Richardson leaves for prep school

D.J. Richardson looks for an open teammate against Sterling at Assembly Hall.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times)

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It has happened again.

For the second consecutive year, the best basketball player in the state's senior class is packing up and heading to prep school.

Peoria Central guard and Illinois recruit DJ Richardson announced on Monday that he will spend his senior season at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev.

That's the same school that Washington's DeAndre Liggins spent his senior year at last season.

"It was my family's idea," Richardson said. "It's because of the ACT. I had a good GPA, just not the ACT. I'm not far off. I just took it two times. I think I could do better. There is no reason to take chances so I'm just going to prep school."

According to Richardson, the Illinois coaching staff gave him a list of prep schools to choose from.

"They just told me it was a good idea if I did that," Richardson said. "They didn't tell me where to go. It was a family option."

Richardson had a breakout summer playing for the Illinois Warriors club basketball team.

"DJ clearly proved he was the number one player in the state this summer," Illinois Warriors coach Larry Butler said. "It is a sore thumb for our state that for the second year in a row, the best player had to leave before his senior year. But guys have to do what they have to do to improve their academic situation."

According to the Findlay Prep website, Richardson and his teammates will be living in a "near million dollar home" that features "two big screens, all new furniture, custom extra long beds, four bathrooms, a study room with custom desks, wireless internet, full cable TV, two refrigerators kept full, a large backyard and patio." As far as food, "At the prep house meals are served every night or brought in from local restaurants. At least one night a week the team enjoys one of Vegas's famous resort buffets."

Findlay Prep plays a national schedule, with games in Massachusetts, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Florida, Rhode Island, Kentucky and New York.

"To me this is just as much an escape from his academic situation as it is an opportunity to improve it," said recruiting analyst Roy Schmidt. "It really makes you wonder about the current state of high school basketball in Illinois and shows the definite need for somebody, either the NCAA or the IHSA, to step in and institute a new rule."

Peoria Central was scheduled to face Warren, with Illinois recruit Brandon Paul, in the showcase game of the City/Suburban Showdown at Northwestern in February.

"I'm not really disappointed (to be leaving Peoria Central)," Richardson said. "I"m really disappointed about leaving my friends. This is a growing experience. I'll mature faster and become more responsible."

Prep schools, usually located in the New England area, have always been a popular destination for players with academic troubles, but they have only recently started to impact basketball in Illinois.

"I think high school basketball will survive," recruiting analyst Bob Gibbons said. "Unfortunately you won't have that shining star on the top of the Christmas tree. High school basketball will go on, but unfortunately I think this is a trend that will continue unless the NCAA prevents it."

According to Findlay Prep basketball coach Mike Peck, the student-teacher ratio at Findlay Prep is "seven or eight to one."

"We always like the player to initiate contact with us," Peck said. "I don't like to be a program that is going in there and robbing high schools. If someone contacts us there is a reason, they need to get out of a situation, whatever it is. From there we make a determination if he is a guy that is going to fit our program from a basketball and a character standpoint."

Peck said that his "number one goal is to have these kids qualify for college. That's what motivates us."

Peck doesn't know if Liggins, who played for him last season, has qualified to play at Kentucky this season.

"I"m not aware of what is going on with his situation," Peck said. "I'm not sure if that is still under review or not."