June 11, 2009

5:00 P.M. CST 

The coaching staff at DePaul University continues to remain aggressive with respect to their recruitment of top local talent in both the classes of 2010 and 2011, as evidenced by the fact that today the Blue Demons extended a scholarship offer to 6'8 class of 2010 forward Phillip Jackson from Providence-St. Mel High School in Chicago. 

Since the hiring of Tracy Webster, David Booth and Billy Garrett as assistant coaches, DePaul has been relentless in its pursuit of Chicago area recruits.  Other class of 2010 prospects who have received scholarship offers from DePaul during that span include 6'0 guard Reggie Smith from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, IL and 6'3 guard Brandon Spearman from Simeon High School in Chicago.  6'10 Jordan Threloff from DeKalb High School in DeKalb, IL was offered while the former assistants were still in place.

In the class of 2011, the Blue Demons have offers out to 5'11 point guard George Marshall from Brooks High School in Chicago and 6'9 Nnana Egwu from St. Ignatius College Prep.  DePaul is also heavily involved with 6'5 shooting guard Jacob Williams from St. Patrick, 6'5 swing man Dre Henley and 6'7 forward Mike Shaw, both from De LaSalle Institute, 6'2 Chasson Randle from Rock Island High School in Rock Island, IL, 6'6 James Siakam from Brehm Prep in Carbondale, IL and 6'5 Wayne Blackshear from Morgan Park High School.  We would not be the least bit surprised to see DePaul offer all of these prospects at some point.

Getting back to Jackson, he remains a high recruiting priority for Southern Illinois University (who has already offered) and also continues to draw serious interest from Marquette.  As we have mentioned before, we still believe it is only a matter of time before the Golden Eagles extend an offer Jackson's way.   Jackson competes on the traveling team circuit with Full Package/Chicago Elite, not the Mac Irvin Fire, contrary to what has been reported elsewhere.

Continue to check in with Illinois Prep Bulls-eye for all of the latest as it pertains to recruiting and high school basketball in Illinois.