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!