By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Ricardo Patton and his assistants at Northern Illinois continue to get it done when it comes to landing in-state talent from the class of 2008. Last night, Patton received his third commitment from this class in the form of an unheralded point guard who plays on a high school team which is sure to be ranked by virtually everyone as the preseason #1 in Illinois.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
With Iman Shumpert, Stan Simpson and Josh Crittle all having offered verbal commitments over the past couple of weeks, most all of the top-tier talent in Illinois from the class of 2008 is now off the board. Forget the fact that the Fall signing period is still over two weeks away. A question that beckons is "What will be available in the spring?" As of now the answer appears to be "Not much", as it looks like slim pickings.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Wow, talk about keeping things close to the vest! Throughout his entire recruitment, Iman Shumpert did that and then some. At no point in time did he or anyone in his camp ever tip their cap as to which way the 6'4 guard from Oak Park-River Forest High School in Oak Park, IL was leaning. As a result, it may have come as a surprise to some when Shumpert announced early this evening that he has verbally committed to Georgia Tech University. Shumpert chose the Yellow Jackets over Marquette and North Carolina.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has learned through multiple sources that Josh Crittle, the 6'8 forward from Hales Franciscan High School in Chicago, has verbally committed to the University of Oregon. Crittle chose the Ducks over Minnesota.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Things are really beginning to fall into place for Bruce Weber and the University Of Illinois. After receiving three commitments from the class of 2009 in one day last Thursday, Weber kept the good times rolling today by securing a verbal commitment in the class of 2008 from 6'9 Stan Simpson from Simeon High School in Chicago. The commitment has been confirmed by Larry Butler of the Illinois Warriors, who is Simpson's AAU coach.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Ryan Hare wondered why no television cameras had shown up at Marshall High School last Thursday when he, as well as several other basketball players and students, organized a rally outside the school to voice their support for recently fired basketball coach Lamont Bryant. After some serious deliberation, we have decided to offer some publicity of our own to this situation, although we are sure it isn't the kind that Hare and his fellow teammates are looking for.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
Oh, boy--we wonder what all of the Bruce Weber critics are saying now! Ever since Weber took the head coaching job at the University Of Illinois, no coach in college basketball has been under more constant scrutiny for perceived recruiting inefficiencies. Weber and the Illini have gone a long way towards silencing all of the critics by receiving verbal commitments from two of the top prospects in Illinois from the class of 2009--6'3 D.J. Richardson from Central High School in Peoria, IL and 6'3 Brandon Paul from Warren Township High School in Gurnee, IL.
By Roy & Harv Schmidt
A lot has been made about scouting services and recruiting analysts who evaluate elementary age kids and college coaches who recruit them. In our minds this does more harm than good and there is no question that the process is screwed up. However, what we believe to be the #1 source of the problem today may come as somewhat of a surprise to many of you.
