Recruiters flocking to Southeastern Illinois

Every year college coaches scour the country for the top talent in the junior college ranks. One of the top JUCO programs every year is Southeastern Illinois Community College. Coach Todd Franklin consistently loads his program with some of the top talent around. This season is no different; Franklin has loaded his roster with numerous high major targets.

One of the top players on the loaded Southeastern Illinois squad is Takais Brown. Brown, who is originally from Flint, Michigan, is a big bruiser on the inside. Brown is not just a one-dimensional banger, though. He possesses a good ability to step out on the perimeter and knock down the jumper.

"Takais is 6-foot-8, and a little over 240 pounds. He will be a power forward at the next level. He is a guy who I feel is a really good offensive rebounder. He is just a big strong old school school type of player. A lot of the four-men now like to shoot a bunch of threes; that isn't his game, though," Coach Franklin said when asked to describe Brown.

Coach Franklin, along with the Southeastern Illinois players, made the decision this summer to not go to any showcase camps. Instead, the talented team stayed back on campus to focus on academics and improving as a team.

With a body ready to bang down low in the division one game, and skills to match, college coaches from all over the country have been in to see Takais.

"The schools that have been after him hard have been Purdue, Southern Miss, Tennessee, Detroit, Xavier, UNLV, Georgia, Minnesota, and Ohio State. Those have just been the schools that have come in to see him this summer. That list changes almost daily, though," Coach Franklin said.

"My guys do not sign until the spring. Everyone knows that. Basically everyone is just coming in and asking what they have to do to get involved with him. All of those schools have told Takais that they want him. Since he won't sign until the spring, things could change if they bring in a guy or something like that," Franklin said when asked if Brown had a leader.

When asked to talk about what Brown needs to work on, Franklin struggled to come up with anything.

"He's just such a young guy. He didn't turn 18 until mid-September of his freshman year. He needs to try and be more assertive, and that comes with confidence. He just needs more reps, more than anything. He has a good 15 foot shot, a good jump hook, and good power moves. One area that he needs to work on is his perimeter defense. He is going to play power forward at the next level, and he will have to get used to chasing around smaller guys on the perimeter."

Academically, Brown still has some work to do this year. Franklin does not think that getting him eligible will be a problem, though. Brown has the desire to improve his academic standing, and Southeastern Illinois has never had a player not graduate. Coach Franklin and Brown have no intention of ruining that perfect mark.

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