Crete-Monee receiver Laquon Treadwell has taken full advantage of life as a blue-chip recruit.
Before leading Crete-Monee to its first state championship and earning Player of the Year honors from the Tribune, Treadwell accepted 11 invitations to camps, clinics and showcases last summer.
It was then that he established himself as the No. 1-ranked receiver prospect in the country, one that many believe can step in and make an immediate impact on the college program of his choice.
He nearly committed to Michigan over the summer but is glad he held off. The Wolverines did not survive the last round of cuts, as Treadwell recently trimmed his long list of suitors to Mississippi, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.
Treadwell will end the speculation Thursday with a 5 p.m. announcement at Crete-Monee.
Insiders believe he's headed to Mississippi, which followed up a home visit by Oklahoma State on Monday by coming to town Tuesday.
Here we offer our nonscientific breakdown.
Mississippi: 64 percent
Heading into his visit to Oklahoma State last weekend, Mississippi was the clear favorite. Treadwell said so himself on Twitter in early December.
He likes the direction of the program and the idea of helping take the Rebels to the next level, much like he did at Crete-Monee, which broke new ground in each of his three varsity seasons. With its 21 existing commitments, Ole Miss' recruiting class is ranked No. 17 by Rivals.com, and the Rebels would shoot up several spots with Treadwell and defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, the nation's No. 1-ranked overall recruit.
Ole Miss went 4-8 in 2010 and 2-10 in '11 before going 7-6 in Hugh Freeze's first season as head coach. Four of the six losses were to SEC juggernauts Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia and LSU, but the Rebels improved throughout the season and showed considerable promise in the final three games ? a 41-35 loss at LSU, a 41-24 victory over then-No. 24 Mississippi State and a 38-17 win over Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl.
Ole Miss' top three receivers are expected back, but only Donte Moncrief (66 catches, 979 yards, 10 TDs) is coming off a big season. Spread offenses tend to spread the opportunities as well as the field, and the Rebels' existing group of receivers is not good enough to keep Treadwell on the sideline.
Treadwell is close with former Crete-Monee teammate and current Mississippi freshman Anthony Standifer, who knows the lay of the land. Treadwell's mother, Tami, has leaned on Standifer's mother for advice during the process, and she likes the idea of Standifer being there to help Treadwell make the transition.
He has also developed a strong friendship with Nkemdiche, who has yet to decide but is said to favor Mississippi. His brother, Mississippi linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche, was named to the Freshman All-American team, and his mother has stated that she would like them to play together. Between Standifer and the Nkemdiches, Mississippi has a head start on the family atmosphere Treadwell seeks.
Treadwell may not have the opportunity to develop chemistry with promising quarterback Bo Wallace in the summer, because Wallace underwent shoulder surgery a few days after winning Compass Bowl MVP honors. The bright side is Wallace's 2,994 yards passing despite playing eight games with the injury and his two seasons of remaining eligibility.
Oklahoma State: 35 percent
The Cowboys have sold Treadwell on the idea that he would be comfortable in Stillwater. There's a lot to sell. Their spread offense is among the most prolific in the nation. Oklahoma State's 45.9 points per game trailed only Louisiana Tech and Oregon, and the Cowboys finished third in total offense and sixth in passing offense. The facilities are world class, thanks to billionaire alum Boone Pickens.
Treadwell has proven himself against elite competition in national events, but he'll have an easier time distinguishing himself against porous Big 12 defenses than he would in the SEC. Two recent OSU receivers developed into first-round NFL draft picks ? Dez Bryant (2010) and Justin Blackmon (2012). Current sophomore Josh Stewart has also thrived in the system, catching 101 passes for 1,210 yards this season.
Early playing time might not be as ample at Oklahoma State as it would at Mississippi, though, because the position is more crowded. None of the top four receivers were seniors, and Mike Gundy has received commitments from three four-star receivers. Of course, Treadwell is a five-star, and if early playing time is a deciding factor, Gundy will find a way to get him on the field.
The quarterback position is in good shape. Rochester's Wes Lunt, Clint Chelf and J.W. Walsh all threw for more than 1,000 yards and all have at least one year of eligibility remaining.
Oklahoma: 1 percent
The Sooners are considered a finalist because they hosted Treadwell's only other official visit, but all the recent speculation has centered around Ole Miss and Oklahoma State.
One source even said Oklahoma has bowed out and is no longer recruiting him.
Oklahoma is coming off a more successful season and is more steeped in tradition than the other two.
Far removed from the days of the Wishbone, Oklahoma ranked No. 4 nationally with 336.5 yards passing per game in 2012.
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