Illinois signs point guard, a recruit class of 1

CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois has used the only scholarship it has available next season to add a player at what might be its weakest spot, signing point guard Michael Orris on Wednesday to a national letter of intent.

The 6-2 Orris is from Crete-Monee in suburban Chicago.

He'll join what will be a young team next season — the Illini have six freshmen on the roster that will open this season Friday against Loyola — and should add toughness and basketball know-how to the Illini, coach Bruce Weber said.

"He has a great feel for the game, he understands the game, he enjoys passing the ball as much as he enjoys shooting the ball," Weber said. "We felt we needed somebody that would give us that competitive edge, that toughness, that feel for the game."

Orris is a 180-pound senior who averaged 10.2 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds his junior year. He led Crete-Monee to something the school had never had before, a sectional championship.

Illinois relied heavily last season on senior point guard Demetri McCamey, and saw its play drop off sharply when he was on the bench.

Without a true point guard with any college experience going into this season, Weber recruited grad student Sam Maniscalco, who played three seasons at Bradley before an ankle injury that required surgery forced him to the bench.

That injury continues to hobble Maniscalco, limiting both his playing time and Illinois' depth at the point, Weber said Wednesday.

"I hope and pray Sammy can play (full time), his ankle gets healthy," Weber said, adding that he plans to limit Maniscalco to about 15 minutes Friday against Loyola.

The six freshmen on this year's roster include another option at point guard, Tracy Abrams, who Weber said is now developing more rapidly than he would have expected.

"I think with our guard situation a year from now, Tracy will give us toughness, that physicality," Weber said. "Mike gives us something more cerebral."