Players commit to area schools
Division I basketball dividends
After recruiting these guys for months and sometimes years, major-college schools finally were able to start accepting letters of intent on Wednesday. The following recruits either signed Wednesday or will do so shortly:
DePaul
Devin Hill PF 6-9 200 St. Luke's School
Blue Demons used New York AAU connections to pull this high flyer out of New Canaan, Conn., prep school. He averaged 14 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.9 blocks last year.
Jeremiah Kelly PG 6-1 170 American Christian HS
Four-star prospect hails from same South Side Chicago neighborhood as former DePaul standout Andre Brown. Now at a Philadelphia hoops factory, Kelly ranks No. 92 in Class of 2008 per Rivals.com.
Illinois
Stan Simpson C/PF 6-9 220 Simeon HS
When Farragut's Michael Dunigan opted for Oregon, the Illini zeroed in on another fluid Chicago big man with excellent athleticism. Simpson averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks at Leo last year.
Illinois-Chicago
Zavion Neely PG 6-1 170 Hope College Prep
The Flames tap the South Side for this explosive combo guard who fits the mold of previous Chicago talents in the UIC backcourt.
Jelani Poston PF 6-6 215 Harmony Christian (Ohio)
This powerful Chicago native is another sign new assistant Tracy Dildy still has the local touch. Poston has been at Lincoln Park and Simeon and Boys to Men Academy before landing in Cincinnati this year.
Loyola
John Benkoske C/PF 6-9 225 Oshkosh West HS
From the same school that sent Tom Levin and Andy Polka to Ramblerland, along comes this all-Wisconsin preseason pick who already has two state titles on his resume. Averaged 5.7 points and 5.8 rebounds last year.
Walt Gibler PF 6-7 218 St. Xavier HS
Averaged 16.1 points and 7.6 rebounds last year for Ohio's Division I state runner-up. Cincinnati native known for prowess around hoop and ability to get to the line.
Jordan Hicks SF 6-6 200 Mayo HS
Loyola tapped Rochester, Minn., for this swingman who averaged 15 points and 7 rebounds per game last year.
Courtney Stanley PG 6-1 170 Roman Catholic HS
The Ramblers went to Philadelphia to find this guard who's equally adept at shooting and setting up others. Averaged 10 points last year.
Northern Illinois
Mike Dinunno PG 6-0 165 Von Steuben HS
Former Lake Park standout and polished shooter kept the commitment he made to Rob Judson and his staff.
Bryan Hall PG 6-1 165 Whitney Young HS
One of many Division I talents on what might be the best team in the state. Hall, along with Simeon junior Steve Walker, signifies NIU's intent to pluck Public League talent every year.
Tyler Storm SF 6-7 190 Geneseo HS
This three-star recruit, whose father coaches him at Geneseo, looks comfortable both inside and out.
Northwestern
Nick Fruendt SG 6-5 180 Batavia HS
A starter from Day One for the Bulldogs, the nation's No. 149 recruit (per ESPN.com) averaged 21.2 points, 8 rebounds and 3.4 assists last winter. He played on the Illinois Wolves with Shurna.
John Shurna PF 6-8 190 Glenbard West HS
While checking out Glenbard East's Mike Capocci, the NU staff fell in love with this fast-rising post player (No. 141 per ESPN.com) who averaged 19.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game last year.
Albany
Jake Lindfors C 6-10 210 Driscoll Catholic
Son of former Northern Illinois standout joins top-flight America East program. Averaged 17.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and almost 2 blocks per game last year.
Dayton
Luke Fabrizius SF 6-9 210 Hersey HS
Dayton coach Brian Gregory returned to his alma mater to snag the sweet-shooting Fabrizius. He averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks last year and owns 110 varsity 3-pointers.
Eastern Michigan
Kamil Janton C 6-9 225 Bartlett HS
The big man in the Eagles' four-man recruiting class averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game for Bartlett last season. He's an AAU Illinois Wolves product.
Northern Iowa
John Moran PG 6-1 175 Jacobs HS
This four-year veteran who averaged 18.3 points, 4.5 assists and 4.1 steals last year has UNI coach Ben Jacobson excited: "John is a true point guard. He's tough, smart and just wins."
-- Lindsey Willhite