Recruiting 2004 -- The Titan Class of 2008
Student/Athlete Commitments to IWU
Bloom, Jason (6-5 Forward, Normal Community H.S.)
Bryant, Kevin (6-2 Guard, Batavia H.S.)
Caywood, John (6-3 Guard, Normal Community H.S.)
Gant, Darius (6-4 Forward, Oswego H.S.)
Manus, Stephen (6-5 Forward, Forreston H.S.)
Nussbaum, Brian (6-6 Forward, Homewood-Flossmoor)
Bloom, Jason (6-5 Forward, Normal Community)
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Recruits familiar with IWU players
By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- Neither Jason Bloom nor Brian Nussbaum will feel like a stranger when they walk into the Illinois Wesleyan basketball locker room as freshman recruits this fall.
Both Bloom of Normal Community High School and Nussbaum of Homewood-Flossmoor will be reunited with former high school teammates when they join the Titans.
The 6-foot-5 Bloom is the second Ironmen player to commit to IWU this spring. Bloom and John Caywood also will find former high school teammates Andrew and Zach Freeman at Wesleyan.
"It's kind of ironic, four from the same high school," Bloom said. "We all got along (at NCHS) so I'm sure we'll do well at the next level."
Bloom averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds as a senior at NCHS. He also handed out 123 assists for the seventh best single-season total in school history and led the Ironmen with 54 steals.
"We're excited to add Jason to the Illinois Wesleyan program," IWU coach Scott Trost said. "I like Jason's competitivness. He brings a lot of passion and desire to succeed. I look forward to him making contributions to the success of our program."
Bloom was a first team all-Big 12 Conference selection and a second team Pantagraph All Area pick this past season.
"I really like how they do things there. I've always really liked the program," said Bloom. "Growing up, (former IWU All-America guard) Korey Coon was my summer basketball coach, and he always had good things to say about Wesleyan. To be part of that will be cool."
Bloom and Caywood helped NCHS to a 22-8 record and to the Class AA sectional championship round.
"I always compared Jason to what Scottie Pippen did for the Bulls," Ironmen coach Dave Witzig said. "He guarded the other team's best scorer, he brought the ball up, he could play point (guard) or he could play in the post.
"He was the glue that held our team together. His versatility will really be to his advantage in college."
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Nussbaum played with Titans' junior-to-be guard Adam Dauksas at Homewood-Flossmoor.
"Adam has taught me a lot about the school. It gave me a feel for what it's like to be a basketball player down there," Nussbaum said. "It's nice knowing somebody down there who has been through the beginning of it."
Nussbaum averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a star-studded Vikings' team that placed second at the Class AA State Tournament with a 31-3 record.
"Brian is someone we identified real early as a (potential) player here at Illinois Wesleyan," said Trost. "He wasn't the first or second option on that team, but he's the consummate team player.
"I think Brian is a three (small forward). He's a great passer. He sees the floor really well. He's going to be a really good player here."
Nussbaum turned down scholarship offers from Division I Army and Division II North Dakota, Quincy and Winona State.
"I love Illinois Wesleyan as a school in general," he said. "It's fantastic academically. Then when you put that together with the great basketball tradition and how Bloomington-Normal is a huge basketball town, this is the best place for me in both aspects."
Nussbaum was a three-year starter at Homewood-Flossmoor and a two-year honorable mention all-conference choice.
Dauksas is happy Nussbaum will be a teammate once again.
"He works really hard and is a good athlete. He does a lot of good things on the court," Dauksas said. "I never pestered him. He would be a friend no matter what he decided.
"I just pointed out all the good things Wesleyan has to offer. It was a good match for him."
Trost, who also has a commitment from Oswego's Darius Gant, expects to add to his recruiting class later this week.
Bryant, Kevin (6-2 Guard, Batavia H.S.)
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Forward, guard add to Titans' recruiting class
By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com, 5/6/04
BLOOMINGTON -- A month ago, Illinois Wesleyan basketball coach Scott Trost was a bit pessimistic about his incoming recruiting class.
"It was hard to recruit with our whole team coming back," said Trost, who returns seven of his top eight players from a 21-7 team.
In the past month, that pessimism has taken a major turn.
The additions of 6-foot-5 forward Stephen Manus of Forreston High School and 6-2 guard Kevin Bryant of Batavia bring to six the number of recruits headed to IWU.
"I'm ecstatic the way it's turned out," Trost said. "The guys we targeted and identified as players are good enough to play at IWU. They fit the type of player and student we're looking for."
Bryant averaged 19.3 points and hit 79 3-pointers as a senior at Batavia. He also averaged six rebounds and six assists. He is a potential heir apparent to Titan junior-to-be point guard Adam Dauksas.
"Kevin can play one (point guard) or two (shooting guard). He's a very, very heady player. He's an extension of a coach on the floor," Trost said. "He shoots the ball well and makes good decisions.
"He was raised in a basketball family so he has a great understanding of how the game is played. I fully expect Kevin to contribute to this program and be an important part of Illinois Wesleyan basketball."
Bryant is part of a prominent Aurora-area basketball family. His father, John, played at Marquette, while his uncle, Jay, played at Northern Illinois. Four members of the Bryant family have played in the state tournament for Aurora West.
"I brought the ball up the floor and did a lot of shooting," Kevin Bryant said. "Leadership is a strong point. I see the floor well and make good decisions. I'm good at not forcing things and letting the flow of the game take place."
The 170-pound Bryant was a first-team all-area selection of the Aurora Beacon News and Arlington Heights Daily Herald and a two-time first-team all-Suburban Prairie Conference performer.
Bryant does not consider the Titans' returning talent a negative.
"That didn't deter me at all. I think that will help me improve. There's still room for guard playing time next year and the year after," he said. "I considered a few other schools, but I've known Wesleyan was my choice for awhile."
The 185-pound Manus averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds as a senior. He is a two-time all-Northwest Upstate Illini Conference selection.
"Stephen is very, very athletic and he competes," Trost said. "He had to play with his back to the basket this year. I'm not sure that's his best position. He could play three (small forward) or four (power forward). He's a very good rebounder. He can get to the rim.
"He's going to be a very, very good CCIW (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) player. He's athletic like Zach (Freeman), but he reminds me of how Steve (Schweer) plays."
Manus also was recruited by CCIW rival Augustana.
"I play pretty aggressive. I like to compete," he said. "The (IWU) coaches and players were about as friendly as they get. I feel like it's the place for me."
Bryant and Manus join the Normal Community pair of John Caywood and Jason Bloom, Homewood-Flossmoor's Brian Nussbaum and Oswego's Darius Gant as Titan recruits.
Trost said the possibility exists he is not done adding to his recruiting class.
Return of JV team likely
Trost indicated IWU will likely play at least a partial junior varsity schedule next season after having no JV team a year ago.
"The way it looks, we'll probably have some form of JV," Trost said. "I'm guessing we'll probably have some JV games, but how many I'm not sure."
Caywood, John (6-3 Guard, Normal Community H.S.)
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Caywood picks IWU
By Randy Reinhardt, 4/1/04
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
NORMAL -- Normal Community High School standout John Caywood is well aware of the talent the Illinois Wesleyan basketball team has coming back.
Caywood wants to be part of the talent the Titans have coming up. The 6-foot-3 Ironmen senior has committed to attend IWU and play basketball for Coach Scott Trost.
"That's a good thing," Caywood said of IWU returning seven of its top eight players from a 21-7 team. "At some of the other schools I might have had a better chance to play right away, but I would sacrifice that to play for a team that will contend for a championship. I just want to be part of a winning program."
Caywood averaged 11.3 points and nailed 58 3-pointers to help NCHS to a 22-8 record this past season. He also shot 80.8 percent from the free-throw line.
"I'm excited John has decided to join the IWU family," Trost said. "We look forward to him contributing to our program for the next four years."
Caywood was a first-team selection on The Pantagraph's All-Area team and the Big 12 Conference all-star team.
"I'm really happy for John he will be able to continue on and play at the next level," said NCHS coach Dave Witzig. "The guy loves to play basketball. He has a real passion for the game. He had a great senior year. I think he will fit in well at Wesleyan."
Caywood, who is No. 7 on the NCHS career 3-pointers list, will join former Ironmen teammates Andrew and Zach Freeman as Titans.
"I played with them for three years. I know them pretty well," said Caywood. "I got a chance to go to a lot of (IWU) games and see how things went there. I know some of the guys on the team. They all seem like great guys. And Coach Trost does a great job with them."
"I know Wesleyan is going to be awesome the next few years," Witzig said. "I'm glad Normal Community players will be a part of it."
Caywood believes he will need to become stronger to succeed at IWU.
"I definitely need to get stronger and work on my defense," he said. "It's a little more physical game at the college level."
Gant, Darius (6-4 G/F, Oswego H.S.)
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IWU lands basketball recruit Gant
By Randy Reinhardt, 4/27/04
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- Versatile Oswego High School senior Darius Gant has committed to attend Illinois Wesleyan and play basketball for Titans' coach Scott Trost.
A 6-foot-4 guard-forward, Gant averaged 14.7 points, 11.8 rebounds and two steals his senior season to earn second team honors on the Aurora Beacon News All-Area team.
"He is very competitive and a very good athlete," Trost said. "He's more of a slasher now, but he has the game that he could evolve into a very good player in our league. We feel very fortunate to have him."
Gant was known as Mark Gant at Oswego, but said he prefers to go by his middle name, Darius.
"I like the whole basketball atmosphere and how much support the people of Bloomington showed the team," Gant said. "I loved how they compete and how they're one of the best (Division III) teams in the nation every year. It seems like they have great team chemistry."
Trost said Gant is a solid shooter out to 16 feet and "has a great first step.
"He could play the two (shooting guard) or three (small forward) and maybe guard a four (power forward) if he had to."
"My strongest point is rebounding. I really rebound well," said Gant. "And I can get to the basket on the dribble drive and create like that."
Gant looks forward to joining an IWU team that was 21-7 and returns seven of its top eight players.
"I like to challenge myself," he said. "I want to prove I'm one of the best players even as a freshman."
Gant joins Normal Community guard John Caywood in IWU's recruiting class.
The Titans expect a decision from Homewood-Flossmoor forward Brian Nussbaum later this week.
The 6-6 Nussbaum has narrowed his choices to IWU and Division II North Dakota.
Manus, Stephen (6-5 Forward, Forreston H.S.)
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Forward, guard add to Titans' recruiting class
By Randy Reinhardt
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com, 5/6/04
BLOOMINGTON -- A month ago, Illinois Wesleyan basketball coach Scott Trost was a bit pessimistic about his incoming recruiting class.
"It was hard to recruit with our whole team coming back," said Trost, who returns seven of his top eight players from a 21-7 team.
In the past month, that pessimism has taken a major turn.
The additions of 6-foot-5 forward Stephen Manus of Forreston High School and 6-2 guard Kevin Bryant of Batavia bring to six the number of recruits headed to IWU.
"I'm ecstatic the way it's turned out," Trost said. "The guys we targeted and identified as players are good enough to play at IWU. They fit the type of player and student we're looking for."
Bryant averaged 19.3 points and hit 79 3-pointers as a senior at Batavia. He also averaged six rebounds and six assists. He is a potential heir apparent to Titan junior-to-be point guard Adam Dauksas.
"Kevin can play one (point guard) or two (shooting guard). He's a very, very heady player. He's an extension of a coach on the floor," Trost said. "He shoots the ball well and makes good decisions.
"He was raised in a basketball family so he has a great understanding of how the game is played. I fully expect Kevin to contribute to this program and be an important part of Illinois Wesleyan basketball."
Bryant is part of a prominent Aurora-area basketball family. His father, John, played at Marquette, while his uncle, Jay, played at Northern Illinois. Four members of the Bryant family have played in the state tournament for Aurora West.
"I brought the ball up the floor and did a lot of shooting," Kevin Bryant said. "Leadership is a strong point. I see the floor well and make good decisions. I'm good at not forcing things and letting the flow of the game take place."
The 170-pound Bryant was a first-team all-area selection of the Aurora Beacon News and Arlington Heights Daily Herald and a two-time first-team all-Suburban Prairie Conference performer.
Bryant does not consider the Titans' returning talent a negative.
"That didn't deter me at all. I think that will help me improve. There's still room for guard playing time next year and the year after," he said. "I considered a few other schools, but I've known Wesleyan was my choice for awhile."
The 185-pound Manus averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds as a senior. He is a two-time all-Northwest Upstate Illini Conference selection.
"Stephen is very, very athletic and he competes," Trost said. "He had to play with his back to the basket this year. I'm not sure that's his best position. He could play three (small forward) or four (power forward). He's a very good rebounder. He can get to the rim.
"He's going to be a very, very good CCIW (College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) player. He's athletic like Zach (Freeman), but he reminds me of how Steve (Schweer) plays."
Manus also was recruited by CCIW rival Augustana.
"I play pretty aggressive. I like to compete," he said. "The (IWU) coaches and players were about as friendly as they get. I feel like it's the place for me."
Bryant and Manus join the Normal Community pair of John Caywood and Jason Bloom, Homewood-Flossmoor's Brian Nussbaum and Oswego's Darius Gant as Titan recruits.
Trost said the possibility exists he is not done adding to his recruiting class.
Return of JV team likely
Trost indicated IWU will likely play at least a partial junior varsity schedule next season after having no JV team a year ago.
"The way it looks, we'll probably have some form of JV," Trost said. "I'm guessing we'll probably have some JV games, but how many I'm not sure."
Nussbaum, Brian (6-6 Forward, Homewood-Flossmoor)
Recruits familiar with IWU players
By Randy Reinhardt, 5/4/04
rreinhardt@pantagraph.com
BLOOMINGTON -- Neither Jason Bloom nor Brian Nussbaum will feel like a stranger when they walk into the Illinois Wesleyan basketball locker room as freshman recruits this fall.
Both Bloom of Normal Community High School and Nussbaum of Homewood-Flossmoor will be reunited with former high school teammates when they join the Titans.
The 6-foot-5 Bloom is the second Ironmen player to commit to IWU this spring. Bloom and John Caywood also will find former high school teammates Andrew and Zach Freeman at Wesleyan.
"It's kind of ironic, four from the same high school," Bloom said. "We all got along (at NCHS) so I'm sure we'll do well at the next level."
Bloom averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds as a senior at NCHS. He also handed out 123 assists for the seventh best single-season total in school history and led the Ironmen with 54 steals.
"We're excited to add Jason to the Illinois Wesleyan program," IWU coach Scott Trost said. "I like Jason's competitivness. He brings a lot of passion and desire to succeed. I look forward to him making contributions to the success of our program."
Bloom was a first team all-Big 12 Conference selection and a second team Pantagraph All Area pick this past season.
"I really like how they do things there. I've always really liked the program," said Bloom. "Growing up, (former IWU All-America guard) Korey Coon was my summer basketball coach, and he always had good things to say about Wesleyan. To be part of that will be cool."
Bloom and Caywood helped NCHS to a 22-8 record and to the Class AA sectional championship round.
"I always compared Jason to what Scottie Pippen did for the Bulls," Ironmen coach Dave Witzig said. "He guarded the other team's best scorer, he brought the ball up, he could play point (guard) or he could play in the post.
"He was the glue that held our team together. His versatility will really be to his advantage in college."
The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Nussbaum played with Titans' junior-to-be guard Adam Dauksas at Homewood-Flossmoor.
"Adam has taught me a lot about the school. It gave me a feel for what it's like to be a basketball player down there," Nussbaum said. "It's nice knowing somebody down there who has been through the beginning of it."
Nussbaum averaged 7.5 points and 4.0 rebounds for a star-studded Vikings' team that placed second at the Class AA State Tournament with a 31-3 record.
"Brian is someone we identified real early as a (potential) player here at Illinois Wesleyan," said Trost. "He wasn't the first or second option on that team, but he's the consummate team player.
"I think Brian is a three (small forward). He's a great passer. He sees the floor really well. He's going to be a really good player here."
Nussbaum turned down scholarship offers from Division I Army and Division II North Dakota, Quincy and Winona State.
"I love Illinois Wesleyan as a school in general," he said. "It's fantastic academically. Then when you put that together with the great basketball tradition and how Bloomington-Normal is a huge basketball town, this is the best place for me in both aspects."
Nussbaum was a three-year starter at Homewood-Flossmoor and a two-year honorable mention all-conference choice.
Dauksas is happy Nussbaum will be a teammate once again.
"He works really hard and is a good athlete. He does a lot of good things on the court," Dauksas said. "I never pestered him. He would be a friend no matter what he decided.
"I just pointed out all the good things Wesleyan has to offer. It was a good match for him."
Trost, who also has a commitment from Oswego's Darius Gant, expects to add to his recruiting class later this week.