Illinois Trying With Top 50 Player

Terrence Roberts, an agile and very talented 6-8, 205 pound junior power/combination forward from St. Anthony's H.S. in Jersey City, N.J., told us at the National High School Championships that Illinois is now making a hard push to recruit him.

Illinois had been a school that Roberts has mentioned before in prior interviews RivalsHoops.com has done. But Roberts indicated that they have become more serious with him.

"I didn't get many phone calls the first day the coaches could call me last week," Roberts said. "I wasn't home for most of the day."

But Roberts told us he did speak to the Illinois coaching staff. "They were very positive about where I would fit in there," Roberts said. "I have to know more about them. Some of the other schools I know a lot more about."

The schools Roberts has remained consistent about as being top interest are Syracuse and Florida. "I think it's always smart to take your time and then make your decision," Roberts said. "That's what I am going to do. There are some schools that I have higher on my list but I want to look at all of them before I make a decision."

Roberts, whose Playaz AAU team lost two of three games at the Rumble in the Bronx last weekend at Fordham University, heads to Colorado this weekend for the USA trials.

In addition to Florida, Syracuse, and Illinois, Virginia, Rutgers, Villanova, Maryland, Seton Hall, Connecticut, St. John's are also of interest to Roberts.

Roberts is a bouncy athlete who thrives in St. Anthony's up tempo attack of excellent guards.