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Recruiters zero in on top juniors :: High School Sports ::

Imagine the expression on Chris Watt's face when he noticed Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and his brother Dick, the Buckeyes' running backs coach, sitting in the stands during a recent Glenbard West basketball practice.

''I knew they were coming,'' Watt said. ''They showed up about 30-40 minutes after practice started. It was kind of overwhelming to see them watching me. They were coming to see if I could move, if I could run up and down the floor, how athletic I am.

''I didn't want them to think I was lazy or slow or not hustling. I wondered if I was impressing them. It was one of the hardest practices of my life. I was going 100 miles per hour. I didn't want the coach to take me out of the drills.''

Tressel wasn't scouting Watt for Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta. He wanted to see how well Watt, a 6-4, 275-pound offensive tackle, could run up and down the floor. After observing the workout, he was satisfied with Watt's athleticism.

A few hours later, Tressel asked Montini's Garrett Goebel, one of Ohio State's prize recruits this season, to call Watt and inform him that Tressel was offering a scholarship. Three days later, the official notice arrived in the mail.

Watt also has been offered a scholarship by Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Minnesota. Virginia is expected to offer. He hopes Notre Dame will offer. Oklahoma, Duke and Arizona have expressed interest. He plans to visit Northwestern, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Tennessee and hopes Florida will call.