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OrangeandBlueNews.com caught up with Chicago Simeon guard Zach Norvell during his bus ride to North Augusta (SC) for the Nike Peach Jam.

The culminating event for Nike's Elite Youth Basketball League, the Peach Jam kicks off with pool play on Thursday. The 6-foot-5 Norvell will be in action with the 17U Mac Irvin Fire, who got an at-large bid to the event with a 9-8 record in the spring.

"We have to dig down and compete," Norvell said. "We are a little bit small this year, so we have to be able to rebound and make it a group effort. We have to make it our job to get all the second chance and hustle point."

The Fire drew a tough pool assignment that includes Team CP3 featuring Harry Giles, the No. 2 prospect in the nation, and UCONN commit Alterique Gilbert.

Every starter from the 2014 squad moved on to the college ranks, including Philadelphia 76ers draft pick Jahlil Okafor, so the Fire has a new look team. They surprised everyone by qualifying for the EYBL finals.

The core group of players lack the size that the Fire have fielded in the recent past, but it's a lineup that meshes well with their frenetic style of play. Another Illini target, point guard Charlie Moore, leads the team in scoring with 15.4 ppg, while Norvell averages 14.5 points and team high 4.5 rebounds.

"We have a lot guys who can run and we know how to share the ball on the fast break," Norvell said. "So that's going to be big for us. Our coaches like to pressure the ball and turn it over. We a lot of good on-the-ball defenders who can play defense full court."

Norvell says his role has been as a combo guard; a do-it-all player who can facilitate, defend, rebound, and knock down shots. He's a glue type for the Fire, as he was at Simeon last season teaming with current Illini D.J. Williams.

On the recruiting front, Norvell says there isn't much new to report, but he expects things to pick up in July.

"I'm just taking it all in right now and focusing on trying to win the Peach Jam," Norvell said. "It's my last go around with team. I'm going to look at (recruiting) when I get back home and see how my recruiting picks up, if it's still the same, or there are any new schools."

Schools that Norvell said were coming after him the hardest in spring include Illinois, DePaul, Purdue, South Carolina, Georgetown, Wake Forest, Oklahoma, and Xavier. He has no visit plans yet, but hopes to get out and see some schools before the end of the summer.

The relationship with the Illinois coaching staff is strong, according to Norvell.

"That's my home state school," Norvell said. "The coaching staff is amazing. Me and Coach Groce have a good relationship. And they have other guys there who went to my high school."

The Illinois-Simeon connection is well known and goes back to Illini greats like Deon Thomas and Nick Anderson. Besides the newcomer Williams, juniors Kendrick Nunn and Jaylon Tate are on the current roster. Norvell said he is friends with Williams and keeps in close contact.

"We talk quite a lot," Norvell said. "He's learning a lot of new stuff, lifting a lot of weights, and becoming acclimated with the college life. He's handling real well."

The Fire will be tested early at the Peach Jam. They take the court Thursday morning at 9 a.m. against CP3 in pool play.