WELCOME TO THE ILLINOIS PREP BULLS-EYE WEB SITE!
Here you will find the most comprehensive coverage of Illinois prep basketball that you will come across anywhere.
A Closer Look At Alex Foster's Commitment To Texas Tech
After receiving his release from the University Of Minnesota Seton Academy's Alex Foster was hoping for a relatively easy transition when it came to finding a new school. Texas Tech helped make that possible by hiring the head coach that Foster had previously committed to. However, many people are unaware of who was even more of a key figure in enabling the Red Raiders to close the deal on Foster. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye fills everyone in with an up-close look at Foster's commitment to Texas Tech in this story.
Bradley Adds Late Bloomer In 2013 Class
Bradley head coach Geno Ford and his staff have made Chicago a top recruiting priority from day one. And there is no question that their hard work continues to pay off. The Braves' latest prize is an under the radar big man from the 2013 class who they were able to land a commitment from just before the end of the Spring signing period. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye provides all of the goods in this story.
Elite Academic Athletes To Conduct Two Showcases During July
The showcases put together by Elite Academic Athletes are always well-run and offer the opportunity for top student athletes to receive maximum exposure in front of highly regarded academic universities within the course of a single day. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the complete info pertaining to the two showcases that will take place during this year's July evaluation period which can be found by clicking on the above link.
Class Of 2014 Stock Raiser: Darreon Reddick
The Southwest Jets 17-Under Orange squad has enjoyed considerable success since the start of the Spring traveling team season including reaching the championship game in the gold division of the Derby City Classic. One player who has been a huge part of that is Darreon Reddick, who has enhanced his stock considerably as the result of consistently turning in strong performances. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down Reddick's game further and takes a look at his recruitment in this stock raiser story.
Top Three Performers At Bill Hensley Memorial Run 'N Slam From Amongst Illinois-Based Players
As always, the Bill Hensley Memorial Run 'n Slam featured a plethora of talent with respect to Illinois-based high school basketball recruits. In the end, however, we thought that there were three players in particular who clearly stood out above the rest due to performing in spectacular fashion all weekend. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye lets everyone know who ranked among the cream of the crop at the Spiece event in this report.
Class Of 2015 Stock Raiser: Harrison Niego
Lyons Township's Harrison Niego is one half of the most underrated backcourt tandem in Illinois when it comes to the 16-under traveling team circuit. And after leading his Chicago Lockdown squad to yet another championship he has proven to us that he can play with the big boys and is worthy of even more recruiting attention than he is getting. Illinois Prep Bulls-eyej breaks down Niego's game and explains what makes him so valuable in this report.
Aaron Jordan Is Now On The Map After A Great Weekend At Derby City Classic
Plainfield East's Aaron Jordan has really come into his own since the start of the Spring traveling team season. And after performing in spectacular fashion at the Derby City Classic in Louisville he is now attracting considerable recruiting attention. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down Jordan's game including everything that makes him such an attractive prospect and takes a look at all of his suitors in this player watch.
Michael Orris And Quinten Payne Find New Schools
The recruiting road has been well-traveled for both Michael Orris and Quinten Payne. And now after rethinking things and going through the process yet again, both of them have finally settled on new college homes. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has all of the details with respect to the commitments offered up by Orris and Payne in this story.
Harris And Ulis Add Scholarship Offers
Scholarship offers keep pouring in for numerous Illinois-based high school basketball recruits, with the latest recipients being Sandburg's Malek Harris and Marian Catholic's Tyler Ulis. In this update, Illinois Prep Bulls-eye lets everyone know the latest offers to come their way and where everything stands.
Latest Recruiting Happenings: Matthews, Brunson, Arogundade & More
Illinois Prep Bulls-eye catches everyone up on the recent flurry of recruiting activity in the state of Illinois. It includes the latest scholarship offers to come the way of Charles Matthews, Jalen Brunson and Ore Arogundade and a lot more, all of which can be found in this update.
DePaul Lands A Huge 2013 Recruit
There has been considerable speculation as to how DePaul head coach Oliver Purnell will round out the remainder of his 2013 recruiting class. Part of that puzzle has now been answered in a big way (literally and figuratively). As a result a once highly-touted local recruit will be returning home to play his college basketball. The impact could prove to be huge in more ways than one. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has all that you need to know about the Blue Demons' latest commitment in this story.
Jalen James Chooses WAC School
No La Lumiere Academy's Jalen James was supposed to take three official visits before deciding on a college. However, in the end James realized that he only needed to take one. That is because his first visit ended up going so well that James is now off the board. As a result, he will be heading to the west coast to play his college basketball in the WAC. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on James' commitment in this story.
Recruiting Analysis: Okafor's Upcoming In-Home Visits Are Even More Significant Than People Realize
Yes, the top two players in the nation from the class of 2014--Whitney Young's Jahlil Okafor and Apple Valley's Tyus Jones have made it no secret that they would like to play their college basketball at the same school. However, the reasons that Okafor has scheduled four in-home recruiting visits next week go far beyond that desire. Therefore, make no mistake about it--the timing makes this a huge developement with respect to Okafor's recruitment. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye tells everyone why in this recruiting analysis.
Things We Look Forward To This Traveling Team Season
The first live recruiting period of the Spring is set to kick off this weekend and with that in mind there are more than a few things to get excited about from an Illinois-based standpoint. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye lets everyone know what some of them are as we begin our coverage.
Analysis And Commentary: Groce And Montgomery Come Out Ahead With Latest Transfers
In college basketball transfers come about for different reasons and under different sets of circumstances. And while they can often leave coaches scrambling recruiting-wise, there are times when they are for the best. We believe that is the case with the latest transfers at both the University Of Illinois and Northern Illinois, where both John Groce and Mark Montgomery continue to carve their own identities for their respective programs.
Simelton Decides On The Patriot League
Oswego guard Miles Simelton had several attractive recruiting options available to him as the result of his outstanding senior season. After taking an official visit this past week, he concluded that the best fit is at a school that offers a tremendous campus atmosphere and has everything that he wants academically in addition to basketball. As a result, he will be playing in the Patriot League. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye Illinois Prep Bulls-eye fills in the missing pieces with respect to Simelton's commitment in this story.
University Of Chicago Lands Another Recruiting Steal
University Of Chicago head coach Mike McGrath continues to do his homework and simply outwork other coaches on the recruiting trail. And his efforts continue to pay dividends, with his latest pledge coming from a 2013 wing forward who had been recruited by schools at all levels, including a couple of low D1s. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the news surrounding the Maroons' new commit in this story.
Gavin Schilling Chooses Big Ten School
Having spent the past year at Findlay Prep on the west coast, Gavin Schilling expressed a strong desire to return to the midwest to play his college basketball. That, along with the opportunity to play in the Big Ten, ended up trumping all other factors with respect to his final decision. It was a close battle between two schools, but which one won out? Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the answer and all of the particulars which led to Schilling's commitment in this story.
Class 4A Co-Coaches Of The Year: Pat Ambrose And Tony Lavarato Jr.
Few if any high school basketball coaches in Illinois got the maximum degree of effort that Stevenson's Pat Ambrose and Maine South's Tony Lavarato Jr. did throughout this past season. This can be seen in the final results, with Stevenson reaching the Class 4A title game and Maine South winning both a conference and regional championship. As a result, Ambrose and Lavarato are our Class 4A Co-Coaches Of The Year. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more with respect to their accomplishments in this story..
Class 3A Coach Of The Year: Nick Irvin
From the first day of practice last November, Morgan Park varsity boy's basketball coach Nick Irvin instilled in his team the importance of teamwork and being both mentally and physically tough. The philosophy worked like a charm with the ultimate prize being a class 3A state championship. As a result, Irvin has been named our Class 3A Coach Of The Year in Illinois. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye lets everyone know all of the reasons why in this story.
Class Of 2014 Player Watch: Kurt Hall
North Chicago came up short in their Class 3A supersectional contest versus Chicago Orr but it certainly was not due to a lack of effort on the part of 2014 power forward Kurt Hall. In fact, Hall took it right to Orr's front court for most of the game to the tune of a double-double. Hall's performance offered yet another example of why he is one of the more unheralded prospects in Illinois from the 2014 class. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down Hall's game further in this player watch.
Sources: L.J. Peak Looking To Return To South Carolina
Make no mistake about it--while Jahlil Okafor can make a strong case for being the Player Of The Year in Illinois, another big reason for Whitney Young's success this past season was the presence of 2014 wing L.J. Peak. However, word has it that Peak is looking to move back to his home state of South Carolina and re-enroll at the high school that he attended his first two years before transferring to Chicago. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the complete lowdown in this report
Geneva's Unheralded Sophomore Trio, Simelton Update And More
Last week saw plenty of exciting action in Class 3A and 4A regional play across the state of Illinois with there being some surprises along the way. In addition there have been some notable recruiting happenings. In this update, Illinois Prep Bulls-eye looks at some of the highlights of the past week, including the emergence of Geneva on the Illinois high school basketball map, the continued rise of Oswego's Miles Simelton and a couple of college commitments.
Alex Majewski Chooses Great West School
Brother Rice's Alex Majewski has enjoyed a strong senior year and in doing so had begun attracting widespread recruiting attention. Having had a few days to thinks things over after his high school season came to an end this past week, Majewski has opted to close things out. As a result, he will be taking his basketball talents to a school in the Great West conference. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye expounds further in this story.
Vincennes University Taps Into Chicago Area Again To Land First 2013 Recruit
The coaching staff at Vincennes University has always done a terrific job of recruiting top talent from the Chicago area. Their string of success in that area should undoubtedly continue, as the Trailblazers struck paydirt by landing their first recruit from the 2013 class in the form of an athletic and high-scoring combo guard from Chicago's southwest suburbs. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on the commitment in this story.
Unheralded 2015 Prospects In Illinois
Most everyone is familiar with the top players in Illinois from the 2015 class such as D.J. Williams, Charles Matthews, Jalen Brunson and all of the talented 2015 recruits who play for the Illinois Wolves traveling team program. However, since the start of the season we have caught more than a few 2015 prospects who are not as widely known on the national scale but can undoubtedly play. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye lets everyone know who some of them are in this report.
University Of Illinois Lands Pledge From Local 2014 Recruit
After losing out on Keita Bates-Diop University Of Illinois head coach John Groce and his staff moved quickly with respect to another 2014 forward who was high on their recruiting pecking order in the 2014 class. Their efforts have paid off big time as the Illini have landed their first 2014 commitment in the form of a local prospect who only continues to get better. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the complete skinny behind the commitment in this story.
Keita Bates-Diop Ends His Recruitment And Commits To Big Ten School
For the better part of the past few months (actually since the end of the summer) there had been considerable talk that Normal U-High's Keita Bates-Diop would wrap up his recruitment early and commit before the start of the upcoming high school season. Sure enough, Bates-Diop is now off the board as he will be headed to a Big Ten School that continues to land elite talent out of Illinois. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has everything surrounding the commitment in this story.
Class Of 2015 Player Watch: Joseph Toye
Whitney Young's Joseph Toye performed just as well if not better on the second day of the Pangos All-Midwest Frosh/Soph Camp than any player in attendance. In doing so he confirmed his status as one of the top prospects in Illinois from the class of 2015. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Toye's game and the tremendous up side that he possesses in this Player Watch story.
Class Of 2016 Player Watch: Donovan Oliver
The Quad City Elite Hoops Showcase featured a number of talented underclass prospects from the Quad Cities portion of Illinois and Iowa. One of the standouts at the event was Kewanee's Donovan Oliver, who simply possesses an all-around skill set that extends well beyond his years. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Oliver's game and why he ranks among the top 2016 prospects in Illinois in this Player Watch.
Class Of 2014 Player Watch: Donte Ingram
There was considerable talk and hype when Russell Woods decided to transfer to Simeon during the summer. However, we are now thinking that another transfer to Simeon who deserves just as much attention is 2014 wing Donte Ingram. We say that because Ingram undoubtedly turned heads with his play in a recent open gym at Simeon and has proven to us that he will be yet another big weapon in head coach Robert Smith's arsenal this upcoming season. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down Ingram's game further in this player watch.
Class Of 2014 Stock Raiser: Jevon Carter
Sterling Brown and Paris Lee are the main cogs in the wheel, but 2014 wing Jevon Carter could end up playing just as big of a role in Proviso East's quest to make a return trip to the state finals in Peoria next March. So far, Carter has certainly proven worthy of the cause, as he has been solid all summer and has also turned in some outstanding efforts during September. As a result, he is currently one of the bigger stock raisers in Illinois from the 2014 class. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Carter's game in this 2014 player profile.
Class Of 2015 Hidden Gem: Trevor Stumpe
Make no mistake about it--there is a ton of talent on the Illinois Wolves 15-Under traveling team. Nevertheless, a player who has gone highly unnoticed until now is 6'4 2015 2-guard Trevor Stumpe. After a strong performance at the GRBA National Championships in Ft. Wayne, we have a feeling that is going to change quickly. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Stumpe's game in this "hidden gem" feature.
Wisconsin Lands Sleeper 2014 Recruit From Quad Cities Area
Few if any college coaches are any better at discovering hidden talent than Wisconsin's Bo Ryan. Sure enough, Ryan has done so yet again. Not only that, but after offering a scholarship to a 2014 wing prospect from the western part of Illinois during their Elite Camp and following up with an unofficial campus visit, the Badgers have succeeded in landing an early commitment. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has the goods in this story.
Class Of 2015 Player Watch: Evan Boudreaux
Right now there is no question that the bulk of the talent from the 2015 class in Illinois lies in the back court. However, a big who has proven that he is worthy of attention is Evan Boudreaux, who looked impressive at the recently concluded Chicago Best Buy Classic. In this player watch Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down Boudreaux's game further and explains why he ranks among the top 2015 front court prospects in the state.
Class Of 2014 Player Watch: Tyquone Greer
Orr's Tyquone Greer has been turning heads with his strong play since the start of the Illinois high school basketball season and in doing so has shown that he could be among the elite prospects in Illinois from the 2014 class. We will say this much--there may not be a more athletic player from amongst that group. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Greer's game and what makes him so intriguing in this player watch.
Class Of 2014 Player Watch: Ore Arogundade
St. Viator's Ore Arogundade is a player who has definitely fallen under the radar when it comes to talking about top wing prospects in Illinois from the 2014 class. Having started the season off strong thus far, including turning in impressive outings at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic, we have a feeling that Arogundade's reputation is going to start growing. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye explains why in this player watch.
Class Of 2015 Player Watch: Jalen Brunson
There are several talented guard prospects in the state of Illinois from the class of 2015. However, we are convinced that there are none better than Stevenson's Jalen Brunson after watching him turn in a solid performance at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye has more on Brunson's game and why he is such an attractive underclass prospect in this player watch.
Class Of 2015 Player Watch: Jordan Ash
Those who know us realize that we seldom tout prospects who are only in eighth grade and when we do it is because we see that player as being truly special. There is no question that 5'11 guard Jordan Ash falls into that category. That is because Ash has been nothing short of electrifying since the spring started while playing on the traveling team circuit for the 15-Under Illinois Wolves. Illinois Prep Bulls-eye breaks down all of the things that make Ash a marquee underclass talent in this player watch.
|
