Stan Simpson down to 2?

[Da Coach]

Paul Klee, a sportswriter for the Champaign News-Gazette, wrote in an online blog this afternoon that "Simeon coach Robert Smith said Simpson will choose between Illinois or Arkansas."--

http://www.news-gazette.com/blogs/basketblog/2007/10/08/monday_notes

If this is true, it means he has eliminated Bradley. I am not sure this is the final word, as we have seen before that sportswriters can get these things wrong.

[Da Coach]

Something that might affect Stan Simpson's choice--
Another 3-star big man prospect, Andre Clark, decommitted from Oklahoma a week ago and now wants to come to Arkansas. Arkansas has invited him for an official visit, and it sounds like they really want him. That may take Arkansas out of the Simpson picture--

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3169583

[tornado]

Also....Arkansas is very intent on getting Clarence Trent, an Arkansas kid who just went to Nevada to play at Findlay Prep (where Beas Hamga and DeAndre Liggins just went). Trent is a 6-7, 235lb kid who is a 4-STAR SF/PF that just reclassified as 2009.

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3290109

http://arkansas.scout.com/2/661764.html

If this makes it tougher for Stan to consider Arkansas, then is he actually going to consider Illinois?
None of the Chicago kids in the Class of 2008 have wanted to come to Illinois, so I have to believe Simpson is hearing all the same things up in Chitown.
Plus, as you have noted, there is a real GLUT at the position Simpson plays, the 4/5 (PF/C),
with Carlwell, Tisdale, Cole, Semrau, and even the possibility that CJ Jackson will walk back on to play basketball after he realizes he isn't going to play for their football team!
Simpson would definitely be better off coming to BU, as after 2008, only Anthony Thompson and Will Egolf will remain as BU big men, and Egolf will be more of a SF and Thompson could play as a true Center not PF.

[BradleyBrave]

I predict Simpson won't sign until the spring. If he's got BCS on his mind, and he doesn't want to go to Illinois, other offers are likely to come along.

[Da Coach]

Well, just as I thought....the article by Paul Klee of the Champaign News Gazette that suggested that Stan Simpson had eliminated Bradley and was down to just Arkansas and Illinois was woefully uninformed, or maybe Klee was just ignoring Bradley intentionally. It seems to be a trend by writers from the towns of the major schools. They seem to be unable to accept that Bradley can hang in with the big boys on some of these top recruits.

In fact, it seems that Simpson has not eliminated Bradley, and is tentatively planning a visit to Bradley later this month (possibly the Red-White game?).

Here is the latest on the subject-- Simpson visited the University of Illinois this past weekend, but has not committed yet, and is still deciding between Bradley, Arkansas, and Illinois. Here is a link to an article posted today on the Illinois Scout site (InsideIllini.com)--

http://illinois.scout.com/2/688761.html

In the article, the Illinois Scout main writer Kedric Prince interviews Stan Simpson's high school coach Robert Smith, who accompanied Simpson to Illinois on his visit. Here are a couple clips--
???He really enjoyed it, he was given a chance to play with the team and he did quite well. We also brought some of our other Simeon players down there as also. Illinois also had D.J. Richardson there from Peoria on a visit,??? said Smith.
According to Smith, his star center has three DI offers ???Illinois, Arkansas, and Bradley, yes those three schools, I??™m not 100% sure but he may take visit to Bradley later this month but I can??™t say that for sure right now.???
Simpson has visited Arkansas but another school that really likes this Chicago big man is the Minnesota Gophers. However, at this time, it appears the Gophers have not made his final list.

Scout Profile--

http://illinois.scout.com/a.z?s=169&p=8&c=1&nid=2696997

[BradleyBrave]

Nice find Coach. I think it may be time for an email to Mr. Klee. I think the fact the writers down there are intentionally leaving out BU show just how poorly the Illini are recruiting right now. I'm guessing they would probably be omitting SIU and ISU if they were in contention as well.

Think about it...the media and boosters are pressuring people so much down there to spin things - First it's Shumpert 'still considering Illinois' even though he wasn't, and now it's Simpson 'eliminating BU' even though he hasn't. Pretty pathetic.

[Da Coach]

Arkansas may be off Stan Simpson's list after they received a commitment from 2008 power forward Brandon Moore. They are stil recruiting another big man, center Andre Clark, who reportedly may commit today. Both made visits to Arkansas this past weekend.--

Brandon Moore--

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=1825766

Andre Clark--

http://scouthoops.scout.com/a.z?s=75&p=8&c=1&nid=3169583

[mexicobufan]

We have been so close on some of these recruits, I would like to see Stan be the one that we come in first with. Lets hope he makes a visit and that our posters see him at the Red White game!!!!

[hoops guru]

I have heard that Stan is concerned about the system at Illinois that revolves around the guards, and the fact they have a lot of big men that play the same position as he does. Many of the big men that play under Weber ar asked to redshirt or don't play much their first few years like Warren Carter, CJ Jackson, etc.