Paul Klee: Thanks for coming by the News-Gazette's weekly Illini sports online chat. As always, we appreciate your time. Let's get to it.

JAY MARGOLIN, BOYNTON BEACH, FL.: HOW ARE THE GUYS DOING ON THE CHINA TOUR?KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.THIS A GREAT COLUMN.

Paul Klee: Thanks Jay. I wrote about the China tour in Monday's News-Gazette. Jerrance Howard picked up his first career win as a head coach on Sunday. It was also the Reach USA roster's first win.

Unfortunately, it looks like the tour has come to an end -- Reach USA director Robby Speer said they've decided to cancel the final two games due to the earthquake situation and a three-day period of mourning in China. Bruce Weber said yesterday he believes the guys are planning on returning to Beijing in hopes of catching a flight back to the U.S. on Thursday or Friday.

Jerrance called Sunday from Nan Chung, where the team opened a new arena against one of the pro teams. He said there was an overflow crow that was shown the game on a screen outside. Most, if not all, of the tour's games were televised at least regionally. Howard said Demetri McCamey played well at times but it wasn't until the fifth game, when he defended a member of the Chinese national team, that he excelled.

"Demetri is our veteran on this team. He has the most experience," Howard said, giving an idea of how young the tour roster was.

"All of this is helping him (as a coach)," Weber said yesterday of Howard. "It's about learning. I still learn. I learn every season. I think that's part of becoming a better coach."

The China tour was a challenge for Howard, too, and I'm going to write about Howard's experience as a head coach (he referred to Weber for tips on several occasions) in Klee's Corner on Sunday.

Paul Klee: Worth a note: Alex Legion left for Poland on Tuesday. He's touring with a group from Athletes in Action. More on Legion's trip and when the Illini hope to have him in the lineup next season in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Mike, Chicago, IL: Bob -

With spring practice over and some months before Rantoul, what are the expectations of the coaches for the players during this break. Do they stay on campus, are there formal practices? Do they all participate? How is this managed? Thanks

Bob Asmussen: Mike,

The summer setup has changed more than anything else since I started covering college football two decades ago.

Guys used to go home and get jobs for the summer, visit with their families and hang out with their high school buddies. Not anymore.

Unless they have a commitment that they can't get out of (job internship, summer baseball league, etc.), the players are expected to be in C-U for the bulk of the summer. The good news for them is that if they go to classes, they are allowed to have their expenses covered by Illinois. Many of the players are in summer school, helping them stay ahead of the academic workload.

Former workouts are strictly prohibited by NCAA rule, but the players are allowed to work out on their own. And they are allowed to have medical people on hand. Also, Lou Hernandez and the strength and conditioning coaches can work with the players.

Generally, the older players take charge of the summer workouts. They will set a schedule and everybody is expected to be there. I'm not sure what happens if guys don't show up, but I'm guessing there is pressure to be there.

There are 7-on-7 drills for the quarterbacks, receivers, running backs, defensive backs and linebackers. The linemen go through a separate set of workouts, dealing with footwork, plays, etc.

Players stay in shape during the summer and are ready to go by the time Camp Rantoul rolls around.

Given the success of the team last season and the fact that the coaches spent the spring trying to knock any cockiness out of the players, I'm guessing it will be a motivated group this summer. It will help that Juice Williams and Eddie McGee are older and more able to take charge. It had to be difficult last summer when both were coming off of their freshman season.

Paul Klee: Just off the phone with Jerrance Howard. The China tour is scheduled to arrive back in the U.S. on Friday afternoon. No more games due to the earthquake situation. Think that covers it.

Brett, Lexington, KY: Paul,

Why do people keep asking me about Jereme Richmond and Kentucky? Can you ask them to stop?

Paul Klee: Brett-Thanks for the beer last weekend. I'm guessing people will probably ask you about Jereme Richmond and Kentucky until he can sign a letter of intent about 17 months from now. People, stop asking Brett about Jereme Richmond and Kentucky.

Mike Perry, Decatur, IL: Paul: Thanks for taking my question. Is Lenzelle Smith off the Illini Radar ? I have not heard any mention of him lately.

Paul Klee: No, Lenzelle Smith is very much on the Illini's radar. He's on a lot of programs' radars. The number will increase as he gets more exposure through Team NLP, the AAU program that features Illinois recruit Brandon Paul. When Lenzelle Smith took a visit to the Illinois campus, there were photos of him scattered throughout Ubben Basketball Complex to welcome him and show him how much they want him. It seemed to make a positive impression.

Rich Patton, Mt. Village, Alaska: Jamar Smith was originally scheduled to go to China. That has changed. Is Jamar still in good standings to compete this next season? Will he travel and play somewhere this summer?

Thanks - Rich - Alaskan for the Illini

Paul Klee: As I wrote a few weeks ago, yes, Jamar Smith was in the conversation to join Demetri McCamey in China. They're hoping he can join a tour of Australia later in the summer, though Bruce Weber told me yesterday he's uncertain whether the Australian tour will take shape. There are other options, though, and Illinois would like to see as many players as possible perform on overseas tours. Weber's a big proponent of that experience. More on the issue in Sunday's News-Gazette.

Jamar Smith seems to be on track to rejoin the team next season. But there's still a ways to go until next season gets here. He worked out with teammate Richard Semrau, who returned to campus early, the other day.

Hope that helps.

Dave c., Champaign, Il.: Bob, Based on Spring Football practice, who do you see as most likely to jump up the board for playing time?

Bob Asmussen: Dave,

I think you have to start with linebacker Rodney Pittman, who played the way the coaches always hoped he would. They were looking for a third linebacker to start and he will be the guy unless something dramatic happens at Camp Rantoul.

I think Chris Duvalt at receiver was another spring find for the coaches, who want to get him on the field. Cornerback wasn't going to be an option for him.

The young offensive linemen played well. I think Graham Pocic will be on the field early. And I know the coaches were happy with the way Jeff Allen played.

I thought Ashante Williams looked good during many of the practices. And Antonio James put himself in the mix at the deep, deep defensive end spot.

Ted, Chicago, IL: A question regarding the latest change in NCAA recruiting legislation: is there anything in the rulebook that would prevent the DIA from announcing on April 30 that Ron Zook has accepted the position of assistant coach at Illinois, and (name of some assistant) had assumed head coaching duties? And then on May 31 we could change things back to Zooker as the head coach. If we didn't want to pull one assistant totally away from his area for the entire month, we could switch things around on May 15-putting some other assistant in the big chair at and the first assistant back on the road for the final two weeks. This would keep Zook on the road where hes most effective.

I cant believe that the NCAA wouldnt have thought of this when they enacted the rule. And if this is a loophole, then I cant believe that either Nick Saban or any of the other SEC academicians didnt exploit it this year.

Bob Asmussen: Ted,

That's funny that you ask that question because I was joking with Ron Zook about that very idea late last week. He was a bit unhappy that Danny Hope, Purdue's next head coach, was allowed to be on the road this year. While not technically the head coach yet, Hope is doing work that Joe Tiller wouldn't have been able to do in his final season. Not that Tiller would have been on the road anyway.

Coach Zook was surprised by the vote among the coaches, which was just 6-5 in favor of the head coaches going back on the road. I was very surprised that Rich Rodriguez voted against being on the road, though it sounds like he might change his mind. And certainly Danny Hope will want to be on the road next season, changing the Purdue vote.

If the coaches can't get back on the road, they are going to ask that May become a contact period. In exchange, they are willing to shut down completely during July. Makes perfect sense to me, which means it won't happen.

I'm trying to get an answer to your question, but I'm guessing that compliance department at Illinois would not approve of that loophole. Plus, Coach Zook would be taking a chance by going off contract during the month. What if a new president at a school saw that as a way to get rid of the coach. I don't think the coaches themselves would feel good about going around the rule that way.

Coach Zook stayed on the road by attending coaching clinics. Good idea.

Chad, Champaign, IL: Any information on where Donald Stewart of Champaign Central will be going to school next year or his plans?

Paul Klee: Hi Chad. Not at the moment, but I know Parkland and new coach Sergio McClain would love to have him if other opportunities don't work out. We'll check and see if there's any new info on Donald Stewart's recruitment. Could be a very good college player. He often plays pickup games at Ubben with the current Illini.

Allen, Denver, Colorade: Paul

On one of your podcasts, you gave a clue to something happening Aug. 3. Any hints?

Paul Klee: Allen, Greetings to my hometown. Please fix the Broncos.

Hints? For now, only that it promises to be a positive day for Illini fans and News-Gazette readers. Thanks for the question.

Paul Klee: We had a story in Sunday's News-Gazette on Dee Brown, who returned to Chicago on Friday after his first season in Turkey. Dee acknowledged this is a big summer for his professional future, and ESPN's international guru Fran Fraschilla said Dee faces the critical question.

"The dilemma for someone like Dee is, 'Do I make really good money playing a game I love across the ocean, or do I give up the security of that life and that career to try for the NBA with no guarantee that I can stick long term?'" Fraschilla said, adding, "Going to Europe is a real mind-set. Oftentimes guys go over there and they mentally can't make the adjustment. The guys that do take on that mind-set can have a very good lifestyle."

http://news-gazette.com/sportsfacts/mens_basketball/

Paul Klee: That's all the questions we have for today, thanks to everyone who stopped by. Look forward to seeing you back here next week.