Illinois recruiting took dips into the 2009 talent pool Wednesday, securing verbal commitments from two Illinois high school juniors.

Prep star D.J. Richardson, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Peoria, Ill., and Brandon Paul, a 6-foot-3 guard from Gurnee, Ill., said they would attend the University after graduation.

The commitments are the firsts for either the 2008 or 2009 recruiting classes and come one year after guard Eric Gordon spurned Illinois for Indiana in the eve of Midnight Madness.

Richardson averaged 13.6 points per game as a sophomore and was ranked the ninth best shooting guard in his class and is projected to be one of the top players in the state, according to the Chicago Tribune.

His commitment continues Illinois’ pipeline from the Peoria area that has brought All-American Frank Williams, guard Sergio McClain and new assistant coach Jerrance Howard.

Paul, a lesser-known recruit, received national attention with his summer play and was getting attention from Marquette, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, Florida, USC, Texas, Baylor and Clemson, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

“What I really don’t understand, and this is just me, why don’t more of these top players from the state of Illinois go there,” Paul told Scout.com.

The commitments are also the first following the hire of Howard as the Illini’s assistant coach and top recruiter.

Tracy Webster had previously held the position but resigned in September to join former Illinois assistant coach Billy Gillispie, who is now head coach at the University of Kentucky.