The #1 player in the class of 2009 has chosen a school. Chris Colvin will be an Iowa State Cyclone.

“Next year I’ll be attending Iowa State,” said Colvin on Comcast Sports Net. “I am real excited, I singed my letter two days ago, but I kept it quiet. It was hard because I wanted to tell everyone I was a Cyclone!”

Colvin has considered a host of schools from every major conference, and then some, throughout the recruiting process, and many people tried to sway his decision. However, when it came down to it only one person’s opinion mattered to Chris.

“I see a lot of those people,” said Chris of the people trying to influence his decision. “But I just listen to one person, that is my father, the person that has been there for me since the get go.

“(it came down to) Iowa State, Providence and UConn,” explained Chris. “We took visits to Iowa State and Providence and we liked it, UConn came in the picture a little too late.”

Now that the decision is over with, Chris is looking forward to the upcoming season with Whitney Young. Chris will team up with Marcus Jordan, Ahmad Starks (Oregon State), Anthony Johnson (Purdue), Stan Brown (Lamar), Franklin Griffin, Antonio Johnson, Sam Thompson, and other talented players on the #1 ranked team in the sate.

“It was a big thing on my back to make a decision, now it’s off I can just concentrate on my grades and this season. I took my visits and Iowa State pursued me a different way than other schools did. They came at me from an education standpoint and that’s what my family is big on. ”

Look for a possible video interview from Chris in the near future.

Class of 2009 guard Paris Gulley is ready to build off last year’s class 2A state runner-up finish when his Peoria Manuel Rams got knocked off 56-42 to North Lawndale in the state championship game. Gulley is a 6-2 combo guard with a slick handle, and a mid-range jumper that at times can be deadly. With the first official day of practice underway, Gulley is excited about what the season holds.

“Conditioning went good; I just really can’t wait for the season to start. I’m trying to get downstate once again this year and get first. I have been playing really good this fall. I think my game really peaked over the summer. I am working on everything right now in my game,” said Gulley.

On the recruiting ront, Gulley currently has no offers but is hearing from a plethora of schools and played in a front of a number of coaches this fall. “Everything with open gym went good we had scouts and coaches in the gym every other week. Kansas State, Iowa, West Virginia, Bradley, Illinois, and Kent State have all been in to open gym. DePaul, Marquette, and Kent State have all been in touch with me. Western Illinois and Eastern Illinois have also contacted me.

“Yeah I want to play for a coach that fits my play of game that runs. I am looking for good academics also,” Gulley said about his college preferences.

While the accolades have rolled in a bit before the season started with Paris already being named a McDonalds All American Nominee. Gulley didn’t stop there he has high hopes for his team and set some individual goals. “Win state first, but I want to make all conference, all tourney in all the tournaments we play in, first team all state, I want to have a big season and hopefully have a shot at Mr. Basketball in Illinois.”

One of Gulley’s biggest supporters and critics is Peoria Irish Coach Gavin Sullivan, who coached Gulley this summer on the AAU circuit. “Paris is an underrated player in my mind. He is a tough hard nosed guard that can play either guard position. Talent isn’t the only thing Paris brings a team either. He has a good basketball IQ, a great work ethic, a want to get better, and is a natural leader,” said Sullivan.

Peoria Manuel will open in the Lincoln Thanksgiving Tournament and again it will have a stout field with Champaign Centennial, Lincoln, East St. Louis, O’Fallon, and Danville.

After taking an official visit to Detroit-Mercy on the weekend of November 7^th, TF North sleeper big man Kyle Cain has verbally committed to play for Head Coach Ray McCullum’s Titans.

The 6-7 power forward raised his recruiting stock this spring and summer while playing alongside DJ Richardson, Darius Smith, David Brown and others for the Illinois Warriors on the AAU circuit. He had a few stand out performances during live periods that really got colleges looking, including a 14 point 12 rebound performance against Athletes First and their front court combo of Daniel Orton (Kentucky commit) and Kyle Hardrick (Oklahoma commit).

More on the commitment, including an interview with Cain, coming soon.

Class of 2009 forward/center Zeke Schneider of Metamora is without a doubt one of the top remaining post presences left on the board in the state of Illinois. Schneider stands at 6 foot 9 inches and a robust 215 lbs with an arsenal of post moves and a good motor. While many programs throughout the state are finishing up their offseason conditioning programs and going through preseason workouts, Schneier and his teammates at Metamora are not only doing that but also adapting to their new coach, Jim Youngman.

“Yeah we have a new high school coach, so we have just been doing workouts and all that stuff,” Schneider stated. “Coach Youngman, he is really good and we are just learning everything he does. He has had a lot of coaches come in,” said Schneider.

This summer Schneider suffered a leg injury that shut him down for July and the most crucial part of his recruitment, the July evaluation period. It’s safe to say Schneider has resurfaced after working hard to recover from his injury, and has now put himself in a position to be a nice get for his potential college suitors.

“I have been talking with Northern Illinois a lot lately I went up there for an unofficial. I went down to Mercer in Georgia, I haven’t been to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville yet, but I am going down soon: they have offered. Mercer I visited a few weekends ago, it was really nice I liked it a lot. I went around the campus then to Mercer Madness and I’m going back when they play Georgia Tech at home.”

Aside from offers from NIU, SIU-E, and Mercer the list doesn’t end there according to Schneider, “Quincy, Colgate, Centenary, and American have all offered as well.”

“Wright State and Ohio are showing some interest also. I probably will make a commitment in the middle of the season and then sign in the late period in March or whenever it is.”

With his injury now behind him, Schneider is prepared to have a big season, “Yeah, the season is going to fun and are new coach is really good.” Metamora will open in the Canton Turkey Tournament along with Macomb, Peoria Notre Dame, and Canton

Class of 2009 combo guard Jeremy Jones of Simeon High School is poised to come into his own and breakout this upcoming season after a stellar fall and summer. Jones is a long 6 foot 2 inches with an uncanny ability to knock down shots from long range, and the kid is clutch. With Simeon’s first game in nearly a month’s time, when they will square off with national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy at the Marshall County Hoopfest, Jones is steadily prepping for the season and weighing his college choices.

“Yeah this is our last week of conditioning, and then we start practice next Monday,” stated Jones. “It’s the last week so we made it through, it was alright. I mean it was hard, but it wasn’t it was just long and a lot of running it wasn’t that bad though,” said Jones.

After breakout performances at Nike MDOC, Nike Peach Jam, and AAU Super Showcase the latter two coming in front of dozens of college coaches, Jones recruiting stock really elevated.

“Basically the only two right now are Kent State and University of Detroit. Both have offered, I am supposed to visit Detroit on the 7th of this month, and Kent State hasn’t scheduled a visit yet. I most likely won’t make the Detroit visit on the 7th, but we are rescheduling it. Kyle (Cain) is going to Detroit on the 7th instead. I will visit Kent State also; I just have to set the visit up with them. It’s really just those two schools right now and whoever else will jumps in during the season,” commented Jones.

While Jones is not planning to make a decision anytime soon, he has a few preferences for his future college. “I know for sure that I am waiting to make a decision after the season. I’m just looking for a good program, location, academics, and coaches all that, and just overall where I fit in at.” Also another possibility Jones is looking at is teaming up with his Illinois Warriors teammate and best friend Kyle Cain from T.F. North. Cain is also being heavily recruited by University of Detroit. “It really makes Detroit’s chances a lot better. We talk about it all the time playing in college together,” Jones said.

With lofty goals every year at Simeon they again are no different this year. “Nothing less than state title, I think we can win it all; we got a great chance to do that and win the city also. I can’t tell you how excited I am for the season.”

If Full Package had a poster boy, it would be Matt Vogrich. The shaggy haired baller from Lake Forest High School looks more like he belongs on a surf board than a basketball court, and that is why we love him. When he walked into his first Full Package AAU practice as a 7th grader everyone knew he could shoot the ball, but I don’t even think he knew how far he could ride this basketball thing. From throwing down dunks, to winning tournament championships, to working toward a 4.7 GPA, to earning a scholarship to Michigan, Matt Vogrich exemplifies what hard work, and a little Full Package can do. Vogrich capped off his stellar FP career by earning MVP honors of the Full Package Exposure League brought to you by Illinoishsbasketball.com.

“I was a real honor to get it,” stated Vogrich. “After all Full Package has done for me over the years, and all the leagues I’ve played in, it feels good to get the MVP. I wish my team could’ve won (the Championship) but we were just out of gas.”

His team lost in the championship, but the fact that they even got there was an accomplishment. Their tallest player was 6′5, and Vogrich, a 6′4 guard, was their leading rebounder. The team they lost to in the finals featured players that stood at 6′10, 6′9, 6′7, 6′7, and 6′5. Their point guard was 6′3. And yet, behind Vogrich and friends, the game managed to stay (somewhat) close.

Congrats to Matt Vogrich and the Vogrich family.

6-10 Australian import Angus Brandt is one of the most sought after post prospects in the nation. Not only does Angus now reside right in my backyard, in Chicago’s north suburbs, but the Lake Forest Academy stud was a standout in the Full Package Exposure League brought to you by Illinoishsbasketball.com. Angus took a visit to Oregon State recently with fellow Aussie Rhys Murphy (a trip I will have more on later), and I got a chance to talk recruiting with Brandt right before the visit…

What schools are in the lead right now? “Michigan, Washington State, New Mexico, Colorado, and Oregon State.”

What puts those schools out in front? “They all have styles which suit my style of play, and they all have the courses I want to study.”

When are you going to make a decision? “Um I’m not too sure yet, I’m waiting on the season to start so I can watch teams.”

Have you taken any visits? “I have a visit with Oregon St this weekend and I went to Michigan on an unofficial a couple of weeks back.”

Does it mean anything to you that OSU coach Craig Robinson is Barack Obama’s brother in law (Watch link!)? “Haha a little, but not that much. American politics don’t really interest me, I am Aussie remember, but he’d probably get my vote I guess, he seems like a good (guy).”

Will people that you know going to schools affect your decision such as (fellow Australian) Nate (Tomlinson) at Colorado, Matt (Vogrich) at Michigan or others? “Um not really I mean at the end of the day I need to pick what’s the best fit for me and if it turns out to be a school where I already know someone then that’s a bonus.”

Do you like Lake Forest Academy? “It’s great. I couldn’t ask for a better bunch of guys to play with, we are a real close nit group and Coach Vaughn is great.”

I have stated this numerous times, and have maintained my stance over the past two years when it comes to Kendrick Morse. The kid just doesn’t get enough love, considering his talent level. I take pride in my website being one that recognizes gets who play with heart, passion, and love for the game, and Morse has all of these. On top of all this, that kid’s got straight SWAG on the court. He decided recently that once he passes the ACT, he knows what school is right for him. He announces in his journal.

Click Here for Kendrick Morse Journal #3

I was recently looking at my latest class of 2009 rankings, and as is the case every time I make rankings, I realized I made a few decisions I wish I could take back, some players I wish I had put on/left off, and of course there are some decisions that may have been questionable to the public that I should probably explain. Here we go…

1) Colin Nickerson is better than you think.
The 6-3 combo guard from Waukegan being left out of my top 27 players is a travesty. Thinking back on all the games I saw him dominate this spring and summer with NLP, his stellar performance at the Loyola elite camp, and the one game I saw him play this fall in which he tore up the comp, he is certainly a top 27 player and is probably top 20. He is a lock up defender, which is very under rated quality and often tends to get overlooked by many fans and recruiting gurus. He can play either guard spot, he is athletic, assertive, and has a very versatile game. This kid is an absolute steal for Fairfied, and could be all conference as early as his freshman year. Watch for him to have a huge year playing alongside Jereme Richmond and Mike Springs in the CSL.

2) You may think I ranked the North Lawndale kids too high, but I know I got it just right.
Many felt that putting John Taylor at 6, John Mills at 8, Terrance Johnson at 16, and Zee Jones on the uncommitted players to watch may have been over the top, but I stand by my decisions. Yes, I realize all 4 of these kids are undersized for their positions, and I do realize that Mills and Taylor will probably be heading to juco. I don’t care. These kids all bring something unique to the court and all four have heart, plain and simple. Taylor is one of the best pure scorers and playmakers I have seen, and he is a dog on defense. He won playoff MVP of the Full Package fall league last year, and I saw him dominate Whitney Young’s guards on their home court last season. Mills can not be stopped on the glass, period. I saw him go for 22 points and 23 rebounds in sectionals vs. 2 D1 post players on Englewood, and saw him go board for board and point for point against Jack Cooley in an AAU game. He is also a freak athlete. Terrance Johnson is an elite scorer. You can say what you want about his size, or say that he is not a true point, but I just dont care. Every one of the 20+ times I have watched him play he has done what is asked of him, which is score and score a lot. He is very fun to watch. Zee Jones could be the most underrated player in the state. I havent seen a website other than mine give this kid much love at all, but man does he deserve it. He has heart, passion, and a ton of game. These are all true Chi-town ballers… nation sites like rivals and scout dont know what they are sleeping on. If Lawndale doesn’t lose a game this year, it will not surprise me.

3) David Smith should’ve been somewhere on the list
After watching this kid dominate the playoffs of the Full Package fall league, I am again a believer. The Drake commit from Lake Forest Academy is strong, athletic, is great at getting to the rack and finishing, and has a much improved long range stroke. Definitely a top 30 player.

4) Brock VonNordeck and Eric Dortch are uncommitted players to watch
Brock, a 6-9 big man from Decatur Eisenhower is a mid major player AT LEAST!
Dortch, a 6-4 forward from Evanston, is set for a serious breakout year now that the team and the ball are his.

5) Why isn’t Mike Haynes top 20?
I always considered Mike a top 5 player in the state, until this past school season. He never impressed me when he did take the floor with Washington, and was ineligible for part of the season. He played OK when I saw him in AAU, but he will need a strong season at Fenger to rise back up the ranks.

Kyree Jones has arrived in Houston, Texas. The former Chicago Julian and Indianapolis Lawrence North Star and son of former Chicago State Head Coach Kevin Jones will be attending Christian Life academy after being ruled ineligable to play high school ball in Indiana due to a messy transfer. There was much controversy surrounding the ruling, so I decided to get the real story from the player himself, unfiltered and unedited… the Mouthpiecesports.com way. In the interview he talks about the transfer, his image, and why IU and Purdue are scared to recruit him,..

Why did you leave Lawrence North?

“Well towards the end of the season me and coach Keefer started bumpin’ heads… when we lost in the tourney we really didn’t speak anymore…I was mad…so eventually we had a meeting and he decided that he didn’t want me on the team anymore. I wasn’t the right kind of fit… so I decided to leave when school was out.”

Why did you get ruled ineligible?
“I transferred to Arlington… I moved out of L.N. district in the summer and when I came over I thought it was gonna be all good… LN released me but when it got downtown to the IHSAA they started investigating the whole situation… there were so many people calling downtown on me to make sure I wasn’t able to play this year… Keefer even talked to them directly… I told the IHSAA that I was kicked off and had to leave if I wanted to play ball… they investigated it and Keefer admitted to kicking me off and saying that if I was to go to a school that’s in their sectionals then there would be problems…he wrote a letter saying all this…IHSAA still ruled me ineligible.. saying i moved for “athletic reasons,” but it was a tough situation for me because I had to leave if i wanted to hoop…”"

Jones is getting looks from Oregon State, Arkansas, Geogria Southern, Houston, Texas Southern, Wichita State, and Miami (OH), are recruiting him, while Kent State, George Mason, IUPUI, and Texas Southern have all offered. “IU and Purdue both stopped recruiting me because they think I’m a thug and I’ve transferred too much,” stated Jones. “But I’m going to prove them wrong. Im just gunna kill fam, I’m gunna kill. I use this as motivation, just more fuel to the fire. I’m going all out.