Boys Basketball: Yorkville Christian's Jaden Schutt seeing recruiting take off with three more Big Ten offers

Jaden Schutt should keep his phone fully charged these days.

Schutt, Yorkville Christian's 6-foot-5 rising junior, has had his number ringing off the hook this week.

One of the state's top basketball players in the Class of 2022, Schutt received offers from Big Ten schools Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska on Monday, the first day coaches can call, email, direct message, text and correspond with athletes.

But the offers only scratch the surface to the amount of interest Schutt has received since midnight Monday. He's been in contact with 25 other schools – including Illinois, Ohio State, Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Marquette.

Schutt talked to Illinois head coach Brad Underwood Monday morning and assistant coach Ron Coleman later that evening, according to illinipulse.com.

"Pretty busy," Schutt said. "I was given notice on who would be calling, but a lot of other schools added on and came as a surprise. But I was made aware of what would happen."

Schutt's recruitment has positively taken off in the last two months. Illinois offered him April 16, and Big East schools Creighton and Xavier joined the mix later that month. Schutt is now up to nine offers, including Southern Illinois, Drake and Illinois-Chicago, which was the first to offer last August.

Of the recent schools to offer, Schutt said that Nebraska has been to a practice and a game, Iowa has been to a game and a practice, and Schutt has attended a Hawkeyes' game, and Northwestern has been to two games. Schutt has also visited and attended games at Purdue and Michigan State.

"They're good schools," Schutt said. "I haven't been in contact with them in a long time. It's nice to have them call."

Schutt this past season became Yorkville Christian's all-time leading scorer, averaging 23 points and 9 rebounds while leading the Mustangs to a program win record and their second straight regional title. One of the state's best shooters, he hit 130 3-pointers at a 45% clip. In December, Schutt broke a single-game record that had stood since 1993, hitting 17 3-pointers in a win at Universal in Bridgeview.

Lately he's been working out at the high school gym and lifting, and has started practice and individual workouts with the AAU Illinois Wolves.

"Basically keeping up shooting and stuff, a lot of ballhandling so I can play the one, two and three at the college level," Schutt said. "Trying to get my body stronger."

The COVID-19 pandemic has obviously altered part of the recruiting process. Schutt's just had phone calls with schools, no visits. Schutt did take a virtual visit of Iowa on a Zoom call. Once the NCAA declares it safe, he's going to try to get out to schools who have offered, hopefully in August or September. He plans to get to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and Creighton.

He said he has no timetable for when he might commit.

"I'm just learning everything about as many programs as I can, if they fit my style, relationships with the coaches and stuff," Schutt said. "I want to be able to go out and visit and make sure it's 100% the right fit."