Coast to coast interest in Vogrich

His senior year doesn't officially start for another month so Illinois guard Matt Vogrich is taking advantage of the rest of the summer. The 6-foot-3 guard from Lake Forest Academy is sleeping in a little more than usual. You can't really blame him.

Vogrich took full advantage of the July evaluation period and played himself into a number of high-major offers.

Looking back, Vogrich said he enjoyed his play on the grassroots circuit with the Full Package team out of Chicago.

"It was fun. We won a lot of games. I think we went 20-3 [in July]," Vogrich said. "It was fun playing in front of a lot of coaches. [My AAU coach] Steve Pratt called a lot of coaches about me and they came to watch. I played really well in front of them and things started to take off after that. It's exciting.

"My dad said I played differently [and so did people around me]. I don't think I played any differently though. I think I just made a lot of shots. In Cincinnati, I hit a lot of shots and that kind of carried over to the rest of the tournaments. After Cincinnati, I got a few big offers. Georgia Tech and Wake Forest both offered after that. My mom said after that she knew I was going to be going somewhere pretty good so just play my game and have fun."

Having fun was no problem. Vogrich didn't make it very fun for teams that were trying to defend him. He was a shooter supreme and was a constant threat for a three-pointer every time he stepped onto the floor.

Vogrich said the majority of schools that are recruiting him are looking at him as a combo guard. Because of his perimeter touch, Vogrich had the best success as a shooter in the summer. He did slide over to the point and ran his Full Package team with little troubles, too.

Recruiting took on a life of it's own for Vogrich. In a matter of weeks, the landscape of his school list went from quality mid-level schools. Now it is peppered with high-majors from coast-to-coast.

Baylor, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Oregon State, Stanford, Iowa, Bucknell, Miami-OH, Valparasio, Notre Dame and Michigan have offered, he says, while Iowa and Minnesota are interested.

"I'm kind of keeping the door open but my dad kind of pushes towards the top academic schools," Vogrich said. "I'm visiting Notre Dame [on Tuesday] with my mom since it's only a short drive away and it is close. They like me and they've offered me. We've been talking for a while now. I'm trying to take it all just one step at a time. Whenever I have time, I want to get out and visit a school that is interested in me."

Vogrich said he will visit Stanford "eventually but just not sure when exactly." Early to late August looks like the realistic time for the trip out West. A visit to Wake Forest is also likely, Vogrich says, but the trip will be an official visit.

"It's going to be a basketball decision for me but I want to go to a good academic school as well," Vogrich said.

"No one really stands out. I don't think I have any favorites. If I did, maybe it would be Notre Dame, Michigan, Stanford, Miami-OH and Wake Forest if I had to pick right now. Just the way Notre Dame and Michigan play is attractive. I like the way they used their guards. With Stanford, it's a great school and I really like coach [Johnny] Dawkins. I visited Miami and I liked it all there. I know some of the other kids they are recruiting in my class, too."

Vogrich said he hopes to have a decision by October.