Underwood Signing Day Press Conference
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– University of Illinois head coach Brad Underwood announced Wednesday the signing of four-star recruits Amani Hansberry and Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn and three-star standout Zacharie Perrin to national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period.
AMANI HANSBERRY
F, 6-8, 225
Silver Spring, Md.
Mount Saint Joseph H.S.
Notes on Hansberry: 4-star power forward … No. 1 player in state of Maryland … Ranked No. 42 by Top247, No. 63 by ESPN100, No. 72 by 247Sports Composite, No. 79 by On3 Consensus, No. 85 by On3, and No. 118 by Rivals150 … Attends Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland, playing for coach Pat Clatchey … Averaged 20.3 points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season … Named Player of the Year by Varsity Sports Network … Led Mount Saint Joseph to a 32-7 record, including the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) A Conference championship and Baltimore Catholic League (BCL) Tournament title … Named MVP of the BCL Tournament … Plays for Team Durant on the AAU circuit … Nike EYBL Peach Jam first-team selection by The Circuit after averaging 16.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists … Began his prep career at St. John's College High School in Washington D.C.
Underwood on Hansberry: "Amani comes from a celebrated high school program and is a winner. He's a hard worker who has turned into a double-double machine. We watched every game he played this summer; he was a priority for us. Coach Frazier's reputation in the DMV and the relationships he's built were important in this recruitment. Amani is high IQ and skilled, and when you put that together with his energy, his talking, his work ethic, and his understanding of the game, he is going to continue to blossom at multiple positions on our front line."
DRAVYN GIBBS-LAWHORN
G, 6-1, 165
Lafayette, Ind.
Montverde Academy (Fla.)
Notes on Gibbs-Lawhorn: Goes by Dra … 4-star combo guard … Ranked No. 69 by 247Sports Composite, No. 70 by ESPN100, No. 76 by Rivals150, No. 80 by Top247, No. 84 by On3 Consensus, and No. 108 by On3 … Attends Montverde Academy in Montverde, Florida, playing for coach Kevin Boyle … Was a reserve last spring on a Montverde team loaded with Division I prospects that won the 2022 GEICO Nationals championship … Plays for Indy Heat Gym Rats on the AAU circuit … Averaged 18.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 steals in the Nike EYBL, shooting 48 percent from the field and 37 percent from three … Named MVP of the EYBL Indy session by The Circuit after averaging 21 points, 2.8 assists and 2.4 rebounds … Previously attended Real Salt Lake Academy in Herriman, Utah … Sidelined as a sophomore following a foot injury … Began his prep career at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Indiana … Averaged 21 points as a freshman at McCutcheon, scoring 35 in the sectional vs. Marion.
Underwood on Gibbs-Lawhorn: "I saw him for the first time in the spring while he was committed to another school, and I told our assistants, 'We're going to hate playing against this guy.' He was dominant; played so hard. We jumped right in once he was available, with Coach Anderson doing an outstanding job in this recruitment. Dra's a good athlete, can shoot it, takes great pride defensively, and he's very good in ball screens. He's at a storied program in Montverde so he benefits from going up against great competition in daily practice and with a national schedule. Dra loves to play and is a driven young man who will fit well on our perimeter."
ZACHARIE PERRIN
F, 6-10, 220
Grandfontaine, France
Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)
Notes on Perrin: 3-star forward … Attends Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kansas … Helped lead France to a 6-1 record and fifth-place finish at the FIBA U18 European Championships from July 30-August 7 in Izmir, Turkey … Led France in scoring and rebounding at the U18 Euros, averaging 13.9 points and 9.1 boards while shooting 56% … MVP of the Adidas Next Generation qualifying tournament in Patras, Greece in April, averaging 17.7 points and 10.7 rebounds … Called up to the Next Generation All-Star Team at the Euroleague Final Four in Belgrade, Serbia, in May, averaging 10 points and 5.8 rebounds … Played for the Antibes Sharks club in the French Pro B league last season … Named MVP after posting 21.5 points, 10.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals … Emerged on the scene in 2021 after making the French U18 national team as a 16-year-old and competing in the European Championship.
Underwood on Perrin: "We're excited to re-sign Zach and welcome him again. He is now in the U.S. taking classes and training at Sunrise. We love the fact that he has stayed loyal to us during this process. Coach Alexander deserves credit for his efforts on this recruitment. Geoff went over and watched the U18 Euros in Turkey, and Zach was spectacular. He has tremendous experience at a young age through all of his international competitions. Zach is the consummate 5-out post man in today's game with his ability to handle the ball and shoot it. We're excited to add his skill level at that position in our system."
BRAD UNDERWOOD PRESS CONFERENCE
