By Joe Henricksen
The Loyola basketball program continues to make a big recruiting splash in August, with the latest commitment coming from Thornwood's Darrell Combs. The 6-1 combo guard committed Wednesday night and joins an impressive recruiting class that already includes Indiana products in 6-8 Nick Osborne, who committed earlier Wednesday, and 6-7 Matt O'Leary.
"I know I can go to sleep at night now knowing where I am going to college," said Combs, who had offers from Detroit, Cleveland State, Manhattan and Eastern Kentucky. "With my commitment out of the way, I can worry about my books and working on my game."
Combs, a smooth combo guard who is a true scorer, is excited about the direction the program is headed in under the new coaching staff, led by head coach Porter Moser.
"I have a great relationship with the coaching staff," said Combs. "That's what I wanted and found at Loyola. I love the school and I love the league they play in. If Butler can do it, why can't Loyola, you know? I think they [Loyola] are really putting the pieces together and are ready to put that program on the map."
Combs has been one of the real undervalued players in the Class of 2012, but he's been among the Hoops Report's top 15 prospects in the class for the past year and is currently the Hoops Report's No. 12 ranked senior.
Last year as a junior, Combs averaged 19 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds a game. He's a versatile offensive threat, capable of putting it on the floor or knocking down shots from the perimeter, with range and a nice mid-range game. When Combs is rolling offensively, he will score in bunches and thrives when the flow of the game is up and down, where he can operate in space.
For more on Combs go to this previous Hoops Report blog. ... Combs one to watch.
Hey Joe!
I love seeing the mid-major programs, especially around the state of Illinois, land a good recruiting class with one or serveral possibly high-major recruits. From what I have read Nick Osborne is a top 3-5 recruit in the state of Indiana. Do you think that Loyala will land better recruiting classes with a high-major recruits (like NIU getting Nader) than UIC in the time that Howard Moore is at UIC and Porter Moser is at Loyala?
Loso .... I guess I'm not quite sure what you're asking. Are you asking up to this point (Between UIC and Loyola with the current recruits and commitments both have received) or over the long haul while they are both head coaches? I think Loyola's initial start is better than UIC's initial start, but that has a lot to do with the fact that the UIC staff was hired in late August. That's sooooo difficult to navigate around. Really puts them behind. Plus, the UIC program was as down and depleted as any program can be when Howard Moore took over. So combine the late hire date (just two months basically before signing day) and the depths the program had fallen to, and it's easy to see how tough it was for UIC going forward. Thanks.... Joe H
Sorry about the confusion but you answered my question. I know this is off the subject and no disrespect to Darrell Combs because he is a very good player but how do you feel about the University of Illinois already losing out on one of the big time, top 3, potential McDonalds All-American, Illinois (2013) prospect in Kendrick Nunn? Now I like the class that they assembled for 2011 but they didnt get the big time, McDonalds All-American, top player in the state and nation recruit in Blackshear and/or Davis. I feel that they should have gotten at least one of these two guys, that being Blackshear. I am highly upset because these other school are getting our top players (McDonalds All-Americans) and they are giving early pledges at that. However, if they lose out on the likely McDonalds All-Americans in Jabari Parker, Thomas Hamilton, Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander and guys like Malcolm Hill, and Paul White, how would you feel Joe? I know Illinois has been missing on the McDonalds All-American going back to about a decade but shouldnt the Illinois fan stop giving credit to the recruiting job if they keep on missing on our top players especially in 2013-2015? Thanks Joe!
Loso ... You basically hit on the head –– Illinois is going to need to hit a home run at some point and lock in a true, difference-making type of player. Those are the types of players that get you to the Elite Eight, Final Four, obviously, and also bring instant recognition to a program. There just isn't that type of player in the Class of 2012 here in Illinois, but that's why 2013 is so important for Weber and the Illini when it comes to recruiting. And having success during the 2011-2012 season would go a long way in helping them towards luring a top talent like Jabari Parker. With Nunn off the board, Malcolm Hill becomes that much more important. And Illinois really needs to land either Okafor or Alexander when you have that type of impact big man in state. Thanks, Loso. .... Joe H
With the new coaching staffs at UIC, Loyola, and NIU, do you feel recruiting will get more dificult for mvc teams, specicicaly Illinois State.
bt59 ... The Horizon League has certainly made a huge jump in perception and success over the past several years, so it's true that schools in that league are making a dent recruiting wise. The MAC schools, however, are still behind both the Horizon League and Missouri Valley. The Valley schools in-state, especially ISU and Bradley, have so much going for them with facilities, distance and the league itself. The Valley is still a basketball league and spends more money than, say, the MAC, which is a football league. Any new staff that has success is going to make it more difficult for any other school they are recruiting against. But, yes, if UIC, Loyola, NIU or any other school at that mid-major level gets it going, it will make things more difficult for those that are struggling and trying to get back on top. Thanks bt59. ... Joe H
"If Butler can do it, why can't Loyola, you know?"
Ironically, because of Butler, they can't