Here's Johnny...

Coach Rose recently received what I believe is a very significant commitment. 6-6/205 "combo forward" John Koschnitzky of Air Force Academy Prep School has decided to attend Illinois Wesleyan. Koschnitzky will be considered a freshman at IWU in '08-09 after the year at Air Force Prep and will have all 4 years of eligibility remaining.
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Ron Rose pursued John aggressively last year, when he was a senior at Oak Forest H.S. in the south suburbs. He chose Air Force Prep over a D1 scholarship to Maine, several NAIA and Division II scholarships, and a bunch of Division III opportunities (in addition to IWU, I remember that U. of Chicago was on him, among others). The understanding was that he'd be a scholarship basketball player at D1 Air Force Academy after a year at the prep school. Fortunately for IWU, it sounds like he wanted to get back closer to home.
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As a senior at Oak Forest, John averaged 20.7 points and 9.4 rebounds and was named to the IBCA's 2006-07 Class AA 4th team all-state. He was a member of the Daily Southtown's 7-man all-area 1st Team, alongside 6 D1 recruits. Illinoishsbasketball.com ranked Koschnitzky as the 47th best senior in the state last year. The highest CCIW recruit on that list was IWU's Sean Johnson, #65. In looking at that 2007 IBCA all-state team, he was 1 of just 10 Class AA players to average at least 20 points last year, and 1 of just 5 to average 20 ppg with 5 or more rebounds per game.
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I saw John play twice last year - "versatile" is the first word I'd use to describe him. He can easily play either the 3 or the 4 at the CCIW level, but I honestly think he could play the 2 or the 5 for stretches if a matchup dictated it. John has a polished back-to-the-basket game and is a load down low vs players his size or smaller. He is also very good facing though - a very good mid-range shooter, can step out and shoot the 3, and is a good ball-handler in the open court. It's hard to find stats from his Air Force Prep games this year, but here is a game where he scored 27 points and made 4 3's vs Trinidad State JC, and other where he scored 16 pts and took 3 3's...so sounds like he was playing that same inside/outside position out there. I found this link with detailed stats up to midway through his senior year at Oak Forest. As a junior he was 190-382 (.497) from the field, including 20-54 from 3 (.370)…through 16 games as a senior he was 117-228 (.513) from the field, including 13-43 from 3 (.302). He is a tough one-on-one matchup because of his inside/outside versatility.
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Koschnitzky also brings athleticism to IWU's young core. He's a good leaper that made it to the state slam dunk contest finals in Peoria as a sophomore, junior, and senior. He is also a highly regarded baseball player. As pitcher for Oak Forest in '06-07, he was 7-1 with a 2.42 ERA, with 60 strikeouts in 52 innings. As a position player, he hit .356 with 37 RBI (I have not heard if he will be playing baseball at IWU). I think his athleticism and size will make him a very good defender in college - someone who can matchup vs with a tough perimeter player when needed or with a big, athletic frontcourt player. Koschnitzky is also an good student and just seems like the type of kid who is going to be a leader on the court and off at IWU.
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Koschnitzky was definitely one of the top guys IWU was on last year, but it never seemed like IWU (or any other D3) had a great chance to get him - just too many other higher level opportunities between basketball and baseball. Still, it seemed like he really liked Wesleyan. He visited IWU the night Kent Raymond went off for 44 at the Shirk Center and I think seeing how good Raymond and Zach Freeman were was a factor in helping him understand the talent level in Division III and in keeping him interested in IWU, even after heading to Air Force Prep.
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I'm confident the Titans found a really big piece to the puzzle in John Koschnitzky. His versatility seems like a perfect match with IWU's returning players and other '08 recruits. Welcome to John and his family!

6-8/255 Ryan Connolly heading to Wesleyan

6-8/255 Ryan Connolly from Springfield Lanphier has chosen Illinois Wesleyan. Ryan Connolly is simply an enormous young man. He is certainly not hard to pick out in a photo of his high school team. (Note - the players to his left and right are basically the size of Darius Gant, 6-3.) He had a good season at Lanphier, averaging 16.2 points and 9.9 rebounds, and leading the Lions to an 18-win season and a sectional final appearance. He had several big games, including a 37-point, 21-rebound effort vs Peoria Notre Dame at Bloomington's U.S. Cellular Colliseum. He was named to the 3rd Team of the IBS 3A/4A All-State Squad.
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Connolly drew interest from some D1's early this year - Illinois-Chicago especially - but wasn't offered by any of them - he is probably not quite polished enough offensively to be a D1 player. That said, Connolly is good enough offensively to do damage vs your typical 6-6 or 6-7 D3 center. He also runs the floor well for his size. At the Division III level, he is going to be an impact player.
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"For a big guy, he moves better than people realize, and also, he's got that mid-range game so you have to respect him anywhere on the floor. He runs the floor better than you would expect, so he's a tough guard..." - Springfield Southeast head coach Tom Goers
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IWU is going to be very big someday with 6-9 Eric McCullough and 6-8 Ryan Connolly sharing 40 minutes at the 5, or maybe even playing them together a little bit for stretches. I think this is a significant addition.
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Connolly, appropriately, is nicknamed "Big Country." Welcome to Illinois Wesleyan, big fella.

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IBS Class 3A/4A All-State Team

State Journal Register All-Central State 8 Team

MidStateHoops Player Profile

"Things looking up for Lanphier's big man" (State Journal Register)

Seibring, Rudnicki, and Walker pick IWU

Ron Rose has found three more impressive young men to add to the IWU basketall program...

6-6/215 Dexter Walker is a "combo forward" from Morton. Walker made the Peoria Journal Star's 3A/4A All-Area Team for the third consecutive year, which is pretty rare, and was named IBCA 3A/4A "Special Mention" All-State after a big senior year for the Potters - 18.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg.Walker does a lot of things well.

The game I saw him play, 6-6 Walker was asked to defend 5-10 Limestone superstar freshman point-guard Donivine Stewart, who has already been offered by the Illini. Walker chased Stewart all over the court and really took him out of the game in a Morton win - it really impressed me that a big, strong kid like that could defend a quick little guard. Walker, a lefty, can really shoot it from all over the mid-range, as well as from 3, but can play in the paint too. When I saw him, I compared him to former Titan Matt Hoder ('98) - like Hoder, he is a big, strong forward who can shoot the basketball.

Walker, who was a wide receiver on the Morton football team, had a lot of interest from top CCIW and D3 programs. He was a highly regarded, heavily recruited high school player. In Dexter Walker, Ron Rose has his first recruit his alma mater, Morton H.S. Welcome to Dexter and family!

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6-4 combo guard Steve Rudnicki led Evanston to Peoria and a state 3rd Place finish. Rudnicki averaged 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.3 points for the 30-4 Wildkits.

I've never seen Rudnicki play, but everyone seems to describe him the same way - smart, solid, not flashy but just a guy that helps you win. His height and versatility is a good fit with IWU's current group of young guards.

Rudnicki was featured in a photo sequence I love. These IllinoisHighSchoolSports.com pics were taken immediately after Zion-Benton's Ronald Stewart hit the buzzer beater 3 to defeat Evanston 54-51 in the state semefinal game. Check out the jubilation from the Zee-Bees and the absolute shock from Rudnicki (#30).

I know Coach Rose was very high on Steve all year long and is very happy about his decision. Welcome aboard, Steve and family.

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6-2 shooting guard Sean Seibring (pictured above) averaged 12.0 points for Normal West this year. He made the 10-man Pantagraph All-Area 1st Team, alongside fellow CCIW recruits Jordan Zimmer (IWU), Jeremy Pflederer (Wheaton), and Eric McCullough (IWU). He was also named 1st Team all-conference in the loaded Big 12. He is a smart, strong, steady guard.

With his father being a longtime employee at Illinois Wesleyan, Sean grew up going to Titan games at the Shirk Center. He was probably about 5 when the building opened, so he's seen a terrific era of IWU basketball (4 Final Four teams). It's hard for me to believe he's old enough to be in uniform next year.

Sean's father Steve and uncle Scott (also an IWU employee) are legendary Shirk Center noonball players. Both are "combo forwards" who utilize their posteriors to create space in the paint vs thinner defenders, like myself. They are tough matchups. Sean's game, fortunately, is much more fundamentally sound.

I'd say "welcome" to Sean, but he's been part of the IWU family his whole life.

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Terrific additions to Illinois Wesleyan and the basketball team - exciting days are ahead, Titan fans!

'08-09 Schedule & Recruiting

Ron Rose has released the 2008-09 Illinois Wesleyan men's basketball schedule...

http://www.iwuhoops.com/sch09.doc

The Titans will open at the Manchester tournament, in North Manchester, Indiana, on November 22. At 6:00pm IWU will face Taylor-Fort Wayne, an NAIA school, and the next afternoon will face the winner or loser of the host and D3 Kalamazoo. Two weeks later, the Titans should get a chance to face the defending national champions - the Wash U Bears - at the Lopata Classic in St. Louis.

The holiday trip this year is to beautiful West Palm Beach, where the Titans will compete in the Northwood University tournament. Northwood, an NAIA school, finished 27-8 last year. The Seahawks are coached by Rollie Massimino, who led Villanova to the 1985 Division I national championship. Annual non-conference foes Olivet Nazarene, Chicago, and Hanover are once again on the '08-09 schedule.

It should be another great test for the Titans in preparation for the rugged CCIW.

By the way, it sounds like recruiting is far from over...you'll definitely want to check back here over the course of the next few weeks!

Raymond will return

Two-time CCIW Most Outstanding Player Kent Raymond announced that he will return to Wheaton for his final year of eligibility.

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After a big freshman season, Raymond sat out his sophomore year for personal reasons. He then returned to play his junior and senior years at Wheaton. He'll be a 5th year senior in 2008-09.

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Raymond averaged 24.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists last season. He scored 47 points in Wheaton's Sweet 16 win over Whitworth. Raymond's 44-point performance at IWU in 2006-07 is the current Shirk Center scoring record.

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Certainly big news for Wheaton and the CCIW. Raymond will enter '08-09 as one of the premier perimeter players in all of small college basketball.

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The Titans, by the way, went 3-0 vs Mr. Raymond and the Thunder last year. More spirited IWU/Wheaton battles to come!

Freeman signs in Germany

After a successful rookie season, former IWU All-American Zach Freeman ('07) has agreed to return to Germany next year. Read all about in the Pantagraph.

Congratulations to Zach...one of the best to ever wear the green & white.

Zimmer named 1A/2A PJ Star "Player of the Year"

(Peoria Journal Star photo)

IWU recruit Jordan Zimmer was named 1A/2A "Player of the Year" by the Peoria Journal Star. There is a ton of small school talent in the Journal Star's wide coverage area, as evidenced by the quality of past POY winners...

2008 - Jordan Zimmer, Delavan (Illinois Wesleyan)
2007 & 2006 - Carlton Fay, Putnam County (Southern Illinois)
2005 - Ryan Burks, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)
2004 - Micah Lavender, Peoria Christian (Olivet Nazarene)
2003 - Chad Cox, Macomb (?)
2002 - Nathan Koster, Lewistown (Western Illinois)
2001 - Jake Sottos, Monmouth (U. of Hawaii)
2000 - Barry Welsh, Abingdon (Western Illinois)
2000 - Rhet Wierzba, Farmington (Austin Peay)
1999 - Seth Nelson, Farmington (Nebraska-Omaha)
1998 - Shawn Jeppson, Hall (Illinois State)
1997 - Travis Lewis, Williamsfield (Louisiana Tech)
1996 - Ryan Knuppel, Midwest Central (Elmhurst)


Complete story

PJ Star 1A/2A All-star team


Few is the number of high school basketball players given the chance to play in college at the Division I level. Even fewer is the number of those who pass on the opportunity.

Early this past season, Delavan senior Jordan Zimmer was extended an invitation to attend Saint Louis University as a walk-on player. The Rick Majerus-coached Billikins were even more interested shortly after Delavan's season had ended."

(Assistant coach) Porter Moser called and said they wanted to come up and watch me work out again," Zimmer said. "I had already thought a lot about it and told him I was no longer interested."He asked me if they offered a scholarship, would that make a difference," Zimmer said. "I said 'thanks but no' and told them not to waste the trip. I had already made my decision."
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"My dream coming into the season was to get a Division I scholarship, but eventually I realized the level I was going to play in college wasn't the most important thing," Zimmer said. "Wesleyan is close to home, and Division III feels right for me. It feels more like (small school) basketball. It feels more like Delavan."

All-stater Jordan Zimmer picks Illinois Wesleyan

On the heels of Eric McCullough's decision to attend IWU, Ron Rose received another extremely significant recruiting commitment today. Jordan Zimmer, a 6-4 wing from Delevan H.S., said he will attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball for the Titans.
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Jordan Zimmer Facts:

6-4 Sr. G/F, Delavan High School
- 28-4 (school record)
- Regional Title
- Ranked #4 in class 1A final AP poll

Senior season stats:
Points: 736 pts. / 23.0 ppg
3 pt made: 123 (top 10 on IHSA all-time list)
3 pt. %: 123-293 / 42.0%
2 pt. % 121-211 / 57.4%
FT %: 125-137 / 91.3%
Rbs: 132 rbs. / 4.1 rpg
Asst: 99 ast. / 3.1 apg
Steals: 54 stl / 1.7 spg

· Career high 44 points (including 22 in 4th qt.) in sectional semi-final vs. Putnam County…his final game of his HS career
· Awarded “Best Defensive Player” on his team which allowed only 45.7 ppg

Career highlights:
- 2045 career points scored
- 347 career 3-pt made (top 5 on IHSA all-time list)
- 86.5% career FT %
- Started 121 out of 122 varsity games in career (2 regional titles)

School Records
- Career Points 2045
- Career 3-pt made 347
- Season 3-pt made 123
- Game Points 44

Senior Season Honors
· 1st Team AP Class 1A All-State
· 1st Team Chicago Sun Times All-State
· 1st Team IBCA All-State
· 1st Team IHSS Class 1A All-State
· 1st Team IBS Small School All-State
· 1st Team Tomahawk All-Conference
· 1st Team ICAC All-Conference
· 1st Team Bloomington Pantagraph All-Area
· Player of the Year Pekin Daily Times

4.0 GPA Valedictorian
National Honor Society, Illinois State Scholar
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I saw Zimmer play three times this year, including his 44-point effort vs Putnam County in his final high school game. I'm convinced Zimmer is going to be an outstanding CCIW player. He will have to get bigger and stronger - and there will certainly be a learning curve as he transitions from a Class 1A to the CCIW - but he has all the tools to be great.

Zimmer received pretty significant interest from St. Louis University. Rick Majerus came to Delavan to watch him practice and then had him on campus. Fortunately for Illinois Wesleyan, SLU did not offer. (They offered and signed G/F Kyle Cassity of Pinckneyville.) Zimmer was pursued very aggressively by the three CCIW schools that he made his choice between - Augustana and Elmhurst being the other two.

In two years, the name “Brady Zimmer” will be a big one on the small college recruiting trail. Jordan’s younger brother started at PG this year as a sophomore, averaging 13 ppg…he is going to be a stud as a junior and senior. Jordan's parents are Doug (an IWU alum) and Beth Zimmer...Doug was a track star at IWU, graduating in '88. Jordan's grandfather, Duane Sampen, also played basketball at Illinois Wesleyan (Class of 1959)...with my father actually.

Below are a few Jordan Zimmer-related links. Welcome to Jordan and the entire Zimmer family!

Pantagraph (April 3, 2008)

WMBD TV feature

Pantagraph feature (Jan. 30, 2008)

IBCA 1A/2A all-state team

IHSS Class 1A all-state team

AP all-state team

IBS Small School all-state team