2 top-rated recruits visit campus

Two top high school basketball recruits were in Bloomington for an unofficial visit to the campus this weekend.\nEric Gordon Jr. and Derrick Rose dined with IU juniors D.J. White, A.J. Ratliff, IU coach Kelvin Sampson and other Hoosier basketball personnel Friday night at Yogi's Grill and Bar. \nThe two high school seniors were also at Assembly Hall on Saturday afternoon with members of the basketball team and coaching staff. \nThe visit could mark a sea change in Sampson's pursuit of Rose and Gordon -- especially in Gordon's case, as the Indianapolis North Central High School senior verbally committed to Illinois during his junior season.\n"It would be dynamite (if they both came to IU)," said David Haugh, a sports reporter for the Chicago Tribune who has followed the situation closely. "IU would be back in the top 10 for sure -- that is to say if they didn't leave by the time they were sophomores."\nAccording to Rivals.com, Gordon is the No. 2-rated player in the country for the class of 2007. Rose, a Chicago native, is rated No. 3 in the nation. Gordon is the top-rated shooting guard in the class, and Rose is the top-rated point guard.\nThe two played together this summer on a traveling team. Gordon cited the turmoil surrounding former IU coach Mike Davis as his initial reason for turning down IU, but Sampson's hiring of assistant coach Jeff Meyer -- who coached Gordon's father at Liberty University -- dumped new fuel on rumors that Gordon is reconsidering his verbal commitment to Illinois.\nRose recently announced the top five schools he is considering, which included IU but not Illinois.\nOn Saturday, junior Clayton Glover and friends wandered into Assembly Hall, hoping to see the Hoosier basketball team's open practice. They were greeted by closed doors, but waited outside the arena at court level for the players to come out of the locker room. After senior Errek Suhr, White and various other members of the team popped out of the locker room, they saw Gordon and Rose make their way between the two sets of black doors. \n"Gordon came out of the room first, and then Rose came out afterward," Glover said. "The doors were definitely closed, even the players had to knock to get in.\n"After they all had made their way in, a cop came down and told us that the practice was closed and that we needed to leave," he said. \nOn Friday, Yogi's employee John Haupthuf was at the restaurant when the players, coaches and prospects were spotted.\n"When coach Sampson came through the door, everyone stood up and started applauding, yelling 'Coach,'" Haupthuf said. "They were sitting in sort of a back room -- we call it right field. I don't think they were approached the rest of the night, but there were other people in the room."\nHaugh said the players' decisions -- but especially Gordon's -- could have huge implications in the future and could intensify the rivalry between IU and Illinois.\n"This weekend's visit should make Illini fans nervous and (Illinois coach) Bruce Weber furious," Haugh said. "We haven't heard the last of it though."\nWhile Rose's commitment remains uncertain, Richmond, Calif., native Eli Holman became Sampson's third verbal commitment for the 2007 season. Holman, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound center, is the No. 121-rated player in the 2007 class, according to rivals.com. He joins Chicago natives Brandon McGee and Jemarcus Ellis in the Hoosiers' 2007 recruiting class.