their interest in recent months.

Dudzinski, who is ranked among the top 35 prospects in the Hoops Report's Class of 2010 player rankings, is an agile and mobile player for his size with the ability to get up and down the floor. While he's a bit thin and is still very much in the process of developing physically, he's coordinated and has become much more productive. He can spot up on the perimeter, trail on the break and knock down shots from beyond the arc. With additional weight gain and added strength he could become a terrific pick-and-pop threat as he continues to develop his back-to-the-basket skills.

In addition to Rusthoven and Dudzinski, a third Velocity big man, 6-9 Matt Hasse of Naperville North, will be signing in November. Hasse committed to Austin Peay early Monday.

Purdue may have just missed out on 2011 big man Nnanna Egwu of St. Ignatius to Illinois in a down-to-the-wire recruiting finish, but the Boilermakers picked up a 2012 commitment from promising Jay Simpson. The ironic part is that Simpson, who is on a visit with his family at Purdue this weekend, is right in the heart of Fighting Illini country as he's from Champaign Central.

Simpson has grown to a legit 6-8, dropped 10 pounds and is making strides with his perimeter skills and face-up jumper. While he is certainly more of a 4-man right now, he has the tools to be a potential combo forward who can step out and play the wing. Simpson is currently among the top dozen prospects in the City/Suburban Hoops Report Class of 2012 rankings.

Purdue assistant coach Jack Owens was the lead recruiter on Simpson, who had made unofficial trips to Ohio State, Iowa, Illinois and Purdue. But this weekend marked Simpson's third trip to West Lafayette.

"I think he was looking to get away from home a little," said Simpson's AAU coach, Mike Mullins of the Illinois Wolves. "He wanted to experience that 'getting away to college' while still being close enough so that his family could see him play."

A second Illinois Wolves player committed on Saturday as well, with Division II power Southern Indiana picking up a commitment from Freeport's Austin Davis, a 6-7 combo forward.

Each and every college basketball program -- and their fans -- have a pins-and-needles recruiting story they can recall (or cry over) over the years. You know, the saga of the 17-year-old who toys with the middle-aged man's mind and has 46-year-old men twisting and turning while also salivating over the possibility of signing a letter-of-intent with their alma mater or local program.

I'm convinced the recruiting ridiculousness and interest has simply become the ultimate diversion from the real world for men between the ages of 30 and 55. But here's what it brings to the table: an outlet at work, sitting in front of the computer screen and reading message boards and recruiting sites; a chance to daydream just a little (hey, it's OK) over a long, 6-7 athletic freak leading their school to the NCAA Tournament; something to think about while the wife makes you sit through an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" or "Dancing With the Stars" (fortunately the wife dislikes both); missing a company or in-law's party to attend a holiday tournament at Proviso West or Pontiac to check out your program's top recruit; and a possible distraction to reality, which in likelihood is a downtrodden team or program you root for where the future is the only hope. But I digress.

The NCAA early basketball signing period is two weeks away. College programs around the state of Illinois have pretty much wrapped up their recruiting efforts for the Class of 2010 and have targeted players in the junior and sophomore classes, all hoping their recruiting decisions they have made are the right ones.

But there are also those potential impact recruits. There is that hope that all the time spent in the tiny high school gyms, all the phone conversations, all the flights across the country in July, all the late-night drives home, all the worrying was worth it. And when you land not just the good player, but the program-changing one, it was more than worth it. The problem is those type of recruits are hard to come by, especially when the homegrown stars are your best bet.

Still, the City/Suburban Hoops Report takes a look back at several of the Division I programs in the state of Illinois and their respective in-state impact recruits over the years. In this case we'll go back a dozen or so years and include only homegrown prospects. After all, sometimes these are the ones that break your heart the most when they go elsewhere. Here is a breakdown of each school's biggest and most recent in-state recruiting breakthrough.

ILLINOIS
The University of Illinois will be signing their most important recruit in decades in two weeks. Waukegan's Jereme Richmond is that important. Prior to Richmond, coach Bill Self signing Proviso East's Dee Brown was the biggest in recent memory as he instantly became the face of the program and a beloved figure. But the signing of Richmond should, once and for all, absolutely shut up the "Bruce Weber can't recruit" voices. There aren't many out there left, but keeping a hold of Richmond for approximately three years as a verbal commitment was pivotal for the program. Every elite program brings in game-changing recruits to put them over the top. Richmond has that kind of potential if everything falls into place for him.

DE PAUL
This says a little something about the state of the program and where it's been the last decade: the two biggest in-state recruits over the past decade for the Blue Demons have been Leo's Andre Brown, who scored 1,146 career points but never quite lived up to expectations, and current guard Will Walker of Bolingbrook. And that's it. Yikes. Of course, in the fall of 1997 coach Pat Kennedy signed a top 10 national recruiting class that included Simeon's Bobby Simmons, Whitney Young's Quentin Richardson and Julian's Lance Williams, but that was the last true program-changing recruits DePaul has nabbed from Illinois. The next potential in-state difference-maker? The Blue Demons are hoping it will come from a Class of 2011 star.

NORTHWESTERN
Honestly, it's not a stretch to say Northwestern went decades without securing a pivotal in-state recruit prior to the arrival of coach Bill Carmody. Maybe that's why in just over 100 years of basketball at Northwestern, only two teams have won more than 16 games in a season -- the 1982-83 NIT team and last year's 17-win team. Now there is something to be said about the current recruiting fortunes, which includes a surplus of Chicago area talent in Evanston. A big recruiting coup was getting into the Chicago Public League and signing Michael "Juice" Thompson of Lincoln Park, the current junior point guard, a few years back. Thompson will be a four-year starter for the Wildcats and, more importantly, has been a walking billboard for Northwestern basketball for Chicago area prep players. But the biggest in-state signing -- and yet still an under-the-radar recruit -- is current freshman Drew Crawford of Naperville Central. The 6-5 Crawford was the City/Suburban Hoops Report's 2009 Player of the Year and is the most talented Illinois prep player the Wildcats have signed in years. Crawford has the potential to be a difference-making Big Ten guard before he's through at Northwestern.

ILLINOIS STATE
When Osiris Eldridge signed with Illinois State in November of 2005 out of Phillips High School, the City/Suburban Hoops Report called the recruiting coup the "single biggest recruiting steal in Illinois in the Class of 2005." And it's certainly panned out for the Redbirds. Eldridge is on pace to move into the top five career scorers in school history and has helped re-energize a program that struggled after coach Kevin Stallings left for Vanderbilt 10 years ago. In the seven years prior to Eldridge's arrival, ISU averaged 13 wins a season. In the last two years alone the Eldridge-led Redbirds have won 49 games and reached the NIT twice. Eldridge, the preseason Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, is a huge fan favorite at Redbird Arena and on campus with his crowd-pleasing dunks and athleticism and the now-famous "O-Hawk," his mohawk-styled haircut.

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO
What UIC needs right now is another Cedrick Banks-type of recruit. The Westinghouse star, who was the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year his senior year after leading the Warriors to a second-place finish in state in 2000, was the marquee recruit that was expected when coach Jimmy Collins took over. After sitting out his freshman year, Banks became the school's all-time leading scorer with just over 2,000 career points. The 6-3 Banks was simply "a baller," who was a three-time all-Horizon League selection who led UIC to the NCAA Tournament. That is your program-changing type of recruit. But that was 10 years ago.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Take your pick between Kent Williams and Kevin Dillard. In the late 1990s Williams was the local boy, the hotshot prep star who led Mount Vernon to the state tournament in Peoria as a high school player. He ultimately became one of the greatest players in SIU history, scoring 2,012 career points (2nd all-time at SIU) and leading the Salukis to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths. But it's hard to argue against Dillard's name and recognition. He was the first Mr. Basketball Award winner to play in Carbondale and had a monster senior year after signing with the Salukis in November of 2007, averaging 23.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds for a 27-2 Homewood-Flossmoor team. Dillard was the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year last season and the team's leading scorer.

BRADLEY
For a tradition-rich program in the fertile recruiting ground of Peoria and with big names like Hersey Hawkins, Chet Walker, Bobby Joe Mason, Anthony Parker and others as basketball alums, Bradley has had a tough go of it in securing top in-state talent. Their recruiting efforts have been nearly invisible in Chicago (currently only one Chicago area product on the roster in Sam Maniscalco). So trying to find the last impact recruit from within the state borders is not easy. Pekin's Jeremy Crouch? Peoria Central's Daniel Ruffin? The biggest and most recent was Peoria Central product Marcellus Sommerville, who didn't sign with Bradley out of high school. But when he did return home it was a big deal. Sommerville, who originally signed with Iowa and returned home after an All-American season at Southwestern Illinois Junior College, was named one of the nation's top five junior college transfers. He averaged 16.2 points a game in three years for the Braves, was an All-MVC player and helped lead them to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen his senior year.

LOYOLA
Coach Larry Farmer came to Loyola with a big name a little over a decade ago. And it looked as if the Ramblers were about to get back to their early-1980 roots and success with Chicago-based prep talent by signing Westinghouse star point guard David Bailey 10 years ago. He was the all-important Public League pint-sized difference-making warrior. All Bailey did was score 1,933 career points, which is third all-time at Loyola, and finished third all-time in career assists. Still, despite all of Bailey's talents and infectious attitude, he didn't have a whole lot to play with as the Ramblers averaged 13 wins a year in Bailey's four years on campus.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Has it really been over 25 years since NIU signed the iconic Kenny Battle of West Aurora? For whatever reason (or maybe many), it's been near impossible for the Northern Illinois basketball program to get a big-time in-state recruit to buy into "staying home" and playing for the Huskies -- or any recruiting luck at all, for that matter. Heck, even Battle, the ultimate prized-recruit from nearby Aurora, left after two years and transferred to Illinois. And in the early 1990s it was believed Rolling Meadows star Mike Lipnisky was the steal of the century after averaging 30 points a game as a senior and creating a statewide frenzy when he poured in 37 points in a supersectional win and then 43 in a memorable quarterfinal loss to Gordon Tech in Champaign. While Lipnisky did have a solid career, it was tame in comparison to the expectations. Elgin's Marcus Smallwood finished among the top 12 scorers and top six rebounders in school history earlier this decade, but wasn't a big-named recruit but more of an overachieving undersized 4-man. The best of late is current sophomore Mike DiNunno of Von Steuben, who was highly-regarded coming out of high school and was on the MAC All-Freshman team last season.

The first issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, now in its 15th year of publication, is due out in three weeks. To subscribe or for more information email hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709.

Foreman standout point guard Lavonte Dority, who had narrowed his potential suitors to Baylor, New Mexico and South Florida, made it official this weekend with a commitment to South Florida. The 5-11 point guard is among the top 20 prospects in the City/Suburban Hoops Report's Class of 2010 player rankings and becomes the fourth Foreman senior to commit to a Division I basketball program.

A big reason for the decision was the opportunity to play at the highest level, which South Florida provides Dority. Now Dority, who took his official visit to South Florida last weekend, will have the chance to prove those who didn't believe he was a high-major point guard wrong.

"He definitely wants to prove some things to some people," says Foreman coach Terry Head. "When he got back from his visit last weekend I had a pretty good feeling it was going to be South Florida. It's tough to pass up the Big East."

There will now be a signing party this November on Chicago's North Side at 3235 N. LeClaire as Foreman's fabulous foursome are set to sign Division I letters-of-intent this November. Dority will sign with South Florida, while combo guard Mike McCall will sign with Saint Louis, guard Tommy Woolridge to Eastern Illinois and 6-5 Eddie Denard to UIC.

"It's going to be a big plus to have the recruiting out of the way and taken care of," says Head, looking ahead to the upcoming season. "There were definitely times when we were worried too much about playing in front of college coaches."

Foreman will certainly enter the season among the top 10 teams in the state when the City/Suburban Hoops Report preseason issue comes out next month. It wasn't too long ago when the thought of Foreman being in any rankings was laughable.

Head knows -- heck, he's heard it himself -- there were and are a lot of skeptics and naysayers out there when it came to his program.

"There has been a lot of negativity towards our program," says Head. "Foreman? Why would you go to Foreman? What can they say now?"

Foreman, after all, is not exactly in the geographical hotbed of city hoops. This is not Simeon or Marshall with their history and tradition. Foreman is not on the South Side and it doesn't play in the Red-West. But here the program sits with four Division I recruits. And only one of the four, Dority, had a big name four years ago. McCall, Woolridge and Denard weren't exactly highly-touted phenoms coming into Foreman as freshmen. Foreman has emerged in city basketball.

Now Head and his program are poised for a breakout year. And with it will come a little pressure. But Head believes both he and his team are more prepared.

"We learned from the pressure of last year," says Head.

A couple of years ago a young Foreman team challenged for the top spot in the Chicago Public League's Red-North, only to see Von Steuben go unbeaten. Last season Foreman entered the year ranked No. 9 in the Hoops Report's preseason Top 25 and was expected to get over the hump and win the Red-North. But Lincoln Park stole the thunder, going 9-0 in division play while Foreman finished 8-1.

This appears to be the year for Head and his experienced Hornets. The Dority, McCall, Woolridge trio is as good as it gets on the perimeter. The 6-5 Denard provides athleticism and rebounding. Senior Kevin Baston has experience and size at 6-5. And 6-9 Dante Jones provides Head his first legitimate big man.

"For us this year it's a matter of being on the same page, being focused and everyone understanding their role," Head points out.

The Joy of the Game in Deerfield will hold its fall league all-star game tonight in Deerfield, while the fall league playoffs will tip off on Sunday to conclude what is arguably the top fall basketball league in Illinois.

The freshmen and sophomore all-star games will tip at 7 p.m., while the junior and senior all-star games will follow at 8 p.m. The showcase benefit will feature many of the top players in Illinois and is a benefit that raises money for needy children. This year's proceeds from the event will benefit the JG Foundation, which in the past has raised money for organizations like the National Children's Cancer Society, Make A Wish Foundation, Red Cross, Visions For Tomorrow Foundation and many other groups.

Throughout the night there will be a 3-point contest, raffles and other activities.

The fall league playoffs on Sunday concludes a league that features over 30 high school teams and an additional 16 frosh/soph teams. Games begin at 8 a.m. and concludes with two championship games at 8 p.m.

For more information visit www.joyofthegame.com.

The City/Suburban Hoops Report has found the recruitment of Deerfield's Duje Dukan a bit puzzling. However, with an offer from Arizona State Thursday, maybe it's finally starting to make a little more sense.... hopefully.

The Hoops Report's adoration for the talents of Dukan have been endless -- and pretty loud and clear -- since he broke out with such a productive junior year and then flourished this spring and summer on the AAU circuit playing with Steve Pratt's Chicago Elite team. Still, the high-majors were -- and continue to be -- slow to come around. While a multitude of mid-majors covet the 6-8 wing, the high-majors have sniffed around a lot but with signing day a few weeks away there has been nothing. So give credit to coach Herb Sendek and the ASU staff, who Pratt says came through with the offer. Why it took a Pac-10 school from thousands of miles away to be the first, well ...

Dukan can play at the high-major level. While he may not be the ideal fit in certain systems, in the right one he can certainly play a role. That's because Dukan's greatest attribute translates to any level, which is that he can flat-out sit out on the perimeter and shoot it with the best of them. He has the size and the high release point to be able to get his shot off. He is extremely skilled, sees the floor and passes exceptionally well for a player his size.

To put it in simple terms, Dukan was a late bloomer. He was productive but not spectacular as a junior. But you could see the potential and skill level coming together. Then came the confidence, which he showed during the spring and summer. The knock, at least at the high-major level, will be his lack of strength, questionable foot speed and who he will guard. Again, he is just scratching the surface and continues to grow into his body. Dukan's high basketball I.Q., with great bloodlines, work ethic and overall size will help overcome many of his weaknesses.

Sometimes when a player floats under the radar it just takes one high-major to come through and others follow. Arizona State has certainly made the leap of faith and, as a result, is front and center in the Dukan recruiting. Will others follow?

The Illinois State basketball program added a true big man to the mix with the commitment of 6-9 Jordan Threloff of DeKalb on Friday and then added a multi-talented guard in Simeon product Kenyon Smith early this week. The 6-0 guard committed to Illinois State following his senior year of high school and now, after a year away from basketball, he will sign with the Redbirds this November. Smith ended up at Lincoln College and will play this season for the Lynx.

The 6-0 point guard brings many attributes and has the ability to fill a lot of different roles, including bringing some toughness and a willingness to get out and defend on the perimeter. He had a penchant for making an important play or hitting a big shot while at Simeon. Smith, who averaged 8.2 points, 4 rebounds and 8.5 assists a game as a senior for coach Robert Smith at Simeon, is a point guard with the ability to shoot. He played the shooter's role off the bench his junior year for Simeon's Derrick Rose-led state championship team. During Smith's senior year Simeon finished second in state.

Smith sat out last season but will play this year for Lincoln, which will give Smith three years of eligibility at Illinois State. He will join and add another dimension to a talented young group of perimeter players, including 6-4 freshman Justin Clark, who was named Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year by the Sporting News, freshman point guard Terry Johnson of North Lawndale, 6-6 freshman Zeke Upshaw of University High and Thornwood product Trey Blue, who transferred to Illinois State this year.

It was a big night for Illinois State basketball Friday as it landed a coveted big man in DeKalb's Jordan Threloff. Meanwhile, DePaul basketball continues to try and make some waves in Chicago area recruiting and did so with a talented group of potential impact players on campus Friday night. The Blue Demons had a host of talented players from all ages on campus.

According to Mike Irvin of the Mac Irvin Fire, DePaul had Wayne Blackshear of Morgan Park, Mike Shaw of De La Salle, Phillip Jackson of Hyde Park and Jabari Parker of Simeon all on campus Friday night for DePaul's Midnight Madness.

In addition, St. Patrick junior Jacob Williams and promising freshman Royale Ewing took in the action at DePaul. C.J. Jones, one of the top three players in the Class of 2012, was in attendance, along with Orr teammate Mycheal Henry, a 6-5 junior.

The recent momentum of DePaul recruiting continues, thanks in large part to a new group of assistants that have re-charged recruiting. The Blue Demons received commitments from three players recently, including highly-touted Moses Morgan of Las Vegas. Now coach Jerry Wainright welcomes the top 2011 prospect in Illinois on campus, along with Shaw, Jackson and Parker. DePaul has done a terrific job of getting more and more talent on campus and, in this case, an abundance of young talent.

Threloff a Redbird
The recruiting of Threloff was a grind, with several schools in and out of the picture and the process lasting up until Friday night. But Illinois State and coach Tim Jankovich landed the 6-9 senior, with a lot of credit going to assistant coach Rob Judson in helping secure the commitment.

While many schools were involved and Threloff was patient with his visits and decision, ISU ultimately edged out Drake, Western Michigan and Northern Illinois. Threloff had made many trips to the Illinois State campus, including Friday night's Redbird HoopFest inside historical Horton Field House.

There are so few quality big men out there, so for the Redbirds to nab a true on-the-block big man is always key. And Threloff is just that, a player who knows who he is, accepts it and doesn't try to do more than he's capable of.

What Threloff can become at the next level is a true, legitimate mid-major big man. His offensive game has made significant improvements since he first burst on the scene two years ago and continued while playing with the Rising Stars AAU program. He has a developing jump-hook and a face-up jumper that is gaining a little more consistency. He's still looking to polish up a go-to move in the post and refine his offensive game, but he has shown steady progress.

The biggest attribute is, quite frankly, his great size. Although he's a below-the-rim type, he will establish position with his strong and thick base, battle, take up space inside and provide a presence. And for his size he can get up and down the floor. Think of him as a mid-major version of former Pitt star Aaron Gray.

Threloff will add size to an Illinois State program that includes young players inside like 6-9 freshman Jackie Carmichael and 6-7 sophomore Kellen Thornton.