Who wants to be the next Brandon Paul?
That might seem like a trick question, given some of Brandon’s recent escapades. But Tuesday night at the Assembly Hall, a handful of prized recruits watched 14,000 besotted Illini fans jump straight into the air, fists raised, as Brandon Paul topped major feat with huge feat, followed by massive feat.
This was a Pistol Pete performance. It will be talked about when Brandon Paul is dead. When automotive engineers remember the internal combustion engine as a noisy, smelly dinosaur, people will be talking about this game. When the Class of 2014 meets for its 50th reunion, an unlikely percentage will claim to have been at this game.
A few of them actually were at this game.
Larry Austin Jr., Keita Bates-Diop, and Milik Yarbrough are nowhere near deciding where they’ll play college ball. It can’t hurt Illinois that they were on hand for a moment of basketball magic.
Also in attendance were two LaTulips, Mike and Joe. Mike plans to play for Illinois, starting next year. Joe played point guard for Illinois Wesleyan before knee surgery ended (?) his college basketball career. He’s transferred to Illinois, and moves in on Sunday.
Joe and Mike talked about sibling competition and the grooming of Mike’s game.