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Rumors Have Rand Giving Iowa A Verbal Chicago Hoops June 4, 2002 Rumors are swirling around that Rochelle swingman Ben Rand has given a verbal commitment to Steve Alford and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Rand ranks among the top 2003 prospects in the state of Illinois, and may be one of the Top 100 prospects nationally. Rand is enjoying a solid spring playing on the AAU circuit for TABA. He keyed TABA’s opening round upset victory over a highly regarded Riverside Church team at the Nike Memorial Day Classic. Steve Alford continues to recruit heavily throughout the state of Illinois. Last year, Alford picked up Pierre Pierce of Westmont and Marcellus Sommerville of Peoria. Proviso East’s Shannon Brown, the top 2003 prospect in the state of Illinois, remains the Iowa’s #1 target.