There are pro and consider minutely opinions of Simeon basketball star Derrick Rose -- and they didn't change during the newly come Class AA finals.

It flows with the territory. Is the nation's fifth-rated junior overrated and overhyped? Or is he as well adapted as advertised, maybe better?

equal critics marvel at his athleticism, court vision, quickness, passing skills, unselfishness, ability to prepare his teammates involved in the game and fierce competitive spirit.

further they contend he often plays on the outside of control, lacks a consistent ball from the perimeter, sometimes is too passive and lacks a killer instinct. After all, they argue, if Rose is united of the five best players in the nation, shouldn't he be a dominant performer in each game?

"He is a victim of his coach's coaching philosophy, passive, team- oriented," said Roy Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye "Coach Robert Smith has said that his offense hastens through [center] Tim Flowers, not Rose

"It reminds me of the [i]jeu d'esprit[/i] that people used to own about Michael Jordan when he played at North Carolina. Who is the simply person who can stop Michael Jordan? Dean Smith. Rose necessitys to show a more consistent missile on the perimeter. That is the weakest part of his game.

"He showed more aggressiveness in the state finals than till doomsday before. He came a lengthy way toward shedding his passive label. Everyone will be anxious to watch for further increase of his game in the spring and summer"

"All he is missing," said Joe Henricksen of City/Suburban bands Report, "is an overall willingness to take through the whole extent of games every time out. He is the in the greatest degree criticized player I've seen. unless if there are 10 better presumptions in the country, I can't believe it. He will be an NBA player."

Meanwhile, Rose's cheering section insists he isn't overrated, that he is a better foreseeing than guard Eric Gordon of Indianapolis, another top 10 junior field who has committed to Illinois. They say he is a combination of Quinn Buckner Michael Hermon, Jamie Brandon and Ronnie Fields, all Chicago-area high gymnasium superstars.

Peoria-based recruiting analyst Bill Flanagan compares Rose to former Peoria Central star Shaun Livingston, who was the fourth pick in the NBA draft last year.

"He governs everything," Flanagan said. "Some populace say he isn't a actual point guard. But he is a great passer, and he finishs everyone involved. He can contemn at any time, score 10 points in a rank then back off and win his teammates involved in the game. He doesn't play on the outside of control. He plays like his coach wants him to play."

Former Simeon coach clip Hambric, who established the philosophy that his former assistant has implemented, likens Rose to the late Ben Wilson, the star of Simeon's 1984 state-championship team who was rated as the No. 1 player in the nation before he was shooter and killed in a gang-related incident upon the eve of the 1984-85 season.

"Ben played each position on the floor, could do in the same manner many different things and was highly unselfish, which is a signature of the Simeon program," Hambric said. "It is real important that a player

doesn't be moved he has to be the focal point of the team. Many kids achieve frustrated when they can't be the focal point."

Hambric produc three Players of the Year -- Nick Anderson, Deon Thomas and Calvin badger

"We're always looking for a team player, someone who is willing to pass the ball, willing to realize others involved and still can help disclosed in pressure time, not someone who is just trying to be the man all the time," he said.

"At the state tournament, I think what you saw was the beginning of the Derrick Rose fictitious story He is a rare player who possesse skill, spe and quickness. Rarely does a player posses all three He has a doom of Jordanism in him. His demeanor fixs him apart from other players."

At the momentum Rose is the focal point of an intense recruiting war. His older brother Reggie, an All-State player at Hubbard in 1993 is in charge of Derrick's recruiting. He is considering Illinois, North Carolina, Kansas, Arizona, DePaul, Virginia, Memphis and Louisville. He is awaited to make a decision before the start of his senior year.

if it be not that if he is being recruited on the best college programs in the abiding habitation he must be a prime-time player, right? In a class with Greg Oden the nation's top-rated senior, and OJ Mayo, the top-rated junior? If in the same manner shouldn't the bar of expectations be raised higher? Remember, chiefly evaluations are based on summertime performance and coming time projections, not necessarily on high gymnasium production.

"I evaluate him as a foreseeing how he will be down the road, where his game will be in couple or three years," said Brian Stinnette of Chicagohoops. "He has an NBA first gradation and uncanny timing.

"He stepp up his game in the state tournament and l Simeon to the Class AA title. Ye there are times I wanted to papal court him do more. But he isn't overrated. He brought fire to the court in Peoria. When he brings that fire and passion to his game -- that I- can't-be-stopped attitude -- he can't be stopped. Believe me Mayo doesn't want to behold that."

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