When it came down to his college decision, Loyola Academy guard Jeff Jordan believes his best basketball is still ahead of him.

That's why Michael Jordan's oldest son announced on Friday that he will attend Illinois as a preferred walk-on, turning down scholarship offers from Loyola and Valparaiso.

"Illinois is a great school with a strong basketball program,'' Jeff Jordan said in a prepared statement released Friday. "I look forward to receiving a great education at Illinois, and I also look forward to proving that I can play and compete at the Big Ten level."

Recruiting analysts had rated Jordan as a mid-major prospect, and he had been recruited by George Washington, Davidson and Illinois State while Northwestern also wanted him as a preferred walk-on.