Brown still hearing from many

Often the best kind of prospect to pull out of the junior college ranks is the they guy who was a little young or maybe overshadowed in high school who has now come into his own with some much needed physical maturity. If he is a big man, all the better. Well Takais Brown of Southeastern Illinois really fits that ideal juco prospect description. Juco Junction has Brown as the #5 ranked player nationwide in the current sophomore class of juco prospects.

Brown is especially intriguing for Big Ten schools because besides his well thought of ability, he is right there in Illinois and played high school basketball in Flint, Michigan.

Southeastern Illlinois head coach Todd Franklin took the time this week to talk to us about Brown and here is our Q&A type summary from that conversation:

First, tell us a little about Takais and the year he is having:

He's averaging 20 (points) and 10 (rebounds) so he has had a good year. Shooting a little over 60% from the field. In terms of where he is rated versus big men across the country, he would have to be rated one of the best, if not the best. He's the best big guy in our area, that is for sure.

He's almost a full year too young to be in his class. He didn't turn 18 until well into the fall his first year here. When he got here he was about 215 pounds and now he is about 245 pounds. He was young and raw and like a lot of big guys, he just needed reps and time.

With that field goal percentage, he must be pretty tough in the post?

He's developed a go to move as he has a really a nice jump hook. That has set up his game with that big wide body he has. He's a little over 6-foot-8 and 245 pounds. Not a lot of guys his size that can run a little bit and have some explosion. Pretty good hands, he definitely has some gifts.

How has he fared this year against other good big men?

We play about as tough a schedule as you can possibly play in juco, so he faces good people all of the time. He's just gotten better. Stayed home in the summer and worked on his game and done all the things you are suppose to do and it is paying off for him.

How has your team's season gone so far?

We have some really young guards and that has probably held us back a little but still have a shot to do some good things. We are 17-6, mostly because we have played a really tough schedule and our guards are a little young. We have won seven of our last eight and making a little run.

What is his recruiting situation right now?

We don't do anything until the year is over but the guys that have been involved consistently that are always checking in and hot after him are Georgia, Minnesota and Purdue. Those would be the three that are constant but we get calls from everybody and I am sure at the end of the year it is going to be a little crazy.

Has Takais made any official or unofficial campus visits yet?

No, we really try to avoid as much of that as possible till the year is over. In juco the truth is who is recruiting you all year is that often five different people at the end of the year or the ones that have the offers on the table. It is a need situation. He is going to be in high demand because of his position, because there is just not a lot of availability. But who knows who it is going to be in the end. Right now he is just trying to get better as a player and make sure his academics are where they need to be. And he has done a pretty good job with those things. Particularly this fall he did a really good job in the classroom and it looks like he should graduate on time in the spring.

Does he have a lot of help inside?

Demar Dotson signed with Southern Miss out of high school. He is about 6-foot-9 and 250-pounds. It has been a challenge to try to find a way to play the two guys together.

Has Dotson opened up his recruitment since going to the juco route?

He (Dotson) is still verbally committed to them (So Miss) and till he tells me otherwise, that is what he is doing.

What's is left for your season?

We have seven more games in league and then at the first of March we have our region tournament. We are really fighting for home playoff spots right now.

I imagine you expect big things from Takais next year?

In Flint guys like Marquise Gray (Michigan State) were always rated ahead of him and he was always in the background. But I don't think he's going to be in the background very much longer anymore. He's taken that next step and I honestly think he has another step or two to take.