Senior trio on track for return

STARS COULD EARN EXTRA YEAR

(11/28/03)

Will the 2003-04 season be the swan song for UIC’s trio of Cedrick Banks, Martell Bailey and Armond Williams?

All three players are seniors, but they sat out as freshman to concentrate on academics. They could have the opportunity to earn back a fourth year of eligibility and return to the court in 2004-05.

According to a source close to the program, all three are on target to graduate in four years and earn the extra year, if they choose to return. However, the final word probably won’t come until the summer.

Bailey said during a CLTV interview last spring that he wanted to be “No. 1” at UIC in career assists and that he has “two more years.”

Williams (pictured above) said at the preseason media day that he is considering a return next year.

Banks and Williams were non-qualifiers and were not allowed to practice with the team in 2000-01, while Bailey was a partial qualifier.

NEXT GAME: The Flames travel South to take on Texas-San Antonio Saturday at 2 p.m. UIC (4-1) is riding a three game-winning streak that includes two straight victories over Evansville, while the Roadrunners enter the contest 1-2 after a trip to the Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska.

UIC features Bailey, who handed out 15 assists Tuesday against Evansville. Bailey is averaging 8.6 assists per game so far. Banks leads the team in scoring at 20.4 points per game, and Aaron Carr (13.8 ppg) has reached double figures in scoring in all five contests.

UTSA has two major Division I transfers on its squad, including 6-foot-8-inch forward LeRoy Hurd (14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds) from Miami (Fla.) and 6-1 junior Justin Harbert (9.0 ppg) from Colorado. Harbert and freshman Kurt Attaway (10 ppg) are UTSA’s top three-point shooters. Junior guard Raphael Posey also averages 10.0 points per game.

The Flames defeated the Roadrunners 91-75 at the Pavilion on Nov. 21, 2000 as Joel Bullock scored 23 points, grabbed seven rebounds and doled out six assists. Maurice Brown added 17 points and seven rebounds for the Flames. UTSA’s Devin Brown led all scorers with 28 points.

Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1000.

RECRUITING: Whoosh! has learned that Fenwick guard Vince Humphrey is considering the Flames and Loyola among his college choices. The 6-4 senior is also being courted by Rutgers and St. Bonaventure. He is the No. 17-rated senior, according to ChicagoHoops.com, and ranks No. 24 at highschoolelite.com.