'07 IN SG Eric Gordon (Indiana Verbal)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

8/1/05

From the Arizona site.....Gordon is listing Illinois as his leader but says he is wide open.

(no mention of Ohio State for awhile, I am closing the thread until something changes)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ScoutHoops.com (free)

8/12/05



Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Scout.com Class of 2007 Rankings

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Mike Beasley (J. Hawkins)

</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top>By Dave Telep & Staff Scout.com
Date: Aug 12, 2005

O.J. Mayo fended off all comers to retain his top spot in the Class of 2007 rankings. While Mayo, Mike Beasley (pictured) and Kevin Love are constants in the Top 3, there’s at least one new face in the Top 10.
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<CENTER>Scout.com’s 2007 Post-Summer Top 50</CENTER>

Can anyone catch O.J. Mayo? We’ll probably be asking ourselves that question at the end of the 2005-2006 school year. It seems like Mayo has had a stranglehold on the top slot in the Class of 2007 for sometime now.

So far, so good for the North College Hill standout. Mayo, the single biggest attraction in high school basketball, has withstood the pressure of playing in front of packed gymnasiums each time out and consistently played to a high level.

Mike Beasley, Scout.com’s No. 2 prospect in the class, switched high schools and enrolled at powerful Oak Hill Academy with his friend Nolan Smith (No. 16). Beasley, one of the most versatile forwards around, is a consistent scorer, rebounder and producer. Against older players in the spring and summer, Beasley was remarkably consistent.

Speaking of consistency, Kevin Love isn’t bad either. The best outlet passer in grassroots hoops is also quite the low post scorer. He’ll sneak out to the perimeter and make some jumpers on you and simply knows how to score it inside.



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Rounding out the Top 5 are two backcourt players who bring athleticism to their position. Bill Walker (pictured) is simply the most dynamic dunking machine in the high school game. His throwdowns are genuine momentum changers and more often than not he finishes strong and way above the rim.

While Derrick Rose’s game isn’t nearly as loud as Walker’s, he remains a big time point guard with athleticism, vision, feel and pace. He plays the game much older than his age would lead you to believe.

Most of the names in the remainder of the Top 10 are quite familiar if you follow high school basketball. Kyle Singler (No. 6) missed most of the summer with a knee injury. He remains a primary recruiting target of many elite programs.

Jerryd Bayless (No. 7) put on a show at the Nike All-American Camp to regain his spot in the Top 10 while guys like Cole Aldrich (No. 8) and Eric Gordon (No. 10) have consistently been around the Top 10 for the past year.



<TABLE align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scout.com’s newcomer to the list is charismatic power forward Herb Pope (shown). He started his summer strong on the camp scene and though he left the AAU Nationals early, he did so after leaving quite an impression. Scout.com released its 2008 Top 15 earlier this week and plans on unveiling its 2006 Top 100 on August 15th! Please check back with us!


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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

8/21/05

Gordon moves up

North Central junior shooting guard Eric Gordon moved up to No. 5 in the Class of 2007 in rivals.com's post-summer rankings.

Gordon helped Spiece Indy Heat win what is considered the summer's national championship, the 304-team Las Vegas Big Time Tournament at the end of July.

Gordon said Saturday that Illinois is still his favorite, at the top of list of seven primary schools he's considering. He listed his seven favorites right now as Illinois, Duke, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, Notre Dame and Purdue.

Gordon said he plans to begin making college visits in September or October and may visit Iowa as well.

"Right now, I'm taking a break from all of it," Gordon said. "At the end of September, I'll start going on my visits."

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

8/23/05

Duke, Illinois, North Carolina, Arizona, Missouri, Notre Dame and Indiana are his top schools.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

update....11/28/05...


Gordon has reportedly verbaled to Illinois.

[Oh8ch]

I didn't put this in the recruiting forum because he is not an OSU prospect, but Eric Gordon has reopened his recruitment and is now looking at IU and ND along with Illinois.

When a kid does this it is never good for the original school. I like having a quality program in Champaign and they are already hurting from the loss of Turner.

On the other hand I am thoroughly enjoying the struggles of IU and hate to lose any quality player outside of the Big Ten.

http://mb30.scout.com/fillinoisinsid...ID=77931.topic

[BuckWrestler141]

Eric Gordon is NOT reopening his recruitment. EG himself, posted last night on the Illini message boards, to calm the people of their meltdown similiar to the size of Wake's with Oden and Conley. I wanted to simply add this with his thread, but it's closed; hopefully it can be merged.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Gordon has consistently denied rumors he is opening up his recruitment since his early verbal. It would be a huge blow to Illinois to lose him at this stage.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$

7/8/06

Gordon feels that he should give Indiana a look but that he is solid with Illinois. He likes Coach Sampson and the tradition at Indiana.


My Take: I like the fact that Gordon feels like he should give the home state school consideration. I know as tOSU fans, we always feel like Ohio kids should at least give tOSU serious consideration.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$ (Indiana site)

7/9/06

Q/A with Gordon on his decision to take a look at Indiana.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

SportingNews.com

7/11/06

Sifting through summer camp gossip
July 10, 2006


There were almost as many rumors bouncing around the Nike All-American Camp and Reebok ABCD Camp last week as there were basketballs. Coaches love their game, almost as much as they love to gossip.

These were my favorites of the whispers that passed through the stands as the two camps transpired.
In order:


3. Eric Gordon would be vacating his commitment to Illinois. Basis in fact: 4. Indiana has worked as hard as possible to change Gordon's mind. A 6-3 guard who will be an instant scoring star in college, he chose the Illini while still a junior at North Central High in Indianapolis.
The rumor was that Gordon wanted to see Illinois start landing some big-time players for him to run with, or he'd pull out. That sounds a little like wishful thinking on the part of Illini rivals. But we've seen enough "de-commitments" recently -- including Jerryd Bayless from Arizona, Michael Beasley from Charlotte, Alex Legion from Michigan -- that programs with such commitments in place know they must be guarded.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

IndyStar

7/12/06

high school summer basketball camps

Gordon the star of stars at Adidas

North Central senior sticks with Illini, will listen to IU

Ohio high school star O.J. Mayo may still be the talk of the basketball summer circuit, but the Gordons were the first family of the opening weekend of the July evaluation period.

North Central senior Eric Gordon was named the co-Most Outstanding Player at the Adidas Superstar Camp in Suwanee, Ga. He also was ranked as the camp's best player by recruiting service scout.com, and was named MVP of the all-star game after contributing 22 points, seven rebounds and three assists.

"It's a great honor to be recognized as one of the top players," said Gordon, who last year was the camp's underclassman co-MVP. "To be the Most Outstanding Player is exciting."

Gordon, the nation's top-ranked shooting guard in the 2007 class, shared the award with Oak Hill Academy's Michael Beasley, ranked as the top power forward among incoming seniors.

Gordon's honor came after his younger brother Evan, who will be a sophomore, was named MVP at the Adidas Rising Superstars Camp at Indy Sports Park.

Eric Gordon was besieged all weekend by questions about his interest level in Indiana University. He said he still plans to attend Illinois, to which he orally committed in November, but thinks he should listen to a new coaching staff at IU.

"A lot of people came up to me," Gordon said. "It was an awkward feeling."

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[blufftonbuck]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....home-headlines

Izzo called Weber over the 4th of July weekend to empathize after he heard through the coaching grapevine what was happening with Gordon. The problem has ripped apart enough recruiting classes that Weber said the Big Ten coaches discussed possible solutions at their most recent meeting.

Weber acknowledged exceptions exist when a player commits to a coach who subsequently might get fired or leave or if the player initiates contact with another school. But too often he sees other staffs simply being relentless in their pursuit after the fact.

"It can become a disaster," Weber said. "You would hope a friendship with a coach, or being in the same league or a rivalry would be a factor in preventing some people from recruiting kids who have committed. But I guess some people were raised differently."

[Oh8ch]

Everything Gordon is saying to reassure the Illini fans is the sort of thing any smart kid would say until you make your final decision. Kinda like having second thoughts before your wedding day - if there is anyone you don't tell it is the bride.

It would be nice if kids kept to verbal commitments. But given the games coaches play I am inclined to cut some slack to teenagers who have second thoughts after the pressure these same coaches can impose to get those very commitments. I can understand a kid like Gordon - who is likely a one or two and done - monitoring Illinois recruiting progress (although I can't fathom why he would think IU is a better alternative) and wanting to make the most of his brief college career. We went through this with Oden, et al and the NCAA investigation.

The NCAA has a vehicle in place to handle this. It is called the LOI. Until that is signed coaches and fans will have to live with the vagaries of the teenage mind.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

link

7/24/06

Gordon says he's sticking with Illinois


July 24, 2006


HENDERSON, Nev. -- Illinois can rest a little easier about the future of its prized recruit, 6-4 guard Eric Gordon of Indianapolis North Central.

Gordon, playing with Derrick Rose on the Chicago-based Meanstreets Express team in the Big Time tournament, gave an oral commitment to Illinois last November but reportedly has been wooed by new Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson. On Sunday, Gordon reaffirmed his commitment to the Illini.

''I am going to be going to Illinois,'' Gordon said. ''I thought about Indiana for a minute, but I am staying with Illinois.''

As for where Rose might end up, Gordon said, ''I'd like to keep playing with Derrick, but that is his decision.''

Gordon, who scored 62 points in his first two tournament games, was named the No. 1 player at last week's Nike Peach Jam by Rivals.com, just ahead of Rose. Scout.com also named Gordon the top player at the Adidas camp.

''Eric is the best scoring guard in the nation,'' scout Bob Gibbons of All Star Sports said. ''I rate Rose as the best point guard, and [Cincinnati standout] O.J. Mayo as the best combo guard.''
Steve Tucker