HIGHLAND, Ind. - There have been some important steps Illinois Wolves coaches have wanted to see Jay Simpson make in order to live up to his ample potential.

To push the talented 6-foot-8 Purdue junior-to-be commitment in the right direction, Wolves coach Mike Mullins and his staff dangled this carrot: A chance for the 16-year-old to play "up" in the 17-year-old age division.

There are practical considerations involved, too: rising-senior center and Illinois recruit Nnanna Egwu just recently returned from injury and is playing only sparingly, so Simpson's size can help a Wolves 17s team that with him can suit up three big men already committed to Big Ten schools.

In addition to Simpson and Egwu, center Frank Kaminsky is committed to Wisconsin.

"We're not just going to give it to him," Mullins said of Simpson's spot on the 17-year-old team. "We're going to make him earn it.

"He has to practice with the same energy level and play at the same energy level (as the seniors). If he does that he'll be fine, and it's something we've done with every kid we've had since we've started this program."

Simpson got his opportunity Saturday at the Baylor Youth tournament in Highland and it's fair to say he made the most of it.

The Champaign, Ill., native came off the bench for the Wolves 17s, both backing up and playing alongside the 6-10 Kaminsky, and scored a team-high 14 points to go along with six rebounds, in a 51-49 overtime win over a good 43 Hoops team.

Kaminsky's bucket in the paint with 2.7 seconds remaining in the extra session won it; though not quite as pivotal, Simpson's tip-in with 2:23 left in regulation was a key play also. His turnaround jumper on his first offensive touch began a 9-0 Wolves run that erased the early cushion 43 had built.

Simpson's been looking forward to the challenge that comes with playing up.

"I have to bring it," he said.

Though he's already committed to Purdue and thus doesn't have to worry about impressing college coaches this month, Simpson says it's an important summer for him, as he looks to change his temperament on the court, for one thing.

"I want to become a lot more physical," Simpson said. "I know I can be, and going to the Big Ten, I know it's a real physical conference."

In preparing with his AAU team for its July schedule, Simpson shed about seven pounds, to about 227, he said.

"I have to get in way better shape," said Simpson, who's asthmatic, a factor in his conditioning, "so I can run the floor and keep up my stamina."

Rivals.com's No. 78 player nationally in the Class of 2012, Simpson is regarded by many as the top prospect in his class in Illinois.

Blessed with a ready-made Big Ten body, an effective low-post offensive game and the ability to handle, pass and shoot from the perimeter, Simpson will only climb those rankings if he accomplishes what his AAU coaches ask of him.

"He's as gifted as any kid we've had," said Mullins, whose Wolves alumni include Evan Turner, Demetri McCamey and John Shurna, among others. "... We talk to all our kids about this, but just had the conversation with Jay this week: 'At some point in time you have to stop playing basketball and start working at it. You're good when you're young because you're talented, but when you work at it the results go up exponentially.

"You can be pretty talented, but the higher you go up the ladder, to play at a place like Purdue, everybody's pretty talented. You have to get it before you get there. We believe it's too late to get it once you're in college. We're trying to show him to get it here."

Click Here to view this Link.

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2010. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited. E-mail GoldandBlack.com/Boilers, Inc.

Click Click Click Check out GoldandBlack.com on Here to view this Link. | Here to view this Link. | Here to view this Link.