With Jon Ekey, score another recruiting victory for Illini coach John Groce. The Illinois State junior gave a verbal commitment to the Illini on Tuesday
Ekey, a 6′ 7″ junior forward, will be immediately eligible for the Illini as he works on a graduate degree that’s unavailable at Illinois St. John Groce is really earning that contract extension Mike Thomas gave him this past weekend. First he landed Seton Hall transfer Aaron Cosby (who will have to sit out a year) and now Groce lands Ekey.
Boston College, Creighton, Nevada and Purdue were some of the schools that were in the running for Ekey’s services.
“I just think it’s the Big Ten…Being able to go somewhere I could use my skills that I have as a stretch 4-man and just for a team that wanted to use what I can do was important. I can contribute in any way whether it’s starting or coming off the bench and scoring,” Ekey said.
Yes the four-man. Who starts at that position? I tried to answer that question in my WAY TOO EARLY Illini basketball 2014 season preview. Do you go with Joseph Bertrand? Ekey’s numbers aren’t exactly eye-catching: 6.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, one block. However, he was 31 of 89 from 3 for a .348 percentage. He should help the Illini outside shooting. They were overly reliant on Brandon Paul and D.J. Richardson for the three ball last year. Paul was more consistent when he attacked the basket than settling for jump shots. Richardson was perhaps the streakiest, most polarizing shooter in Illini history since Richard Keene.
Actually, the whole team lived and died by the three. Maybe Ekey will help add some consistency.
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