Dec. 16--Players who don't fit neatly into a position stereotype sometimes slip between the cracks.
Jamal Burton is one such tweener, and he has already proven to be invaluable to the Chicago area's No. 1 team.
Morgan Park's "glue," as Mustangs coach Nick Irvin frequently calls him, is the team's second tallest starter at somewhere between 6-foot-2 and 6-3, and he plays even bigger than that.
A tough, gritty player with a nose for the ball, Burton's defense against Evanston star Nojel Eastern, a 6-4 1/2 guard, was outstanding at the Chicago Elite Classic on Dec. 5, and he's flashed offensive skills well beyond what he showed as a complementary player last winter.
"He was a big scorer as a sophomore (on the frosh-soph team)," Irvin said. "Last year he took on the role of a glue guy. He can play."
Exposure won't be a problem while playing for Morgan Park. His jump shot looked good against Evanston, and college coaches may be waiting to see if he can knock them down on a consistent basis.
The Evanston game was somewhat of a coming-out party for Burton, and SIU-Edwardsville has since become involved, Irvin said. Loyola and St. Louis were already interested.
"Coaches who really know basketball look at Jamal and know they need that type of player on the floor," Irvin said.
Another Mustang still looking: Burton isn't the only Morgan Park senior still on the market.
Veteran big man Alonzo Chatman, a three-year varsity player, has interest from Appalachian State, Ball State and St. Peter's, and his success in the classroom could give him additional opportunities.
Princeton came in to see him recently, and Irvin said Chatman could end up in the Ivy League.
Morgan Park's other senior starters, Charlie Moore and Jarrin Randall, are ticketed for Memphis and Western Michigan, respectively.
Three Wolves on the rise: Juniors Trevian Bell of Joliet West and T.J. Clifford of Downers Grove South are key cogs for resurgent programs, and they're popular targets on the recruiting trail.
The 6-5 Bell has been visited by Wisconsin-Green Bay, UIC and Loyola in the last month. All three plus Illinois State have offered, according to his AAU coach, Mike Mullins of the Illinois Wolves.
Mullins said Santa Clara, Furman, Holy Cross, UIC, Loyola and Illinois State are on the 6-6 Clifford.
Fans are just getting to know another member of the Wolves, Libertyville sophomore Drew Peterson, but he's no stranger to college coaches in Illinois.
A 6-5 guard, Peterson is getting inquiries from NIU, Illinois State, UIC, Loyola, Western Illinois and Bradley, Mullins said..
Peterson scored 27 points in Libertyville's 73-61 victory over Hersey on Saturday.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
