2018 Valley recruits

[tornado]

strange how we haven't heard anything new not even on some who have committed but not signed yet
Hillsman & Boyd have been confirmed by ISU MBB but not the others

2018
Bradley - Armon Brummett, Chudier Bile- signed (2 open scholarship- altho Aristide Boya may reclassify as 2018 )
Drake - James Moors*, Matt Gray, Garrett Sturtz (walk on), UAB transfer Nick Norton, grad-transfer Brady Ellingson, Liam Robbins (4 scholarships open)
Evansville - Rosel Hurley, DeAndre Williams, Jawaun Newton (may still have as many as 4-5 or more open scholarships)
Illinois State - Demontay Dixon* - signed but now DECOMMITTED, Rey Idowu*, Josh Jefferson, Zach Copeland- eligible 2018-19, Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman (0 scholarships open- possibly oversigned)
Indiana State - De'Avion Washington*, Blake Brinkmeyer*, Cooper Neese (transfer - eligible in 2018-19) (0 scholarships open)
Loyola - Franklin Agunanne*, Isaiah Bujdoso*, Cooper Kaifes*, Tate Hall (transfer, not eligible until 2019) Will Adcock (walk-on) (2 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Kabir Mohammed* (juco), Jared Ridder (transfer not eligible until 2018 but won't sign a LOI), ** new - Darnell Butler, Jr., Keandre Cook (2 scholarships open)
UNI - AJ Green*, Shandon Goldman, Tray Croft, Trae Berhow (transfer, won't be available until 2019-20) (1 scholarship left)
SIU - Darius Beane*, Sam Shafer*, Amadou Fall* (** has not played yet this year) (0 scholarships open)
Valparaiso - Javon Freeman-Liberty*, Daniel Sackey (2 open scholarships)


2019
Bradley - Aristide Boya (may reclassify as 2018 ) (7 open scholarships)
Evansville - (at least 10 open scholarships)
ISU - (4 open scholarships)
Loyola - Tate Hall (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (4 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Tyem Freeman (6 or 7 open scholarships)
UNI - James Betz, Trae Berhhow (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (3 open scholarships)

[tornado]

Drake lands a commitment from DJ Wilkins for 2018...he has signed his LOI
He was a 2016 grad from Merrillville IN High School then did a year of Prep School (Sunrise Christian) then headed to juco
This past season he was at Florida Southwestern State, teammate there of Tremell & Anthony Murphy
He's a 6-2 guard with 3 years left to play (possibly all four if allowed by NCAA)...due to redshirt in 2017-18
He is known as a good 3-pt shooter but hasn't played in a while due to injury

[tornado]

Here more on newest Drake commit DJ Wilkins....

the release from his juco says he has four years of eligibility left altho he has already used his redshirt year

https://fsw.prestosports.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/2018-04-28_Wilkins_Signs_With_Drake_Univ

However, a search of the NJCAA website suggests he may also have been at Florida Southwestern College in 2016-17 as well as 2017-18

Obviously NCAA will have to rule on this but - if so, this is just like the Taylor Brown situation -
that would mean if he enrolled in 2016, two years of his eligibility clock have already ticked off & would cause DJ Wilkins' "5-year clock" to run out before he could get his four years in.

Per NJCAA

Year Name College Sport High School Status
2016-2017 Wilkins Jr, Demond Ellis Florida Southwestern State College Basketball Merrillville High School Merrillville IN Signed
2017-2018 Wilkins Jr, Demond Ellis Florida Southwestern State College Basketball Merrillville High School Merrillville IN Signed

[tornado]

Drake now lands both Tremell Murphy and his brother Anthony Murphy
Both had previously been offered by Bradley

https://twitter.com/TremellMurphy23/status/991016864141709315

They are the 6th & 7th players from Florida Southwestern juco to commit to DI recently (Shanquan Hemphill, Tyler Cheese, DJ Wilkins, Russell Daniels, Tra'von Fagan, & Tremell & Anthony Murphy)
Florida Southwestern lost their first game at Nationals to Vincennes.






2018
Bradley - Armon Brummett, Chudier Bile- signed (2 open scholarship- altho Aristide Boya may reclassify as 2018 )
Drake - James Moors*, Matt Gray, Garrett Sturtz (walk on), UAB transfer Nick Norton, grad-transfer Brady Ellingson, Liam Robbins, DJ Wilkins, Anthony & Tremell Murphy (1 scholarships open)
Evansville - Rosel Hurley, DeAndre Williams, Jawaun Newton (may still have 4-5 open scholarships)
Illinois State - Demontay Dixon* - signed but now DECOMMITTED, Rey Idowu*, Josh Jefferson, Zach Copeland- eligible 2018-19, Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman (0 scholarships open- possibly oversigned)
Indiana State - De'Avion Washington*, Blake Brinkmeyer*, Cooper Neese (transfer - eligible in 2018-19) (0 scholarships open)
Loyola - Franklin Agunanne*, Isaiah Bujdoso*, Cooper Kaifes*, Tate Hall (transfer, not eligible until 2019) Will Adcock (walk-on) (2 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Kabir Mohammed* (juco), Jared Ridder (transfer not eligible until 2018 but won't sign a LOI), ** new - Darnell Butler, Jr., Keandre Cook (2 scholarships open)
UNI - AJ Green*, Shandon Goldman, Tray Croft, Trae Berhow (transfer, won't be available until 2019-20) (1 scholarship left)
SIU - Darius Beane*, Sam Shafer*, Amadou Fall* (** has not played yet this year) (0 scholarships open)
Valparaiso - Javon Freeman-Liberty*, Daniel Sackey, Langston Stalling - walk-on (2 open scholarships)


2019
Bradley - Aristide Boya (may reclassify as 2018 ) (7 open scholarships)
Evansville - (at least 10 open scholarships)
ISU - Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman both ineligible until fall of 2019 (2 open scholarships)
Loyola - Tate Hall (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (4 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Tyem Freeman (6 or 7 open scholarships)
UNI - James Betz, Trae Berhhow (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (3 open scholarships)

[Da Coach]

Illinois State lands another player. They get a transfer from Division II UI-Springfield, 6'2" guard Ilijah Donnelly. He spent 2 years at UIS, and will have to sit out a year before being eligible for 2 years at ISU starting in 2019-20. He is a walkon at ISU.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-state/bhs-grad-donnelly-to-transfer-to-illinois-state/article_55fbcefd-fda9-5573-956f-393ca51d2950.html

On the UIS roster, he is listed as Lijah Donnelly. He average 7.6 ppg this past season-

http://www.uisprairiestars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1812

[DUBulldog]

It appears that James Moors is no longer coming to Drake.

Bulldogs have 3 available scholarships right now. Only 3 players returning from last season's team, and one of them didn't score a single point.

I'm impressed with the class DeVries has been able to put together thus far in such a short time period, especially as there isn't an abundance of talented players available in the spring.

[tornado]

Illinois State lands another player. They get a transfer from Division II UI-Springfield, 6'2" guard Ilijah Donnelly. He spent 2 years at UIS, and will have to sit out a year before being eligible for 2 years at ISU starting in 2019-20. He is a walkon at ISU.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-state/bhs-grad-donnelly-to-transfer-to-illinois-state/article_55fbcefd-fda9-5573-956f-393ca51d2950.html

On the UIS roster, he is listed as Lijah Donnelly. he average 7.6 ppg this past season-
http://www.uisprairiestars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1812

Donnelly actually played against Bradley in a regular season game in 2016-17 while at UIS
He went 2-9, scored 7 pts, was 0-3 from 3-pt, had 4 asst but 4 turnovers in a 70-55 loss to Bradley

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/2016-17/brad01.htm

..the Pantagraph article describes his transfer as a plan to bulk up the Redbirds at the point guard position since Keyshawn Evans will be gone by the time Donnelly is eligible, and that he's fully able and confident enough to play at the DI level. I guess time will tell but putting up 7.6 ppg and 1.7 assists at the DII level isn't very convincing.
His numbers dropped off from his freshman to his sophomore year at UIS, and his playing time was cut back.

[PurpleAceFan]

Illinois State lands another player. They get a transfer from Division II UI-Springfield, 6'2" guard Ilijah Donnelly. He spent 2 years at UIS, and will have to sit out a year before being eligible for 2 years at ISU starting in 2019-20. He is a walkon at ISU.

http://www.pantagraph.com/sports/college/illinois-state/bhs-grad-donnelly-to-transfer-to-illinois-state/article_55fbcefd-fda9-5573-956f-393ca51d2950.html

On the UIS roster, he is listed as Lijah Donnelly. he average 7.6 ppg this past season-
http://www.uisprairiestars.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1812

Donnelly actually played against Bradley in a regular season game in 2016-17 while at UIS
He went 2-9, scored 7 pts, was 0-3 from 3-pt, had 4 asst but 4 turnovers in a 70-55 loss to Bradley

http://www.mvc.org/mbb/stats/2016-17/brad01.htm

..the Pantagraph article describes his transfer as a plan to bulk up the Redbirds at the point guard position since Keyshawn Evans will be gone by the time Donnelly is eligible, and that he's fully able and confident enough to play at the DI level. I guess time will tell but putting up 7.6 ppg and 1.7 assists at the DII level isn't very convincing.
His numbers dropped off from his freshman to his sophomore year at UIS, and his playing time was cut back.

Another body for practices. Like the add since no scholarship involved.

[tornado]

with their final two 2018 scholarships Missouri State have reportedly signed
Szymon & Jan Wojcik - brothers from Poland that were first noted here a couple weeks ago...

https://twitter.com/EvanDaniels/status/991339781425717248

...a few others have signed & become official and I have noted them in maroon


2018
Bradley - Armon Brummett, Chudier Bile- signed (2 open scholarship- altho Aristide Boya may reclassify as 2018 )
Drake - Matt Gray, Garrett Sturtz (walk on), UAB transfer Nick Norton, grad-transfer Brady Ellingson, Liam Robbins, DJ Wilkins, Anthony & Tremell Murphy (3 scholarships open)
Evansville - Rosel Hurley, DeAndre Williams, Jawaun Newton, Shamar Samuels-Givance (may still have 3-4 open scholarships)
Illinois State - Rey Idowu*, Josh Jefferson, Zach Copeland- eligible 2018-19, Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman, Ilijah Donnelly - walk-on (0 scholarships open)
Indiana State - De'Avion Washington*, Blake Brinkmeyer*, Cooper Neese (transfer - eligible in 2018-19) (0 scholarships open)
Loyola - Franklin Agunanne*, Isaiah Bujdoso*, Cooper Kaifes*, Tate Hall (transfer, not eligible until 2019) Will Adcock (walk-on) (2 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Kabir Mohammed* (juco), Jared Ridder (transfer not eligible until 2018 but won't sign a LOI), ** new - Darnell Butler, Jr., Keandre Cook, Szymon & Jan Wojcik (2 scholarships open)
UNI - AJ Green*, Shandon Goldman, Tray Croft, Trae Berhow (transfer, won't be available until 2019-20) (1 scholarship left)
SIU - Darius Beane*, Sam Shafer*, Amadou Fall* (** has not played yet this year) (0 scholarships open)
Valparaiso - Javon Freeman-Liberty*, Daniel Sackey, Langston Stalling - walk-on (2 open scholarships)


2019
Bradley - Aristide Boya (may reclassify as 2018 ) (7 open scholarships)
Evansville - (at least 10 open scholarships)
ISU - Dedric Boyd, Jaycee Hillsman both ineligible until fall of 2019 (2 open scholarships)
Loyola - Tate Hall (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (4 open scholarships)
Missouri State - Tyem Freeman (6 or 7 open scholarships)
UNI - James Betz, Trae Berhhow (transfer, eligible in 2019-2020) (3 open scholarships)

[DUBulldog]

Great job keeping this up to date, t.......just want to point out that Drake has 3 available scholarships. Not sure if they'll use them all, as they now have 4 walk-ons in addition to the 10 scholarship players. Just got a walk-on commitment from Luke Vaske, a point guard from Norwalk, IA (Des Moines suburb). He originally had planned to go to Northeastern as a preferred walk-on with possibility of future scholarship.

[tornado]

guess I have never heard for sure about Gray & Sturtz, so assume they are still coming and I had forgotten to add one back when Gibbs bailed

Evansville just landed one for 2018 - Shamar Samuels-Givance, a 5-8 PG out of Canada

[tornado]

Loyola's hosting one of the top remaining 2018 SG's this week - I think they are hoping they finally land someone

[cpacmel]

https://twitter.com/austinduncan33/status/991816679326978048?s=12

N’diaye chose Illinois State over Georgetown, UNLV, ole Miss and Wichita State.

[Da Coach]

Seems like a good recruit for ISU.
Here is a pretty good evaluation of Abdou Ndiaye. He is described as very "raw", and like most African big men who are relatively new to the game, his offense is limited. But everyone seems high on his athleticism & potential.

https://247sports.com/college/unlv/Article/Recruiting-Update-Abdou-Ndiaye-117237809

[tornado]

Seems like a good recruit for ISU.
Here is a pretty good evaluation of Abdou Ndiaye. He is described as very "raw", and like most African big men who are relatively new to the game, his offense is limited. But everyone seems high on his athleticism & potential.
https://247sports.com/college/unlv/A...iaye-117237809

Will he get more minutes than their other N'Diaye?
Their beat writer Jim Benson says..
"could be Dan Muller's most significant recruit in 6 years as ISU coach"
His coach "..believes ISU got a player who is a top 50 recruit in the country"
"Redbirds should now be undisputed #MVC favorite in 2018-19"
"..averaged 27.2 points and 14 rebounds in half a season at The Nation Christian Academy in Saint Lucie West, Fla.
...The kid shoots it well and defends all five positions. He has a high-basketball IQ and he's coachable,”"
He arrived from Senegal in 2016...."...He played for The Masters School in Westchester, N.Y., for a season before transferring to a school in Arizona.
“He left when that school closed.."
Then he went to play for "The Nation Christian Academy" in Florida..."

Wonder if he is a qualifier?
Not at all an odd question considering how many players Muller has recruited who failed to qualify, and this kid has been in at least 3 schools that I have never heard of in the past 2 years and came into the country from Senegal - will transcripts be a problem?

One more thing, can't find many game reports or news stories of games they played this year?
The Nation Christian Academy has only been known under that name for a few months - and previous to that they were "Barnabas Christian Academy"
..."In 2018, Barnabas Christian Academy re-branded under the name, The Nation Christian Academy"
Here's their roster with Abdou NDiaye - LINK

I was able to find mention of several games that they played- but no details, and they won all five including the ones before NDiaye arrived there
12/4 @ Morningside Academy (Port St. Lucie, FL) (W) 64 - 21
12/29 Beckman (Irvine, CA) @ KSA Events Holiday Basketball Tournament - Orlando (W) 62 - 56
12/30 Lake Gibson (Lakeland, FL) (W) 55 - 44
1/24 Inspire Prep Academy (Orlando, FL) (W) 95 - 73
1/30 Community Christian Academy (Stuart, FL) (W) 95 - 20

also L to East Ridge 67-59 on 12/29 - LINK

two more without dates noted
Results:
Win 90 - 14 over St James Christian School
Win 52 - 31 over Okeechobee High School

http://www.barnabaschristianacademy.org/pages/barnabas_ca/Sports/Boys___Girls_Basketball/Calendar

Here is a video of one of their games- I believe he is #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFAacgPNUUE