CHAMPAIGN - Recruiting junior college basketball players can be a roll of the dice.

Illinois tried it last season and threw snake eyes with forward Rodney Alexander. He suffered through a difficult first-year adjustment period and now has decided to transfer before anyone finds out what his second season might have been like.

On Thursday, however, Illini coach Bruce Weber sounded more optimistic about his latest venture into the junior college ranks. Dominique Keller, the second-leading junior college scorer in the country, signed a national letter of intent and will compete immediately for the starting power forward position.

The relationship will pay quick dividends if Keller, a 6-foot-7, 230-pounder from Lee College in Baytown, Texas, can make a quick adjustment.

"I think every kid is different," Weber said. "Obviously, if you look at Dominque's stats (25.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocked shots), they are pretty impressive. He's one of the leading scorers in the country, one of the leading rebounders and a leading shot-blocker in his region.

"I think the stats look like he can make a quicker adjustment, but until they get in a system where there is a little more control, playing a game where possessions mean something, it's tough to tell.

"How they adjust mentally is so important. It has to do with the maturity and patience you need to be successful. This kid has a lot of energy. He plays very, very hard.

"He is very excited to be here. He sees it as a great opportunity, and I hope that excitement and energy will make a big difference for him."

With Alexander, another 6-7 forward, the breakup occurred when he and Weber did not see eye to eye on his role. Alexander wanted to be more of a perimeter player with the freedom to shoot 3-pointers. Weber wanted him to be a presence nearer the basket. So Weber has tried to make sure there is no misunderstanding with Keller.

"The first thing I did was make him understand he's a (power forward)," Weber said. "He said, `I'm a (power forward) coach, I know that.'

"I told him I needed him to rebound, run the court, be physical, and that will help us. He understands from the get-go that's what we're looking for. He has accepted that.

"Every kid wants to be the star, but I think he wants to be a part of a successful program. On his visit he saw a couple of our games and he understands what we need. After the games he said, `I think I'm a good fit for this group.' "

Keller scored 36 points, including 27 in the second half, when Weber scouted him in February.

"He is very versatile," Weber said. "He runs the court hard. He'll get some points on post-ups out of run-outs. He scores on lob dunks. He gets some rebound baskets. They he'll step away and occasionally shoot a `3.' I told him we'll talk about the 3s after we see how consistent he is.

"He really loves to run. He has a hungriness to run."

Keller has what Weber called a "mini-semester" of class work to complete and isn't projected to arrive in Champaign until late June. "He'll be here for part of the summer," Weber said.

Keller is the second and final member of Illinois' 2008 recruiting class. He joins forward-center Stan Simpson, a first-team all-state selection from Chicago Simeon, who signed last November.

NOTES - Weber said he met with Alexander on Wednesday and the transferring senior-to-be has yet to decide on a plan for his next destination.

"He said he doesn't know if he'll go Division II or NAIA where he can be immediately eligible, or if the right situation comes along in Division I where he would sit out a year, maybe closer to his home (in Michigan).

"We've gotten 50 or more phone calls from all levels. I told him he has to make a decision to help himself and to help us. I asked him to give me a list of eight to 10 schools and we'll go from there."

Weber said has not heard anything regarding former center Brian Carlwell's next school. Carlwell is transferring after two injury-plagued seasons.Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or at 421-7983.