A new coach could do a lot worse.
Bruce Weber put his first personal stamp on Illinois basketball by keeping one of the top prep prospects in the state, signing Shaun Pruitt on Wednesday.
Pruitt signed a national letter of intent to play next season for the Illini on the first day of the early signing period that continues through Wednesday. The 6-foot-9, 225-pound Pruitt has battled injuries the last two years at West Aurora High School, but Weber said Pruitt is healthy now, and he’s pleased to keep him close to home.
“We love to keep in-state kids here at Illinois,” Weber said. “We want to develop the program to where young kids come up and say ‘Man, I want to play at Illinois.’ “
Pruitt also is from the Chicago area, “which was important for us to get in that area,” Weber said. Weber said the Illini have one more scholarship to offer, which he will likely dole out in the spring.
There were other signings in the state.
At Illinois State, first-year coach Porter Moser announced his first recruiting class with the signings of Carbondale High’s Justin Dentmon and junior college guard Nedu Onyeuku.
At Northern Illinois, the Huskies signed Frank Clair of Chicago Leo and teammates Zach Pancratz and Craig Reichel of Schaumburg. Clair, a 6-foot-6 forward, averaged 16.2 points a game for Leo. Pancratz led Schaumburg in scoring as a junior, averaging 16.8 points a game. Reichel, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 15.9 points.
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Top 5 local recruits
The Chicago area lacks big-time prospects, analyst Van Coleman of Future Stars Magazine says:
Justin Cerasoli West Aurora
The 6-foot-5-inch guard, headed to Seton Hall, is considered the No. 49 player in the nation by Coleman. Two other recruiting services rate him among the nation’s top 10 shooting guards.
Shaun Pruitt West Aurora
Injuries have hampered the 6-9 power forward, who has signed with Illinois. “He has … quickness, and I believe he will be a better player in college than in high school,” Coleman said.
Ollie Bailey Farragut
Being an undersized power forward at 6-7 didn’t discourage Rutgers. Coleman says Bailey will be an excellent role player.
Eric Vierneisel Jacobs
Rated among the top 100 players in the country, the 6-7 forward has signed with California. “I love him when he’s on,” Coleman said. “But he needs to gain more consistency.”
Gordon Watt Evanston
Another local shunned by the Big Ten, the 6-5 forward signed with Boston College. Some think Watt has been underrated and will make other college programs regret passing on him.
Other notables
BRADLEY
Jeremy Crouch, a 6-foot-5 guard from Pekin; Patrick O’Bryant, a 7-footer from Blaine, Minn.; 6-foot-9
Sam Singh of Ozark, Mo.
NOTRE DAME
Rob Kurz, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward from suburban Philadelphia–described as a multidimensional player.
OHIO STATE
Jamar Butler, a 6-foot-2 guard from Ohio;
Matt Terwilliger, a 6-9 forward from Ohio; and
Jermyl Jackson-Wilson, a 6-7 player from Milwaukee.
MICHIGAN
Ron Coleman, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward.
MICHIGAN STATE
Marquise Gray, a 6-foot-8 forward; Drew Neitzel, a
6-foot guard; and Goran Suton, a 6-foot-10 center.
MINNESOTA
Spencer Tollackson, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Minnesota; Enrico Tucker, a 6-foot, 180-pound guard from San Diego
ON THE NATIONAL SCENE
– Georgia Tech picked up four prep stars, including 6-foot-7 Jeremis Smith of Ft. Worth.
– Kentucky has signed a possible point guard of the future, 6-foot-2 Ramel Bradley of New York City.
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Edited by Phillip Thompson (plthompson@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
