With the NCAA’s letter-of-intent spring signing day for basketball a week away, Illinois is concentrating its recruiting focus on 6-foot-10-inch Jeff Carey of Camdenton (Mo.) High School.
The Illini are sorely in need of an inside presence and hope to use their remaining scholarship on the late-blooming senior who will be in Champaign Wednesday on his final NCAA official visit.
Carey, who averaged 19.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 3.4 blocks, is considering Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and St. Louis.
“Coach Lon Kruger came to see him play a couple weeks ago, and Jeff really likes Illinois,” said Camdenton coach Skip Brock. “Some scouts are saying he’s as good a big-man prospect as there is in the Midwest that’s still available.”
Illinois had been among the finalists for 6-11 Texas junior college star Steve Eldridge, who has opted for Baylor. Carey would round out Kruger’s first recruiting class that features Peoria Manual All-Staters Sergio McClain and 6-9 Marcus Griffin, 6-8 Class A player of the year Rich Beyers of Shelbyville and nationally rated point guard Cory Bradford from Memphis.
“We’re pretty much finished with the senior class,” said Illini assistant coach and chief recruiter Rob Judson.”
With six scholarships available next year, Illini basketball sources said Judson and Kruger are focusing on All-Staters Frank Williams of Peoria Manual, Corey Maggette of Fenwick and Quentin Richardson of Young. Also high on the Illini’s list are 6-9 Lance Williams of Julian, 6-8 Michael Wright of Farragut, Joey Range of Galesburg, Roderick Thompson of Carver, Bobby Simmons of Simeon, 6-8 Tyler Smith of Lake Forest and Lucas Johnson of Maine West.
