ESPN

The prevailing storyline in the senior class rests among the first half-dozen elite members of the group. When ESPN convened its scouts to discuss the 100 elite seniors in the country, the most difficult task we faced was settling on an order for the first half-dozen prospects.

The list begins, as it has since last summer, with No. 1 Jabari Parker (Chicago/Simeon). He owns three state championships, two gold medals and the respect of his peers. However, his summer was incomplete; he returned from Lithuania with USA Basketball only to shut himself down due to injury. With the top slot heading into the fall intact, Parker need only check his rearview mirror to size up his competition.

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Simeon senior linebacker Reggie Spearman committed to Illinois on Tuesday, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Spearman, who is 6-foot-1 and 218 pounds, also had offers from Akron, Ball State, Houston , Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, Toledo and Western Michigan.

Spearman is ranked the No. 47 outside linebacker in the country and is the 15th-ranked prospect in the state by ESPN Recruiting.

Illinois now has 17 commitments, including six from in state, in its Class of 2013.

Glenbrook North senior center Andrew McAuliffe committed to Davidson on Thursday, according to his club coach.

McAuliffe, a 6-foot-8 center, also had interest from Belmont, Bradley, Loyola, Northern Illinois, Tulane among others. Northwestern had been recruiting him until he suffered a fractured right patella last season.

“He loved the academics,” Fundamental U club coach Mike Weinstein said. “They’ve been recruiting him for the longest. They stuck with him when he was hurt.”

McAuliffe is Davidson’s first Class of 2013 commitment.

Simeon senior guard Kendrick Nunn, an ESPN 100 recruit, released Friday a list of five schools he was considering to attend -- in alphabetical order, they are Illinois, Marquette, Memphis, Ohio State and UCLA.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Simeon Career Academy forward Jabari Parker, the nation's No. 1-ranked senior, could wait to commit until the spring if he can't decide on a school by the early signing period, his father said on Thursday.

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The name Ronnie Fields can ignite a basketball conversation in Chicago to this day.

It’s been 16 years since Fields, a 1996 McDonald’s All-American, last soared through the air in a high school basketball game, but people recall his feats as if they occurred yesterday.

And unlike tales of other prep legends, the stories of Fields haven’t grown in exaggeration with time. When you stand 6-foot-3 and jump 50 inches like Fields did, the truth remains satisfactory.

Most Chicagoans begin their Fields’ stories with, “Man, I remember when he…” What often follows is how he jumped over Sergio McClain, how he jumped over (insert a number of names), how he threw down a 360 dunk against Glenbrook North in the City-Suburban Showdown, how he dropped 51 points in a morning game before a packed crowd at Proviso West, how all of his windmill dunks seemed unforgettable and how he and Kevin Garnett were two basketball freaks when they played together at Farragut on Chicago’s West Side.

Those are everyone else’s stories of Fields.

Fields’ own story of himself is different.

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York senior guard David Cohn committed to Colorado State on Tuesday, according to his club coach.

Cohn, a 6-2 shooting guard, had offers from nearly 20 schools. He visited Colorado State twice before making his decision.

“Coach (Larry) Eustachy and (assistant Niko) Medved did a great job,” Illinois Wolves club coach Mike Mullins said. “David’s an explosive scorer, athletic and gritty defender. His best days are ahead of him as he gains strength to match his skills and athletic ability.”

Cohn was an ESPNChicago.com all-area selection last season. He averaged 22 points, five rebounds and five assists for York and shot 51 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3-point range. He scored a school-record 47 points in a game last season.

Cohn is Colorado State’s second Class of 2013 commitment.

There was a time in Proviso East senior guard Sterling Brown’s childhood he would have accepted a scholarship offer from Michigan State in a heartbeat.

“It was definitely the school I liked growing up,” Brown said leading up to this week’s recruiting period. “Going to a lot of my brother’s (Shannon Brown) games, as a kid, I said I wanted to be a Spartan. I wanted to play for Tom Izzo.”

Brown, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, could still end up playing for Izzo, but the Spartans will have to recruit him like every program pursuing him as his stock continues to rise in July.

Brown’s list of suitors has grown in recent weeks, and he now names Colorado, DePaul, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Memphis, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon State and USC as schools who are recruiting him.

“Everyone is in the picture right now,” Brown said. “Right now, I don’t have any set schools. Any school looking at me, I’m interested in also.

“Michigan State is still recruiting me, too. They’re talking to my dad and my brother. They attend all the games. We’ll see where that one goes. If they come with an offer, it’s not a done deal. There are other schools looking at me. If Michigan State comes with an offer, they’re going to be right in line with everyone else.”

Brown’s club coach Mike Irvin of the Mac Irvin Fire said he wouldn’t be surprised if they began hearing from even more high-major programs after July because the way Brown has performed.

“He’s been playing unbelievable,” Irvin said. “He’s playing like one of the top guards in the country. He’s doing it at both ends of the court. He’s definitely stepped up. He’s playing with a lot of confidence. His confidence is out of the building.”

Brown’s confidence began to build back in the high school season. In Illinois’ Class 4A state championship game, Brown matched up against Simeon’s Jabari Parker, the country’s No. 1 senior, and Brown was arguably the best player on the court that day.

Brown scored a game-high 25 points on 10-of-18 shooting, hit two 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and had one steal and one assist. Parker had 15 points, though his team did defeat Proviso East.

“It just gave me confidence that any way I needed to help my team I was going to do regardless of who I was playing against,” Brown said.

Brown also recently went up against Julius Randle, the nation’s No. 2 senior, at Nike’s EYBL Peach Jam, and according to Irvin, Brown held more than his own despite giving up five inches. Randle had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Brown had 16 points and five rebounds.

ESPN senior recruiting coordinator Dave Telep has been impressed by Brown this summer.

“He's a solid high-major level player who is the type that could start 2-3 years at a big program and contribute all four,” Telep said. “He's a versatile kid, solid outside shooter who can get to the rim. Different player than his brother, but a guy who will wind up in a big conference."

Brown doesn’t mind being different than Shannon, who has been in the NBA since 2006. Brown’s been working all of his life to separate himself from his older brother.

“That’s what it’s all about being a younger brother or a son of someone who previously played,” Brown said. “You want to get out of their shadows. You want to make a name for yourself. That’s what I’m striving to do. Anytime in the paper, I read I’m Shannon Brown’s little brother. I try to get out there. I do feel I’m getting there.”

Crete-Monee senior wide receiver Laquon Treadwell was one of 64 high school skill players selected to play in the Champion Gridiron Kings.

The Champion Gridiron Kings will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. from Friday-Sunday. The event will include 7-on-7 games, skill challenges and performance trainings. It will air on ESPNU and ESPN3 on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Treadwell was the lone Illinois player selected for the competition. He is ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2013 ESPNU 150 and is being recruited by most of the nation’s top programs.

Treadwell was an ESPNChicago.com all-area selection as a junior and caught 75 passes for 1,391 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Northwestern wing commit Nate Taphorn put on a show at the Under Armour Summer Jam with his outstanding shooting and ballhandling skills.

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Kansas freshman guard Milton Doyle has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse and will be eligible to play next season for the Jayhawks, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Doyle, who played at Marshall High School in Chicago, has been enrolled in summer school at Kansas and was awaiting the NCAA Clearinghouse's approval. Doyle transferred to Marshall after his sophomore year at Tilden and the NCAA was investigating his credits.

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Gold medal? Check. Go-to move? Check. Best center in high school? That's yet to be determined, but Jahlil Okafor made a strong case on the first day of the Peach Jam.

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Tom Luginbill discusses Vernon Hargreaves' planned visit with Notre Dame this week.

BEAVERTON, Ore. -- The minute Ty Isaac arrives, the chatter begins.

Take The Opening, for example. Isaac missed the first two days of the four-day event, but he arrived in time for the 7-on-7 tournament July 7 and 8. Once Isaac arrived, defensive backs and linebackers were on the prowl, anticipating their opportunity to get a shot against the Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy four-star running back.

"I like that," Isaac said. "And, trust me, it's vice versa."

While the 7-on-7 game isn't what Isaac is known for, Isaac showed his ability to be a pass-catching option out of the backfield. But that's not his specialty. At 6-foot-3 and 217 pounds, Isaac is a bruising downhill runner who loves using his size to his advantage in the running game. Isaac's stats were ridiculous in 2011. In addition to rushing for 2,114 yards and 45 touchdowns, he also averaged nearly 12 yards per carry.

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Although he recruited Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis from Chicago, Kentucky coach John Calipari remarked in December that he didn’t have a whole lot experience recruiting players from the area.

That is quickly changing.

Calipari has been after Simeon forward Jabari Parker, the nation’s No. 1 senior, and Whitney Young center Jahlil Okafor, the nation’s No. 2 junior, over the past year. And now he has added Curie center Cliff Alexander, the No. 10 junior, to the mix. Alexander, who is 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds, added an offer from Kentucky on Tuesday, according to Reggie Rose, who runs the D Rose All-Stars.

“I think Kentucky is one of his dream schools,” said Reggie, who handled his younger brother Derrick’s recruitment. “I’m pretty sure he’s excited. At the same time, when I talk to Cliff, I tell him when Derrick was in high school his dream school was North Carolina, and he went to Memphis. It’s about what is your best fit.”

Reggie Rose believes Alexander can be a good fit for Kentucky because of his mobility as a big man, and he can get up and down the court in Kentucky’s fast-paced offense. In comparison, Reggie Rose believes a big man like Okafor is a better fit for Michigan State because the Spartans can utilize him in their half-court offense.

“I think Okafor is a great talent,” Rose said. “Different programs fit different players. I think Okafor would be a better player at Michigan State than at Kentucky. I think Cliff would be a better player at Kentucky than at Michigan State.”

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo likely would disagree. Izzo has been recruiting Alexander throughout his high school career and has been in Chicago often to see him.

Illinois also has made its interests known, and Alexander recently made an unofficial visit to its campus. DePaul, Indiana, Ohio State and Wisconsin, among others, also are recruiting Alexander.

Despite all of the schools after Alexander, Rose said he hasn’t spoken with him about recruiting, and they wouldn’t get serious about it until after his junior season in high school.

“To be honest, I don’t really sit down and talk about the schools,” Rose said. “He took an unofficial to Illinois, but we haven’t gotten into a top 3, top 5 schools. I’ll let him play his high school junior season, and we’ll start seeing the possibility of where the best fit is and where his head is. I like the kids to make a decision before their senior years.”

Alexander is nursing an ankle injury and sat out the D Rose All-Stars’ first July tournament. Rose said he likely won’t play this week either.