Illini interest in Lincoln Trail teammates

The Orange & Blue News recently spoke to Lincoln Trail (Ill.) Community College Basketball Coach Everick Sullivan about class of 2005 JC prospects Bud Howard and Marques Dawson, who have been rumored to be on the Illini coaching staff's target list.

"Bud was Player of the Year in the conference and a second team All-American" said Coach Sullivan.

"He's a combo guard, can really play both positions, can certainly run the point. He's about 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, and he's ripped, real cut up. He played football coming out of high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana."

Howard's a player that physically passes the "look test" and whose leadership on the floor carried Lincoln Trail this season.

"Bud's a great competitor," Coach Sullivan highlighted. "He does things that you can't teach. He works hard on both ends of the floor, is a tenacious defender."

"The strength of his offensive game is his ability to get to the basket, his slashing. He can hit the outside shot, too, though, if you play off of him."

Howard has garnered the interest of several Division One programs in addition to Illinois.

"Southern Mississippi and Oklahoma State have flown out here to look at him," said Coach Sullivan.

"Middle Tennessee State likes him a lot, Ball State, IU-PUI, and Southeast Louisiana are some of the other schools on him, really most of the mid-majors in the Midwest are giving him a look. He's visiting Southeast Louisiana this weekend."

Marques "Doc" Dawson is another of Sullivan's players that recruiters are scouting. Dawson is originally from West Virginia but played his high school basketball in Northern Kentucky with phenom O.J. Mayo. A 6-foot-5 wing player, Dawson is highly athletic and may remind some Illini fans of guard Luther Head.

"Marques was my starting three man this season, but he'll play the 2 or the 3 in college," Coach Sullivan noted.

"His strength is his ability to play the passing lane on defense. He's quick and very long. On offense, Marques is a slasher. He's athletic, gets to the hole, but can also shoot the three."

Besides Illinois, Sullivan highlighted Middle Tennessee State, Western Michigan, and UAB as teams on Dawson's list.

Sullivan, a good friend of Illini Assistant Coach Tracy Webster, mentioned that there is another Lincoln Trail player that Illinois fans should keep their eye on.

"Watch out for one of my freshman, Fred Finley. Fred's from Waukegan High School in the Chicago area. He's a 6-foot-4, maybe 6-foot-5 athletic player that can play the 1, 2 or 3."

"He reminds me of like a Deron Williams or a Luther Head. We've had coaches from TCU, Nebraska, and Texas A&M in to see Fred play this season. He's a big time player and he's only getting better."