July 24--With the final weekend of the AAU season upon us, it's time to look past Illinois' unexciting class of 2016 and ahead to the loaded group of incoming juniors.
College coaches did so some time ago.
By this time next year, there could be 15 or more high-major prospects in the group. Simeon's Evan Gilyard could be among them.
The 5-foot-9 point guard is not obsessed with playing at a major-conference school the way some recruits are, but he has at the very least made his way onto the radar with his inspired play for Meanstreets' 16U and 17U teams this month.
Perhaps the top local performer at the NY2LA event outside Milwaukee last week, Gilyard is in Las Vegas this weekend playing with both Meanstreets squads.
The former diamond in the rough has offers from UIC, Green Bay and Chicago State and is hearing from an increasing number of college coaches.
"Dayton, DePaul, Kansas, Loyola, Bradley," he said. "Texas is talking to my AAU coach about me. Georgetown is too. I just want to play at a school with a good support system that works hard and makes their players better."
Only the second freshman in Simeon history to play significant varsity minutes (Jabari Parker was the first), Gilyard was overshadowed somewhat by the third freshman on that list, fellow point guard and sophomore-to-be Kezo Brown.
The duo will likely play together in a crowded backcourt that also includes the state's top shooting guard in the Class of 2016, Zack Norvell.
Hard-charging, pesky defenders like Gilyard do not tend to get lost in the shuffle, because the ball finds them often and they make plays when it does.
He's terrific in the open court and can drive left "any time I want to."
Guards who get to the hole that easily sometimes develop their jump shots later because they don't rely on it to score, and that appears to be the case with Gilyard.
How accurate he becomes from distance may determine what level of college ball he ultimately settles on.
"My jump shot is good but it's not where I want it to be," Gilyard said. "The same with my right hand. I can get better with it. I need to work on going to the hole with my right hand, finishing with my right hand and other things with my right hand. I know I can get to the hole with my left hand."
Class of 2017 huge for Illini: East St. Louis center Jeremiah Tilmon, the state's consensus No. 1 prospect for 2017 and the other three classes, was in Chicago last week for the Nike Global Challenge.
The 6-foot-10 Tilmon, who averaged 10.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and two blocked shots in the star-studded event, took an unofficial visit to Illinois this summer.
While the Illini have been working hard in their pursuit, Tilmon told prephoopsillinois.com he'd be willing to visit any school that invites him.
That is essentially the problem John Groce has had in his tenure as Illinois coach. Groce has been close with high-profile recruits like Jalen Brunson, Marcus LoVett and Cliff Alexander, but big-name coaches managed to lure them away.
The Class of 2017 looks like a crucial one for Groce.
In addition to Tilmon, Illinois has mutual interest with Stevenson forward Justin Smith, Belleville Althoff wing and Tribune second team All-State selection Jordan Goodwin, Evanston guard Nojel Eastern, Peoria Manual guard DaMonte Williams, Bloomington forward Charles Payton, Willowbrook guard Alonzo Verge Jr. and Larkin forward Christian Negron.
They could be the top eight players in the class and most, if not all, visited Illinois unofficially this summer.
If Illinois is to return to prominence under Groce, this class could be the one leading the charge. But it will mean winning some recruiting battles against the nation's elite.
Helfgot is a freelance reporter.
