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Chicago Curie senior forward Cliff Alexander, ESPN's No. 2-ranked prospect, tweeted Monday his top-6 schools are Arizona, DePaul, Illinois, Kansas, Memphis and Michigan State.

Alexander told ESPNChicago.com on Sunday he had cut Kentucky from his original top-10 list and was also considering Connecticut and Oregon because they were recruiting Huntington Prep senior point guard JaQuan Lyle. Alexander and Lyle have discussed attending the same school. Connecticut and Oregon didn't make Alexander's list on Monday.

Baylor, Indiana and Louisville also did not make the cut after being on Alexander's top-10 list.

Alexander has made official visits to Arizona and DePaul. He will also make official visits to Kansas on Oct. 4, Memphis on Oct. 18 and Illinois on Oct. 26. He said he might also take an unofficial visit to Michigan State.

Alexander said he expects to commit in mid-December and sign his letter of intent in the spring.

Alexander said Sunday that DePaul and Illinois were among his finalists because he's interested in playing in state and is intrigued by the direction the programs are headed.

DePaul's recent recruiting efforts in Chicago have helped their standing with Alexander. He said he'd like to play with former Chicago Public League players Billy Garrett, Tommy Hamilton, Rashaun Stimage and Myke Henry.

"I love [DePaul] coach Oliver Purnell," Alexander said. "He's a great guy. He's built a great relationship with my mom. We had a fun time. I'm really considering them. It helps a lot playing with Tommy, Myke, Billy and Rashaun. I know those guys."

Alexander said he also feels comfortable with the Illini's coaching staff and players.

"Coach [John] Groce since he got the job, he's been communicating with me well," Alexander said. "My mom loves him, that whole coaching staff. I've been down there a few times and just hanging with the guys."

Former Illinois basketball player Jereme Richmond was returned to Lake County (Ill.) Jail on Thursday after he violated terms of his probation, according to assistant state's attorney Jim Newman.

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Simeon senior guard Kendrick Nunn may not be the savior of the Illinois basketball program, but he may just attract that player.

Nunn, who committed to the Illini on Saturday, certainly has basketball gifts. He can shoot. He can defend. He’ll play hard. He’ll do what is asked of him.

Whether he’s a future all-American or has the NBA in his future, that’s difficult to say now. He’s a 6-foot-2 shooting guard who is ranked No. 56 in the country and is the 17th best shooting guard by ESPN and is ranked as high as 36th and low as 60th by other national recruiting sites. Within Illinois, City/Suburban Hoops Report recruiting analyst Joe Henricksen ranks Nunn behind Simeon teammate Jabari Parker, the nation’s No. 1 player, and Belleville East’s Malcolm Hill, another Illinois recruit.

Nunn’s value to Illinois goes well beyond that, though.

For one, he’s the first Chicago recruit for Illinois first-year coach John Groce. It doesn’t hurt that Nunn is also from the state’s premier program. Secondly, Nunn is the type of player who seems to fit into any system and tends to be on winning teams. Simeon and the U17 USA national team can attest to that. Finally, others players appear to like him as a person and teammate.

All of those reasons add up to Nunn possibly being the most important Illini recruit in the past decade.

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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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Simeon forward Jabari Parker, the nation’s top-ranked basketball recruit, will not be playing his college basketball at Illinois. The fact that the program has that information in early July – on the heels of Parker excluding the Illini from his list of 10 possible landing destinations on Wednesday – is some sort of silver lining.

The Illini’s chances of landing Parker have always been slim, and that was unlikely to change no matter how often first-year Illinois coach John Groce or his assistants sat courtside to watch Parker play in July. Now with Parker having excluded Illinois, the coaching staff can spend more meaningful time recruiting 2013 players they have a shot at securing. The coaches also can work on developing relationships with the elite 2014 and 2015 players and their families.

As Parker’s father, Sonny, said Thursday, the decision to leave Illinois out of the mix wasn’t anything personal. The Parker family has consistently emphasized that relationships are vital to Jabari’s recruitment. To no fault of Groce’s, he simply didn’t have enough time to establish a relationship with Parker.

“I guess at this stage it’s the relationship part,” Sonny said. “Coach Groce, I’ve been talking to him. My wife has been talking to coach Groce. He seemed nice. (Jabari) had to have a relationship with him, too. It had nothing to do with the school per se. He has to feel comfortable with who’s there and who’s going to be the coach.

“I don’t think he had a chance to (know Groce) because of scheduling and timing. It’s hard for coaches to call Jabari because we don’t allow coaches to call or text him. It was nothing personal (with Groce.)

“(Jabari) likes the school. His dream is to play for his state school and win a national championship like all kids, but I think the timing, where they were and where we’re at.”

Of course, that still isn’t easy for Illinois fans to absorb. They’ve endured a recent history of the Chicago area’s premier players bypassing Illinois and succeeding elsewhere. Sherron Collins, Jon Scheyer, Julian Wright, Derrick Rose, Evan Turner, Wayne Blackshear and Anthony Davis have been among those who ended up elsewhere and won a lot of basketball games at their out-of-state destinations.

In all likelihood, Parker will elevate the college he attends into a national championship contender in the 2013-2014 season and will be the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA draft.

Would Illinois like that type of prodigious talent? Certainly, and there’s actually another Chicago product following up right behind Parker capable of having that same impact on a program. Whitney Young junior Jahlil Okafor, a 6-11 center currently rated as the No.2 player in the Class of 2014, appears to be one of those rare big men.

“Jahlil is right there with Jabari,” said Mac Irvin Fire coach Mike Irvin, who coaches Parker and Okafor. “He’s definitely right there. Jahlil is probably going to be the best big man this state has ever seen. He’s grown a couple of inches. He’s 6-11, mobile, can run the floor. He’s a game-changer.

“He’s a possible No. 1 draft pick. When you look at the No. 1 pick and the big men who have come out, he fits right there with the No.1 picks. He’s special.”

Okafor’s father, Chukwudi Okafor, said Thursday that his son will not be impacted by Parker choosing to eliminate the Illini and that they are in their recruiting process was still in its infancy.

Irvin believed Illinois now must do anything it can to get Okafor.

“There aren’t Jabari’s and Jahlil Okafor’s that come around often, maybe every 20 years,” Irvin said. “Illinois’ focus has to be on Jahlil Okafor now. You lose a Jabari, man, that’s huge. That’s a blow. Now your thing, if I’m the coach at Illinois, I have to convince Jahlil Okafor.”

At the end of the day, it’s possible that Parker’s rejection of the Illini could lead to Okafor’s acceptance of them.

Newly-named Illinois assistant coach Paris Parham can remember a time when most Chicago high school basketball players considered the Illini as a possible destination.

That’s changed over the years, but Parham said Friday he’s confident Illinois can return to having that standing in Chicago.

“Growing up in Chicago, playing ball, your whole dream was to play at the highest level,” said Parham, who was officially named to Illinois coach John Groce’s staff on Thursday. “During our time, Illinois has always been in the Big Ten and has always consistently been a place that guys dreamed about playing at.

“I think it can definitely be like that again. It hasn’t lost anything. The Big Ten was the best conference in the country last season. It’s in the top 3 in the country year in and year out. It’s a place with unbelievable fan support. Education-wise, the school is unbelievable across the board. People want to play for a winner. Whenever Illinois was winning, bright lights and shining stars kind of idea, kids wanted to come. We have to get back to that level.”

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Illinois’ recent hire of assistant Paris Parham is already paying off as the Illini have put themselves in the mix for Simeon’s next star, sophomore forward Dennis Williams, according to Simeon coach Robert Smith on Friday.

Williams, a 6-5 swingman, and his mother visited Illinois on Thursday and left with an offer from Illini coach John Groce, according to Smith.

“(The visit) wasn’t planned until Paris was hired (on Tuesday),” Smith said on Friday. “Paris had a lot to do with it even though he’s not (in Champaign) yet.

“(Williams) went down there and took to Groce and really liked him and (assistant) Jamall (Walker.) That’s what I’m talking about Paris helping them out right away.”

Illinois joins Cal Poly, DePaul and Nebraska as schools to offer Williams.

Williams saw some playing time on Simeon’s varsity team as a freshman. While Smith wasn’t willing to put Williams in the category of a Derrick Rose, a former Simeon player, and Jabari Parker, a current Simeon player, just yet, Smith said Williams was unlike any player he’s coached before.

“I never had a kid with his ability,” Smith said. “He can be the next one from Simeon. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s starting to understand what it takes. He can score. He can play inside and outside. He’s going to be able to play the 1, 2, 3. He has great vision and feel for the game”

O’Fallon senior defensive back Darius Mosely committed to Illinois on Saturday.

Mosely, who is 5-11 and 185 pounds, is the No. 9-ranked prospect in Illinois and 41st-ranked defensive back in the country, according to ESPN Recruiting. He chose the Illini over Vanderbilt.

Mosely said Illinois coach Tim Beckman and his staff were creative in their recruitment of him.

“They were on me constantly,” Mosely told ESPN.com’s Max Olson on Saturday. “They sent a picture with my face on a billboard that said, ‘Welcome to Illinois: Coming soon.’ I was like, 'Wow.' They even sent one where they named a McDonald’s burger after me: the McMosely.”

The Illini now have 13 Class of 2013 commitments, including six from Illinois.

Plainfield Central senior defensive tackle Bryce Douglas committed to Illinois on Friday.

Douglas, who is 6-2 and 330 pounds, was offered by the Illini after participating in a linemen camp on Friday and committed within minutes. Both of his parents attended Illinois, and his father, Bruce Douglas, played basketball for the Illini.

“I’ve always loved Illinois,” Douglas said. “I’m really excited.”

Douglas was also receiving interest from Boston College, Central Michigan, Indiana and Nebraska, among others.

Illinois had been recruiting Douglas for some time, but he hadn’t received an offer. He said he was told by an Illinois assistant to attend Friday’s camp and show the staff how hard he’s been working.

“I just had to do my part,” Douglas said. “I was really focused, and I knew I was down there for one reason, and that was to try to get a scholarship offer. I did what had to be done. I had to step up and get my mind right. That’s what I did.

“I was excited [when I received the offer.] It took a minute to sink in. Words can’t describe it.”

Illinois now has 12 Class of 2013 commitments and five from in-state recruits.

Bolingbrook junior quarterback Aaron Bailey committed to Illinois on Thursday, according to his high school coach.

Bailey, who is 6-2 and 216 pounds, is ranked the No. 37 athlete in the Class of 2013 and the 11th best recruit in Illinois by ESPN Recruiting.

Bailey was recruited by a number of other schools an athlete and not a quarterback.

“He wanted a chance to play quarterback,” Bolingbrook coach John Ivlow said. “That’s something Illinois saw him as. Other people projected him as a wide receiver, defensive back, this and that.

“People who think he’s can’t play quarterback don’t know him. They don’t know anything. They can ask anyone we play against. We run the ball 85 percent of the time. Trust me, he can throw it.”

Bailey was 58-of-131 passing for 1,039 yards, seven interceptions and 10 touchdowns last season. He also rushed for 1,983 yards and 30 touchdowns on 257 carries.

Bailey, who was an ESPNChicago.com all-area selection, led Bolingbrook to the 2011 Class 8A state championship. He threw 140 yards and rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the state title game.

The Illini now have five Class of 2013 commitments, including three from in-state.

Chicago’s King High School has always been touted for its basketball history.

From Marcus Liberty to Rashard Griffith to Leon Smith to Thomas Hamilton to Jamie Brandon to Imari Sawyer, the list of basketball stars to come through the Chicago South Side school has been plentiful.

King’s football program is a different story. It isn’t nearly as known, but Jeff Allen plans to change that.
Allen, who graduated from King in 2008 and started four years on the offensive line at Illinois, is expected to be selected somewhere in the opening rounds of the NFL draft next week.

“We have had some decent players from our high school program go onto college,” Allen said of King. “We just haven’t had any great players. That would be an honor for me. We’ve had some great players throughout time, but they obviously played basketball. To be included in the same sentence with them would be an honor.”

Always one of the bigger kids growing up, Allen gravitated toward football at an early age. His dreams of the NFL started not too long after he began playing when he was 9 years old.

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Here are six key objectives for new Illinois coach John Groce, who sources say agreed to a deal on Wednesday:

1. Convince sophomore Meyers Leonard to stay: With Leonard, the Illini should be able compete at the top of the Big Ten. Without him, it’s unlikely. Leonard dominated at times as a sophomore, but he still had inconsistencies due to foul trouble and his own personal frustrations. He likely will be drafted in the top 15 if he leaves, but he could be an All-American and a top-10 pick if he stays.

2. Reach out to Parker: Simeon junior Jabari Parker is the No. 1 junior in the country and has been the priority for Illinois since he stepped foot on a high school court. Former Illinois coach Bruce Weber developed a good relationship with Parker and his family. It’s unlikely Illinois will land Parker, but Groce has to make a strong push. Groce recruited Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. to Ohio State, so he has experience with top-end players.

3. Retain assistant coach Jerrance Howard: He lives and breathes Illinois basketball. Howard grew up with it, played there and has now coached there. He has a strong relationship with the current players and the ones already committed. Howard has two years left on his contract. If he gets away, another high-major program will scoop him up, and he’ll soon be recruiting against Illinois.

4. Bring someone with Chicago ties onto the staff: Howard has opened many doors in Chicago, but Chicago coaches would be even more comfortable with one of their own. You’re never going to please everyone in Chicago, but a coach with Chicago roots would go a long way in most gyms. Simeon coach Robert Smith is the logical choice, but he’ll have to be persuaded to leave.

5. Drive to Chicago and start building relationships ASAP: It’s going to be an uphill climb for Groce in Chicago. Most Chicago coaches don’t know him, so they’re going to be skeptical until they speak with him. It will be a lot like what DePaul coach Oliver Purnell went through when he first was hired. Despite what critics have said, Chicago isn’t any more difficult to recruit than any other major city. You have to get in there and gain trust. Groce can do that, but it will take a little time.

6. Deal with Illinois’ current recruits: Groce and the Illini’s current commitments will have to decide what’s best for everyone’s futures. Crete-Monee point guard Michael Orris is the only player signed in the Class of 2012. Prospect senior combo guard Mike LaTulip was also recruited as a preferred walk-on. For the Class of 2013, Illinois has commitments from Belleville East shooting guard Malcolm Hill and LaLumiere point guard Jalen James. Both are highly touted and are considered to be Illinois’ backcourt of the future.

Former UIC head coach and Illinois assistant Jimmy Collins said that the next coach in Champaign will not be frozen out by Public League coaches.

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One of Chicago’s most powerful club high school coaches said Friday he doesn’t believe Shaka Smart turned down Illinois’ offer because of his reluctance to deal with Chicago recruiting and believes the perception of the city’s recruiting is wrong.

Mike Irvin runs one of Chicago’s most recruited club programs, the Mac Irvin Fire. Its recent players include McDonald’s All-Americans Wayne Blackshear and Jereme Richmond, Illinois sophomore Meyers Leonard and Ohio State freshman Sam Thompson. The Fire’s current roster includes the nation’s No.1 junior Jabari Parker and No. 2 sophomore Jahlil Okafor.

According to sourced reports, Smart was turned off by the politics of Chicago recruiting, and that played a factor in his decision to reject Illinois’ offer. Irvin said Smart has recruited Chicago before and doesn’t believe that soured Smart on the Illinois job.

“Shaka knows he can come in and recruit kids from here,” said Irvin, who took over the program for his recently deceased father Mac Irvin. “When Shaka was (an assistant) at Florida, all of our guys had Florida on their list. I didn’t even know who Shaka was before, and he called me 90 times before he got a hold of me. He knows he can come in here.”

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Larry Butler , a longtime Chicago-area scout and former club coach, said Wednesday high-profile college coaches aren’t sold on the University of Illinois job because of in-state recruiting and the headaches involved in attracting Chicago’s players.

“It’s not attractive because what we have in our state right now,” said Butler, who coached Dwyane Wade, Andre Iguodala and Quentin Richardson, among others. “The quality isn’t there. So many people fuss over guys like [Kentucky freshman] Anthony Davis and [Louisville freshman] Wayne Blackshear getting out of town, but we’ve always had kids play in different places, and it wasn’t a big deal because we had other players across the state. Shannon Brown and Andre Iguodala went other places, and we still had Dee Brown and Luther Head go to Illinois.

“That’s the real deal. Talking to (VCU’s) Shaka Smart, (Duke’s) Chris Collins, (Nevada’s) Doug Novsek and other coaching candidates for Illinois, Southern Illinois and Eastern Illinois, this is what they’re all talking about. We were once a hotbed for talent, and we have fallen off big time.”

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