Recruiting Notebook: September 1

<p>What is the latest on recruiting across the state of Illinois?  We break it down here with news from 2022 and 2023 prospects along with closing out the 2021 class with a commitment on Monday!  Read it all in our Recruiting Notebook!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Class of 2021</u></strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="920940" first="Anthony" last="Sayles"] (Niles Notre Dame)</strong></p> <p>The class of 2021 is off to college and the last big domino fell on Monday morning as top 10 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="920940" first="Anthony" last="Sayles"] from Niles Notre Dame and the Illinois Wolves committed to Lewis.  The D2 program got an impactful point guard that pushes the tempo and leaves his imprint on the game in so many ways.  Very rare a D2 program lands a top 10 player in Illinois!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Class of 2022</u></strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="863619" first="Ben" last="VanderWal"] (Timothy Christian)</strong></p> <p>VanderWal had four visits scheduled.  After tripping to Furman he saw all he needed and committed to them!  What is Furman getting?  Elite shot maker with size at the small forward spot with plus athleticism and quickly improving skill off the bounce.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="925190" first="Cooper" last="Noard"] (Glenbrook South)</strong></p> <p>One of the more under rated lead guards in the state made his call.  Noard is a plus shooter that can flat out drain shots and run a team.  He made his decision to commit to Army West Point.  Huge get for them!</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="863631" first="NJ" last="Benson"] (Mt. Vernon)</strong></p> <p>Benson took his first official visit to Illinois State this past weekend.  The Mt. Vernon center has become a priority target for Missouri Valley programs looking for a five man.  He tells PHI that he will trip to Murray State this weekend.  Then follow it up with trips to Missouri State and Southern Illinois the following two weekends.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1210370" first="Jackson" last="Munro"] (New Trier)</strong></p> <p>Munro was one of the players with a ton of helium coming out of the summer.  Pick and pop four with back to the basket skill tells PHI he has locked in officials to Toledo September 4-6 and Bucknell September 19-21.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1106946" first="Will" last="Grudzinski"] (Barrington) &amp; Kolby Giles (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <p>University of Mary will be getting a pair of good ones on campus in the near future.  Barrington’s [player_tooltip player_id="1106946" first="Will" last="Grudzinski"] is a high level spot up shooter with size and versatility who will visit the D2 program on September 10-12.  Kolby Giles out of St. Ignatius is a high-motor power forward that really elevated his stock this spring and June.  He will visit University of Mary on October 15-17.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1210440" first="Jake" last="Quast"] (Hinsdale Central)</strong></p> <p>This Hinsdale Central point guard is absolutely tough as nails.  Showed that with Breakaway this summer.  He will be taking an official visit to St. Leo in Florida September 29-30.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1048720" first="Wes" last="Hunt"] (Peoria Christian)</strong></p> <p>Intriguing prospect from central Illinois came off the board in the last week.  Hunt is an athletic upside post who will play both basketball and baseball at Taylor University.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1106936" first="Ryan" last="Renfro"] (Glenbard West)</strong></p> <p>Renfro is the unsung standout from a Glenbard West team that might be the best in the state.  High energy post that boards and brings athleticism up front.  He visited Army West point with his teammate and left with his first D1 offer.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong><u>Class of 2023</u></strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="989263" first="Asa" last="Thomas"] (Lake Forest)</strong></p> <p>Thomas will see a significant bump up near the top of the 2023 class after his play this summer.  Versatile scorer received an offer from Yale.  Thomas also took an unofficial visit to Illinois on Saturday to see Illinois play in their Week 0 opener against Nebraska as the Illini are making him a big priority in 2023.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="989265" first="Owen" last="Freeman"] (Bradley Bourbonnais)</strong></p> <p>Among the top tier posts in the class Freeman has a lot of Big 10 interest and he tells PHI he will visit three of them officially in the fall in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan State.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="939068" first="Sam" last="Lewis"] (OPRF)</strong></p> <p>Lewis scored an offer from Northern Illinois.  One of the truly elite shot makers in the 2023 class.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="939069" first="Davius" last="Loury"] (Kenwood)</strong></p> <p>Top 5 2023 prospects continues to rack up the offers with his latest coming from Purdue.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="939065" first="Ethan" last="Kizer"] (Metamora)</strong></p> <p>One of the bounciest prospects in the 2023 class in Kizer scored an offer from Eastern Illinois.</p>