Basketball

Massive News as Illinois State basketball lands commitments from three highly touted recruits

Nero Scofield

NORMAL — This past weekend, CEFCU Arena was bustling, and Illinois State basketball coach Ryan Pedon received three pieces of great news by the end of it.

Following a visit to the ISU campus, three recruits—Bradley-Bourbonnais center Nick Allen, Waubonsie Valley guard Tyreek Coleman, and Cary, North Carolina guard Isaac Ericksen—committed to signing national letters of intent with the Redbirds.

The 6-foot-11, 230-pound Allen attracted attention across the Missouri Valley Conference, receiving offers from Indiana State, Bradley, Southern Illinois, Murray State, Belmont, Drake, as well as Miami of Ohio, Loyola, and Penn.

“The main factor for me was the coaches. They were all outstanding,” Allen shared about ISU. “They attended my best games as well as my worst, and their support never wavered.”

Last season, Allen averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and nearly three blocks per game for a 19-9 Boilermakers team and was recognized with first-team all-state honors by the Class 4A Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.

“I’m quite agile for my size and adept at running the court,” Allen remarked. “My strength lies in my angles—I excel at sealing and maneuvering around opponents. I can score over both shoulders and am tough at the rim, plus shot blocking is one of my key skills.”

Allen feels that with support from Coach Pedon, he can develop into a more versatile player, even from long range.

“Pedon believes he can help me become a more dynamic big man,” Allen stated. “I may not be quite ready to shoot college three-pointers yet, but that’s definitely my goal.”

He engaged in meaningful conversations with nearly every player on the team and found them all to be great individuals. “You can tell they truly believe in what Pedon is doing and embody that,” he said.

Allen has played with Coleman on the AAU Illinois Wolves and got to know Ericksen during the weekend.

“I’ve known Tyreek for a long time,” Allen said. “I just met Isaac and really liked him. I’m eager to get to know him better.”

Coleman is a 6-foot-2 point guard experienced in playing off the ball. He contributed to Waubonsie Valley’s impressive 27-3 record by averaging 15 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

“I play point guard with the primary goal of winning,” Coleman shared. “I’m a very versatile player, capable of impacting various facets of the game. I’m always searching for passing lanes to involve my teammates, but I can also score on my own through dribbling and shooting over screens.”

He also views his defensive skills as a key strength.

“With my height and speed, I can typically stay in front of my opponent,” he said. “I make it a point to be strong defensively, applying pressure to create turnovers.”

Coleman, who received offers from schools like Miami of Ohio, Northern Iowa, Murray State, Indiana State, Missouri State, Colorado State, and Florida International, noted that discussing the program with current ISU players helped inform his decision.

“Pedon analyzed my game, and I appreciate constructive criticism,” Coleman said. “Coach (Jason) Slay and Coach Pedon attended every one of my games this summer and spring. Their commitment to learning about me as a player and connecting with my family was evident.

“They always led with honesty and humility, which my family values highly.”

Coleman described the enjoyable weekend spent with Allen and Ericksen.

“We connected well and were all aligned in our mindset,” he said. “We really liked the coaches and felt that what they’re building is something we all wanted to be part of.”

Isaac Ericksen, a 2024 prospect, stands at 6-foot-9 and weighs 195 pounds, attending Green Level High School where he averaged 19 points and nine rebounds last season.

“I consider myself a very versatile player who can guard multiple positions and shoot from the outside,” Ericksen explained. “My height gives me an advantage over smaller defenders, creating mismatches for opposing teams.”

Ericksen expressed enjoyment in “the culture and the overall program’s investment in me as a player.”

He easily envisions a college career alongside Allen and Coleman as Redbirds.

“We had a fantastic weekend bonding with one another,” he said. “The years we’ll spend playing together are going to be awesome.”

Ericksen also received scholarship offers from Furman, College of Charleston, Mercer, and Arkansas State.

 

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