Howard officially joins Weber's staff

During his five years on Illinois' roster, Jerrance Howard served as a recruiter. The point guard from Peoria just didn't get paid for it.

"Any player and parent that came on campus, I had 'em for the whole weekend," Howard said. "Now that I can get out on the road, I think that's an advantage for me."

The 2004 Illinois graduate finally joined his alma mater's payroll Wednesday, when Bruce Weber revealed the poorly held secret that Howard, 27, earned the assistant coach's job that opened Sept. 5 when Tracy Webster left for Kentucky.

In his first act as an Illini assistant, Howard attended individual workouts Wednesday at the Ubben Practice Facility.

But Howard won't wait long to start using his contagious personality to try to lure future Illini to Champaign.

Here's his plan today: Trade in his cell phone with the 859 area code (which he used as a de facto recruiter at Kentucky for the last five months) for one with a 217 area code. Take the school's compliance test. Hop in the car and head to …

"My first stop WILL be Chicago," Howard said. "Chicago will definitely be my No. 1 priority. But on the flip side, I've got to spread the love everywhere. I'm excited to get to know the coaches that I used to play against. I can't wait."

Though he attended Peoria Central High School, Howard forged some Chicago ties as he made the 2½-hour commute for several years so he could play with guys such as Quentin Richardson on Larry Butler's AAU Illinois Warriors.

Howard's father, Al Hopson, played his prep ball at Chicago's Crane High School, so that's an additional tie.

"I know there's a lot of high expectations and pressure to recruit and get good players," Howard said. "I'm really not nervous. I'm more anxious and excited. I can't wait."