A terrific class from A to Z - Illinois Wesleyan recruiting recap (Class of 2014)

Ron Rose has done it again, Titan fans. After leading his team to the NCAA Division III Elite 8 in 2009-10, Rose has landed another outstanding recruiting class. This group is deep, diverse, and extremely talented. Quoting City/Suburban Hoops Report, "At the Division III ranks, perhaps no school has brought in a better class featuring Illinois prep players than coach Ron Rose at Illinois Wesleyan."

Below you will find notes on these talented young men heading to Bloomington.


* Nick Anderson (6-9 F/C, Edwardsville H.S.) - 3.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg

* Victor Davis (6-5 F, Galesburg H.S.) - 17.8 ppg, 12.7 rpg

* Eric Dortch (6-4 F, Wilbaham & Monson Academy, Evanston H.S. '09)

* Joe LaTulip (5-10 PG, Prospect H.S.) - 15.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.0 apg

* Mike Mayberger (6-5 SF, St. Louis U. High, Mo.) - 12.1 ppg, 5.5 apg

* Kyle Miklasz (6-4 SG, Hersey H.S.) - 13.2 ppg

* Andrew Ziemnik (6-4 F, Oswego H.S.) - 18.5 ppg, 11.3 rpg

* Brady Zimmer (6-4 G, Delavan H.S.) - 29.3 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.4 apg

Brady Zimmer (6-4 G, Delavan H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

In 6-4 Delavan combo guard Brady Zimmer, Ron Rose has landed a big-time talent. As a senior Zimmer averaged 29.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He was 299-549 from the field (.545), 45-124 from 3 (.363) and 265-303 from the FT line (.875).

He was named the AP Class A 1st Team all-state, IBCA 1A/2A 1st Team all-state, and Chicago Sun Times Class A 1st Team all-state. So far he has been named the Pantagraph Area Player of the Year (all levels), and the Pekin Times 1A/2A Player of the Year. He holds the Delavan H.S. record for points in a game (46), season (908), and career (2048).

While his high school numbers are eerily similar to his brother’s (he passed Jordan on the all-time Delavan scoring list with the last basket of his career), Brady is a different basketball player. Whereas Jordan Zimmer (a 2/3) is a pure 3-point shooter first, Brady is a slasher. Brady does shoot it well…just not quite as well as Jordan. And while Jordan is learning to handle the ball a lot better, he doesn’t have the handles Brady does. With the skill set he has, Brady could end up being a very good player at the 1, 2, or 3 at IWU. He will have to work hard and develop, just as junior-to-be Jordan is in the process of doing as a collegiate player -- it is a huge step up from IHSA Class 1A to the CCIW. I think how he develops in handling the ball will determine if he ends up as IWU’s next point-guard, or as more of 2 or 3.

While different players, the biggest similarity between Jordan and Brady (outside of their long, thin frames) is their work ethic. Some of the articles linked to below really paint a picture of how hard they work. For example, from the Pekin Times piece…

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“My brother and I, our games aren’t very similar, but if you compare our work ethics, they’re pretty similar,” Brady said. “He was working really hard when I was a freshman, so I followed him because I figured that’s what I had to do if I wanted to be as good as him.

“I started going in the mornings with him, and we’d work together. We shot a lot of shots. That’s what gave me the year I was able to have. His work ethic showed me what it takes to be successful.”

“Brady has a work ethic second to none,” said Delavan coach Ryon Kramer. “He’s been blessed with God-given ability, but he has not just gotten by on that. He’s put in so much time and effort into becoming the player he is.”
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Brady Zimmer is a 4.0 student (as Jordan was at Delavan), and to say he is a “high character kid” would be an understatement.


Pantagraph Player of the Year

Pekin Times 1A/2A Player of the Year

IBCA 1A/2A all-state team

Pantagraph feature (Jan. 2010)

Andrew Ziemnik (6-4 F, Oswego H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

Even though undersized for a power forward, Oswego's 6-4 Andrew Ziemnik had a huge high school career. As a junior he led his team to Peoria, averaging 16.7 points and 10.2 rebounds. In 2009-10 he averaged 18.5 points and 11.3 rebounds. He was named to the 4th Team of the IBCA 3A/4A all-state team.

Ziemnik is a fierce competitor, a very physical player on both ends of the floor, and a relentless rebounder. The biggest question mark for him at the next level is obviously his height. Can he do what he did in high school vs 6-6 and 6-7 players in the CCIW?

I've spoken to multiple people who have seen Ziemnik play (unaffiliated with IWU) who all kind of say the same thing - "this kid just knows how to play." It also sounds like he is the kind of kid who will not be outworked.

Sounds like Ron Rose found a good one in Andrew Ziemnik.


"Oswego's Ziemnik puts on a show"

IBCA 3A/4A all-state team

Kyle Miklasz (6-4 SG, Hersey H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

Ron Rose may have landed a late steal in 6-4 shooting guard Kyle Miklasz of Hersey. City/Suburban Hoops Report has Miklasz rated as the #66 senior in the IHSA Class of 2010...only IWU's Victor Davis (#62) is rated higher among current D3 recruits.

As a senior at Hersey, Miklasz averaged 13.2 points per game. He shot 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. Miklasz scored 32 points in the 4A state tournament vs Lake Zurich, connecting on 9 3-pointers.

Miklasz brings great size at the 2 and can really shoot it. He has a chance to be a good player at Illinois Wesleyan.

Video 1

Video 2

Daily Herald Northwest All-Area Team

Mike Mayberger (6-5 SF, St. Louis U. High, Mo.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

In Mike Mayberger, Ron Rose has found a wing player with great size (6-5), who can shoot the basketball. As a senior at St. Louis University High, Mayberger averaged 12.1 points and 5.5 rebounds.

I see Mayberger developing on the JV team for 2 years and then competing for time at the wing as a JR and SR. I saw him play twice this year and he reminds me a lot of senior-to-be Matt Schick - one of those players that does a lot of things well.

Joe LaTulip (5-10 PG, Prospect H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

Some kids just know how to play the game the right way, and Prospect's Joe LaTulip is one of those. LaTulip plays with heart and is a fierce competitor.

Playing for former Titan John Camardella (2003), the 5-10 point-guard had a big senior season, averaging 15.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. He shot 45% from 3-point range and 81% from the FT line.

Joe is undersized, and he'll have a lot of talented guards around him at Illinois Wesleyan, but don't bet against him earning his way into the varsity mix at some point. He can play.


Daily Herald Northwest All-Area Team

Eric Dortch (6-4 F, Evanston Township H.S. '09) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

Eric Dortch comes to Illinois Wesleyan from Wilbraham & Monson Academy. He spent the 2009-10 season at the Massachusetts prep school after graduating from Evanston Township H.S. in 2009.

The strong, athletic, and versatile combo forward seems to be the wildcard in the IWU Class of 2014 - no one seems quite sure what the Titans are getting in Dortch, but it's clear he has a huge upside.

Dortch was a very highly regarded player as a JR and SR at Evanston and received significant scholarship level attention. He was offered by Ivy League Penn, as well as D2's Missouri Tech and St. Joseph's. From the New England Basketball Reporting Report (November 2009)...

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Eric Dortch is a post-graduate from Illinois who is capable of starring at a couple of different positions from Wilbraham this year. Dortch is a six-foot-five forward with a strong body and good athleticism. He scores going to the rim, shows signs of a devastating mid-range game, and is also capable of being the team’s best defensive player. Dortch previously committed to Pennsylvania but is now generating interest from a variety of other division I schools after opening up his recruitment.
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Like everyone else, I'm not 100% sure what to expect from Eric Dortch, but I think Ron Rose may have found a steal here.


Photo

Wilbraham & Monson duo off the board

Chicagohoops.com mention, July '09

"Dortch takes on big role" (Evanston Review)

Victor Davis (6-5 F, Galesburg H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

In Galesburg standout Victor Davis, Ron Rose has landed that "scholarship caliber" player every Division III coach works very hard to find. Davis is the headliner in the incredibly talented IWU Class of 2014 and has a chance to be a star player for the Titans. City/Suburban Hoops Report calls Davis, "perhaps the premier Division III in-state recruit."

The 6-5 combo forward is a physical specimen, built like a Division I post player. As a senior he averaged 17.8 points and 12.7 rebounds, earning 3rd Team all-state honors on the IBCA 3A/4A team. He received interest from a number of D1 schools, but never received an offer. But Division 2 Quincy pursued him aggressively and did offer a scholarship.

Davis should present big matchup problems for opponents at the D3 level. If you put a bigger defender, he'll take you off the dribble...go with a smaller player and he'll post-up. On the other end of the floor, he is a relentless rebounder.

Davis has a very good chance to make an immediate impact at the varsity level for the Titans...even considering how loaded the Titans will be in 2010-11 and how many options they currently have at the 4. Victor Davis has a chance to be a special player at Illinois Wesleyan.


Relentless Rose lands Victor Davis (Galesburg Register-Mail)

"Davis headed to Illinois Wesleyan" (Galesburg Register-Mail)

Victor Davis simply amazing (Galesburg Register-Mail)

Nick Anderson (6-9 F/C, Edwardsville H.S.) - Illinois Wesleyan Class of 2014

Heading into 2009-10, Nick Anderson was considered a priority recruiting target by several top Division III programs. By October 2009, Illinois Wesleyan, Wash U, Williams, Wheaton and others were on the 6-9 center with a tremendous academic profile. He was even contacted by a few low D1 schools.

Before his senior season ever tipped off, Anderson suffered a broken hand. The injury sidelined him for several weeks. When he finally returned, he was only used for 3-4 minutes at a time, and he was primarily used at the small forward spot (which is not his natural position). He was hardly used in the low post at all. When the dust settled on the season, Anderson averaged just 3.0 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Because his final season at Edwardsville was so quiet statistically, Anderson very well may be the real sleeper of this year's IWU recruiting class. He is a legitimate 6-9...maybe even closer to 6-10. And he is not just tall, he is also skilled. Now, it seems clear Anderson will not come to Bloomington ready to contribute as a freshman. He will need to hit the weight room hard and add muscle, and he will need to develop his low post skills and overall game. Anderson has never really been used as a pure center, so he'll get a great chance to learn how to play the 5 at the JV level. He will definitely be a work in progress when he gets to campus in the late-summer.

I've spoken with assistant coaches at some of the other schools that recruited Anderson and they all say the same thing Ron Rose does -- that Nick Anderson could end up being a very good player at Illinois Wesleyan.