Wisconsin Badgers head coach Bo Ryan announced four additions to the men’s basketball team Wednesday when Traevon Jackson, Frank Kaminsky, George Marshall and Jarrod Uthoff signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University of Wisconsin. The four high school seniors will enroll at UW next year and play college basketball for the Badgers beginning in the fall of 2011.
TRAEVON JACKSON (6-2, 200, Guard, Westerville High School, Westerville, Ohio)
Traevon Jackson earned 2010 second-team all-state honors as a junior after averaging 19 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals for Westerville (Ohio) South. Jackson captained his team to a 20-0 regular-season record last year before losing in the district semifinals and was rewarded with the 2010 Ohio Capital Conference Player of the Year Award.
FRANK KAMINSKY (6-10, 225, Forward, Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill.)
Frank Kaminsky averaged a double-double (13 points and 10 rebounds per game) as a junior at Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill. The All-East Suburban Catholic Conference and DuPage County All-Area selection also averaged four blocked shots per game a year ago. Kaminsky helped Benet post a 26-4 record in 2009-10 and reach the supersectionals, scoring 39 points in a state tournament game.
GEORGE MARSHALL (6-0, 170, Guard, Chicago Brooks College Prep, Chicago, Ill.)
George Marshall has started each of his first three seasons at Chicago (Ill.) Brooks College Prep, earning 2010 honorable mention All-City and All-Area from the Chicago Sun-Times. Marshall averaged 17 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals as a junior while leading Brooks to a 24-9 record. As a sophomore, Marshall’s 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game helped Brooks to a Red South conference championship and a 24-7 record. He was honored with 2009 All-City by the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association that year.
“We’re very happy to have George, and his family, join the Badger basketball family in Madison,” Ryan said. “George is a very sharp, intelligent young man that will be exciting to coach over the course of his career. He brings quickness with the ball and the ability to transition offensively from end to end in a blink. As he continues to grow and mature physically, his quickness will become even more of a weapon. George is a very good student that attends a very demanding school in Brooks. His parents, George, Sr. and Maria, have been great role models for him to follow. Our staff is excited about his future potential. Wisconsin fans will have fun getting to know him and will enjoy watching him develop during his career as a Badger.”
JARROD UTHOFF (6-8, 195, Forward, Jefferson High School, Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
As a junior, Jarrod Uthoff averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds per game while guiding Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Jefferson High School to its first Class 4A state tournament appearance since 1999. The 2010 Mississippi Valley Conference Player of the Year, Uthoff made 55 percent of his field-goal attempts and 80 percent of his free-throw attempts a year ago. Uthoff was a first-team All-State pick by the Iowa Newspaper Association and a second-team All-State pick by the Des Moines Register.