Richmond was a 14-year-old freshman when he gave Weber his word — a promise he and the family have insisted will not change before he can sign in November 2009. Richmond’s first chance to play for the Illini will be in the 2010-11 season.

That’s a long time to wait for a prospect, but Weber is now intent on developing lasting relationships with recruits with the hope of gaining their loyalty for the long haul.

That explains why Weber recently attended a game to watch a seventh-grader and has also scouted one eighth-grader this season.

“I’ve never been to a seventh-grade game before,’’ he said Friday. “He was pretty good.’’

Presumably this approach stems from the Eric Gordon situation and a desire to make an impression that will make kids want to remain committed to Illinois under any circumstances.

“We’ve talked about if we can get involved with kids early and make a good impression, it’s important to get them down to campus,’’ Weber said. “We couldn’t always get kids to campus and were struggling late to get them here.’’

Weber already has received commitments from three players – junior guards Joseph Bertrand, D.J. Richardson and Brandon Paul — from the high school class of 2009. And guard Crandall Head recently joined Richmond by indicating he will join the class of 2010.

Of course, this is not an unprecedented approach. Remember how much publicity was given to the recruitment of Damon Bailey, who Bobby Knight began wooing to Indiana when Bailey was in the eighth grade in the 1980s?

Whether all the Illinois commitments will sign remains to be seen. It’s naïve to believe that none of those five will be courted by other programs as they continue to develop.

But Weber hopes his early commitment to prospects will produce early, lasting commitment in return.