The News-Gazette.com Weblog

Basketblog

More on Tracy Abrams

Posted by: Paul Klee

Friday, December 19, 2008 8:24 AM

A few quick things (from what's running around in my head) regarding Tracy Abrams' verbal commitment to Illinois....

- You can't overvalue the influence of guys like Jereme Richmond and Crandall Head on this one. When Tracy Abrams was on the Illinois campus a few months back, the 2010 guys took him under their wing and put on a friendly full-court press. They were informed that Abrams, as a true point guard, was viewed as a sort of missing piece in taking the Illini over the top.

So they went to work, and their efforts paid off. Abrams told me this afternoon that he's "looking forward playing with Jereme and Crandall and those guys" at Illinois. Good players want to play with good players, and this was a fine example.

- Also big, and this goes for other committed prospects as well: having the likes of Deron Williams in Illinois' corner. It helped Illinois that it could "sell" an NBA (and Olympic) talent like Deron to another point guard, Abrams. That Jerrance Howard is so tight with Deron Williams, Luther Head, Brian Cook, Dee Brown, etc., carries a lot of weight with Chicago kids. Those are the guys these kids can relate to.

- I wrote this the other day, but here it is again. Chicago Mount Carmel wasn't included in the Shootout at the Hall because, really, the Illini didn't believe they had a shot at Abrams when the field was being finalized. That turned suddenly, and quickly.

Then Jerrance Howard went to work, devoting much of his recruiting time to Tracy Abrams. It didn't hurt that Bruce Weber has known Mount Carmel coach Mike Flaherty for some time.

"He's the kind of coach that makes you better," Abrams said of Weber.

- Among college recruiters, word spread earlier this week that Abrams was nearing a commitment, and those recruiters acted quickly. The likes of Memphis and Indiana went to Mount Carmel earlier this week, in an attempt to sway his decision.

- Here's what veteran talent evaluator Joe Henricksen, who has covered Chicago-area hoops for about 14 years, said about Abrams' influence with his 2011 brethren.

“He’s so well-connected, so influential, with those kids in Chicago, guys are going to want to play with him," Henricksen said. "There’s no question he’s going to be influential for Illinois recruiting the next couple years.”

You can find Henricksen's stuff on the City/Suburban Hoops Report. Joe ranked Abrams as the state's No. 1 2011 prospect back in June.

- Illinois coach Bruce Weber took the phone call from Abrams during practice this afternoon. He broke away and then returned to the team's most spirited practice of finals week.

- Abrams told me he's already working on close friend Mike Shaw, a teammate with the Mac Irvin Fire.

"I’m trying to get those (2011) guys to come down there and play with us,” Abrams said.

- I think you'll see Illinois make a strong push for Rock Island's Chasson Randle. There are others, of course, but he's the one to keep an eye on. I don't think they'll take three guards in that class, but you never know. Illinois figures to have five scholarships available for its 2011 recruiting class. That's the plan for now, anyway.

- D.J. Richardson caught a flight back to central Illinois this afternoon. He landed about two hours ago and said he's hoping to attend Saturday's Detroit game at the Assembly Hall. Like he often does, Richardson dropped a unique perspective and a different type of insight.

"The best part is, all the talent that we've got coming in, almost all of it is in-state talent. It's all Illinois talent," said Richardson, who learned of Abrams' commitment almost immediately. "We're going to have an all-Illinois team. It's guys that love Illinois basketball. It's great to have that."

More on the Tracy Abrams commitment - and an Ode To Alex Legion - here on HQ.

pklee@news-gazette.com