Jalen James Transfers To LaLumiere Academy

By Roy & Harv Schmidt

January 4, 2012

10:15 P.M. CST

6'3 2013 point guard and University Of Illinois commit Jalen James has transferred from Hope Academy in Chicago and will enroll immediately at LaLumiere Academy in La Porte, IN.  James could be eligible to play at LaLumiere as early as Saturday when they face Farragut at the Bob Hambric Memorial Shootout at T.F. North High School in Calumet City, IL.

With James, Hope Academy had been regarded as one of the favorites to win the class 1A state championship come March.  Needless to say, now that James is gone Hope Academy's chances of reaching the state finals in Peoria have taken a severe hit.

According to sources, James' move to LaLumiere was made solely for academic reasons.  To be more specific, it was done to provide James with the additional resources he will need in order to be an academic qualifier and be immediately eligible to play at Illinois as a freshman.

From a basketball standpoint, there is no question that the addition of James strengthens La Lumiere's back court immensely.  Above everything else, it gives Alan Huss' team even greater depth at the point guard spot after 5'11 2014 prospect Johnnie Vassar decided to leave LaLumiere last month.

James' situation is somewhat reminiscient of when D.J. Richardson ended up leaving Peoria Central High School to attend Findlay Prep in Henderson, NV.  Like James, Richardson ended up making the move after having previously committed to the Illini.  At the time Richardson was just short of receiving a qualifying test score.  Richardson ultimately ended up achieving the necessary score and being eligible as a freshman.

At the present time there are more than a few members of the Illini Nation who seem to be in a state of panic over whether James' move could have any effect on Illini head coach Bruce Weber's continued recruitment of the 2013 class.  With that in mind let us say that as of now there is no reason to believe that James won't remain a member of the Illini's 2013 recruiting class.  James is still firmly committed to Weber and the Illini coaching staff and vice versa.  He is currently one of two commits that Weber has from 2013, the other being 6'5 2-guard Malcolm Hill from Belleville East High School in Belleville, IL. 

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