Until recently, Homewood-Flossmoor's Mike Buchanan thought his ticket to college would be punched by a basketball coach. He dreamed of being another LeBron James. His father thought his son's future was in basketball, too, and he wouldn't be persuaded otherwise.
Then H-F football coach Ken Smith convinced both of them that the 6-6, 220-pound junior is better suited to play with an oval ball rather than a round ball.
''Now he realizes there are a lot of 6-6 basketball players but not a lot of 6-6, 220-pound football players who can move as he can,'' Smith said. ''He believes he is a legitimate football player, that football is his future.''
Buchanan is the Google of the football Class of 2009 in the Chicago area, a hot recruiting stock who is rising rapidly on the evaluation charts of major Division I colleges.
A defensive end, Buchanan attracted considerable interest last season when he was credited with 10 sacks and 75 tackles for an 8-5 team that reached the state semifinals. He also displayed his remarkable athleticism as a standout on H-F's state-rated basketball team.
Illinois, Minnesota, Purdue, Arizona and Akron have offered scholarships. Notre Dame, Northwestern, California, Boston College, Kansas State and Northern Illinois are very interested. USC and North Carolina State have requested film. More offers are anticipated.
Most schools project Buchanan as a defensive end or outside or rush linebacker, some as a tight end. Because of his smarts (3.1 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale) and leadership, Smith has tapped Buchanan as his first team captain.
''He is one of the top five prospects in the Chicago -- and he could be No. 1. If he concentrates on football, he can be a dominating player,'' recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. ''If he adds 40 pounds, he could be a dominating pass rusher, another Simeon Rice. But it takes more than size and athletic ability. He needs aggressiveness, work ethic and drive.''
H-F sent two of its top seniors, Supo Sanni and Russell Ellington, to Illinois. Another H-F alum, Xavier Fulton, already is making his mark in coach Ron Zook's program. But Smith claims Buchanan could emerge as the best prospect of all.
''We'll be better this year because of his leadership skills,'' Smith said. ''He has a nonstop motor. He is humble, not cocky. He doesn't act like he is better than anyone else. He is all about team, not himself.''
Buchanan has several goals as he prepares for his senior season: gain 10-15 pounds, improve his bench-press from 285 pounds to more than 300, lower his 40-yard dash time from 4.6 seconds to 4.5, finish out his junior and senior years with all A's and B's on his report card, win a state championship, then choose a college at the highest level where he can make the biggest impact.
Nutrition is important, too. He has vowed to eat better. No more fries and double cheeseburgers.
''I hate to do that, but I have to get away from fast food and foods that make me gain weight,'' he said.
Buchanan said he plans to wait until after the football season to make a college decision. He wants to evaluate every school carefully and hopes Miami, a school he has admired from afar, will call so he can consider it.
''I don't want to make a decision too early,'' he said. ''I want to visit as many schools as possible so I can get a feel for them. I want to get to know the schools and my position coach real well. I don't want to put myself in a position where I attend a school where I can't play or they change my position. I want to be sure it is the best fit for me.''
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