National Signing Day Blog
Welcome to National Signing Day! Today is the first day of the early signing period for basketball where prospects can sign with the schools they have verbally committed. For the most part we are expecting a pretty straight forward signing period with the prospects signing with the schools they have already committed to attend.
There could be one big in-state commitment that hasn’t happened yet. Stay locked here for the latest on National Signing Day as we will cover signings of the 23 D1 and 5 D2 commits across Illinois!
6:40 PM
That concludes our NSD Blog for today. Still a lot of big story lines to follow the rest of the early signing period which runs through next Wednesday. The state’s top prospect Belleville West power forward EJ Liddell will signing his letter of intent with Ohio State tommorrow. Another key player to watch is the highest uncommitted prospect on the board in Bloomington power forward Chris Payton. The #5 overall prospect could potentially make a decision before the signing period is out. Southern Illinois, Middle Tennessee State, and Illinois are in the mix.
6:35 PM
The state’s #2 prospect has officially signed with DePaul. The one time Kansas commit is a huge get for the in-state Blue Demons. He brings a ton of athleticism in their back court. Pushes with speed in transition. Jacobs has a great knack for making layups at the rim.
4:50 PM
Normal Community power forward CJ Wilbourn is one of the best post prospects in the senior class. He elevated his game in July showing more face up skill along with rebounding at a high rate. Skilled post has signed his NLI with Wisconsin-Milwaukee!
4:00 PM
Keeonon Cole’s NLI is in for Northern Illinois! They have their duo from in-state signed, sealed, and delivered! Cole is a bouncy four man that is quick to the glass and has versatility on the defensive end.
3:35 PM
Crystal Lake big man Alex Timmerman transformed his body during the spring and then saw his recruitment soar because of it! One of the top centers in the state is headed to Bucknell to play his college basketball after a strong summer with Fundamental U!
3:30 PM
Boise State has landed a top 10 recruit in the state of Illinois! Oswego East combo Ray J Dennis tells PHI that he is on board and heading out west! Dennis was one of the hottest names on the recruiting scene in July. Boise State came in toward the end and made a huge impact. Dennis brings a plus shooter with size on the perimeter along with an advanced feel for the game.
3:25 PM
Drake landed their second signature from Illinois today as top 10 Lemont power forward Nate Ferguson tells us he has signed his NLI with the MVC program. Ferguson exploded this spring and summer with Chicago Lockdown taking his game to new heights! Face up four man that stretches the floor, puts it on the deck, and shoots it from three!
3:20 PM
St. Viator’s star wing has inked his NLI with Kent State as Jeremiah Hernandez put pen to paper this afternoon! The state’s #11 overall prospect is one of the most versatile wings in the class. Smooth scorer that can hit jumpers along with get to the rim on slippery drives. His best asset might be his passing as he could see a point-forward role at the next level!
3:20 PM
St. Viator point guard Trey Calvin is officially headed to Wright State. They pursued the sharp shooting point guard hard down the stretch in July along with the spring before securing his commitment. Underrecruited guard that can play both on and off the ball. Deep range on his shot and has really improved as a floor general.
2:50 PM
The state’s top shooting guard headed to Kansas State as Curie’s Dajuan Gordon tells PHI that he just signed his NLI with the Wildcats! Gordon is the #3 overall prospect in the class after a great spring and summer with Team Rose. Long and rangy wing that can really score it! Plus plus shooter that rounded out his game. Like his ability as a defender at the next level. Bruce Weber got another quality two way wing!
2:30 PM
Bolingbrook center Kameron Leonard brings a physical presence from day one right down the road to D2 Lewis. Good pickup on their front line. He has signed his NLI!
2:30 PM
Big day for Drake’s program as they will also land a pair of players from the state of Illinois. This afternoon they have signed their future point guard in Joseph Yesufu. The lightning quick lead guard has speed in the open floor along with great body control finishing at the hoop. Excellent fit in the MVC.
2:00 PM
Northern Illinois has got their first of two in-state signatures today. This is an important one as Bolingbrook combo guard Tyler Cochran has inked his NLI with NIU. Tough and competitive guard that is a physical and downhill attacking guard,
1:30 PM
One of the top players in the central Illinois/Quad Cities area is headed to Bradley. Rock Island shooting guard Jamir Price is a smooth shooting guard that can score from multiple levels and proved he could play both on as well as off the ball.
12:15 PM
The state’s top small forward Terrence Hargrove is officially a Billiken! This athletic and high motor combo forward has signed his national letter of intent with St. Louis University. The Billikens beat out several high-major programs for the services of the state’s #6 overall prospect. Third year in a row SLU has landed on of the top prospects in the St. Louis area with Jordan Goodwin, Carte’Are Gordon, and now Hargrove!
10:40 AM
The second big signature of the day is in for Loyola. They have secure the NLI from the state’s #4 overall recruit Brother Rice point guard Marquise Kennedy. This guard really elevated his stock with a monster spring and summer for the Illinois Wolves on the UAA circuit. Dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands that got downhill consistently and improved his all-around floor game. Will be a cornerstone piece for Loyola’s future.
10:00 AM
New Trier’s other big man’s NLI is in for Harvard as Ciaran Brayboy has signed with Harvard! The future Ivy League post brings a great deal of physicality on the interior. He rebounds well and has potential as a rim protector. One of the top centers in the state’s 2019 class.
9:10 AM
Illinois native and current Sunrise Christian (KS) small forward Malik Hall recently committed to Michigan State and Tom Izzo got the signature this morning! Hall who started off his career at Metea Valley is a versatile forward that can play either spot at the college level. Skilled perimeter threat with his shooting and playmaking ability! The Spartans made a strong push late for him and they beat out a big time list of high-majors for his services. Top 50 prospect nationally.
9:00 AM
Loyola gets their first big signature of the day! The MVC program who is coming off a Final Four appearance has put together quite a three man class with all being from the Illinois Wolves program. Naperville North power forward Tom Welch tells PHI he has signed his letter of intent! This was a huge get as Loyola had to fight off multiple high-major offers/interest for his services. Tough post that brings versatility to the table being able to handle it on the perimeter, knock down shots, and score on the block.
9:00 AM
Rockhurst gets their man! Oak Park River Forest power forward Charlie Hoehne has inked his NLI with the D2 program. Really like this fit for player and program. Hoehne is a skilled face up four man that can space the floor with his shooting, run the court, and brings toughness on the interior!
8:45 AM
Lance Jones has inked his NLI with Southern Illinois. The combo guard from Evanston is a scoring combination guard that led his team to the 4A state final four as a junior and is poised for another big run this season on one of the top team in the Chicago area. This is one of two signatures SIU will get today along with Evan Taylor. They are also still heavily in the mix for #5 Chris Payton.
8:45 AM
Wash U landed their prized recruit officially this morning! New Treir power forward Spencer Boehm made it official by signing with the D3 power. This was a huge get for the St. Louis based program as Boehm was a low-major D1 talent, but loved the academics so much he couldn’t pass up the opportunity at Wash U. Skilled four man with toughness around the hoop.
7:00 AM
Let’s start off with our preview of NSD. Learn what players will sign today and where they will be headed!