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THE BEST IN ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL RECRUITING!
Class of 2009 Pre-Summer Player Assessments: Chicago
by Pat Benninger
June 17, 2007
Chris Colvin 6’3” 170 lbs PG – Colvin has a very advanced skillset for his age. He is very poised and has a very level composure on the floor. He’s a solid athlete and knows how to lead a team. Chris’ ability to handle and pass the ball and ability to get to the basket are his strongest offensive elements as of right now. He is a capable shooter but needs to develop a more consistent jumper. Defensively, Colvin is also very solid. He plays hard and has the makings of a big time collegiate point guard. By the time he graduates, don't be surprised if he is labeled the state's best guard. Northwestern, Bradley, Illinois, and Purdue are among the schools that have shown Chris are great deal of attention, that he is interested in.
Marcus Jordan 6’4” 190 lbs Guard – A very strong guard with good athleticism. One of the keys to Marcus’ success is his ability to start the game the same way he finishes it. He is a very conditioned player. He sees the floor very well and has been improving his handle. Offensively, he scores best when attacking the basket but has been in the process of developing a mid range shot. He’s good at following his own shot and is solid on the boards. He’s also a good defensive player that uses his body well. If he continues to develop his ball handling and shooting ability, Jordan will have a very successful career ahead of him. As the son of Michael Jordan, Marcus has seen letters from about everyone but Illinois, Florida, and Michigan State are three schools that have stood out in his recruitment.
*Colvin and Jordan will help to form one of the state’s best backcourts, alongside 2008 guards-A.J. Rompza and Bryan Hall. How the Dolphins determine who plays with who and when will be the question but if they can work it out and put it together, look for the four to create a lot of havoc in the Chicago Public League. In the 2008-2009 season, look for Whitney Young’s backcourt of Colvin and Jordan to be the best in the state.
D.J. Cooper 5’11” 150 lbs PG – A quick point guard who is very underrated. D.J. has been the glue to a talented Hales Franciscan team. He was an honorable mention all-state selection last season and was chosen over his more highly touted teammates-Josh Crittle and Matthew Humphrey, who were not selected at all. Cooper’s a scoring guard and a great leader on the floor. He can handle it, pass it, score it, and is great in clutch situations. Look for D.J. to garner more attention next season as he has sprouted up a couple inches. He’s a great player who has been overlooked throughout his early high school career but it doesn’t seem as if it will be that way for long.
Michael Haynes 6’5” 225 lbs Forward – Michael is a very skilled player for his age. He’s got good athleticism and finishes well around the basket. Also, he is strong rebounder. For these reasons, he has been offered a scholarship by Marquette University and garnered a lot of college attention. However, Haynes is very undersized for his position. At 6’5”, he doesn’t have the height of a collegiate level post player. This is the reason he only has one scholarship offer. As Michael is approximately one and one half years older than the majority of his classmates, it doesn’t seem that he will sprout up much more. He has stated that he has been trying to improve his perimeter game and that will only better his chances at the college level, as he has the athleticism and quickness of a wing.
Derek Needham 6’1” 170 lbs PG – A speedy guard with good athleticism. Needham showed a lot of signs of being a good player this past season. He was De La Salle’s sixth man, playing behind three very guards with very respectable talent. Derek can fill both guard slots as he is good at pushing the ball but is also capable of putting up big numbers. When he gains more consistency and learns to play a bit more under control, people will find that he is another player who hasn’t gotten his proper respects as a basketball player.
Darius Smith 6'2" 175 lbs Guard - A strong guard that is very versatile and very skilled. As a freshman, Smith put up very impressive numbers for the 3rd place state champions, Chicago Marshall. As a sophomore, Darius was even more impressive. He is strong, can push the ball, can handle it, and is a great finisher. He's a disciplined defensive player and rebounds extremely well from the guard position. On the AAU circuit, Smith competes with Team Illinois Hawks and it's obvious in his game as he fits the mold of a typical Chris Head guard. Darius is a tough player and will have a chance to play Division I basketball.
Glenn Wallace 5’10” 165 lbs PG – When Wallace entered high school, he was a part of a deep St. Joseph’s class filled with guards. However, as expected, a lot of their reputations died down. Glenn decided to transfer to Chicago North Lawndale and the move has proved to be a very smart one on his part. He played a key role in helping the Phoenix finish 2nd in the Class A state tournament. He is a strong point guard with a lot of poise for his age. He handles it well and is good at controlling the tempo of a game. He is a capable shooter and is good at creating for teammates. Questions about Glenn’s size have circulated but he has a chance to be a good player.