The fax machines cranked up early Wednesday morning, and University of Illinois basketball recruit
Tracy Abrams of Chicago Mount Carmel was the first of four to send his signed letter-of-intent to Illinois head coach Bruce Weber.
"It makes me feel good to think I started the (Illinois recruiting) class off. It encourages me to be a leader," Abrams, a point guard who verbaled last year, told the Chicago Sun-Times. By 10:30 Wednesday morning, Abrams was holding a news conference at Mount Carmel.
Whitney Young High's Sam Thompson.
File photo by Greg Behrens
The names of Chicago recruits read like an all-star team.
Michael Shaw, a 6-foot-8 forward at Chicago De La Salle;
Nnanna Egwu, a 6-10 center from St. Ignatius, and
Mycheal Henry, a 6-6 guard from Chicago Orr, also committed to Illinois.
Sam Thompson, a 6-6 forward for Chicago power Whitney Young, faxed his letter-of-intent to Ohio State on Wednesday morning.
Wayne Blackshear, a 6-5 guard from Morgan Park and one of the city‘s most highly recruited players, was expected to sign this week with Louisville.
Fast-rising star
Anthony Davis of Chicago Perspectives chose Kentucky over Ohio State and Syracuse.
Frank Kaminsky of Benet Academy and
George Marshall of Brooks decided on Wisconsin.
The early signing period also likely created a sigh of relief for
Ryan Boatright, a guard who averaged more than 26 points per game last season for East Aurora. Boatright verbally committed to Connecticut on Monday, and was expected to sign his letter-of-intent this week despite possible NCAA sanctions awaiting UConn. Boatright had earlier committed to, and decommitted from, West Virginia and Southern Cal.
