For the sake of University of Illinois basketball fans, it was probably good that they got to enjoy their home victory over Kelvin Sampson's Indiana Hoosiers on Jan. 23. If these same fans tuned into ESPN2 on Thursday night, there is a good chance that they would have cursed violently and enter a highly depressed state of mind while watching Hoosier recruit, Eric Gordon, electrify the crowd with 43 points during North Central High School's 88-47 victory over Loyola Academy from Illinois.
Gordon, of course, committed to Illinois during his sophomore season at North Central and changed his mind when Kelvin Sampson took the reigns at IU.
The game Thursday night was not your average high school basketball event. Aside from the national television coverage and the #22 nationally ranked team facing off against Gordon and his Panther team, there was a fairly noticable face in the crowd. Possibly the greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan, was there to see his two sons, Jeffrey and Marcus, play for Loyola Academy.
After Loyola jumped out to an early lead, Gordon did not waste any time showing his stuff to the one they call 'Air Jordan.' Gordon had 17 first quarter points, and ultimately led North Central to a surprising blow-out win. Gordon's performance didn't go unnoticed by the NBA legend.
"He's a good player," Michael Jordan said. When asked about the Jordan-like killer instinct Gordon exhibited, Jordan smiled. "Yeah, it's there, but I didn't shoot like that when I was in high school."
The show put on my Gordon gave Hoosier fans an exciting preview of what will be coming to Bloomington next fall, and it gave Illini faithful a painful reminder of why they are so bitter about the whole deal. As ESPN commentator Doug Gottlieb said, "Gordon is a program changer."
If the Orange Krush's treatment of Sampson was considered harsh, it is hard to imagine what will be in store for Gordon when he visits that other Assembly Hall next year. But I have a feeling Gordon will have a little something in store for them as well...possibly a highlight reel and a Hoosier win.
Here is a quick highlight of a couple Gordon plays from the game for those that didn't see it.
If the Orange Krush's treatment of Sampson was considered harsh, it is hard to imagine what will be in store for Gordon when he visits that other Assembly Hall next year. But I have a feeling Gordon will have a little something in store for them as well...possibly a highlight reel and a Hoosier win.
Here is a quick highlight of a couple Gordon plays from the game for those that didn't see it.
