Nov. 12, 2003

Crutcher, Nyquist Biographical Sketches
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Champaign, Ill. - Illinois Coach Theresa Grentz announced the signing of 6-2 power forward Danyel Crutcher from Orange, N.J., and 5-10 point guard Megan Nyquist from Lee's Summit, Mo. The class is ranked 17th in the nation by Blue Star Report.

Coach Grentz on the class: "We are excited to be bringing in such talented athletes. Their performance both in high school and the AAU level speak for themselves. What separates Danyel and Meg, though, are the intangibles. They both are leaders, winners, have a strong work ethic and excel in the classroom. I think the fans at Illinois will enjoy them. I expect Illini hospitality. They give us a good start on what I know will be an outstanding freshman class next season."

The following are biographical sketches of the signees.:

Danyel Crutcher * 6-2 Power Forward * Orange, N.J. * Orange High School
Crutcher is listed no. 98 in the senior class by Blue Star Report. In just three years, Crutcher is on the verge of becoming the first player in Orange (N.J.) High School History (male or female) to eclipse 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. She needs just five rebounds in the Lady Tornadoes opening game at Millburn to accomplish that goal.

Last year Crutcher's inside presence translated into a 21.2 points and 13.7 rebounds per game average, leading Orange to its third straight conference title. The Lady Tornadoes are 47-1 in the league in those seasons. For her career, Crutcher averages 15.0 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game. Crutcher is the kind of tenacious inside presence Illinois was looking for with a similar player, Cindy Dallas, exhausting her eligibility after the 2004 season. Illinois Head Coach Theresa Grentz was out of that same mold when she played across the river in Philadelphia in the 1970s.

With those kind of numbers from Crutcher come awards. On the resume of this Blue Star Report Top 100 senior are three team MVP honors, first team All-Area recognition from both the Orange Transcript and the Star Ledger, and First Team All-State Group III accolades. She earned the Northern Hills Conference-Skyline Division MVP honors after leading the league in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots.

Crutcher is the only player in school history to average a double-double two straight seasons and only the second player to reach 1,000 points by the end of her junior year. She will also become just the 12th player in Essex County history with 1,000 rebounds.

Off the court, Crutcher, who ranks No. 10 in her class, is a tutor in the Bethel Baptist Safe Haven "Each One, Teach One" program, a member of the Orange Municipal Drug Alliance "Say No to Drugs" program, and an OHS peer mediator.

Coach Grentz on Crutcher: "Danyel had a great experience at our Elite Camp and showed how great a fit she would be for our program. She will bring a real presence for us inside. She is a tenacious rebounder who plays full-out all the time. She fits all the parameters we were looking for and expect her to make an impact when she arrives next season."

Megan Nyquist * 5-10 Point Guard * Lee's Summit, Mo. * Lee's Summit High School
Megan Nyquist, listed No. 74 in the senior class by Blue Star Report , is a proven winner and leader, guiding her AAU Teams to the national level nearly every year she has played. From her years on the Kansas Belles, where she was the Missouri Valley AAU Most Outstanding 12U player, to receiving AAU All-America 16U honors in 2003 as a member of the Missouri Valley Eclipse, she has demonstrated those leadership characteristics from a young age.

Playing for Lee's Summit High School, Nyquist earned all-state honors from both the Missouri Coach's Association and the Missouri Sports Writers. Nyquist is a first team All-Area recipient by both the Independence Examiner and the Metro Sports . She was also named an honorable mention All-American by Street & Smith's .

Nyquist has averaged 14.9 points and 2.6 assists over her first three years at Lee's Summit High School. She has also amassed 82 three-pointers and 161 steals for her career. She earned Team MVP honors at Lee's Summit as well.

Nyquist earned All-Tournament accolades on numerous occasions, including twice earning the honor at the Dakota Showcase. She was also named to the Miss Basketball Showcase All-American Team in Kearney, Neb., in 2002.

Nyquist also excels at volleyball, where she was a first team All-Big 8 Conference and honorable mention All-Area performer. Nyquist's work in the classroom earned her induction into the National Honor Society.

Coach Grentz on Nyquist: "I enjoyed watching Meg play this summer. She is team-oriented, very dedicated and always has a smile. She has those leadership characteristics and a work ethic that will fit in with the level of intensity we expect at Illinois. We are delighted that Meg is with us and will be a great addition on the perimeter."