Illinois Warriors roll in Arkansas

Marshall guard Darius Smith blows by Curie's Wayne Blackshear in a game last season.
(Stacia Timonere/For the Sun-Times)

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The Illinois Warriors stormed into the title game of the Real Deal on the Hill Tournament this weekend in Fayetteville, Ark. behind the solid play of guards DJ Richardson (Peoria Central), Darius Smith (Marshall) and Lawrence Thomas (Springfield Southeast).

Richardson scored 27 points in the semifinals against the Atlanta Celtics and Smith had 18 in the second half of a quarterfinal win over Spiece Mo-Kan in the quarterfinals.

“I wasn’t surprised at all with the way the guys played this weekend,” Illinois Warriors coach Larry Butler said. “We’ve got a good group of guys that play for quality high school coaches.”

Smith started the season playing for First Step, but Butler expects him to stick with the Warriors the rest of the way.

“Darius Smith is a winner,” Butler said. “Right now he’s a mid-major plus type kid, but he’ll pick up some high-major offers because a lot of coaches will appreciate that he knows how to win. His skill set probably wouldn’t suit the Big Ten, he needs to play somewhere more wide-open.”

Smith currently has interest from Bradley, Illinois, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and Dayton.

The Warriors lost the title game 59-57 in overtime to Team Breakdown. Highly-regarded guard Anthony Johnson (Young), who has been playing for the Warriors’ 16-and-under team, was brought up to the 17-and-under team for the title game after David Brown (Hononegah) suffered an injury.

“He played really well,” Butler said. “We also brought up Dwayne Evans (Neuqua Valley) for the title game. Those guys will probably play up and down all year.”

Butler also cited Drew Crawford (Naperville Central) and Kyle Cain, a 6-7 junior from TF North, as major contributers.

“Kyle Cain is really starting to play,” Butler said. “He’s better than (former TF North star) Demond Watt was.”

WELCOME TO THE CLUB: Expect Mac Irvin Fire guard Crandall Head (Rich South) to become a five-star prospect the next time Scout and Rivals release their rankings. Head was spectacular at the Kingwood Classic in Houston this weekend.

SHOOTER SUPREME: Rivals.com’s Jerry Meyer was impressed with the play of Rising Stars guard Nik Garcia (Niles West).

“(Garcia) showed some creativity off the bounce Saturday to go along with his confident shooting stroke from the wing,” Meyer wrote.

Garcia, who has flown under the radar during the high school season, has interest from a dozen schools but says that Southern Illinois and Iowa are on top of his list.

GETTING HIS DUE: Meanstreets point guard DJ Cooper (Hales Franciscan) is finally making a name for himself on the national scene, thanks to Scout.com guru Dave Telep, who watched him this weekend at the Real Deal.

“(Cooper) is easy to like and respect. He’s not big but like many Chicago point guards before him, he’s tough,” wrote Telep.

Cooper currently has interest from Kansas State, Missouri, Valpo, Dayton, Bradley and UIC.