Taylor Bell on the Irish recruiting situation...

By obtaining oral commitments from defensive end Darius Fleming of St. Rita, linebacker Steve Filer of Mount Carmel and defensive lineman Sean Cwynar of Marian Central, according to recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CSTV, the Irish have demonstrated that they are "back in business as a force in Chicago and the Chicago Catholic League after a 17-year absence."

"Since 1990, when Notre Dame signed Bryant Young (Bloom), Oliver Gibson (Romeoville), Pete Bercich (Providence) and Brian Hamilton (St. Rita), all consensus All-Americans, they were content with losing kids to Illinois and Michigan. They didn't dominate the Chicago area as they had for years under coach Lou Holtz," Lemming said.

He credits Notre Dame's new-found success to coach Charlie Weis, who is proving himself to be one of the leading recruiters in the country; assistant coach Rob Ianello, the architect of the Irish recruiting plan; and new assistant Corwin Brown, a Julian and Michigan grad who has many contacts in the Chicago area.

Fleming, Filer and Cwynar are among eight top 100 prospects in a class that ranks No. 1 in the nation. Notre Dame has 19 commitments to date, including 16 in the top 200. Filer's cousin is former All-America running back Jerome Heavens, who starred at Notre Dame in the 1970s.

The class is so deep and talented that the Irish don't have room for highly touted lineman Garrett Goebel of Montini because they already have commitments from five of the best defensive linemen in the country.

But Notre Dame, which doesn't figure to field a nationally ranked squad this fall, still is looking for talent. Weis is in the mix for two of the top 12 players in the nation--defensive lineman Marcus Forston of Miami, Fla., and wide receiver Michael Floyd of St. Paul, Minn.

The Irish also are recruiting at least four other top 100 players--wide receiver Brice Butler of Norcross, Geo., running back Ryan Williams of Manassas, Va., offensive lineman Trevor Robinson of Elkhorn, Neb., and linebacker Etienne Sabino of Miami, Fla.

Robinson is an interesting case study. He already has committed to Nebraska but visited Notre Dame and Michigan last week.

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The Mount Carmel star is the latest addition to the Irish recruiting class, already ranked No. 1 in the nation...

Filer, a 6-4, 225-pound linebacker, chose Notre Dame over Ohio State. He had 37 scholarship offers.

"In the beginning, Notre Dame wasn't at the top of my list. I liked Ohio State and Michigan," Filer said. "But I got a good feeling for the players and coaches. In the end, I felt Notre Dame was the best move for me and my family. It is close to home and it will give me a good education."

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Elgin Courier News Sports Editor R.J. Gerber has the story...

July 20, 2007
By R.J. GERBER sports editor

ELGIN -- Larry Hight hasn't coached a basketball game in 10 years.

But that will change this winter when Hight begins his tenure as Larkin's varsity boys basketball coach.

The Royals former sophomore coach was named Thursday to succeed Joe Kain, who resigned June 4.

"I'm very excited about this," said Hight, 54, who will remain as Larkin's varsity softball coach, a position he's held for 12 seasons. "I love basketball. I've loved it all my life."

Hight has held head hoops coaching positions at Elmwood Park, Lovington and Potomac and coached on the underclass level at Larkin, Streamwood, West Chicago and York. A guidance counselor at Larkin, Hight will continue in that capacity. He left the Larkin basketball program in 1997.

But he's back now and eager to get going.

"Larry is an outstanding person and an outstanding coach," said Larkin athletic director Jim Juliano. "He's also one of the hardest-working coaches I've ever been around. He's bridled with enthusiasm and has a lot of experience."

Larkin took a step back last season, posting a 6-23 mark after winning 20 games in 2005-06 with a senior-dominated squad. The Royals won regional titles under Kain from 2004-06.

"I think Larry is the right guy to continue the tradition that (Kain) has built," said Juliano.

Hight grew up in basketball-crazy Pekin and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1976. It was during that time in Charleston when Hight made the decision that coaching basketball was his goal. He took a basketball coaching class under the direction of former EIU bench boss Don Eddy that stoked his desire.

"Right then I knew I wanted to be a basketball coach," said Hight.

Asked what Larkin fans can expect from his coaching tenure, Hight said he's willing to be flexible when it comes to strategy.

"I have a lot of stuff for any type of talent we'll have," the three-time Courier News softball coach of the year said. "I'm a diehard man-to-man coach, but you've got to play multiple defenses. You make your decisions and you go from there. You have to be able to adjust."

Larkin senior Cam Kinley was relieved to hear news that a coach had been hired. The Royals played a summer-league game at Harper College without a coach Thursday night.

"I guess (Hight) knows what we're about and he's probably seen us play," said Kinley, a three-sport athlete for the Royals. "But it's been kind of weird not having a coach."

Kain surpised many when he resigned, citing family reasons. He's reportedly accepted a teaching and underclass coaching position at another school outside Elgin School District U46.

"The first thing I've got to do is deal with the kids' attitudes. They've had to deal with losing their head coach," said Hight. "But without good attitudes, it can't work."

A familiarity with Larkin students should only help.

"It's not like I'm a complete stranger to them," Hight said. "But maybe as far as basketball I am."

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The Bulldogs new coach talks about his star player Jereme Richmond...

"I had the chance to see [Richmond] play against us [at U-HIgh] last season," Ashlaw said. "I'm very excited to have the chance to work with a player of his caliber."

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Jeff Bonato of the Lake County News-Sun checks in with the news...

July 18, 2007
BY JEFF BONATO
jbonato@scn1.com

WAUKEGAN — This is the most important thing you need to know about the new varsity boys basketball coach at Waukegan High:

He knows EXACTLY what he’s getting into.

That message was delivered loud and clear by Waukegan High interim principal William Newby on Tuesday night, moments after the Waukegan School board approved the hiring of Ron Ashlaw to head the Bulldogs’ hoops program.

Ashlaw is replacing Al Rogers, who served last season as the school’s interim coach after Brian Colbert resigned as coach after four winning seasons.

Rogers and Colbert were both finalists for the job that wound up going to Ashlaw, as a search committee conducted extensive interviews with five finalists before settling on the Chicagoan.

So, who, exactly, is the new man at the wheel of Waukegan’s hoops program?

Ashlaw has spent the last three seasons coaching the varsity boys basketball team at Chicago University High. That is a small (Class 1A) private school that serves as a lab school for the University of Chicago. Chicago U-High competes in athletics in the same conference as Lake Forest Academy and North Shore Country Day.

Before that, Ashlaw coached three years at St. Benedict, another small, private school in Chicago.

In the classroom, Ashlaw has been teaching social studies at the Walter Dyett Academic Center, which is a Chicago public school serving inner city kids, many of whom have struggled in a traditional academic setting.

He is expected to join the teaching staff in the Waukegan school district in the fall.

He’s also expected to produce a winning team sooner rather than later.

“We were very clear with him, telling him that people are going to expect us to win this year,” said Newby.

Newby served as spokesman for the hiring at Tuesday’s school-board meeting because Waukegan High athletic director Dave Perkins was gone on a family vacation.

However, it was Perkins who made the final call that Ashlaw was the right man at the right time to lead Waukegan.

“Dave said he’s sure that ‘This is the guy who’s the future of Waukegan (basketball),’ ” said Newby.

Newby, who was part of the selection process, said he “was impressed with the thoroughness of Ron’s presentation. He has a plan for what to do every day, starting with Day 1.”

Ashlaw was not present at Tuesday’s meeting of the school board, but he’s expected to get started on his new coaching position immediately.

He will be paid $12,883 to coach the Bulldogs.

The new coach will need to get up to speed soon. He has missed the entire summer-league season, in which the Bulldogs were coached informally by Rogers, among others.

Newby said on Tuesday he did not know who will be on the bench, helping Ashlaw coach this coming season.

In his three years at Chicago U-High, Ashlaw’s teams compiled records of 16-12 (2004-2005), 18-8 (2005-2006) and 9-17 (last season).

In four years at St. Benedict, he was a combined 53-61 (1998-2002).

Expectations at Waukegan are considerably above that.

FOR THE RECORD ...

RON ASHLAW’S COACHING LOG

At Chicago University High

* 2005-2006 — 9-17

* 2004-2005 — 18-8

* 2003-2004 — 16-21

At Chicago St. Benedict

* 2001-2002 — 14-16

* 2000-2001 — 12-17

* 1999-2000 — 9-19

* 1998-1999 — 18-9

WAUKEGAN HOOPS HISTORY RECENT COACHES

2006-2007 — Al Rogers
2002-2006 — Brian Colbert
1998-2002 — Grant Flink
1996-1998 — Lloyd Batts
1995-1996 — Paul Missavage
990-1995 — Frank Belmont

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Clyde Travis gets Dunigan's side of the story...

"It was all about the presentation," Dunigan said. "When I went for my visit they didn't just show me the athletic places, they gave me an overall view of where I'd be taking my classes, how it would be set up for me to be successful and graduate. One of the big things is they were the only school that stuck to my rules. I didn't want to be bugged every minute by every coach. They were the only school I felt that didn't pressure me."

On Illinois:

"Illinois was in there but I feel very comfortable with the decision I've made."

Posted by Michael O'Brien at 09:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (21) | TrackBacks (0)

The Sun-Times' Clyde Travis gets Nelson's views on Dunigan's commitment...

"I spoke with Mike and his mother and they feel that school is a good fit," Nelson said. "This is the earliest that one of my players has committed. I may not agree with his decision but I respect it. I've only talked to that man (Oregon coach Ernie Kent) once. Mike had a lot offers from top notch schools like Florida, Connecticut, Kentucky, Georgetown, Florida State and Illinois."

According to Nelson, if Dunigan had decided to play in the Big 10, Illinois would have been his choice.

Posted by Michael O'Brien at 09:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Scott Powers of Ill. Hoops.com talked with Richmond today....

Jereme Richmond, the jewel of Illinois’ 2010 recruiting class, has transferred from North Shore to Waukegan.

“It’s because of the commute and just because I didn’t fit in from a social standpoint,” Richmond said.

The 6-6 sophomore committed to Illinois after his first high school game.

“There are definitely times where I think what could have been and what other schools could have been recruiting me,” Richmond said. “Being humans, you never know what the future can hold. As of now, I’m confident with it and positive with my decision.”

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Humphrey says he would have picked Illinois if they had offered last year...

"I can actually say I would have gone to Illinois if they had offered me earlier," Humphrey said. "It got to the point where I had to wonder if they really wanted me. When I went to Midnight Madness I thought I would get an offer, but they didn’t offer until a couple months ago. That’s a part of the way they handle things. I don’t take it as a bad way to do things. That’s just the way they are."

Humphrey's mother and father both went to Illinois. His dad was on the baseball team.

"It was the first school I ever thought about going to," Humphrey said. "I just know with my situation they just waited too long to let me know that they really wanted me. They had the opportunity."

Humphrey isn't worried about the reaction from Illinois fans.

"I know that some other players heard stuff after committing other places," Humphrey said. "But I'm not sure it really matters how [the Illinois fans] feel that I'm not going there. It's not their fault and it's not mine either."

Humphrey and Dunigan committed today in a conference call with the Oregon coaches.

"Oregon was just the best fit for me as a basketball player and for my family as well," Humphrey said. "They just always stayed consistent. They were one of the first to offer and stick with me."

Former Meanstreets player Joevan Catron, who is sophomore at Oregon, played a part in the decision.

"It was an example," Humphrey said. "He looked good, lost a lot of weight and he was progressing as a player. That wasn't a huge factor. It was just a bonus.”

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Meanstreets coach Tai Streets sends two more off to a high-major...

"Joevan [Catron] is having a great time out there," Streets said. "I’m sure they talked to him. I’m sure it had a little bit to do with him."

Dunigan earned rave reviews this weekend at the Peach Jam. According to Streets, his potential is unlimited.

"He's reached the point where he's unstoppable one on one," Streets said.

Both players were considering Illinois, but once again, the Illini have fallen just short with an in-state target.

"I don't know what the problem is," Streets said. "I love [Illinois coach Bruce Weber]." He's a great guy and a great coach. Personally, I like Illinois a lot. I guess the kids liked Oregon. Matt and Mike were both wide open and had mentioned Illinois. Weber is a great dude and he's just having a bad string. I'm sure it will turn around."

Dunigan and Humphrey have both qualified.

"These kids are 4.0 students," Streets said. " It’s amazing. It has a lot to do with their surrounding. Mike’s mom is always making sure he does the right thing and it's the same way with Matt's family."

Posted by Michael O'Brien at 02:57 PM | Permalink |