Demetri McCamey, a 6-foot-4 point guard out of Westchester St. Joseph High School, gave a verbal commitment to Illinois to play basketball for Bruce Weber and the Fighting Illini beginning in 2007.

With his verbal commitment last Friday, June 30, McCamey becomes Illinois’ fourth recruit for the class of 2007, choosing Illinois instead of Wake Forest, Indiana, DePaul and Michigan.

McCamey joins forward Bill Cole from Richwoods High School in Peoria, Ill., guard Eric Gordon from North Central High School in Indianapolis and center Mike Tisdale from Riverton High School in Riverton, Ill. in the Illinois class of 2007.

“I’ve been dreaming about going to Illinois since I was little,” McCamey said in a press release. “I knew last Tuesday after my visit, that’s where I wanted to be. I really like Coach Weber a lot and he’s done a great job with the program.”

On his visit to Illinois, McCamey had the opportunity to spend time with current Illini players, including his good friend and Illinois guard Jamar Smith.

“I had a great time on my visit,” McCamey said in the press release. “I got to play with the players, so it was just a perfect fit for me.”

McCamey is ranked as a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, and is ranked as the ninth best point guard and No. 51 best player in the country in the class of 2007 by Rivals.com.

McCamey will join Gordon as Illinois potential future backcourt when the two come together in 2007.

Gordon, who ranks as the best shooting guard and eighth best player in the country of the class of 2007, committed to Illinois in November.

“I’m really excited about playing with Eric,” McCamey said in the press release. “It’s going to be a good fit. I’ll probably play the point and he will play the two spot. It should be great.”

Illinois’ top remaining recruit for the class of 2007, point guard Derrick Rose from Simeon High School in Chicago, has still not given any hint of what school he is leaning toward.

But McCamey says he has no problem giving Rose or any other players a ball about coming to play for the Orange and Blue.

“If the coaches would like for me to talk to other players about coming to Illinois then I hope they let me know because I don’t have a problem doing it,” McCamey said.

McCamey’s high school teammate Evan Turner, a 6-foot-6 small forward, was also expected to commit to the Illini but instead made a surprise decision to join Ohio State.

“He had to do what was best for him,” McCamey said about Turner’s decision. “I don’t think a lot of people understand that his dad lives in Ohio and he has a lot of family up there. On the court we will go at it, but off the court we will still be great friends.”