MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

[GusD]

Does Roper have a year of eligibility remaining?

He's eligible for a medical redshirt from sophomore year, so theoretically, yes.

But, alas! Illinois Wesleyan University does not offer graduate level programs. Who would have thought  ? So, already having his BA, what would Mr. Roper be doing next year? Retaking some classes?
I think not. Especially with the stratospheric cost of IWU tuition!

[iwu70]

Congrats to Roper and Hakim Williams on All-Region honors.

And, to Josh Fridman on being named Newcomer of the Year. 

I think the Titans will be OK next year with lots coming back.  Colak and Boldt likely stepping into the starting five.  Others will have their chance.  Yes, the seniors will be missed. 

Everyone will still be chasing Sorensen at Wheaton for several more years.

IWU'70

[mwunder]

Does Roper have a year of eligibility remaining?

He's eligible for a medical redshirt from sophomore year, so theoretically, yes.

But, alas! Illinois Wesleyan University does not offer graduate level programs. Who would have thought  ? So, already having his BA, what would Mr. Roper be doing next year? Retaking some classes?
I think not. Especially with the stratospheric cost of IWU tuition!

I heard he was going to transfer to Carthage for his last season of eligibility.  Lots of NIL money from their foray into pay-per-view.

[Gregory Sager]

[GoPerry]

https://x.com/caadvantage_mb/status/1884333138228183543

This looks quite promising for the Thunder next year.  Adding some needed height. 6'4" and 6'8" brothers. The taller kid's highlights look pretty good but I can never tell how that translates to the next level.

[Greek Tragedy]

Wow, they definitely look like kids in that Tweet!

[GusD]

https://x.com/caadvantage_mb/status/1884333138228183543

This looks quite promising for the Thunder next year.  Adding some needed height. 6'4" and 6'8" brothers. The taller kid's highlights look pretty good but I can never tell how that translates to the next level.

Much of the answer, of course, depends on what level "Class" their school in Arizona is in. What level of competition did they play the majority of their games against? Was it the equivalent of Illinois 1A or 4A?

[Gregory Sager]

Arizona high school basketball has six classifications, with 6A being the biggest schools and 1A being the smallest. Each classification has its own state tournament, with the 16 highest-rated teams from among the small-school classifications in the state (3A, 2A, and 1A) playing not in their own classifications' tournaments but in a separate tournament called the Copper Division. The school from which these Wheaton-bound brothers hail, Valley Christian, won the Copper Division tournament this season.

I don't have any more of an idea how good these brothers are than anybody else who contributes to this board, but I do know that the Grier brothers don't appear to be the best players on their team. I say that because they have a teammate who is a junior who averaged over 27 ppg this season.

[robertgoulet]

St Francis dropping from D1 to D3 is interesting (joining the President's Athletic Conference). Won't be the last.

[PauldingLightUP]

Wheaton schedule is posted.

Non cons at Concordia Chicago, vs Lake Forest, at Hope, vs Benedictine, vs Pfund Classic x2 TBA, at Manchester, at Wisconsin Lutheran, at Chicago.

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2025-26

[petemcb]

Wheaton schedule is posted.

Non cons at Concordia Chicago, vs Lake Forest, at Hope, vs Benedictine, vs Pfund Classic x2 TBA, at Manchester, at Wisconsin Lutheran, at Chicago.

https://athletics.wheaton.edu/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/2025-26

Actually their first game looks to be a little more of a road trip up to the Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan at Concordia, WI.

[GusD]

NORTH PARK RECRUIT
Daniel Loza, a 5'9 PG from Lakeview HS in Chicago. 17.1 PPG, 1.8 APG, 1.3 SPG

CARTHAGE RECRUIT
Hayden Hodgson, a 6'5 Wing from Class 2A Genoa-Kingston HS. 13.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.7 APG.

ELMHURST RECRUIT
Quintin Wiencek, a 6'5 SF from Plainfield North. 18.0 PPG.

AUGIE RECRUIT
Ben Jurzak, a 6'0 PG from Jacobs HS. 16.3 PPG, 3.6 PRG, 1.5 APG.

[Gregory Sager]

Beat me to it, Mark. That's what I get for not checking my Twitter feed at midnight.

Given that his high-school program hasn't drawn much attention in recent years (although Lake View won the CPL White North this past season and thus gets promoted to the prestigious Red North for 2025-26), Daniel Loza is a nice under-the-radar find for North Park. He's a true two-way player, the kind that Ed McGhee needs in NPU's high-pressure mode of play. He was in the top three in Illinois this past season in three-point shots made, and also finished in the top ten in the state in charges drawn. He finished his career as the second-leading scorer in the history of the oldest high school in Illinois, trailing only former North Park great Octavius Parker (All-CCIW in 1993-94 and 1995-96) on Lake View's all-time scoring leaderboard.

Looking forward to seeing DLo in Vikings livery next fall!

[GusD]

ELMHURST RECRUIT
Evan Salvador, a 6'0 left handed SG from Mundelein HS. 16.1 PPG, 52% FG, 41.5% 3PT, 86% FT, 1,000 pt career scorer.