Certa is definitely not getting the same love as others, but I know the Illini are HOT on him. Underwood has been to two of his games and has visited his high school an additional time during the school day on a random day back in November. Is that normal for a head coach to do? In addition, Alexander has been to more Central Catholic games this year than I can count. He was there in Springfield for the Supers and I'll bet he'll (and maybe BU) will be present tomorrow since the Illini don't seem to have anything else going on tomorrow. In addition, the fact that Northwestern, Penn State, and Wisconsin are offering him as well suggests this kid isn't a fluke. People who know things know they want him. And I hate to say it but Mildkitties and PSU are better than us right now.
So my assessment from seeing him a few times as well as on Thursday is that he has some work to do, especially on his body, but his first step and ability to penetrate from a still position to full steam is lightning quick, cat-like. The team he played on Thursday did a fantastic job of getting him off his game and preventing him from doing what he likes to do, but even then there was at least one (maybe two) drives into the paint where when he got going I was sold he's elite. He was not able to convert on the one penetration in particular I have in my mind, but the entry into the paint was like a lion on the prowl. Again, the opponent on Thursday disrupted him. He was obviously the focal point of their defensive scheme, and that team was talented for a 2A squad. They did get to the state semis after all. It's not like they were a chump group. Certa was clearly nervous or unsettled in the early going, and his team seemed to be excelling at the Illinois offensive set - one guy dribble the ball beyond the arc and four guys watch, so he wasn't getting a lot of help from others in the first half.
I would guess he had his worst game of the season, yet when it was all said and done he finished with a game high 19. Yes there were free throws, but those count right? We've certainly learned from the Illini this year that those are significant. In addition to Certa's ft's, there were other shots as well, a couple were daggers at pivotal moments, so he rose to the occasion when it mattered most. All in all, a 6'5" guard with elite shooting abilities who's only going to get stronger, who I think will also develop more dribble drive abilities could potentially be a serious weapon in the Illini arsenal. He's also grown 4 inches in the last year. Is he still growing?
Based on how we're going after him, I don't see him going anywhere else, and I think he has a better than average shot at being really good for us. His play this coming summer will be interesting to note. It will give us a better idea if what I'm saying is accurate.
