Simeon boys basketball coach Robert Smith says that he's prepared to listen to possible offers to join the Fighting Illini coaching staff if new Illinois head coach John Groce reaches out to him, according to Mike Helfgot of the Chicago Tribune.
Smith, the winner of five state championships with Simeon, also mentioned that Groce might simply contact him to discuss potential recruits from his elite high school program. Jabari Parker, a forward at Simeon and the player that's generally considered to be the top recruit in the nation's 2013 class, has said that he continues to consider Illinois despite the coaching turnover.
At this point, both Groce and Smith seem to be open to the possibility of working together at Illinois in the future. The Simeon coach's ties to the city of Chicago could lead to major recruiting benefits down the road for the Fighting Illini, but it remains to be seen whether there's a good fit there.
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