The first night, the assignment was 6-foot-11, and 6-4 Belleville Althoff junior Jordan Goodwin muscled St. Joseph star Nick Rakocevic into 6-of-15 shooting.
Next up was 6-2 Lincoln-Way West guard Marco Pettinato, who managed half of his 20-point average.
Goodwin had plenty in his seemingly endless tank to average 22 points, 12.5 rebounds, three assists and 2.5 steals for the weekend and lead Althoff to the Class 3A championship.
He was the best, most competitive player on both ends of the floor at the Class 3A/4A tournament last weekend, and Illinois’ John Groce was the only head coach in the building with a front-row seat for it all.
Goodwin said his recruiting timetable is still wide open, but Groce has a couple things going for him in pursuit of what would be his most important get as Illinois’ coach.
“He gave me my first offer,” Goodwin said of Groce, who pulled the trigger late on some high-profile misses in seasons past. “We’ve got a good relationship.”
Goodwin’s relationship with Belleville East junior Javon Pickett, an Illinois commit, is the other.
“Me and Pickett hang out probably once a month on the weekend,” Goodwin said. “Me and Pickett are brothers. He is in my ear.”
In addition to the obvious physical gifts, Goodwin has a tremendous feel for the game. He could slot in at numerous positions offensively as well as defensively, and he has the kind of personality others gravitate to.
A recruiting class that included Pickett, Peoria Manual guard DaMonte Williams and Goodwin would be the shot in the arm Groce and the Illini badly need.
They’re also in hot pursuit of 6-11 junior Jeremiah Tilmon, who transferred from East St. Louis to La Lumiere (Ind.) after his sophomore year.
Iowa, Missouri, Purdue and Northwestern are among the others who have offered Goodwin, and Iowa also offered in football.
The Internet certainly feels good about Illinois’ chances, but Goodwin doesn’t sound like he’s in a hurry.
“I’m in the I-don’t-know-yet stage,” he said. “Probably now since the high school season ended I can start taking trips, visiting colleges.”
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Illinois does not appear to be a finalist for Rakocevic, who elevated his stock tremendously with an outstanding senior season.
With four visits remaining, Rakocevic listed Miami, USC, Memphis, Arizona State, Florida and possibly North Carolina as desired destinations.
“I think I’m planning on taking the rest of my four,” he said. “I’m (going to) get right back to it in the next two weeks. I haven’t set any or any specific dates.
“I need to play in a system that utilizes my skill set and that just gets me better. Relationships with the coaches is another important part, and them believing in me. That’s the biggest thing I’m looking for.”
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.