Leo’s Woods drawing offseason interest

Updated: May 12, 2011 6:55PM

It has been said many times that ­Illinois’ sophomore class has a chance to be special. The class is already full of talented wings and dependable guards, but what makes the class so good and so deep is a slew of young big men who have a vast amount of potential. Among the players in the class with the most potential is Leo forward Russell Woods.

The strong and sturdy 6-7 Woods is having an impressive spring playing up a grade division on the Mac ­Irvin Fire 17U team. The lefty is coming off the bench but still contributing by rebounding, running the floor and defending inside. It also helps having more experienced big men ahead of him such as Simeon’s Steve Taylor and Young’s Jermaine Morgan.

“They tell me to focus on the game and don’t let things get to me,” Woods said of his older mates. “They help my game because they have more experience and are more mature.”

He also is benefitting from playing with a talented AAU team. The Fire already has won two tournaments while starting 7-3 in Nike’s prestigious Elite Youth Basketball League.

“It’s been good [playing with the Fire]. I think the Irvins are very good coaches and they’re helping my game a lot,” Woods said. “I think I take more charges, rebound, and my shooting has gotten better.”

Schools already have taken notice. Illinois, Purdue, Marquette, DePaul, Texas and Wisconsin have shown interest. Recruiting analysts such as Brian Snow also have taken notice.

“Russell Woods is clearly one of the best players in Illinois’ loaded 2013 class,” Snow said. “That strength and size allows him to be a very good rebounder. You want to see his offensive game expand a little bit more because he either needs to grow or get more comfortable on the wing.”

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