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Elite schools in good with Gordon

On paper it would be easy to overlook Eric Gordon on Spiece Indy Heat's AAU roster this summer. With the Ohio State trio, Greg Oden, Mike Conley and Daequan Cook, and four-star Jamil Tucker all in their final go round on the summer circuit, Gordon could have been lost in the numbers. He wasn't. In fact, at times he was the best player on the court. The No. 5 ranked player in the class of 2007 earned his respect with another dominating performance this summer.
Gordon, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect from Indianapolis (Ind.) North Central, proved time and time again that while he is a year behind Oden and company, he's going to be just as good as them when it's all said and done.
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"I think I did a good job this summer. I tried to play my role and I thought I did pretty good as a shooting guard but now I'm trying to be a point guard with my high school."
Whatever the position, Gordon had little problem of being effective. He's a lights out shooter, a muscular guard that attacks the glass and quietly leads his squad as a floor general.
"I think a lot of (my success) had to do with me maturing and just finding different ways to score," says Gordon, the state of Indiana's scoring leader last year. "My confidence is up and that has had a great affect on the way I play."
Now back at the high school ranks, he'll take over the point guard spot full time for Doug Mitchell at North Central.
"I like the ball in my hands," Gordon said. "I don't mind scoring but that's not what I'm all about. I like to get everyone else involved."
As Gordon continues to improve his overall skills, the elite high-major programs are taking a strong notice of the youngster and the type of player he's become.
Gordon said Illinois, Duke, North Carolina and Arizona "are the most aggressive" of the schools recruiting him and Missouri, Notre Dame and Indiana round out his top seven options. Gordon said all have offered a scholarship. He'd like to get out and see some of these programs, too.
"I'll probably take a lot of unofficial visits in September and October," Gordon said.
Those likely to host the five-star guard are Illinois, who he said he'd "definitely visit", Purdue, Notre Dame and possibly Indiana for the Hoosiers' version of Midnight Madness.
In between visits, Gordon is looking to do something he has yet to do.
"We could win a state championship every year," he says. "But there is always Lawrence North."
Lawrence North is home to Oden and Conley. Perhaps Gordon has found a secret to beating the two-time Indiana state champs playing with the duo on the summer circuit. He'll have plenty of chances. The two teams will "play each other three or four times, I'm sure," he said.
Let the games begin.
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