Recruiting Notebook
Tons of visits along with a few commitments this past week. Another big official visit weekend is ahead too. Here are the latest happenings across the state in our Recruiting Notebook!
Marquise Kennedy Forms Wolves Trio at Loyola
Should they now be called the Loyola Wolves? The reigning Missouri Valley champions and coming off a magical run in the NCAA tournament making it to the final four it certainly appears that Loyola has capitalized on all the on court momentum. Monday afternoon they landed a commitment from the state’s #4 prospect in Brother Rice point guard Marquise Kennedy. He told us about his official visit over the weekend. “I had a great time when I went. It felt like home. Amazing coaching staff an amazing atmosphere they have there.” Kennedy joins his fellow travel teammates Tom Welch (Naperville North) and Paxson Wojcik (La Lumiere) to form one heck of a trio that will combine with their already in place stellar 2017 class to be the core of Ramblers basketball moving forward.
Cowan Finds Home at Brown
DePaul Prep shooting guard Perry Cowan has been one of my favorite players to cover over the last three years. Great kid with a smooth offensive game. Over the weekend we thought there was a good chance he could commit on his visit to Brown. He did just that and told us why! “Good program with great coaches and academics are unbelievable, but it sets me up for life.” Cowan will do outstanding in the Ivy League!
Tyler Cochran Pops for Northern Illinois
Crafty and power guard Tyler Cochran was on commitment watch after his visit to Northern Illinois and he ultimately did choose the Huskies. On why NIU was his choice he said “Loved the coaches, the campus, the teammates were a HUGE part. Just felt like the right decision.” His versatility, productivity, and competiveness are his calling card! Cochran is the #21 overall prospect in the state and he joins Streamwood four man Keenon Cole in NIU’s 2019 class.
Aidan Shore to Ferris State
The state’s most coveted D2 post Aidan Shore took visits to Ferris State and Lewis back to back weekends. Shortly after he committed to Ferris State during an in-home visit. The upside five man told PHI about Ferris State, “They just fit me best from the program to the players to be completely honest.”
Shines Headed North
Lyons combo guard Tyrese Shines popped for Minnesota-Crookston. The long and rangy guard said of the D2 program, “When I went on my visit it was amazing. I love the campus, the players, and the coaches. Everything felt right about the school. That is why I chose it.”
Evan Taylor Recaps Southern Illinois Official
Glenbard West small forward Evan Taylor is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state of Illinois. The #12 2019 prospect is a point-forward with size and off the charts basketball IQ. Over the weekend he took his first official visit to Southern Illinois. On the visit he told us what impressed him most was “the amount of effort they put in to the visit. I really felt wanted throughout.” What was their selling point? “They really sold the atmosphere and the ability to compete at a great conference in the MVC as well as their family oriented team and coaching staff.” On what is next Taylor said, “Going on a visit to Dartmouth and I will move forward from there.” Seems that Taylor is down to those two programs although he did not say that. Academics have always been very important to Taylor and he will see what the Ivy League now has to offer him.
Trey Calvin Trips to Wright State
St. Viator point guard Trey Calvin is the #29 prospect in the 2019 class. He took his only scheduled official visit at this time to Wright State over the weekend and enjoyed it! “I loved the coaching staff and the players. High class players and staff.” What was their pitch to him? “Their main point was that they are going to win on a high level.”
EDIT: Calvin Committed to Wright State Monday Night. Story Below!
Thomas Hall Takes In Air Force
Metamora 2019 power forward Thomas Hall took his official visit out to Air Force. The face up four man spoke with PHI about what he thought of the trip. “What stood out to me the most is how personable the coaches were! They answered all the questions honestly even if the answer wasn’t in their favor. The location couldn’t be better. The Rockies in the background of everywhere you looked was the best. A little different from Illinois! The players on the team were awesome and felt like we bonded. They brought me in as one of them which made me feel at home! The opportunities coming out of the Air Force are unbelievable!” Sounds like the trip went VERY well! Although we had him on commitment watch he told us the next step is “Just staying in contact with all the coaches. I will most likely be taking more visits. Not sure where yet though.”
Hernandez Recaps Drake Visit
The state’s #11 overall prospect visited Drake over the weekend. He participated in the PrepHoops Top 250 Camp shortly after the visit. We caught up with him to recap it in-depth which you can watch below. He will head to Kent State this weekend for an official visit.
Video Interview with Jeremiah Hernandez
Liddell Visits Illini
The top prospect in the state Belleville West power forward EJ Liddell will visit Illinois this weekend. That will be his last visit. PHI broke the news that he had moved up his visit to Illinois to this weekend. He has eliminated Wisconsin and Kansas State from consideration. It is down to the three schools most thought it would all along in Ohio State, Missouri, and Illinois. He has already visited the first two and will now head to Champaign where the Illini staff will try to lock down the state’s top in-state prospect for the second year in a row. We wouldn’t expect it to be more than a week or so after this visit before he makes a call.
Other Big Visits
There are other key visits this upcoming weekend outside of the ones mentioned above. The #3 player in Illinois Dajuan Gordon of Curie will head to SEC country to see Ole Miss. This will be his second official after seeing SMU already. OPRF combo guard Dashon Enoch will trip to Northern Michigan for his official visit. Former Lincoln Park and current IMG (FL) wing Terrence Shannon will join Liddell in Champaign this weekend for his Illinois official visit. Luke Yoder has been on a lot of visits in recent weeks and now the Bloomington Central Catholic point guard will head to Eastern Illinois which is his lone D1 offer. Illinois native and current Sunrise Christian (KS) forward Malik Hall who is a top 50 prospect nationally will be at Oklahoma this weekend.
2019 Offers
PG Jeremiah Washington (Bogan) – Ferris St
PG Terrion Murdix (Springfield Southeast) – Chicago State
PF CJ Wilbourn (Normal Community) – American
2020 Offers
C Martice Mitchell (Bloom) – UW-Milwaukee
SG Keshawn Williams (Bloom) – UW-Milwaukee