Northwestern Adds 3 Recruits, 2 with Local Ties

On National Signing Day, Northwestern Wildcats head men’s basketball coach Bill Carmody announced the signing of guards Tre Demps (San Antonio, Texas/Ronald Reagan) and Dave Sobolewski (Naperville, Ill./Benet Academy) and forward Mike Turner (Chicago, Ill./University of Chicago Laboratory High School) to National Letters of Intent.

“We are excited to welcome Dave, Tre and Mike to our basketball family,” Carmody said in a public statement released by the University.

“All three young men are stellar students and we feel like we hit a home run in addressing specific positional needs on the court. With the loss of a four-year starter at the guard slot in Michael “Juice” Thompson, we are thrilled that we were able to add two lead guards who will help us right away. Additionally, we are excited to add size and athleticism to our frontcourt.”

Demps’ father, Dell, played three seasons in the NBA and is currently the New Orleans Hornets‘ GM. Tre averaged 19.2 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game as a junior while earning first-team all-district honors. He saw his stock rise over the summer thanks to his stellar play while competing for Pump N Run and was named one of the top players at the LeBron James Skills Academy by ESPN’s Jay Bilas.

Sobolewski was recognized as the player of the year by the East Suburban Catholic Conference as well as the Naperville Sun. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association tabbed Sobolewski a second-team all-state selection while the Chicago Tribune honored him as a third-team all-state pick.

“Dave is a natural leader who exemplifies all the qualities we need our guards to have,” Carmody said. “He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s a winner and he makes shots. He is definitely not afraid to tell guys where to go on the floor and guys love playing with him. We expect him to make an immediate impact for us next year.”

Turner, a 6-foot-8 forward, provides the Wildcats with another Chicago area recruit. He possesses a great deal of athleticism and averaged 18.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game during his junior season to earn first-team all-conference honors. His efforts helped lead University of Chicago Laboratory High to the first regional championship in school history and has become the school’s first individual to earn a basketball scholarship from a Big Ten university.

Northwestern opens their season Friday when they travels to Northern Illinois.