Paul, Richardson commit to Illini basketball

Brandon Paul has yet to play a full year of high school varsity basketball, but he already has a full ride to play in college.

The Warren junior guard, who exploded on the national scene during the summer while playing AAU ball, has accepted a scholarship offer from Illinois.

But the fast-rising Paul wasn't the only member of the Class of 2009 to join Bruce Weber's crew on Thursday.

Peoria Central guard D.J. Richardson, whose ties to the program started before he was born as his father, D.J., was taught at Peoria Manual by Illinois assistant Wayne McClain, also committed to the Orange and Blue.

Paul and Richardson, along with continued Class of 2010 commit Jereme Richmond, put a bright hue on Illinois' future.

Quite a change from this date a year ago, when All-American guard Eric Gordon spurned his long-standing commitment to Illinois in favor of Indiana.

While nobody's saying the 6-foot-3 Paul will turn out as good as Gordon -- seeing as how he owns just two double-figure scoring efforts in his high school career -- the skill sets sound relatively similar.

Paul flashed prodigious scoring skills Jan. 19 in one of his first varsity contests when he lit up Lake Zurich for 17 points in the second quarter. That included 5-for-5 shooting from 3-point range.

"He's very athletic," said Brad Sturdy, Rivals.com's Illinois recruiting guru. "He can get to the basket when he wants to. He's really improved his shooting."

Paul didn't need to start for Warren's senior-loaded 26-4 supersectional team last year, but he jumped onto the national radar playing for Dickey Simpkins' Team NLP this summer.

"This year in Vegas, he was outstanding," Sturdy said. "He scored in a variety of ways. Coach Weber talked with Simpkins and it sounds like they think Brandon is a lot like Luther (Head) in his athleticism."

The 6-3 Richardson, ranked by ChicagoHoops.com as this state's top 2009 prospect, has been on recruiting radars for years.

Regarded as the nation's No. 61 prospect by CSTV's Bill Hodge, Richardson averaged 13.6 points for Peoria Central last year.

"D.J.'s probably not as athletic as Brandon, but probably more polished," Sturdy said. "I think the hiring of (Peoria Central alum) Jerrance Howard really helped here.

"D.J. always liked Illinois, but once Jerrance was hired, his whole thoughts about Illinois changed."

Adding Paul and Richardson might start an avalanche for Illini recruiting. Weber and his staff are rumored to be deeply involved with Simeon senior post Stan Simpson and Sterling junior wing Joseph Bertrand, among others.