Just as Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer grew up a Duke fan and wound up signing with the Blue Devils, 6-foot-10-inch junior Mike Tisdale of Downstate Riverton grew up cheering for the Fighting Illini.
Last week Tisdale became the latest recruit to board the Champaign express as Illinois coach Bruce Weber loads up with hot prospects from the class of 2007. Already committed are 6-4 Indianapolis North Central standout Eric Gordon, one of the top five juniors in the nation, and 6-9 Billy Cole of Peoria Richwoods, rated among the top five juniors in the state.
“By the time this is done, we could have one of the top recruiting classes in the nation,” said Tisdale, who lives an hour and 15 minutes from Champaign.
“I know the coaches are still trying for (Simeon junior) Derrick Rose, and it would be nice to get him.”
Tisdale, who is averaging 23 points, nine rebounds and eight blocks, chose the Illini over Purdue, St. Louis, Southern Illinois and Bradley.
“My doctor says I’m still growing, and I’m trying hard to reach 7 feet,” Tisdale said. “I’m comfortable posting inside or facing the basket and shooting it from 20 feet. I was at the Michigan State game with (Illini signee) Brian Carlwell (of Proviso East). It was really exciting and makes you wish you could be playing for Illinois right now.”
According to recruiting analyst Brian Stinnette of ChicagoHoops.com, Tulane is making it a high priority to try to land 6-7 Homewood-Flossmoor junior Andre Walker, who already has an offer from Loyola. Howard University is also coming after Walker hard after securing a signing from Lincoln Park point guard Julius Hearn. Stinnette rates Walker as the top available small forward in the state.
Stinnette said that Marquette’s need for size in the coming years has Golden Eagles coach Tom Crean hot on the trail of 6-9 Farragut sophomore Michael Dunigan and 6-8 Timothy Christian sophomore Josh Crittle. Stinnette rates Dunigan and Crittle second and third in the state’s sophomore class behind Washington’s 6-6 guard DeAndre Liggins.
St. Joseph’s highly recruited juniors, 6-3 Demetri McCamey and 6-6 Evan Turner, have been told they have scholarships awaiting them in Coral Gables, Fla., as Miami is the latest to make its offers. Former Young standout Anthony Harris is a key player for the Hurricanes. Turner also has offers from Iowa, Marquette, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Southern Illinois and Mississippi. McCamey has an offer from Purdue and is being strongly recruited by Michigan State, Wake Forest, Illinois and Pittsburgh.
Warren’s 6-2 junior Ceola Clark’s stock just keeps climbing. The top basketball talent on the fourth-ranked Blue Devils has offers from Loyola, Northern Illinois, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Western Illinois. He is also drawing considerable interest from Indiana State, Ball State, Southern Illinois and Davidson.
Football buzz
Tim O’Halloran of rivals.com reports that the state’s top uncommitted recruit, 6-4, 305-pound Morgan Park All-State offensive lineman Ramone Johnson, is down to Illinois and Tennessee. After visiting the Volunteers this coming weekend and Champaign on Jan. 20, Johnson will make his decision.
New Mexico is making a play for St. Patrick quarterback Tom Barrett and York QB Gus Zerante, according to O’Halloran. Zerante is scheduled to visit New Mexico this weekend, while Barrett visits a week later. Dayton is also recruiting both QBs. Barrett is also drawing interest from Fordham, Drake and Indiana State, while Zerante is also considering Cornell and Holy Cross.
Bolingbrook receiver Sean Hughes, a starter on the Raiders’ 10th-ranked basketball team, appears to be leaning toward Pennsylvania for football. Iowa and Northern Illinois want him as a walk-on, and Hughes is also looking at Northern Iowa and Nebraska-Omaha. Mt. Carmel running back Larry Dortch has received an offer from Fordham and will visit the school Jan. 20. Dortch is visiting NIU this weekend and is also being recruited by North Dakota State.
All-State defensive tackle Chris Arthurs (6-1, 265) of Wheaton Warrenville South is visiting St. Joseph this weekend and SIU next weekend, according to O’Halloran. Arthurs is also attracting interest from Northwestern, Illinois and Illinois State. All-State linebacker Adam Fee (6-3, 225) of Maine South visited Princeton over the weekend and has already made a visit to Harvard. Yale and Cornell are his next two stops; then it’s decision time.
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bsakamoto@tribune.com
