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Flames sign two more recruits ATHLETIC FORWARDS ADD TO DEPTH (5/8/07)
In the fold are junior college All-American Billy Baptist from Illinois Central Community College and solid Public League talent Byron Pickens from Senn High School. Baptist, a 6-foot-5 forward, averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals per contest while shooting 64 percent from the field this past season at Illinois Central en route to NJCAA Division II All-America honors. He was named the Mid-West Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Region 24 Player of the Year, leading the Cougars to a 29-4 mark under coach Tony Wysinger. Baptist spent his prep days at Kankakee High School, where averaged 16.4 points and 9.1 rebounds as a senior for the Kays. On a side note, Baptist also participated on the chess team at Kankakee. “Billy is an athletic player reminiscent of Armond Williams,” Collins said in a statement. “He can play the two, three or four spot for us. [He] is excited about being a part of what we are looking to get done at UIC.” At Illinois Central, Baptist was a teammate of DeAaron Williams, who originally signed with Wisconsin and now will head to Bradley. Pickens, a 6-foot-7 forward, averaged around 18 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks per game as a senior at Senn, on the city’s North side. He is considered a “good get” by recruiting experts who thought that Pickens had slipped through the cracks. Pickens’ game is somewhat similar to former Flame Justin Bowen. He has a solid mid-range game and can slash off the dribble into the lane and score. “Byron is real athletic, runs the floor and handles the ball well,” Collins said. “He is a warrior type, who will not back down to anyone. He is the kind of athlete who can run in our press and also play a half-court game.” Pickens will be the second Flame from Senn to hit the hardwood under Jimmy Collins. Former walk-on Johner (J.T.) Wilson played at Senn before becoming a member of the 1997-98 NCAA tournament team at UIC. Baptist and Pickens will join Maroa-Forsyth’s Robert Kreps and Rockford Boylan’s Tori Boyd as part of the 2007 Flames’ recruiting class. They will also join incoming transfer Jeremy Buttell as new Flames this season. The Flames may not be done recruiting. Coach Jimmy Collins said recently that the team could add a player or two late, depending on developments with the current roster. “We got Bryant Lowe in August, just before school started (in 1996),” Collins said on April 27 at the Flames Athletic Center. “That turned out pretty well.” Editor’s note: In the coming days, Whoosh! will feature an article on the health of Collins, as well some insights on the future. |
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