Beverley on first of three visits

Patrick Beverley's whirlwind season came to an end with a third place finish in the Illinois state tournament and a 32-3 record for his Marshall High School team. At this moment, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound combo guard from Chicago is on his first official visit.

"As we speak Patrick is at Michigan on an official visit," said Marshall head coach Lamont Bryant. "He is going to watch their game against Miami. It's a tough one for me because I have to root for Miami since one of my former players Anthony Harris is playing for them."

St. John's and Arkansas are also still in the running in the Patrick Beverley sweepstakes.

"He is going to take two more visits," said Bryant. "He'll visit St. John's on the 13th and 14th of April and then Arkansas on the 20th and 21st.

"Virginia has been knocked off the list, so he is down to these three schools."

Beverley, who was absent from the summer AAU circuit, saw his stock soar during the high school season as he averaged 34 points, 6 rebounds and 5 steals. As his numbers indicate, Beverley possesses a knack for coming up with the ball and then getting it into the basket.

Although he is not a pure point guard and his ability to consistently make shots from deep off the pass has come into question, Bryant is a firm believer in his star player's abilities.

"He is the best player in the state," said Bryant. "It doesn't matter what some people say. In my opinion he is a pure shooter. He shot 55 percent from three. When it comes to technique, he might not have the prettiest shot. But what does that matter? What's pretty to me is seeing the ball go in all the time."