Weber says he's in dark about Scheyer

Glenbrook North standout visits Illinois campus

Friday, April 29, 2005

By John Supinie

of Copley News Service

CHAMPAIGN - On the biggest recruiting weekend for the Illinois basketball program since its trip to the Final Four earlier this month, Glenbrook North High School coach David Weber is on the outside - just like nearly everyone else.

Junior Jon Scheyer, who led Glenbrook North to the Class AA title in March, began an official visit Thursday to Illinois, and he'll be there through Saturday. If Illinois has an advantage in recruiting Scheyer because his high school coach is Illini coach Bruce Weber's brother, David Weber says he isn't aware of it.

"I'm a spectator," David Weber said. "I don't feel like I know what's going on. I'm not as connected."

Junior power forward Richard Semrau of Lutheran West in Rocky River, Ohio, was scheduled to join Scheyer for an official visit this weekend, but Scheyer has Illinois fans' attention. He also is considering Duke and Arizona.

Scheyer, a 6-foot-6, 175-pound small forward, indicated earlier this week that he might be close to a decision after the visit to Illinois.

If so, did he go to Urbana-Champaign to confirm his choice with the Illini?

Or was the trip just the last chance for Illinois before Scheyer makes the jump to one of the nation's perennial powers? Evidently, the key factor in Scheyer's decision is getting to the Final Four.

"That's the one question that's always been asked (by the Scheyer family) . . . who is coming to your school to play with Jon and give him that

opportunity to get to the Final Four," David Weber said. "Who is going to the Final Four the most during his time there? Who has proven they're there?"

Duke and Arizona both have a string of Final Four appearances and a national championship trophy. Illinois has its recent Final Four berth, the school's first since 1989. The Illini have never won a national championship.

Duke and Arizona "have been (to the Final Four) a lot, which obviously isn't a positive for Illinois," David Weber said. "You can't change history. Illinois has done an incredible job. The run this year really sparked a lot of interest in Jon and his family. It puts them in the recruiting picture."

Scheyer made an unofficial visit to Duke in February. He also paid his own way for an unofficial trip to Arizona in March.

"Most people felt like he was Duke's guy to lose," said Dave Telep, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "Illinois really closed the gap."

Semrau (6-9, 210) narrowed his final choices to Illinois, North Carolina and Florida, although he is still trying to gauge Carolina's interest. The trip to Illinois is Semrau's first official recruiting visit. He made unofficial visits to Louisville, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Kentucky. He earlier showed great interest in Kentucky, but the Wildcats backed off, Semrau said. He was scheduled to arrive at Illinois on Thursday and leave Saturday.

"After I take my visit to Florida and see how serious North Carolina is about recruiting me, I think I'll be real close (to a decision)," Semrau said. "Illinois and Florida are leading right now."

Semrau likely will finish as a top 100 recruit but outside of the top 50, Telep said.

"He's a face-up four man," Telep said. "The knock on Richard was that he wasn't strong enough and not a rebounder. He put on a little weight and added some emphasis to rebounding."

Other juniors likely on Illinois' A-list are Chicago Crane point guard Sherron Collins and forward Isaiah Dahlman (6-6, 180) of Braham, Minn.

"Collins is in the mix to be talked about as the best point guards in the country," Telep said. "He was the dominant player at the Boo Williams tournament (earlier this month in Hampton, Va.). He was ridiculous. It was like a coming-out party."

Illinois, Iowa and Georgia Tech have been prominently mentioned as in the running for Collins, Telep said, "but everybody in the country is going to try to jump in on him."

Dahlman lists Michigan State, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa as his leaders. Michigan State has the inside track, Telep said.

Illinois also is in the mix for forward Thaddeus Young and point guard Willie Kemp, a pair of Memphis-area stars. Proviso East big man Brian Carlwell (6-10, 240) and Bolingbrook point guard Will Walker are also on Illinois' radar.

The Indianapolis Star reported Lawrence North point guard Mike Conley's two finalists are Ohio State and Wake Forest. Illinois, Arkansas and North Carolina are on Conley's second tier, according to the Star. Lawrence North 7-footer Greg Oden, who likely would be the top pick in the 2006 NBA draft if he went pro, isn't listing Illinois among his finalists.

The Illini have three scholarships to award to this year's high school juniors, unless Weber doesn't fill the final opening left for this year's high school seniors. If so, the Illini would have four to give next season.

With the final scholarship for this year's class, the Illini are recruiting forward Brandon Rush (6-6, 200) of Kansas City, Mo., and have reportedly shown interest in a pair of Canadians - wing Antwi Atuahene (6-4, 200) and center Theo Davis (6-9, 210).

Brandon Rush is the latest talent in a family that includes Kareem Rush, the former Missouri star playing for the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA. Illinois and Oklahoma apparently are in the lead with Brandon Rush. He visited Oklahoma last weekend and likely will schedule a visit to Illinois soon.

Oklahoma State is making a late push.

"I don't think it's gotten quite that far yet (with Oklahoma State)," Telep said. "What everyone needs to remember is if Rush sees an opening to get into the NBA draft, that's what he's going to do."

Davis backed off an early oral commitment to Texas. Illinois, Arkansas, Georgia Tech and Tennessee have been mentioned. Telep felt Iowa State is also a player for Davis, who has indicated his final choice would come today.

Atuahene is considering Illinois and Arizona State, and he will make an official visit to Illinois, according to one recruiting source. Atuahene played for Trinity Valley Community College in Texas.