The News-Gazette.com Weblog

Basketblog

Klee's Corner - D.J. Richardson

Posted by: Paul Klee

Sunday, July 20, 2008 12:31 PM

Courtside View in Klee's Corner runs Sundays in the News-Gazette: Richardson makes early bid for McDonald's selection, considers prep school, rooms with Brandon Paul.

***
By Paul Klee
pklee@news-gazette.com

In D.J. RICHARDSON'S backyard, attached to the garage, is a basketball hoop.

No big deal, right?

"It's an 11-foot rim," he said. "I knew it was taller, so I measured it and it's 11 feet."

Well, when you put it that way.

"It changes the arc on my shot a little," he acknowledged.

And it was there, below that basket 10 days ago, that Richardson had a Supersized epiphany of sorts, shortly before he would leave for the Nike Peach Jam, a prestigious basketball event in Augusta, S.C.

"At that point I thought I had no chance at all to make it to the McDonald's All-American game. That was disappointing to me," said Richardson, a Peoria Central senior-to-be who's given an oral commitment to Illinois. "On Thursday before Peach Jam, I was shooting around, working out in my backyard. I was saying to myself, 'This is the last chance I would have to show people that I belong in the McDonald's All-American game.'"

Fitting, isn't it? In the days that followed the backyard introspective, Richardson elevated his Q rating to new heights at the Peach Jam. The 6-foot-3 guard averaged a team-high 21 points for Illinois Warriors and coach LARRY BUTLER.

"I knew I needed to do well. The McDonald's game has been my dream since I was younger," Richardson said. "I always have goals. One of my goals coming into high school was starting as a freshman. I accomplished that goal. Then my next goal was to be the Mid-State 6 Player of the Year. I did that. My last goal was to become a McDonald's All-American. That's what I want to do."

To get there Richardson needs a decorated senior season. Where that takes place was up for discussion and depended on his academic progress. "Just in case," Richardson said, he "looked at" prep schools in Virginia, Maine and Nevada.

"I thought about prep school. But I think I'll be staying here," Richardson said when asked about the possibility. "I met with my family and we thought they were too far from home. I could stay here and still be eligible and everything."

At the Peach Jam, Richardson roomed with fellow Illinois recruit BRANDON PAUL, who usually plays with Team NLP but latched on with Illinois Warriors. The two became fast friends, he said.

"We watched TV together, just hung out," and ate their dinners at Hooters, Richardson said. "We knew each other before Peach Jam, but not as well as we do now."

In a matchup made for the Assembly Hall, Richardson, Paul and Illinois Warriors defeated Rising Stars and JEREME RICHMOND in Peach Jam pool play. The trio of Illinois recruits combined for 64 points, 30 of those from Richardson.

"We guarded each other," the 6-3 Richardson said of the 6-6 Richmond. "I wanted to guard him."

As for the 11-foot rim, Richardson said it doesn't present too tall of a challenge.

"Yeah, I can dunk on it," he said.

No surprise there - Richardson's reputation is still rising, too.

Klee
pklee@news-gazette.com