July 31--Zack Norvell hopes his jump shot does not apply to Las Vegas' golden rule. So do the growing number of college teams recruiting the Simeon senior.
They're all counting on it coming with him rather than staying in Vegas after his 53-point outburst there last weekend.
In the second-to-last game of the summer, and with Jabari Parker coaching his Mac Irvin Fire team while working out in Vegas, Norvell erupted for 11 3-pointers in the first half and 14 overall in cementing his status as an elite recruit.
"I was feeling great," said Norvell, who was playing through an ankle injury. "Two years ago I hit 12 3s in a game in Vegas. I don't know why it happened there both times. I've had a couple good shooting games in Vegas."
It's a great place to get hot for tourists and high school basketball players alike; for the latter, it's the final look college coaches will have in game competition prior to the early signing period.
The 6-foot-4 Norvell has since picked up offers from Oregon, Georgetown and Gonzaga, he said, in addition to existing offers from Illinois, DePaul, Bradley, Purdue, Loyola, Florida State, Oklahoma and Wake Forest.
He's the top shooting guard and among the top two-to-five recruits in the state in the Class of 2016, and while he has yet to narrow his list, Illinois appears to be a finalist.
"Me and my dad haven't sat down yet to talk about what schools have to offer and evaluate the process," Norvell said. "We will soon. I know I'm going to take (at least) two officials, to Illinois and Oregon. I'm going to set those two up. I don't know what dates."
One of Norvell's closest friends is also an Illinois target, but like Norvell, Morgan Park point guard Charlie Moore has a bevy of options after emerging from the summer as the No. 1 player in the state's incoming senior class.
The Mac Irvin Fire teammates have been playing together since sixth grade, but if they wind up at the same college, it won't be as a package deal.
"We talked about it early on in our career," Norvell said. "But as time went on we both want what's best for ourselves. Not that many schools need help at both (point and shooting guard)."
More on Moore: Moore's Tyler Ulis-like summer ended with another great showing in Las Vegas.
Like Ulis two summers previously, the 5-10 Moore answered lingering questions about his size by proving to be one of the best point guards nationally in the Class of 2016 on the AAU circuit.
Moore isn't quite on Ulis' level, as John Calipari hasn't come calling. But another college basketball blueblood, North Carolina, has.
The Tar Heels haven't offered, but they have reached out to express interest. A dozen or so others from coast to coast have already offered.
"A lot of others would too if they didn't take a point guard early," Morgan Park and Mac Irvin Fire coach Nick Irvin said. "He played phenomenal. He put everything together -- shooting, passing, defense. He went head-to-head with most of these guys across the country, and pound for pound he's better. I think he's one of the top two point guards in the country."
Moore has talked about taking his five allotted official visits, which Irvin says is the plan, "for now.
"Sometimes things don't go according to plan. But that is the plan. If he gets to that point and takes five visits, that's good. If he doesn't, that's good. He's been everywhere in the country."
Sharpshooter Randall getting noticed: Jarrin Randall was a starting guard on Morgan Park's 2014 state-championship team as a sophomore, but he's taken a backseat since --first to Moore and Marcus LoVett at Morgan Park last winter, then to Moore and Norvell with the Fire this summer.
A knockdown shooter who buried 10 3-pointers in Morgan Park's victory in the third-place game last March in Peoria, Randall has taken advantage of the exposure playing for high-profile teams afforded him even in a reserve role.
Randall recently received an offer from Western Michigan, which is competing with Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Chicago State and others for his services.
Helfgot is a freelance reporter.
