Announcement

**Carpet** · 09-15-2012, 07:19 PM

Early word is:

Kendrick Nunn a 4 star shooting guard from Simeon High School commits to Illinois today. This is really big news for Illinois basketball.

Kendrick a team mate of Jabri Parker is ranked in the top 30 in the nation. This 6-1 left handed shooting guard is a dynamite player who can create off the dribble and play some solid defense. A true play maker.

The new coach of Illinois John Groce (from Ohio) placed Nunn as priority one in rebuilding Illinois back to a national focus.

Nunn was being recruited heavy by Ohio State, Marquette, Memphis, Kansas and a ton more schools.

The in home recruiting visit was early this week and lasted 5 hours as Coach Groce put the full court press on with one sentence. Come to Illinois, this is your home state school and lets build this together.

Landing a star player from Chicago is always something special, for new Head Coach to pull this off in a short recruiting cycle speaks volumes for the coaching ability of John Groce.

Nothing is official until November (signing date) but my sources indicate this is a solid commit.

**Carpet** · 09-15-2012, 07:35 PM

A Look at this special player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcNjw7aIjwo

**Carpet** · 09-15-2012, 07:36 PM

John Groce lands Kendrick Nunn commitment:

"I believe Demetrius (Jackson), the point guard from (Indiana), is most likely, in the next few days, going to jump on in as well," Melvin Nunn added. "And I know a couple of other kids were waiting to see what Kendrick was going to do."

**Carpet** · 09-15-2012, 07:45 PM

Illinois an old school decision for Kendrick Nunn
By Joe Henricksen on September 15, 2012 6:43 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

As Kendrick Nunn and his dad took in the recruiting pitches and visited the campuses of the schools the Simeon star was considering, one factor stood out above all the rest when it came down to the program he would ultimately choose: Illinois is home.

Unlike so many current prospects today -- and much like players a decade or two ago -- staying home and playing for the state university meant something to Nunn.

Throw in a tight relationship with the coaching staff and the athletic 6-1 guard is on board as coach John Groce's first signature recruit from Chicago. Nunn committed to Groce and the Fighting Illini Saturday afternoon at the tail end of his official visit.

"It just didn't make any sense for Kendrick to go anywhere else," says his father, Melvin Nunn, who originally had a final five of Illinois, Marquette, Memphis, Ohio State and UCLA. "Playing for the major state school absolutely played a big part in the decision. It means something for him to play at the University of Illinois."

Nunn, the No. 3 prospect in the Hoops Report's Class of 2013 player rankings behind Simeon teammate Jabari Parker and future Illini teammate Malcolm Hill of Belleville East, is a pivotal recruit for Groce and his staff. He opens up the pipeline for Groce to Simeon and the Chicago Public League.

He brings instant name recognition and, more importantly, a competitive spirit and toughness to the program.

In addition to his high-level of athleticism, toughness and defensive presence, he's been a winner his entire career. Nunn has been a part of multiple state championships at Simeon and has won two gold medals playing for USA Men's U17 world championship teams the past two summers.

The Nunn family was impressed with the home visit from Illinois last Sunday, but the official visit to campus this weekend put Illinois over the top.

"They gave that presentation Friday night and I was all in," says Melvin. "Kendrick was on board, too, but he wanted to let it sink in for a few hours. "Their presentation gave me goose bumps. That's the best presentation anyone in the country could have given us, because they are the only school that could have given that presentation with all the ties and connections between Simeon and Illinois."

Melvin Nunn also went to Simeon, so he's more than familiar with both the present and past of Simeon basketball, which includes seven previous Wolverines. Among those are stars Nick Anderson and Deon Thomas, the school's all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 career points.

Both Kendrick and Melvin Nunn felt extremely comfortable and confident with Groce and the entire staff. Groce had a previous relationship with Nunn from recruiting him very early in his career while coaching at Ohio.

"There is nothing like being at home with your son at college and knowing they will take care of him," says Melvin. "With that staff, I can tell myself that Kendrick has a second father and three brothers that have his back."

The recruitment of Nunn was a heated battle, with Marquette considered to be the leader at one point and Ohio State closing in. Simeon coach Rob Smith felt Illinois did a terrific job in turning the tide and landing his star guard. He believes there were three factors that put the Fighting Illini over the top.

"The previous relationship Kendrick had with coach Groce and the staff at Ohio definitely helped," says Smith. "Plus, their style of play fits Kendrick perfectly. And I think [assistant coach] Paris [Parham] brought a lot and was a big key. His relationship with the Simeon program over the years, with Melvin, and the trust that there is with Paris was a big boost in this process."

Nunn, the No. 42 ranked player in the country by Rivals.com and No. 54 by Scout.com, joins a recruiting class that already boasts Malcolm Hill of Belleville East, a talented 6-6 wing, and 6-10 Maverick Morgan out of Ohio. Illinois continues to zero in on a pair of talented guards: Demetrius Jackson out of Indiana and Xavier Rathan-Mayes of Huntington Prep in West Virginia. Both are among the top 35 players in the country and have Illinois among their top three.

**Carpet** · 09-15-2012, 07:55 PM

A Illinios football victory and Nunn commits on the same day, what's next ?

Maybe hair will grow on my head....lol

**Carpet** · 09-19-2012, 08:06 PM

Illinois Coach John Groce is hot on the heels of landing another major recruit.

Demetrius Jackson out of Indiana a 4 star guard is being courted heavy by Notre Dame as the next super star to lead them back to something. I look for Illinois to land this player within a week

**Carpet** · 09-26-2012, 06:59 PM

Tomorrow 5 star shooting guard Demetrius Jackson class of 2013 will announce his decision if he will attend Notre Dame or Illinois.

Jackson plays for Mishawaka HS in Indiana just a stone throw from the Irish campus. This 6-1 guard is a very gifted athlete and would fit right into John Groces plan at Illinois. Groce has promised this young man a starting role the second he suits up.

The previous signing of Kendrick Nunn to Illinois has got to have Jackson thinking this could be a pretty good team if I join Illinois.

Everyone is tight lipped on where will he go both ND and Illinois fans are claiming victory. The Illinois fan base is going crazy over this potential recruit, both sides always seem to let the big ones get away on recruiting.

My sources tell me that when Jackson visited Illinois one week ago he told the coaching staff behind closed doors he was coming to Illinois. Since that time he has taken a obligatory home visit to ND this past weekend. On Monday Jackson stated he will make a decision Thursday. This will be carried on ESPNU.

It would be a HUGE shot in the arm for Illinois recruiting and speaks wonders on what a great recruiter John Groce is.

I think Jackson will pick Illinois. But you just never know. Illinois has had terrible success in recruiting basketball players out of Indiana. (aka Eric Gordon).

**Carpet** · 09-27-2012, 12:25 PM

Dave Telep of ESPN reports that Jackson has picked ND, Tough loss for Illinois if true

**Carpet** · 09-27-2012, 06:09 PM

Son of a Bitch; Jackson to Notre Dame.

ESPNU had a press conference all set to go at 5pm. At 1;30 Dave Telep of ESPN broke the news early, it really upset the Jackson family. Funny thing is Telep was hosting the 5pm show and was hoping for a market share audience. Telep is nothing more than a tool.

Illinois is very disappointed that Jackson chose not to come. Especially after being told different. Illinois cannot recruit Indiana, never has never will. Everyone says coach groce is well planted in the circles of recruiting in Indiana and that effort will continue.

Illinois is on a desperate search for a PG in the class of 2013, the coaching staff was at simeon high school today looking at another potential up and coming stud. Chicago Simeon attracts the best talent in the city of Chicago and always will. It is good to see the pipeline is back open for the Illini with this school. Jabri Parker the nations number one player also plays for simeon.

**Carpet** · 10-04-2012, 06:42 PM

Illinois lands a point guard Jaylon Tate of Simeon High School Chicago commits to Illinois. The pipeline is open for Illinois with Simeon High School. Simeon has produced the best basketball players that ever came out of the state of Illinois.

Tate is a team mate of Kendrick Nunn a top player at Simeon who told the Illinois staff take a look at this kid before he blows up on the circuit.

Anytime, Any where there is a open pipe line for Illinois at Siemon HS Chicago is a great thing. Illinois was basically shut out under Weber with Chicago talent

This new coach promised Nunn that Illinois would begin the building blocks and build a team around him and from all evidence he will.

**Carpet** · 10-04-2012, 06:44 PM

Illinois lands Simeon guard Tate

"It's great," Simeon coach Robert Smith said. "They're getting another quality guy who knows how to win, is going to work hard and gives them that relationship with the (Chicago) Public League again.

"He's a true point guard, someone who is willing to pass and then score second. Just the time I had him in, his work ethic is off the charts. He loves to be in the gym and get better. He's a team leader."