Shaun Pruitt Signs With Fighting Illini
November 12, 2003 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2003
Champaign, Ill. - University of Illinois men's basketball coach Bruce Weber announced today the signing of Shaun Pruitt to a national letter of intent on the first day of the fall signing period. Pruitt becomes the first Illini recruit of the Weber era.
Pruitt, a 6-foot-9 inch, 225-pound, left-handed forward, is a consensus national Top 75 senior at West Aurora High School under the direction of head coach Gordon Kerkman. He transferred to West Aurora after playing his freshman year at Providence-St. Mel. While injuries the last two years shortened his sophomore and junior seasons, Pruitt has been a coveted recruit after making a name for himself at the Nike All-American camp the past two summers and at a number of AAU events. The Fighting Illini won the recruiting battle for Pruitt, the top-ranked big man in the state of Illinois, over Michigan State and a number of schools throughout the Big Ten and Midwest.
"We're excited to have not only signed a quality player in Shaun Pruitt, but also an in-state recruit and just as importantly a Chicago-area product," Weber said. "Those are two positives that we're hoping to build on for the future. Anytime you can get a big man with good ability, especially when he's from within the state, you want to be able to lock him up. Now that Shaun has recovered from some injuries and has stayed healthy, he'll be able fully display his quickness, footwork, soft hands and great shooting touch. He's a versatile player with great skills and tremendous upside."
Pruitt will become the first West Aurora product to suit up for the Orange and Blue since former Illini great Kenny Battle lettered in 1988 and '89.
