All Sports
Bud
MLB player poll: Talking gay teammates, PEDs & more
Trey
NBA mock draft: Who's #1?
Mwp
Greatest and most bizarre athlete name changes
Wwe
The best and worst of WWE Monday Night Raw
166511675
What kind of QB will Johnny Manziel be in the NFL?

2014 Bates-Diop Continues To Expand Game

Posted May 02, 2012 on illinois.scout.com
TEAMS: Illinois Fighting Illini
Fighting Illini basketball coaches have been contacting numerous high school and AAU programs to develop relationships and enhance recruiting efforts. One recent stop was at the Normal University High School home of Keita Bates-Diop, a 2014 small forward who is continuing to grow and improve.
Original Story: http://illinois.scout.com/2/1183230.html
THE BACKYARD
BEST OF MAXIM
AROUND THE WEB
RELATED ARTICLES

Illini Add DT Jarrod Clements To The Fold

Via illinois.scout.com  |  May 01, 2012
The Fighting Illini football program is gaining recruiting momentum rapidly. The commitment of star quarterback Aaron Bailey last week appears to have opened the floodgates. Defensive tackle Merrick Jackson committed Monday, and now Ohio defensive lineman Jarrod Clements has pulled the trigger.

Big Man McLaurin Transfers To Illinois

Via illinois.scout.com  |  May 03, 2012
The Fighting Illini basketball team needed a quick fix for this next season due to the decision of Meyers Leonard to turn pro. Today it received good news when Coastal Carolina's Sam McLaurin confirmed he will transfer for his final season of eligibility.

Football Recruiting Aided By Extra Staff

Via illinois.scout.com  |  May 03, 2012
How did the Fighting Illini football program ever survive without a Director of Player Personnel? He has myriad essential tasks to handle daily, tasks that either were piled onto the assistant coach named recruiting coordinator or simply not performed previously. Every program needs a detail guy to help organize and coordinate recruiting, and Paul Nichols is that man.

Director Of Player Personnel Vital Addition

Via illinois.scout.com  |  May 02, 2012
The Fighting Illini football team added a new position to its staff this year. The Director of Player Personnel has an essential role to play, especially in recruiting. Paul Nichols followed head coach Tim Beckman to Illinois, and he's scarcely had time to take a breath since. He talks about his transition to a new position in the first of a three part interview.

Merrick Jackson Discusses Illini Decision

Via illinois.scout.com  |  May 01, 2012
After placing defensive linemen in the first round of the NFL draft the last two years, Fighting Illini football has begun to establish a tradition of defensive linemen. Perhaps that might be why Belleville defensive tackle Merrick Jackson decided on Illinois for his college home.
THE HOT 40: Who's Trending
1
Aaron Hernandez
Report: Pats’ Hernandez not ruled out as a suspect
Up_green_3 820
2
LeBron James
Twitter Reacts To LeBron James Ditching His Headband
Down_red_2 1
3
Doc Rivers
Report: Celtics-Clippers Doc Rivers deal may not be dead after all?
Down_red_2 1
4
Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh’s Clutch Rebounds and Blocks Save the Heat (Video)
Up_green_3 9
5
Ray Allen
Ray Allen major clutch stepback three to force OT (VIDEO)
Up_green_3 72
6
Matt Harvey
Matt Harvey: The Mets’ Number One Badass
Up_green_3 14
7
Serena Williams
Serena Williams apologizes for insensitive remarks about Steubenville rape case
Up_green_3 92
8
Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard & girlfriend Christine Vest welcome baby boy
_
9
Zack Wheeler
A Deeper Look At Zack Wheeler’s Debut
Up_green_3 6
10
Rob Gronkowski
Report: Rob Gronkowski To Begin Preseason On PUP List
Up_green_3 95
11
Tim Duncan
Vintage Tim Duncan scores 25 points in the first half of Game 6 (VIDEO)
Up_green_3 5
12
Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan legitimately injured on Raw
Up_green_3 11
13
Manu Ginobili
Manu Ginobili, Spurs Dejected After Blowing Chance to Close Out NBA Finals in Game 6 (Photos)
Up_green_3 1
14
Tim Tebow
The Jets will Spend more for Tim Tebow this Year than the Pats would over the next 2 Seasons
Down_red_2 11
15
Danny Green
Danny Green Was Once The Awkward Guy In The Background At LeBron’s Birthday Party
Down_red_2 5
16
Dwyane Wade
Joey Crawford tells Dwyane Wade “Don’t yell at Me!” (Video)
Down_red_2 9
17
Mike Miller
Mike Miller hits 3 pointer with one shoe (VIDEO)
Up_green_3 516
18
Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich Gave a Classic Pop Postgame Presser After Game 6
Up_green_3 46
19
Jonny Gomes
Jonny Gomes punts helmet after rounding third during walk-off homer trot (video)
Up_green_3 895
20
John Cena
Feud Between Ryback & John Cena Not Finished Yet, Raw Backstage Fallout
Down_red_2 16
21
Tiger Woods
Woods to rest elbow, skip AT&T National
Up_green_3 1
22
Steve Gleason
Atlanta radio station makes fun of Steve Gleason
Down_red_2 17
23
Tracy McGrady
Arby’s takes hilarious shot at Tracy McGrady during NBA Finals
Up_green_3 192
24
Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft and Girlfriend Hung with Jay Z and Beyonce
Down_red_2 6
25
Cam Newton
The Revolution Will Be Televised: How Cam Newton Changed the Game
Up_green_3 220
26
Desmond Bishop
Oakland Raiders Interested in Former Packers LB Desmond Bishop?
Down_red_2 15
27
Aaron Rodgers
Is There Another Contract in Aaron Rodgers Future?
Up_green_3 4
28
Tony Parker
Tony Parker Injures Hamstring In Game 3, Will Undergo MRI
Down_red_2 2
29
Tuukka Rask
Tuukka Rask says ice in Boston is “sh*tty”
Down_red_2 23
30
Dolph Ziggler
Rumored Storyline **SPOILERS** For Dolph Ziggler + More
Down_red_2 21
31
Johnny Manziel
Manziel Looks Very Old in Video Game
Up_green_3 21
32
Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard with menacing dunk puts Miller on poster (VIDEO)
Up_green_3 36
33
Jason Kidd
Missner's Manifesto: Use The Force, Jason Kidd
Down_red_2 16
34
Clay Buchholz
Red Sox place Clay Buchholz on DL with strained neck
Up_green_3 27
35
Marian Hossa
Maybe Marian Hossa’s ‘resting’
Up_green_3 12
36
Randy Orton
VIDEO: Randy Orton Thought He Was Going To Be Fired
Down_red_2 3
37
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino Hung Out With Pitbull Last Night
Up_green_3 222
38
Darrelle Revis
Darrelle Revis paid $50,000 for number 24 jersey
Up_green_3 42
39
Phil Mickelson
Heartbreak on his birthday for Mickelson in Open
Down_red_2 20
40
Yasiel Puig
Dodgers signed Yasiel Puig for $42 million after only watching him once
Down_red_2 12
Today's Best Stuff
For Bloggers

Join the Yardbarker Network for more promotion, traffic, and money.
Company Info
Help
What is Yardbarker?

Yardbarker is the largest network of sports blogs and pro athlete blogs on the web. This site is the hub of the Yardbarker Network, where our editors and algorithms curate the best sports content from our network and beyond.