MR BASKETBALL of ILLINOIS...is it the BOAT SHOW...is it ROCKY'S CHASSON...or is it ILLINOIS' 2 BIG MAC'S....or a SOPHOMORE....Who will it BE?

Mr. Basketball of the STATE of ILLINOIS describes the best High School Basketball Player in the STATE from start to finish. As a close observer to one of these candidates, as the BLUEDUDE is an High School Basketball Coach, I saw up close and personal most of these talented young men perform at a high-level.

To get this award one must display not only STATS but an array of things from........How DID the players team perform from a record standpoint........is the player well-deserving to represent the STATE of ILLINOIS with this award......and is the names STUDENT-ATHLETE come to mind with this basketball player.......I would think to qualify one must have no issues in the classroom.

This year the SENIOR CLASS is really deep with a lot of talented players and ILLINOIS has 8 TOP 100 ranked national players but only 2 represented at the McDonald's All-American Game at the United Center in Chicago Illinois this week........YEAH....Go figure.....the BLUEDUDE knows you can't take everyone but ILLINOIS should at least have 4....really......when you look at the POOL ILLINOIS is pulling from......TALENT TALENT TALENT.

Without further a due let's MEET and GREET the nominees:

Anthony DAVIS aka AD PERSPECTIVES CHICAGO ILLINOIS 6'10" SR Forward

Look when you grow about 9" over one summer and before you grew you could handle the ball like crazy...those guard skill and HANDLE go with you. From an upside standpoint...this kid, who has a long way to go physically, is a monster with his versatility and size. Averaged 32ppg. 18.7rebs, and 7 Blocks per and signed with the WILDCATS of KENTUCKY......and a consensus TOP 3 player NATIONALLY in everybody's book.

Wayne BLACKSHEAR aka BLACK MORGAN PARK HS CHICAGO ILLINOIS 6'6" SR Forward

A very athletic G/F and I have seen him play personally a more than one occasion.....he is a SMALL FORWARD at the MAJOR level but darn good one. Can get you BUCKETS, can get you rebounds, can also get you a floor game that reminds me of a point forward. When I saw him he was somewhat lazy or non-interested......don't know if that has something to do with his injury late in the season. Averaged 32ppg, 15 rebs, 5 assts, and 5 blocks......signed with Rick PITINO and the CARDS of LOUISVILLE

Ryan BOATRIGHT aka BOAT aka the BOAT SHOW aka MACHINE GUN BOATRIGHT....that's what the BLUEDUDE calls him...
EAST AURORA ILLINOIS HS 5'11" SR PG/2G...aka COMBO

You will never see a guy at this height do the things that this young man did in one season of HS BALL. He played in the GYM the BLUEDUDE was at often and he didn't just live up to expectations....he exceeded them. I personally counted having seen all of his games at least 45 DUNKS this season let alone these averages......32ppg, 6 rebs, 5 asts, 4 steals and Game HIGHS of 63 and 55...and the Double Nickel was not with SPIKE LEE in the BUILDING. The most athletically gifted kid I have seen with my own eyes since Derrick POOH ROSE. Consensus Top 50 KID Nationally...signed with UCONN and Jim CALHOUN

Chasson RANDLE aka CHASE ROCK ISLAND ILLINOIS HS 6'2" SR PG

They don't get any effortless or smoother than CHASE....the man that brought ROCKY ROCK ISLAND ROCKS back to prominence. Sometimes watching RANDLE you don't even know he is on the court because he is impacting the game from so many angles it is ridiculous. I don't know if he i a 3-D man...but CHASE is a TEAM PLAYER if I ever saw one and his BASKETBALL IQ is off the CHARTS......a TOP 50 Kid NATIONALLY... lead the ROCKS to ILLINOIS Class 3A State CHAMPIONSHIP this past season averaged 22ppg, 8 rebs, 3 assts......I know ROCK ISLAND Principal Booby Joe MASON is proud as he was a hecka of a basketball player in his own right at Powerhouse GALESBURG ILLINOIS HS SILVER STREAKS back in the day.........signed to play at the HARVARD of the WEST and JOHNNY DAWKINS...STANFORD......also #1 ranked student in his class......you know STANFORD doesn't take crash dummies

Jabari PARKER aka Lil Sonny JR CHICAGO SIMEON Career ACADEMY 6'7" SOPHOMORE Forward

The Class of 2013 is already his...and everyone knows it but JABARI.......you will never see a young man this advanced in the concept of Team First.....and me fourth...as talented as he is.....he lets the game come to him and he appreciates every aspect of the game. one can tell watching him play he has been taught at a very high level the game of BASKETBALL. Already was invited to see the DUKE Blue Devils take on UNC in Cameron back in Februrary as a SOPH. His first 2 years at SIMEON....2 State Championships.......has all the tools of an HANDY ANDY.......Off the bounce....back to the basket...face up.....handle.....rebounds......finishes in traffic......WANT MORE.......MR BASKETBALL never given to a SOPH in ILLINOIS.....but I have no problem if he get the NOD....SIGNING with the WHOEVER he wants.

That's the short list from the BLUEDUDE.....the VOTES will come in soon and i know this...the next ILLINOIS Class that kinda compares to this but maybe not on the NATIONAL LEVEL is the Class of 2013...with none other than JABARI PARKER Finally leading the WAY as a SENIOR.