Izzo finds time to not only recruit targets, but will also attend games of kids he’s already signed. Over the years he’s signed many kids from where I reside, Grand Rapids, Deontae Davis was from a smaller community 30 miles from here. He commonly attends not only a tournament with his signees, or targets, but single games, often times in the midst of MSU traveling as much or more as Illinois has. The local news gets him face time, the community talks about how cool it is to see Izzo, kids love it, and it makes a huge positive impression.
This is not the hot bead of basketball talent like Chicago, but Izzo understands how it gives him a leg up over all other schools when the next B10 caliber, or better kid comes through. Xavier Tillman and Marcus Bingham JR are the most recent guys if you’re wondering. I can maybe recall Belien here once. If Izzo feels it’s crucial to try and lock down an area of this size (of course along with Detroit), I would think BU would do all he can to do the same in Chicago, and other talent producing smaller metro areas. I’m sure BU knows this, but you’ll never find an article like this with Izzo in it. Perception can be more impactful than reality. Just my point o 2.