College basketball’s early signing period began Wednesday and runs through Nov. 15. Any high school seniors who don’t sign a letter of intent in the next week must wait until the regular signing period from April 17 to May 15.
Here’s a look at the players who have signed with the men’s and women’s teams of area schools. Men’s rankings are per the 247 Sports composite, which aggregates ratings from the major recruiting websites. Women’s rankings are from ESPN’s HoopGurlz recruiting rankings.
Morez Johnson
School: Thornton
Height, weight: 6-foot-9, 225 pounds
Rankings: No. 29 national, No. 6 power forward, No. 1 in Illinois
Coach Brad Underwood’s take: “He’s extremely physical, a great runner. Early on he was a tremendous motor guy, great defender, great rebounder. He still is all those things, but his offensive game has expanded. He’s now stepping out and shooting 3s, can play in pick-and-rolls, and he’s evolved into who I feel is the best two-way big in this class.”
Jason Jakstys
School: Yorkville
Height, weight: 6-10, 200
Rankings: No. 162 national, No. 36 power forward, No. 4 in Illinois
Underwood’s take: “One of the things that we were very dialed in with was trying to find a big that had a certain skill set and athleticism. Jason is a pick-and-pop guy. He can really shoot it, can handle it. He’s got great bounce and quickness. He just needs strength, and he knows that coming in. He knows that the future is where his best basketball lies.”
Jase Butler
School: The Branson School, San Anselmo, Calif.
Height, weight: 6-5, 190
Rankings: No. 169 national, No. 22 combo guard, No. 18 in California
Underwood’s take: “We had been looking for a guard who is different from what we already have on the roster. He’s a big, physical guard, 50% 3-point shooter, an elite passer and very high IQ. You pair his decision making with his shooting ability and you’ve got a pretty lethal guard at either position.”
Berry Wallace
School: Pickerington (Ohio) Central
Height: 6-1
Ranking: ESPN HoopGurlz No. 20
Hayven Smith
School: Lincoln-Way East
Height: 6-6
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Angelo Ciaravino
School: Mount Carmel
Height, weight: 6-5, 175
Rankings: No. 176 national, No. 34 small forward, No. 6 in Illinois
Coach Chris Collins’ take: “We love to keep the local guys home, and he’s a throwback player. He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s hard-nosed and a terrific athlete. He’s a player, as a wing, who’s just gotten better and better every year. Every time I watch him, I feel like he’s better in a certain area.”
Xamiya Walton
School: Butler College Prep
Height: 5-5
Ranking: ESPN HoopGurlz No. 50
Tayla Thomas
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla.
Height: 6-2
Ranking: ESPN HoopGurlz No. 56
Claire Keswick
School: Tabor (Mass.) Academy
Height: 6-0
Sir Mohammed
School: Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C.
Height, weight: 6-6, 205
Rankings: No. 71 national, No. 11 small forward, No. 8 in North Carolina
Coach Micah Shrewsberry’s take: “The first thing I look for in a player is intelligence on the court, and no one has a better feel for the game than Sir does. He can play point guard at 6-foot-6 and is also a gifted scorer as well as someone who will defend. His father, Nazr, was a longtime NBA player and a current executive in the league, and his mother, Mandi, has been around the game her whole life and is a coach as well on the youth level. They have instilled a work ethic in Sir that is unmatched.”
Garrett Sundra
School: St. Paul VI Catholic, Ashburn, Va.
Height, weight: 6-11, 215
Rankings: No. 147 national, No. 32 power forward, No. 8 in Virginia
Shrewsberry’s take: “Garrett is a tall player, but he is not a traditional back-to-the-basket-only scorer. He has the skill and IQ to play on the perimeter, as well as possessing the ability to score down low. As he gets stronger … the sky’s the limit for the impact Garrett can make for our program.”
Cole Certa
School: IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (previously Bloomington (Ill.) Central Catholic)
Height, weight: 6-5, 165
Rankings: No. 152 national, No. 29 shooting guard, No. 14 in Florida
Shrewsberry’s take: “In my mind he is the best shooter in the entire country, but he can do more than just shoot. Cole is also a tremendous passer, has good size for his position and is someone who knows how to play.”
Emory Klatt
School: Stevenson
Height: 6-2
Ellery Minch
School: Mt. Vernon, McCordsville, Ind.
Height: 6-3
Ally Timm
School: Divine Savior Holy Angels, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Height: 5-11
Alayna West
School: Madison (Wis.) La Follette
Height: 5-9
Jack Turner
School: St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.
Height, weight: 6-3, 170
Coach Drew Valentine’s take: “We were looking for someone that can create offense on their own as a ballhandler, and Jack fits that mold. He’s a tough, slippery and shifty shot creator that can also facilitate offense and has a good feel for the game.”
Brayden Young
School: Cy Falls, Houston
Height, weight: 6-9, 205
Drew Valentine’s take: “He’s a fast-twitch athlete at his size with speed, vertical pop and lateral quickness. But not only is he impressive physically, he has good ball skills as well as natural touch finishing and shooting.”
Alexa Kinas
School: Kaukauna (Wis.)
Height: 5-8
Makenzie Brass
School: Minooka
Height: 5-10
Lexi Carlsen
School: Sycamore (Ill.)
Height: 5-8
Note: Daughter of NIU women’s basketball head coach Lisa Carlsen.
Julia “Bubba” Sollberger
School: Dunlap (Ill.)
Height: 5-8