Recruiting 2009 -- The Titan Class of 2013
Randy Reinhardt stories courtesy of the Bloomington Pantagraph
Bontemps, Tyler (6-4 F, Lincoln Land CC, Belleville East H.S.)
Ghere, Bradley (5-11 PG, Ridgeview H.S.)
Oswald, Dan (6-2 SG, Riverside-Brookfield H.S.)
Radliff, Luke (6-5 SF, Mahomet-Seymour H.S.)
Reed, Kevin (6-7 PF, Hersey H.S.)
IWUhoops.com Recruiting Archives:
Titans get commitment from shooting guard
By Randy Reinhardt
BLOOMINGTON -- Dan Oswald, a shooting guard from Riverside-Brookfield High School, has informed Illinois Wesleyan basketball coach Ron Rose he will play for the Titans.
“Dan is a tremendous outside shooter. Titan fans will like the passion and intensity with which he plays,” Rose said Monday. “He’s a fierce competitor. He’s a great fit for what we need right now.”
The 6-foot-2 Oswald missed 14 games his senior season after suffering a broken wrist. He averaged 17 points to help Riverside-Brookfield to a 24-3 record.
“I loved everything about it,” Oswald said of IWU. “All the guys on the team were down to earth. Coach Rose is a great guy and a great coach as well. I loved the overall atmosphere.”
Oswald shot 45 percent from 3-point range as a senior.
“He’s a pure shooter, but he also can handle the ball. His overall game is very solid,” said Rose. “He was one of our primary targets we wanted to bring in.”
Oswald admits to being a “shooter first. I’ve been a two guard all my life, but I’ve played some point, too. I focus on defense and try to play hard.”
Ridgeview basketball star Bradley Ghere to play at IWU
By Randy Reinhardt
BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Tournament has brought Bradley Ghere to Illinois Wesleyan’s Shirk Center many times. Ghere has decided he will come back on his own.
Ridgeview High School’s Class 1A second-team All-State selection said Wednesday he will attend IWU and play basketball for the Titans, who have also landed Prospect forward Kevin Reed.
“It’s a great gym to play in, a good shooting gym. I definitely have shot well there,” Ghere said. “I’ve had a great relationship with Coach (Ron) Rose. I played with the team over the summer and I really like the guys.”
The 5-foot-11 Ghere ranked fourth in the Pantagraph area at 23.0 points per game last season, first in 3-pointers (130), first in assists (5.2) and fifth in free-throw percentage (85.3).
“The thing that stands out when you watch Bradley is how hard he plays. He plays with a passion,” Rose said. “He can really shoot the ball and shoot it with great range. Being their primary scorer, he found ways to get off his shots.”
Ghere helped Ridgeview to a 29-4 record as the Mustangs advanced to the 1A super-sectional level. He was a first-team choice on the Pantagraph All-Area team.
“Bradley is an outstanding player and a hard worker. That will prove him well at the next level,” said Ridgeview coach Rodney Kellar. “He’s a great shooter and a great competitor. I think he’ll fit in well at Illinois Wesleyan. He’ll get better because he’ll work at it.”
Ghere is looking forward to playing with IWU’s talented returning stable of guards that includes Sean Dwyer, Travis Rosenkranz, Sean Johnson and Jordan Zimmer.
“Those great guards will make me better,” Ghere said. “I have to work on getting stronger, and I have to learn to play smart defense. The next level will be more physical.”
At 6-7, 220 pounds, Reed averaged 13.5 points for a 21-8 Prospect team coached by former IWU player John Camardella.
Reed also led the Knights in rebounding (9.5), assists (3.7) and blocked shots (3.0).
“Kevin has always had a knack around the basket. He finishes well and this year he developed his mid-range (shot) a little bit,” said Camardella. “He’s one of the best passing big men in our area. He’s got the skills, no doubt.”
Rose said he cannot comment on Reed because he has yet to receive Reed’s enrollment contract.
Mahomet's Radliff to play basketball for IWU men
By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- All-Corn Belt Conference performer Luke Radliff of Mahomet-Seymour High School will attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball for the Titans.
“I really like the fact they have a good team coming back next year, and I could be part of a winning tradition,” Radliff said. “Playing time will be tough to earn, but it gives you something to work for.”
The 6-foot-5 Radliff averaged 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds for a Bulldogs’ team that finished 16-12. He shot 79.6 percent from the free throw line.
“Luke is quality young man and a quality player. He showed a lot of improvement over his time at Mahomet,” said IWU coach Ron Rose. “He’s got a nice outside shot and a scoring mentality. He has the length and athletic ability to get shots off in a variety of places on the floor.”
Radliff says he is “175 pounds soaking wet. I’m pretty skinny. I need to work over the summer on getting bigger and stronger.”
Mahomet-Seymour coach Chad Benedict called Radliff “a very good scorer. He has the ability to score inside and out and has a knack for getting to the free throw line. He has deep 3-point range and at 6-5 is able to get his shot off.”
Lincoln Land's Tyler Bontemps picks IWU
By Pantagraph staff
Tyler Bontemps of Lincoln Land Community College has committed to play at Wesleyan next season. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Bontemps averaged 4.8 points and 3.8 rebounds at Lincoln Land last season. He will have three seasons of eligibility with the Titans. The son of former University of Illinois player Kevin Bontemps attended Belleville East High School and averaged 10 points and 6.3 rebounds as a senior.