Weeks before the Illinois high school basketball season gets underway, West Aurora senior Shaun Pruitt is a marked man.

The 6-foot-8 forward, who signed a letter of intent to play at Illinois on Sept. 16, got a peek of what his future as an Illini holds for him when he visited Illinois' campus on Monday.

"It's been a real fun experience getting to know the team," Pruitt said. "College is much different than high school. It's been a lot of fun to play with (the team) and hang out with them."

The trip gave the current Illini another chance to take a look at the first member of Illinois head coach Bruce Weber's inaugural recruiting class.

"He has a whole year to improve his game," Illinois forward Roger Powell said. "If he improves he'll be a physical player and a presence inside."

Pruitt, the No. 67 high school player in the nation, according to www.theinsiders.com, turned down offers from Marquette and Big Ten rivals Michigan State and Indiana.

Since signing with the Illini, Pruitt has been lifting weights to fend off bigger rivals. He's also working to improve his free throw shooting percentage to earn a place on a talented roster.

"I know that they're going to be a real good team, not only this year, but next year," Pruitt said.

Despite the dreams of glory at the collegiate level, Pruitt is focusing on the task at hand, his last season as a Blackhawk.

"We should be really good," Pruitt said. "We were the last couple of years. I don't think we'll be No. 1 this year, but we'll be No. 2 preseason."

Despite their focus on this season the Illini are also sneaking a glimpse into the future, when Pruitt will don the orange and blue.

"He's real solid," Illinois senior guard Jerrance Howard said. "He'll bring a low-post presence."

Howard, the Illini's lone senior, was once in Pruitt's shoes. As a junior at Peoria High School, Howard committed to Illinois and is trying to help ease Pruitt's transition to the next level.

"When he goes out there (this season), they know that he's an Illinois recruit," Howard said. "People point you out and they bring their game. Then there's the transition to here and working on the things that you have to work on to make it at the next level here at Illinois."

Still, the Illini are convinced that Pruitt will make an immediate impact on the Illinois program.

"I think he's up there with the top of them because he's so versatile," Howard said.

Pruitt's height combined with his ball-handling abilities will help propel him through the remainder of his high school career and the seasons to follow at Assembly Hall.

"For his height, there aren't many guys who can handle (the ball) like he can," Howard said. "He's not in the same category as Brian Cook, but the skills that he brings to the floor are."