Flames update: Two more 2005 recruits coming

NEWS ON MADNESS, PREDICTIONS

(10/11/04)

Whoosh! learned recently that the UIC Flames have received oral commitments from a two post players last month.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Danijel Zoric, a 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pound sophomore from Collin County Community College in Texas, made a commitment to join the Flames next season.

In addition, according to HoopsOasis.com, UIC received a verbal last week from Lance Young, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward from Rock Island Alleman.

The 21-year old Zoric (pictured) played his freshman year at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Mo. and average 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on a team that averaged 84.3 points per contest.

Zoric, a native of Serbia and Montenegro, shot 49 percent from the field and 69 percent from the free-throw line and was second on the team with 22 blocked shots. He should give UIC another strong presence around the basket. Zoric is a tenacious rebounder and also runs the floor well.

One of Zoric’s assistant coaches at Three Rivers was former Loyola player Dominic Okon, who played two years for the Ramblers. His head coach was Gene Bess.

Zoric should be one of Collin County’s top players this season, adding another dimension to a team that went 29-3 last season and was regarded as one of the better junior college programs in the South.

Young can play inside and also hit mid-range jumpers. He also has the capabilities to improve in the paint offensively and is also shot-blocking threat on the defensive end. He is ranked among the top 25 high school senior prospects, according the August/September issue of Illinois Hoops Oasis.

Young has been a key player for Alleman since his sophomore year, when he averaged 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. As a junior, he had averages of 11.9 points and 6.7 rebounds. He shot 47 percent from the field and 59 percent from the free-throw line for a Pioneers team that finished 19-14 and won a sectional championship.

MIDNIGHT MADNESS: UIC’s annual Midnight Madness takes place at the Pavilion Friday night, Oct. 15. Doors open at 10 a.m. and admission is free.

The cheerleaders and Dancing Flames will perform for the fans before both the men’s and women’s team hit the floor for a scrimmage. It will be the first opportunity to see new Flames like Karl White and Luther Boyd and welcome back superstar guard Cedrick Banks.

NEW PLAYER: The Flames added another freshman to this year’s roster in Downers Grove South graduate Leonard Wakefield, a 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward.

Wakefield teamed with Southern Illinois-recruit Bryan Mullins to lead the Mustangs to a sectional championship. He averaged five points and five rebounds as a senior at DGS. He also played two years at Lisle High School.

PREDICTIONS: Five national preview magazines have been released, some of which are saying good things about the Flames.

The Sporting News’ preview has UIC winning the Horizon League championship and Banks as the conference Player of the Year, though it says that he’ll have a fight on his hands with Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Ed McCants. Forward Armond Williams (whose picture was included with the league preview) was included on the Second Team.

Street & Smith’s also picks the Flames to win the league and included Banks on its All- Horizon picks. However, it also lists Martell Bailey, whose eligibility status was up in the air at press time. Bailey did not earn a fourth year of playing time and will be a student assistant this season.

In Basketball News, Banks was on the First-Team All-Horizon and Williams was on the Second Team.

Here are the Horizon predictions from the five magazines (keep in mind that some of them were unsure of the status of the “Big 3.”

Sporting News: 1, UIC; 2, Wisconsin-Green Bay; 3, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; 4, Detroit; 5, Butler; 6, Wright State; 7, Youngstown State; 8, Loyola; 9, Cleveland State.

Basketball News: 1, UWM; 2, UWGB; 3, UIC; 4, Detroit; 5, Butler; 6, Wright State; 7, Youngstown State; 8, Loyola; 9, Cleveland State.

Street & Smith’s: 1, UIC; 2, UWM; 3, Detroit; 4, UWGB; 5, Butler; 6, Cleveland State; 7, Youngstown State; 8, Wright State; 9, Loyola.

Lindy’s: 1, UWM; 2, UWGB; 3, UIC; 4, Butler; 5, Detroit; 6, Wright State; 7, Loyola; 8, Cleveland State; 9, Youngstown State.

Athlon: 1, UWM; 2, UWGB; 3, Butler; 4, Wright State; 5, UIC; 6, Detroit; 7, Loyola; 8, Cleveland State; 9, Youngstown State.