Northwestern coach Bill Carmody pulled off a Mike Krzyzewski-esque feat this weekend, grabbing commitments from two of the top players in the class of 2008 in two days.
Nick Fruendt, Batavia’s 6-6 forward, committed before heading to prom on Saturday and 6-7 Glenbard West forward John Shurna committed Friday.
“The fact that they have managed to get both on back to back days is an absolutely huge recruiting boost,” Roy Schmidt of the Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye Report said. “It sends a clear cut message that they are going to be force in local recruiting.”
Fruendt chose the Wildcats over DePaul, Bradley, Dayton, Xavier, St. Louis and Southern Illinois. Many felt he was waiting for an offer from Wisconsin that never arrived.
“I really have to give a a ton of credit to [Northwestern asisstant coach] Taveras Hardy,” Schmidt said. “He knows these players inside out. He has an outgoing personality and he works hard. The players and AAU coaches alike feel that they can really relate to him.”
Fruendt, the most prolific scorer in the class, is considered a front-runner for player of the year honors. Washington’s DeAndre Liggins, Farragut’s Michael Dunigan and Oak Park’s Iman Shumpert are higher-rated prospects, but Fruendt (21 points, eight rebounds per game) has been the more productive high school player.
“He’s very similar in my mind to the players they got in 2007 like Mike Capocci and Michael Thompson,” Schmidt said. “I think skill wise he would rank with them.”
Both Fruendt and Shurna play club basketball for Illinois Wolves coach Mike Mullins.