The big attraction Friday night in New Jersey will be the matchup between the two most highly-sought point guards in the nation: Cincinnati's O. J. Mayo against Derrick Rose from Chicago Simeon. While ESPN.com reported earlier this week that Mayo has decided to go to USC, Mayo will say only that he's still considering USC, Kansas State and Florida. His strong ties to Bob Huggins had many thinking Mayo would go to Kansas State, but the slick Mayo reportedly has his eyes on the major media market of Los Angeles. It's most likely a one-year stop on the way to the NBA, anyway, for the 6'5" point guard. Mayo's high school teammate, Bill Walker, also a highly ranked recruit, may follow Mayo in a potent package deal.
Rose is the subject of a heated recruiting battle as well. Illinois has already landed a verbal commitment from shooting guard Eric Gordon of Indianapolis and Gordon is trying to convince Rose to join him in Champaign. But Illinois faces competition from a familiar face. Former Illini coach Bill Self is trying to lure Rose to Kansas.
Closer to home, Marquette and Wisconsin are both working hard to recruit 6'8" Keaton Nankivil from Madison Memorial.
It will be difficult for the class of 2007 to match the group that recently graduated from high school.If the NBA hadn't imposed an age limit on the draft, it's widely believed that five prep stars would been lottery picks. Instead, Greg Oden is going to Ohio State, Kevin Durant to Texas, Brandan Wright to North Carolina, Thaddeus Young to Georgia Tech and Spencer Hawes is headed to Washington.
Dennis Krause joined OnMilwaukee.com as a contributor on June 16, 2006. He is a two-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year and a regional Emmy-award winner. Dennis has been the color analyst on home games for the Milwaukee Bucks Radio Network for the last 10 years. He has also been involved with the Green Bay Packers Radio Network for 16 years and is currently the host of the "Packers Game Day" pre-game show.
Dennis started his broadcasting career as a radio air personality in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee.
He spent three years as a sportscaster at WMBD radio and television in Peoria, Illinois before joining WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee in 1987 as a weekend sports anchor. Dennis spent 16 years at Channel 4, serving as its Sports Director and 5 and 6 pm sports anchor from 1994-2003.
Dennis grew up in Hartford, Wisconsin and attended UW-Oshkosh. He lives in Thiensville with his wife and two children. He serves as the Community Resource Director for the Mequon-Thiensville School District.
