Last weekend several big named basketball recruits took in a football game, toured the facilities, and mingled with the coaches at the University of Illinois. Among those big named prospects included 2011 standout Wayne Blackshear. Blackshear is without a doubt one of the elite prospects in the state of Illinois and across the nation. On Friday he spoke with illinoishsbasketball.com on how he feels about the University of Illinois and about his expectations for the visit, that he has now already taken, to Texas.

The 6 foot 5 Curie shooting guard is going to have many colleges to choose from when it comes time for him to declare his college intentions. After a stellar summer with the Mac Irvin Fire and a great showing at the Reebok All-American camp, Blackshear has the full attention of eite colleges across the nation. However, this past weekend Blackshear got his very first official scholarship offer on his very first college visit at the University of Illinois.

“Illinois was my first visit I have been on so it was pretty eye opening and fun. I got to go to a college football game that I had never been to before. I met with college players and coaches for the first time and went around the facilities and everything it was really nice,” said Blackshear.

While Blackshear said he is in no hurry to commit he did say this about Illinois:“Yeah I could see myself playing there- a lot of good, and top players like myself have gone there. Some of them are in the classes ahead of me, but I could see myself going there,” he added.

After tripping to Champaign this past weekend, Blackshear is heading even farther south down to University of Texas where he will accompanied by Mac Irvin Fire coach Mike Irvin and teammate Mike Shaw. Blackshear will again take in a football game, midnight madness, tour the facilities, and mingle with players and coaches.

What is Blackshear expecting this time around? “The same thing when I went to Illinois. You know take me around the school and facilities meet the players and coaches.”

As for schools keeping tabs on Blackshear in open gym this fall the list includes: Florida, Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and SIU among others. Blackshear is still recovering from a bum ankle but says he its feeling better daily.

Hayden Hoerdermann is continuing his mini tour around the Big Ten by visiting Northwestern this weekend, after a weekend trip to University of Illinois and Iowa before that. Hoerdermann not only hoops for Bloomington Central Catholic but plays varsity soccer also. After suffering a disappointing loss to the end his soccer season, this 2011 gunner was found in open gym the very next day, only to have Northwestern Head Coach Bill Carmondy and assistant Taveras Hardy drop through and check in on him. He plans to take an official to Wisconsin soon as well.

I just got a text from Hayden saying he is looking for parking for the NU football game. He said there aren’t any open lots and he’s going to have to pay $20 to park! Him and his dad drove up this morning, and are weighing their options as to what they are doing the rest of the weekend. They mentioned possibly going down to champaign for the Illini football game later, or staying the night and touring NU on Sunday. Another possibility would be attending Sundays Pangos all freshman sophomore camp, which I will be attending to scout out young talent.