Goodwin a priority for Illinois
Illinois continues to make 4-star wing Jordan Goodwin a priority, with assistant coach Jamall Walker as the point man in his recruitment.
“Coach Walker sent me a text today and wished me good luck,” Goodwin said prior an opening round game in the Triad HS regional on Tuesday. “We have a very good relationship.”
Goodwin's Belleville Althoff Crusaders rolled to a 73-48 win over Civic Memorial in the semifinals of the Class 3A Regional and improved to 26-2 on the season. Goodwin scored a team-high 24 points, grabbed four rebounds, and dished out five assists. The Crusaders move on to the regional title game Friday night.
“I think we played pretty good and moved the ball,” Goodwin said. “We need to play better on defense. My game tonight was about my teammates getting me good looks. It was a team effort. ”
A 6-foot-3 power guard, Goodwin did work around the rim and from deep. During one flurry early in the second half, he threw down two consecutive dunks followed by a long 3-pointer, going on a personal seven-point rally to force a timeout.
The ultimate goal for the high-powered Crusaders is a trip back to Peoria to the IHSA Class 3A championships. A year ago, Althoff fell in the title game to Westchester St. Joseph’s.
While Goodwin admits that his team has been on a mission to get back to state, he’s not looking past anyone on the road to Peoria.
“Right now we are not even focused on Peoria,” he said. “We’re focused on our next game on Friday. I told everyone we have to play hard as hell. Everyone has to play and leave it on the court.”
Rivals.com ranks Goodwin the No. 87 prospect overall in the updated Rivals150 for 2017. OrangeandBlueNews.com places him second on the Block I Report behind 5-star big man Jeremiah Tilmon, Goodwin’s AAU teammate on the Nike EYBL club St. Louis Eagles.
On the recruiting trail, the latest offer is from Big Ten champion Indiana. Goodwin said he doesn’t yet have an timetable for a commitment, but he broke down the teams that are currently recruiting him the hardest.
“Right now I have Illinois, Creighton, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa, and Indiana,” he said. “I’m going to take some visits after the season”.
Goodwin was also aware that the Illini just picked up a commitment from 2017 point guard Da’Monte Williams from Peoria (Ill.) Manual. He got to know Williams on the summer circuit when Williams suits up for the Mac Irvin Fire.
“Me and Da’Monte are cool,” Goodwin said. “I see him at EYBL tournaments all the time and we talk.”
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