Dave,

I'm not playing the guessing game with who's committing next this early in the process. With some of these players, the coaches of college programs don't even know. They're taken by surprise, so no reason for me to throw stuff off the wall.

That said, you should like Illinois' chances with Darius Mosely. He's aware that cornerback will be a need for the Illini soon, and that's appealing to him. "He's definitely interested in the fact that could mean early playing time. They're very high on his board," O'Fallon coach Brandon Joggerst told me recently of Mosely's situation.

Mosely is likely to decide over the summer. He's had interest from likes of Tennessee and Oregon too lately, so he'd be a great pick-up for Illinois.

EA,

Tulsa transfer Jordan Clarkson, a guard, visited Missouri yesterday, CBSSports.com's Jeff Goodman reported. I expect the Tigers to be a major player for him, but he is still insisting he wants to visit Illinois as well.

I don't have a lot of insight into his game because, to be honest, I never watched Tulsa play last year. From what I read and hear though, he'd be a great get. Don't let that mid-major tag fool you.

Taking Clarkson would have a fairly significant effect on recruiting in the next couple years for Illinois. Barring significant attrition, you would have to take one fewer guard in the 2013 or 2014 class (remember, Clarkson, like Rayvonte Rice, would be in Champaign through 2014-'15). You could still take Kendrick Nunn, for example, but then maybe you don't have room for one of the better guards in 2014. Right now, Illinois could still conceivably take Nunn and Demetrius Jackson in 2013. It might be a stretch to take so many guards, but it's possible. You wouldn't do that with Clarkson in the picture. Remember, at least one spot in each of 2013 and 2014 needs to go to a true big man.

For now, there's still flexibility. Adding Clarkson would limit that. But if you think he'll help your program -- and from what I hear, he would -- then you go for it. Remember, there's no logical reason to pass on a good player now because you think -- repeat: think -- you can get a good one a year or two later. Illinois could use scoring help sooner rather than later, and Clarkson would provide more of that.

In short, Illinois would have to be more selective taking guards in 2013 and 2014. They'd still recruit the top guys hard, but they'd have to be sure. Maybe you don't take a flyer on a guy like point guard Tyler Ulis, who is talented but has some doubts surrounding his size.

John,

McLaurin doesn't fill a 2013 scholarship. He fills a 2012 scholarship. I know it can be confusing when one season spans 2012-2013. But think of it this way. Sam McLaurin has one season of eligibility at Illinois. Jabari Parker has one season left to play at Simeon. When McLaurin leaves Illinois, Parker will be leaving Simeon and entering the college basketball world.

That's why it's a low-risk proposition to take McLaurin. So long as he can be a good teammate, there's no downside.

Even with McLaurin, there's still one scholarship open for this season coming up, which is 2012-'13 but in the recruiting world considered the 2012 class because that's when players hit campus. Not sure yet if that scholarship will be filled or not. John Groce is still looking.

John B,

A while back, I heard Missouri and Illinois were the two major players in Beisel's recruitment. So that bodes well for Illini fans, that he was serious about taking a look and then did come for the spring game. As offers from Mizzou, Nebraska and other show, he's a quality player, the kind you consistently want to get into your program. I believe the Ohio State and Notre Dame interest is just that for now -- interest. Things would change if they come through with an offer, but for now I think this is an Illinois-Missouri-Nebraska battle.

Isaac's looking at a before-the-season-starts timetable, though he's said he won't set a hard deadline. With so much hoopla around him, so many people recruiting him, it would probably be easier to get it done before football starts. He's a national recruit, and I expect that he will end up at one of the nation's bluebloods programs.

Don't sense that a commitment is come real soon with Pocic. He's got a lot of offers to weigh. Illinois stil has a fair chance there for now, I believe. Not great, but fair.

TFK,

Gavin Schilling of Chicago De La Salle is the top priority in the 2013 class right now. I haven't seen him play, so this is hearsay and what I've gathered, but he's got a high motor, is a plus defender and rebounds well. And his offensive game is coming along.

Past Schilling, expect the staff to look outside the state in 2013. There's not a lot of other true big guys in Illinois in that class. The Illini have shown interest in Maverick Morgan out of Springboro, Ohio, and Devin Williams from Cincinnati is still on the radar. Both are 2013 big guys. John Groce has recruited Ohio and Indiana a lot in his career, so it's a good bet more names will surface in those states.

Dman,

Simple question, but really is a hard one because there's so many directions to go here and -- most significantly -- you can't predict transfers.

I'll say two things here, with B being more likely ...

A) With what we know now and if we're to assume everyone comes back, I see the staff taking another perimeter player and a big man in 2013 to fill two of those slots. Then that leaves one scholarship open. I think you could see that held for Jabari Parker, who may not decide until very close to signing day in November. If he doesn't take it, then you could use it the next spring to get a late bloomer or a transfer or roll it over.

B) The staff has or will have an inkling on whether players could leave the program. They won't publicly talk about it, but they will operate on the recruiting front knowing there's more flexibility. I'm guessing that will be the case. There will likely be roster attrition we can't forecast now somewhere in the next 1 1/2 years. With that in mind, I wouldn't be surprised to see a five-player class (of players who will be around for a while, unlike Parker) in 2013. You could add another lead guard then. It would depend on how much the coaches like the 2013 kids. They'd be selective on that fifth guy, because there is talent in 2014.

I'm not doing odds, ha. This isn't a race track, and by the time I published the chart, the recruits would be leaning another direction.

Lamont, 

I'm good, thanks for asking. Not sure I see an obvious question in there, but thanks for the input.

Quite early to say, I think, that John Groce is recruiting anything like Bruce Weber did. John Groce hasn't even secured a commitment from a prep player yet (though Malcolm Hill and Jalen James re-affirmed commitments). He's taken a couple transfer because he wants some more immediate help.

Dwight,

Not sure how to increase prestige other than by winning. So you're basically asking, can Illinois increase it's winning so that it can recruit the best in Illinois? That's the vicious cycle theory. How do you get to be a great program without great players, and how do you get great players without being a great program?

Coaching, that's how. That's why they get paid a lot. If you're going to have a little less talent than some of the other top dogs (say Big Ten foes Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana) and want to beat them, you have to be better suited at playing your game than they are theirs, and you have to find a way to play your game. You follow me?

That all falls on the coaches, and they have to recruit their guys. Illinois will get top-10 players from time to time, but history doesn't suggest that will be often at all. Still, if you want to take the next step and get more elite players more consistenly, you need to win more.

That increases prestige. And that takes some time. Just look at Indiana. It was a rough first three years for Tom Crean. Now they're back.

And Illinois is recruiting Parker very hard. That's not the issue. The issue is finishing the deal.

DWill,

I've heard nothing on Kaza Keane, so to answer your question now, no.

As of now, looks like Tracy Abrams could be playing 38 minutes a game. So that's what you're doing at point guard.

Dennis,

Solid chance with Augusta, Banks and Mosely. Long-shot at best with Isaac. Pocic and Treadwell fall somwhere in between.

Florida will remain a recruiting stop, and the staff has covered that area in this evaluation period. I don't expect it to be anything like when Ron Zook was coach, but if you can just nab a player or two from down there who are overlooked, it's worth it. Those players are talented, and as someone told me recently, they play with a chip on their shoulder when they get overlooked by the SEC programs, Miami and Florida State.

Seems to me that Texas, Virginia and Missouri are a few places where the staff has gotten out more than before. So keep an eye on talent from those areas. Might not see immediate dividends, but those are places that are more of a focus.