Senior Sunday: Recruiting Updates

Each Sunday in the winter we will be providing updates on a group of unsigned seniors from a variety of college levels and different parts of the state.  Check out our latest Senior Sunday: Recruiting Updates!   Cardell McGee (Sprinfield Lanphier) McGee was one of the best uncommitted wings in the state heading into the second half of the season.  On Monday night he ended his recruitment and committed to Vincennes JC.  The athletic scoring wing will bring a two way player to the JUCO power and after a couple years he will be pursued by an array of D1 schools.         Jalen Hodge (O'Fallon) Hodge is coming off a visit last weekend to Louisiana-Monroe.  The D1 school recently offered the O'Fallon point guard.  He said it was a very good visit and they showed they really wanted him.  That was enough for Hodge as he pulled the trigger on a commitment to ULM on the Wednesday following the visit.           Dravon Clayborn (Niles North) Clayborn is an athletic point guard that had a big first half to the high school season scoring and getting his teammates involved.  He tells us that he currently holds D2 offers from Maryville, Lewis, and Northern Michigan.  Interest from D1 schools UAB, Boston College, New Mexico State, and UMass.  Junior college is also a realistic option for Clayborn with interest from Highland, State Fair, Indian Hills, Vincennes, and Missouri State West Plains.  He will focus more on recruiting after the season.       Quinlan Bennett (Proviso East) Bennett is a smooth scoring two guard that can score at multiple levels.  He holds four offers from D1 and D2 schools, but Bennett says the schools that are showing the most interest right now are four programs that have not offered yet in UAB, North Dakota State, IPFW, and Nebraska-Omaha.  He might play AAU this spring to try to boost his stock and secure some offers.         Kenny Pittman (Simeon) Pittman is visiting Oakland this weekend shortly after landing an offer from the D1 program out of Michigan.  He could be on commitment watch after this visit.  Pittman tells us that he also holds offers from UT Martin and Chicago State.  Interest from UAB, St. Peters, Boston University, and Jacksonville State.  Pittman is a sharp shooter that has played well in the second half of the season.         Jace Link (Pekin) Link is a versatile forward that is very productive and gets stuff done.  PHI spoke with Link who says right now he has a top three of Monmouth College, St. Ambrose, and Loras.  He has visited Monmouth and St. Ambrose already and is looking to visit Loras soon.  Link will make his decision shortly after the Loras visit.         Zach Ludwig (St. Charles North) Ludwig is a sound shooting point guard that can let it fly from deep.  He says that he is talking the most right now with North Central, Roosevelt, and St. Ambrose.  He has already visited North Central and Roosevelt.  Ludwig tells PHI that he will probably visit Roosevelt again.  He will wait to make a college choice until after the season is complete.         Ahmad Muhammad (St. Joseph's) Muhammad is a senior guard that can dish and hit open pull up jumpers.  He says that he has been in regular contact with Illinois Institute of Technology.  Florida Southern is showing some interest and he could possibly visit there.  We would put our money on IIT getting the commitment here.         Damond Crosby (Salem) Crosby is a rangy 6'6” wing with scoring potential that has shown upside as a senior.  He tells us that he is focused on the season after the Wildcats recently captured a Cahokia conference championship.  The schools that he has been in contact with include Kaskaskia, Olney Central, and Illinois College.  He recently took on unofficial visit to Kaskaskia and they have seen him play multiple times.         Dawson Linder (Salem) Crosby's running mate is this point guard.  Linder is a quality ball handler and solid shooter from the perimeter.  He tells us that he doesn't have a ton of interest at this stage.  PHI believes that Linder can definitely help out a D3 or NAIA program at the next level!           Demarion Bariffe-Smith (Niles North) This is an athletic and rangy wing that has the ability to make an impact as a two way player at the next level.  He has visited Trinity International and Benedictine.  Other schools that are showing varying degrees of interest include Kentucky State, Quincy, Dominican University, Cornell College, Augustana, Catholic University, Carthage College, Olivet Nazarene, Morton, and Oakton.