Demetri McCamey knows he has a lot of work ahead of him. The freshman from Westchester St. Joseph emerged as a key figure in the future of the Illinois basketball program in the second half of the season that ended with Sunday’s loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament title game.
“I learned there’s a lot riding on me,” McCamey said. “I have to be up at all times with my teammates looking up at me. In high school there were two of us, me and [Ohio State’s] Evan Turner. I wasn’t the main focus.”
He might be next year, as the Illinois roster changes from one dominated by the frontcourt (graduating seniors Brian Randle and Shaun Pruitt) to one dominated by a deep guard corps.
In the final 13 games, McCamey averaged 11.6 points and 4.1 assists. He had a 31-point game against Indiana on Feb. 7, an 18-point second half against Wisconsin on Feb. 20 and a 26-point game in Friday’s upset of Purdue in the Big Ten tournament.
“I’m going to have to lose a little weight, eat healthier and get quicker this summer,” he said.
McCamey’s emergence was one of the positive developments in a 16-19 Illinois season that will be remembered mostly for poor shooting from the field (.435) and the free throw-line (.608), problems that led to four overtime losses and four others by four points or less.
The addition of Kentucky transfer Alex Legion, who will be a sophomore and eligible in late December, and the return of Jamar Smith, who redshirted in the wake of a DUI conviction, will transform the Illini into a perimeter team.
Legion, a consensus top 50 recruit two years ago, is perhaps the highest rated recruit coach Bruce Weber has lured to Champaign.
Trent Meacham should again provide outside shooting, and fellow senior Chester Frazier plays sticky defense.
“We’ll have more guards and be more versatile, there’s no doubt about that,” Weber said.
Freshman walk-on Jeff Jordan finished the season as the 10th man in the rotation, helping mostly on defense.
“He struggled on and off the court, but he fought through it and he’s found a niche for us as a spot player, 5-7 minutes a game,” Weber said. “He can be a defensive stopper. He has to improve his skills, his shooting. He has a nice little pull-up jumper. Now he understands it, what he’s going to do the next six months to see if he can be more productive.”
Illinois started the season on the NCAA bubble and fell off it with December losses to Arizona, Miami (Ohio) and Tennessee State, missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999. Climbing back on the bubble by next March would represent a good season for a team that will be breaking in a new front line led by Mike Tisdale and Mike Davis, who will be sophomores.
“They’re going to have to be the mainstays, the Mike and Mike show,” Weber said.
Tisdale, a 7-foot-1-inch 230-pounder, will have to continue to get stronger to handle the Big Ten’s physical style of play.
“He’s gained 30 pounds in a very short time,” Weber said. “His legs are the biggest thing. They have to get stronger so he has a better base.”
Rodney Alexander, who will be a senior, fell out of the rotation late in the season.
“We haven’t given up on Rodney,” Weber said. “He has to decide what he is. He’s a strong, athletic guy. He wanted to be a three-point shooter, and if he makes that decision [to do more than shoot] and works at it, he gives us depth.”
Calvin Brock, who will be a senior, provided a spark off the bench and showed he can help as a swingman. Forward Bill Cole had a wasted freshman year that was cut short by injury, but he could provide depth up front.
Junior college transfer Dominique Keller, 6-7 and 220 pounds, will get a chance to play quickly if he can provide muscle and toughness up front.
Having suffered a series of recruiting reverses with current high school seniors, Weber has six commitments from sophomores and juniors and has extended an offer to Bartonville Limestone freshman guard Donivine Stewart. He is expected to offer a scholarship to De La Salle freshman forward Mike Shaw, who is being pursued by DePaul, Georgetown, Southern California, Purdue, Iowa and others.
Meanwhile, Weber has challenged his returning players to spend more of their own time working out, which he believes the ’07-08 team didn’t do.
“That’s probably the most disappointing thing with these guys,” Weber said. “We have to be sure we instill that. Our young guys enjoy that, they’re around us, they’re in the offices. Tisdale’s there more than anyone. Mike Davis is making that commitment.
“We have to have Demetri really make that step. Then we won’t have to be in such a dilemma next season.”
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Looking ahead to 2008-09
Who’s who next season? Senior guard Trent Meacham (10.1 ppg), sophomore point guard Demetri McCamey (8.2 ppg, 3.3 apg), senior guard Chester Frazier (4.9 ppg, 3.6 apg), senior swingman Calvin Brock (7.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg), senior forward Rodney Alexander (4.6 ppg), sophomore center Mike Tisdale (3.6 ppg), sophomore forward Mike Davis (2.6 ppg), sophomore forward Bill Cole (2.3 ppg), sophomore guard Jeff Jordan (1.0 ppg), senior guard Steve Holdren (1.2 ppg).
Introductions: Shooting guard Jamar Smith returns after redshirting in the wake of his DUI conviction and will provide outside shooting. Guard Alex Legion, who transferred from Kentucky in December, will be eligible in late December and is expected to provide outside scoring. Dominique Keller, a 6-foot-7-inch juco transfer, will get a chance to help immediately as the Illini rebuild their front line. Simeon High’s Stan Simpson, a lanky 6-9 forward-center, is the only signed freshman. He’ll need time to develop.
Losses: Center Shaun Pruitt, who led the Illini with 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game, is gone. Forward Brian Randle, who fought through injuries to average 9.4 points and 5.5 rebounds, is also gone, along with walk-on guard Chris Hicks.
Story line for 2008-09: Illinois will try to win with a small lineup because there will be plenty of talent in the backcourt. The Illini will be inexperienced along the front line and will need immediate help from Keller. Tisdale has a lot of work to do to compete with the Big Ten’s best big men. If Legion and Smith can provide a considerable boost in scoring, a run at an NCAA tournament berth is possible.
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tabannon@tribune.com
