April 7, 1999
COLLINS INKS JUCO GUARD TO HOOPS LETTER OF INTENT
University of Illinois at Chicago Head Coach Jimmy Collins has
received a
signed letter of intent from 6-foot-1 guard Taurus Cook (Decatur,
Ill./
Hutchinson CC) it was announced today.
Cook, who will be a junior this fall for the Flames, played his
first two seasons of collegiate basketball at Hutchinson Community College
in Hutchinson, Kan. As a sophomore last season, he was third on the squad
in scoring with 9.9 points while also tossing in team-bests of 109 assists
and 41 steals.
While playing in 28 games and starting seven, Cook directed the
Dragons from the point and helped them to a 23-7 overall record. He shot
39.3%(92-of-234) from the field, 33.3% (32-of-96) from three-point range
and 80.3% (61-of-76) at the charity stripe and averaged 3.3 rebounds while
his 10 blocked shots were second most on the team.
A Third Team Kansas Jayhawk Community College Western Division
All-Conference pick, Cook ranked fifth in the league for free throw
percentage (80.3) and seventh for assists per game (3.9). One of his best
games of the season came against Colby Community College in February as he
dished off 10 assists and tallied 17 points while the Dragon's rolled to a
114-74 victory.
The letter of intent from Cook raises the total number of recruits
Collins has inked to four as 6-foot-9 forwards Jabari Harris
(Broadview,
Ill./Fenwick) and Joe Scott (Palos Hills, Ill./Stagg) both signed
on to
join the Flames last fall during the early signing period while 5-11 guard
Jonathan Schneiderman (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) signed a letter
of
intent on Wednesday.
April 7, 1999
COLLINS INKS FORRESTON HOOPS STANDOUT TO LETTER OF INTENT
University of Illinois at Chicago Head Coach Jimmy Collins has
received a
signed national letter of intent from 5-foot-11 point guard Jonathan
Schneiderman (Forreston, Ill./Forreston) it was announced today, the
first
official day of the NCAA's spring signing period.
"Jonathan is a point guard who sees the floor well and is heads up
at all times," Collins said of his most recent signing. "He shoots the
ball well and exhibits leadership in a positive manner. He simply refuses
to let his team lose. He's awfully good."
A three-year varsity starter at Forreston, Schneiderman led the
Cardinals in scoring (23.9 ppg), assists (5.5), steals (2.1) and
three-point field goal shooting (45%) as a senior. Additionally, he hit a
total of 93 three-pointers and drained 80.2% at the free throw line while
also contributing 3.9 rpg and finishing first at the Class A State
three-point contest.
In 1998-99, Schneiderman helped Forreston to a 30-2 overall record
and a perfect 16-0 mark in the Upstate Illini South Conference and
following the season was heralded the Freeport Journal-Standard Area
Player of the Year, a First Team Upstate Illini South All-Conference pick
and a First Team IBCA All-State Team honoree.
Schneiderman leaves Forreston as the holder of four school records
- scoring (1,765 points), assists (424), three-point field goals (187) and
free throws made (376). He also holds single season records in scoring
(765 points), assists (175), three-point field goals (93) and free throws
made (158) which he established in his final year.
The letter of intent from Schneiderman raises the total number of
recruits Collins has inked for 1999-2000 to three as 6-foot-9 forwards
Jabari Harris (Broadview, Ill./Fenwick) and Joe Scott (Palos
Hills,
Ill./Stagg) each signed on to join the Flames last fall during the early
signing period.
November 19, 1998
COLLINS INKS TWO AREA ATHLETES
TO LETTERS OF INTENT
University of Illinois at Chicago men's basketball coach Jimmy Collins
got
a big boost for the Flames' inside game today as he received signed
national letters of intent from 6-foot-9 Jabari Harris of Fenwick High
School and 6-foot-9 Joe Scott of Stagg High School.
"Both Jabari and Joe will bring great defensive talent to our
squad," Collins said. "Joe has a great inside-outside game and possesses
an excellent hook shot. Jabari is a great shot blocker and scores well
slashing to the basket. Both young men have received excellent coaching
in high school and come from tremendous families and we certainly look
forward to having them join us next year."
Harris, a three-year starter for the Friars along with current
Duke Blue Devil Cory Magette and the Loyola Ramblers' Chris Williams,
averaged 7.2 points and 6.9 rebounds as a junior last season as he helped
Fenwick reach the Elite Eight at the state tournament. Touted as his
team's best defensive player by head coach John Quinn, Harris shot 54%
from the field and averaged 2.1 blocked shots a game.
Scott, rated among the top 25 senior prospects in the Chicago
area, averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds last season as a junior as the
Chargers compiled a 17-11 record. He set a school record with 53 blocked
shots, including a school-best six rejections against Hinsdale South to go
along with a career-high 32 points.
In addition to being selected the player of the year in the SICA
West Conference, Scott was also chosen as the player of the year by the
Star Newspaper and named to the all-area team by the Daily
Southtown.
Additionally, Scott was given special mention all-area by both the
Chicago
Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Both players are academic
qualifiers based
on NCAA and UIC
academic standards and will be eligible to compete next season