Illinois picks up in-state point guard
Bruce Weber and his staff at Illinois have committed to recruiting within their state borders. It paid off for them on Wednesday with Jalen James.
A rising junior from Chicago (Ill.) Hope, James cited his comfort level with the staff and players in Champaign.
Advertisement
"It was really the relationship I have with Bruce Webber and Jerrance Howard," James said of why he picked Illinois. "Also the Chicago players that they have were big. I'm real comfortable with them."
It doesn't sound like it was too difficult for the Illini to sell James on staying in state.
"It's really important to have Chicago guys playing for the state school," James told Rivals.com. "I just think it's a great idea to stay and play together. We have the best the talent in the country. If we can put it all together it would be nasty."
Standing 6-foot-2, James is a physical point guard with great size. He will knock home some shots and is currently ranked No. 78 overall in the 2013 class.
"Me being a point guard and the point guard they need," said James. "All the players that they have around me it will be real easy to get everybody involved. It's a perfect fit."