Henricksen: Latest commit keeps UIC basketball recruiting rolling

SHARE Henricksen: Latest commit keeps UIC basketball recruiting rolling

The old phrase “two steps forward, one step back” doesn’t exactly fit the UIC basketball program. But when reversed –– “one step back before taking two steps forward” –– certainly applies.

With the way coach Steve McClain and his staff have been recruiting since he took the job a little over 12 months ago, that reversed motto looks legit heading into year two of their UIC basketball rebuilding job.

In McClain’s first year, UIC finished a paltry 5-25. But hauling in a banner recruiting class can quickly make you forget any single-digit season win total.

The current six-man recruiting class is highlighted by this week’s signing of senior guard Marcus Ottey from SPIRE Institute in Ohio, a talented lefty who was one of the better uncommitted prospects left in the country.

The attacking 6-1 combo guard was recruited by several high-major programs. Ottey took an official visit to Cincinnati, was planning to visit Nebraska and gained interest from the likes of Seton Hall, Vanderbilt and Wichita State.

But the athletic Ottey will be playing the next four years in the Horizon League, helping the Flames inject enthusiasm and talent into the UIC Pavilion.

“Overall, it was the trust in the coaches,” Ottey said of his decision to pull the trigger and sign with UIC. “Basketball has become such a business. But I felt like the coaches put their trust in me, and I have a lot of trust in them.”

The city of Chicago didn’t hurt, either.

“I love the city,” said Ottey. “Chicago is amazing.”

Ottey, who looks the part of a true difference-maker, is a part of a recruiting class that will likely change the fortunes of UIC basketball around in a hurry. He is joined by fellow three-star prospect Godwin Boahen, a 5-11 traditional point guard from Hill Academy in Toronto, who he played AAU with on the club scene.

There is also K.J. Santos, a promising 6-7 talent who originally began his high school career at Geneva. Santos bounced around a bit from one prep school to another, but he put together an impressive year at Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas. He’s another player who had interest from high-level college programs.

Tarkus Ferguson of Belleville Althoff, an athletic 6-3 guard fresh off winning a Class 3A state championship in March, signed last fall. Ferguson is among the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top dozen players in Illinois in the Class of 2017.

UIC also added Jordan Blount last fall, a skilled, fundamentally sound European-style threat on the perimeter with international experience. Blount, originally from Ireland, spent the past few years away from home, playing in England and Spain, before settling in at SPIRE Institute in Ohio this year.

The sixth member of the class is Kyle Guice, a 6-7 pick-and-pop type 4-man from North Idaho Junior College. Guice helped his team to a 30-0 regular season record.

UIC might not be done. The Flames will get an official visit this weekend from David Burrell, an athletic 6-6 junior college forward who is originally from Milwaukee.

McClain will combine what is arguably the best UIC recruiting class in years with the return of Dikembe Dixson, the Horizon League’s Freshman of the Year this past season after averaging 19.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.

Tai Odiase, a 6-8 sophomore from Homewood-Flossmoor, averaged 9.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.2 blocks a game and was named to the Horizon League’s All-Defensive Team. St. Rita product Dominique Matthews will be back as a redshirt freshman, while 6-5 freshman guard Michael Kolawole gained valuable experience.

Even with one forgetful regular season in the books, McClain and UIC are still in that honeymoon phase. UIC can sell opportunity and a fresh, new start to any prospect. McClain and the Flames appear to be making the most of it, with the building blocks now in place to turn the program around sooner than later.

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