Recruiting 2003 -- The Titan Class of 2007
Student/Athlete Commitments to IWU
Freeman, Andrew & Zach (Normal Community H.S.)
Smith, Tyler (Tolono Unity H.S.)
Freeman, Andrew & Zach (6'7 Forwards, Normal Community H.S.)
"Freeman Twins from Normal Select IWU"
April 22, 2003
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This week, Scott Trost got the news he has been hoping to get for months. 6-7 identical twins Zach and Andrew Freeman -- who will graduate from Normal Community High School next month -- advised the 2nd year Titan head coach that they have decided to attend Illinois Wesleyan University. The Freemans helped the Normal Community Ironmen to a 24-4 campaign in 2002-03 - one of the schools best men's basketball seasons ever.
"We're extremely excited that Zach and Andrew have decided to become part of the Titan family," said Trost. "We identified them very early in our recruiting process. They are quality young men and they have a chance to be really good players at Illinois Wesleyan."
Zach averaged 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game for the Class AA Ironmen. He shot 62.8% from the field and 77.4% from the FT line. Andrew averaged 8.4 points behind 44% field goal shooting and 75.6% from the charity stripe, and 4.2 rebounds.
Zach was named to the Big 12 Conference "1st Team", as well as the Pantagraph's All-Area Team.
Andrew Excited to Join Trost, Current Players
Andrew's primary pursuers were Division 1 Murray State, and Division III schools Augustana, Elmhurst, and Carthage.
"I really liked the coaching staff at Wesleyan," said Andrew. "I think what put me over the edge in deciding to come to Wesleyan was the players…they are great guys," he said.
Andrew explained that he is looking forward to playing for Trost. "He is just a real nice guy and he has some great coaching experience," he said. "In the end, I felt like coach Trost had the most ability to help me become the best basketball player I can be."
Zach Sees the 'Whole Package' at IWU
Zach was pursued by the same 4 schools that recruited Andrew, as well as Division 1 Wisconsin-Green Bay and Indiana State.
"I just liked everything about Wesleyan," said Zach. "It is the best school academically of the ones I considered, and it has the best facility of the small schools. Overall Wesleyan just seems to have the whole package."
When asked to describe his game, Zach stated, "I can score from inside and outside, and I think I am a good finisher around the basket." Zach scored 27 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in his final high school game - a 66-60 regional championship loss at Pekin.
NCHS Coach Witzig Happy About Decision
Dave Witzig, the 4th year head basketball coach at Normal Community, said he is pleased Zach and Andrew chose Illinois Wesleyan. "I am very glad I will get to see them play for the next four years," said Witzig. "When our underclassmen heard the news, in fact, they were excited too - they were talking about getting to see Zach and Andrew play at the Shirk Center."
Witzig, who played collegiately at NAIA Olivet Nazarene in the '90s, feels the Freemans have a chance to be very good small college players. "Wesleyan is just a really good fit for them," he said. "Zach and Andrew can really shoot the basketball, and shooting the ball and making big shots has always been a Wesleyan trademark."
Witzig feels the primary area of developmental emphasis for the Freemans should be increasing strength. "I know how big and strong the guys in that league (CCIW) are now, and Zach and Andrew will need to hit the weights," said Witzig. "They are hard workers, and I am sure they will do that."
Trost Says Freemans Will Add Versatility
"Zach and Andrew fit in perfectly with our young guys, because they can do so many things," said Trost. "They can play inside or away from the basket."
Witzig agrees. "In our offense, I asked Andrew to play away from the basket, and he shot more 3's than Zach," he explained. "Zach played more around the hoop, but also got to create and shoot away from the basket." He added, "They can both do it all - they can shoot, they can dunk, they rebound, play defense…and they will continue to improve at Wesleyan."
Trost says the Freemans will be a nice compliment to versatile young players like 6-5 Mike McKean (CPCI), 6-6 Steve Schweer (Hinsdale Central), 6-5 Chris Jones (Thornwood), and 6-5 Cory Jones (Thornwood). "We will have a lot of talent at the 3 and 4 spots next year…we are going to be really athletic," said Trost. "I expect Zach and Andrew to be right in the competition for (playing) time."
The Freemans will become the second set of identical twins on the Illinois Wesleyan roster next year, joining Chris and Cory Jones. Coincidentally, the Freemans and Joneses played against each other at the Shirk Center in 2001. Normal Community faced Thornwood in the State Farm Holiday Classic.
Zach and Andrew are the sons of Bob and Sheree Freeman of Normal. Both work at Normal Community High School. Bob is the assistant principal and Sheree is a teacher.
Amazingly, Illinois Wesleyan has only had one men's basketball player from Normal Community in it's history -- Chad Hutson ('95). Hutson, IWU's single season assist record holder (198 in 1994-95), is glad to finally have more Ironmen on the Titan roster. "I have seen the Freemans play many times - they are very good." Hutson did find one drawback, however. "I currently hold all of records at IWU for an N.C.H.S. player. My scoring and rebounding records may fall in the next few years."
Smith, Tyler (6'5 Forward, Tolono Unity H.S.)
"Tolono all-stater picks IWU"
By Randy Sharer
Pantagraph staff, May 2, 2003
2003 IBCA Class A All-State Team
BLOOMINGTON -- Illinois Wesleyan's basketball recruiting for next season came to an end Thursday when Tolono Unity High School star Tyler Smith announced he will become a Titan.
Smith is a 6-foot-5, 185-pound wing player who helped Tolono Unity place fourth in the Class A state tournament his junior season when he averaged 17.1 points per game.
The Rockets were 25-8 that year and went 26-5 last season as Smith averaged 18.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He shot 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.
Smith was a three-year starter who scored more than 1,400 career points.
"I really liked the community and the school setting," Smith said of IWU. "The coaching staff made me feel at home. The players were very nice to me and my family. I felt I fit in with all the players."
Smith chose IWU over Augustana, Millikin and DePauw. He viewed IWU's current 10-member freshman class as a positive rather than a negative.
"It was a concern, but also it was a positive," he said. "I'll be with the same group for three years. Hopefully we can grow together and win together."
Smith rounds out a recruiting class which includes Normal Community twins Zach and Andrew Freeman.
"He's a good player," said IWU coach Scott Trost of Smith. "We're delighted he decided to come and be a part of the Titan program. With the Freemans and Tyler -- in addition to the nucleus we've got coming back -- we should be an exciting team. It will be a fun team to coach."
Trost gives Smith high marks for his passing and 3-point shooting skills. Smith used those talents to earn Illinois Basketball Coaches Association first-team all-state honors. He will play for the Class A South in the June 21 IBCA all-star game at Shirk Center.
"I think he has a great knowledge of the game," Trost said. "He's a winner."
Tolono Unity coach Lance Freeman said IWU is getting a versatile player who was named the Illini Central Conference player of the year.
"He played both inside and out, but mainly on the perimeter, which I think will help him at Illinois Wesleyan," Freeman said. "He can shoot the ball from deep and take the ball on the dribble.
"He's right-handed and he takes it left extremely well. The biggest asset he has is he understands the game real well and he loves the game."
Smith, who is undecided on a major, has a 3.9 grade point average and ranks third in his class. He posted a 27 ACT score.
"I think his decision is very good," Freeman said. "I think that's the prefect fit for him."
Trost doesn't expect to announce any other recruits for a program which next season will have two seniors (Jim Lehan and John O'Brien), one junior (Steve Jeretina) and 10 sophomores (Adam Dauksas, Keelan Amelianovich, Steve Schweer, Mike McKean, Jason Fisher, Matt Arnold, Cory Jones, Chris Jones, Mike McGraw and Blake Schulenberg).
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"Tyler Smith Named Champaign News Gazette "Player of the Year"
By JEFF MEZYDLO
News-Gazette Staff Writer
TOLONO – There's not much Lance Freeman can think of when trying to separate Tyler Smith the basketball player from Tyler Smith the person.
“You see what you get,” said Freeman, Unity's third-year coach. “His demeanor is quite the same: calm, cool and collected all the time.”
Want to dig up dirt on the Unity star? Good luck. Looking for the meaning of what makes him tick? Wake me when it's over.
What we do know is - the 6-foot-5 Smith likes to play pool, eat a foot-long melt from Subway before games and grab some LaBamba with teammate Andy Eisenmenger. We also know he can play basketball.
It's consumed a good chunk of his time since he was in third grade.
“He has really never had a real job in his life, except for detasseling (corn) in the summers,” Eisenmenger said.
“I hated it,” Smith said with a smile.
Basketball has been his life, and he expects it to be in the future as he decides where to play in college (it's down to Illinois Wesleyan and Augustana). The Rockets' season ended earlier than expected, but Smith kept playing ball at the park near his Philo home.
That's how he's always been. It doesn't make him dull or less fun to be around; he's just a casual kid who takes a positive, laid-back approach to life and finds success in what he likes to do. He is the 2002-03 News-Gazette All-Area Player of the Year.
A life no-less ordinary
When Freeman came to Unity three years ago, he quickly realized what type of person he had in the then-sophomore Smith.
“I'd open the gym at 7 o'clock in the morning for anybody who wanted to come,” Freeman said. “Tyler was one of those kids in here every morning.”
Two years later, as a senior, nothing changed.
“He would come in at 7 in the morning almost every day to shoot,” Eisenmenger said.
Whether it be at the park, at home or in a gym, Smith found time to play basketball. He doesn't brag about how much heloves the sport, or how good he is at it – though he is verygood.
He's a two-time Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state pick, making the first team this year. He averaged a double-double during the season and played huge in more big games this year than most kids will in their entire basketball careers from grade school to college.
He averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds and took over games against teams like Monticello, Rock Falls, Bismarck-Henning and Schlarman. He wowed the crowds and proved to opponents he was as good as advertised.
And he does it in stride.
“I'd say I'm pretty reserved,” said Smith, who also was a member of The News-Gazette's All-Area football team last season. “This year I started to come out a little more because we were looking for leaders, and somebody needed to step up and get us through things.”
He's always been that type of person. Around his friends or people he's comfortable with, he can relax and open up. As his confidence reached new heights this year, he did the same as a basketball player. It allowed those on the outside to get a feel for what Smith has to offer inside.
“He's not really an outspoken kid,” Freeman said. “Out on the floor, we'd like for him to step up and be a leader. He did get to a point later in the year when he did get more emotional.
“We've developed a friendship over the last three years, and when we're together we cangive each other a hard time, but he's calm.But when the game's on the line, he wants the ball.”
Just the way he is
It was less than 24 hours after the Rockets' season ended in heartbreaking fashion against Monticello in the Class A sectional semifinals, but Smith didn't sulk.
“I think we actually played at the park the day after,” said Smith, who moments earlier was shooting baskets with a soccer ball in Unity's old gym wearing jeans and a T-shirt.
“I didn't have anything else to do,” Smith said. “That's just what I always do.”
It shouldn't have been a surprise to anybody who knows him. Basketball is an outlet, a way to get through the down times. He doesn't show a lot of anger – or even a lot of joy – in public, and he's likely to just pick up a ball and kill time.
His friends are grateful for Smith's attitude. Really, they are alike in most ways.
“We're all pretty laid back,” said Smith, who takes the same approach in the classroom and started the year with a 3.9 grade-point average. “We just like hanging out together. I'm not the joker or anything.”
He has an eye on the future. He's not sure what he'll study in college, but his knowledge of basketball might make him a perfect coach one day.
“He is a very smart kid all around,” Freeman said. “His basketball IQ is great. Things he says in timeouts, practice or one-on-one, I tell my coaches, ‘Listen to him talk. It's the same thing that would come out of all our mouths.' ”
Smith has entertained the idea but isn't worried about that.
For now, he'll prepare for college, listen to his mom hassle him about getting a job and play more basketball at the park. He'll hang out with his buddies and laugh a lot. Eat more sub sandwiches, play more pool.
His demeanor likely won't change, no matter how reserved it might be – which is the way people like it.
“If my son grows up to be like Tyler Smith, my wife and I will be very, very happy,” said Freeman, whose son Jaxon is 7 months old. “That's probably the ultimate compliment I can give to Tyler or anybody.”
You can reach Jeff Mezydlo at (217) 351-5604 or via e-mail at jmezydlo@news-gazette.com.