Recruiting Wrap

The Jay Simpson Effect

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 8:55 AM

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Illinois fans don't want to see another Brian Cardinal mishap.

You know, a local kid (Cardinal went to Tolono Unity) the Illini passed on and regretted every time said prospect rolled onto Assembly Hall not wearing "Illinois" across his chest.

So when Champaign Central sophomore committed Jay Simpson committed to Purdue, some Illini fans had horrid flashbacks to Cardinal's Boilermakers defeating Illinois eight straight times.

Illinois was in on Simpson's recruitment - the 6-foot-8 sophomore attended Illinois' Midnight Madness the day before he committed to Purdue - but the Boilermakers were the first to pull the trigger and offer the Champaign talent, and he made a quick decision.

Though the Illini may have missed out on a top talent that lives within a mile radius of campus, Simpson's commitment also opens some doors for Illinois. Purdue now has three commitments from high school sophomores and may be done accepting verbals from the Class of 2012, depending on how many commitments they take for the Class of 2011.

Now, Purdue has one less scholarship available for what many are calling a "loaded" Class of 2012. Illinois may then have one less elite program to compete with for the Hoosier state's top sophomores. Here's a look at some of those prospects.

• DeJuan Marrero - The 6-foot-5 Gary (Ind.) Bowman Academy wing has scholarship offers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State and Purdue. The Illini and Buckeyes are at the top of Marrero's list right now. Marrero played at the Illinois Team Shootout in June and will play in the Shootout at the Hall in December
• Ron Patterson - The 6-foot-3 Indianapolis Broad Ripple guard has offers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue, Tennessee and Xavier. Patterson watched the Illini take on Quincy in exhibition play on Sunday and told Paul Klee that he has a "long ways to go" before committing. He also visited during the Team Shootout.
• Jeremy Hollowell - The 6-foot-5 Indianapolis Lawrence Central wing is close friends with Patterson and also visited on Sunday. Hollowell has offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio State, Tennessee and Xavier.
• Gary Harris - Another visitor to this summer's Team Shootout, the 6-foot-4 Hamilton Southeastern guard has yet to receive a scholarship offer but has interest from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Purdue.
• AJ Hammons - The 6-foot-11, 250-pound Carmel center has the size all schools look for but has to prove more as he has yet to receive a scholarship offer. Hammons - who has interest from Butler, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State and Purdue - also participated in June's Team Shootout.
• TJ Bell - A former Charleston (Ill.) standout, the 6-foot-7 athletic wing has become a prized recruit at Bloomington (Ind.) South and has offers from Indiana, Oregon, Oregon State, Virginia, Washington and Washington State. The Hoosiers are rumored to be favorites.
• Austin Burgett - The 6-foot-7 skilled power forward can fill it up. Mid-majors love Burgett, as evidenced by his scholarship offers from Butler,  Ohio and Xavier.  Iowa, Northwestern, Cincinnati and Notre Dame have also offered.

The Illini may one day regret not offering Jay Simpson earlier - though there's no guarantee he'd choose Illinois anyway as he's stated that he wanted to go away for college - but his commitment does open some doors.

So labeling Simpson's early verbal a "Brian Cardinal"-like mishap might be premature.

 

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