Nov. 10, 2004
Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago men's basketball team added three new faces to its 2005-06 roster on Wednesday evening as guard Josh Mayo (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville) and forwards Lance Young (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman) and Danijel Zoric (Serbia and Montenegro/Collin County CC) signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Flames.
"This is one of the top classes we have had size wise, with two 6-foot-9 players in Danijel and Lance," UIC Head Coach Jimmy Collins said. "We think that these three guys, along with the players we have returning next year, will help us remain at the high level we have been competing at, or even take us higher."
Mayo, a 5-foot-10 point guard at Merrillville High School, averaged 16.1 points, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season for the Pirates en route to Indiana Basketball Coaches Association First Team All-State honors. He also garnered All-Area and First Team All-Duneland Conference accolades while earning a spot on the Indiana Junior All-Star team.
Mayo averaged 14.0 points and 2.5 assists per game as a sophomore, leading his team to the Indiana Class 4A `Final Four'.
"Josh Mayo is a point guard who reminds me of Martell Bailey in toughness and Jonathan Schneiderman in his ability to shoot the basketball," Collins said. "Academically he also stands tall."
Young is a 6-foot-9 forward/center at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Ill. The prep standout led the Pioneers to an IHSA Regional and Sectional title in 2004, averaging a team-best 11.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Young earned All-Western Big Six Conference and Quad City Times First Team All-Metro accolades following the season.
"In Lance Young we get a 6-foot-9, 235-pound banger whose upside is tremendous," Collins said. "He can face up to the basket, post-up and defend with the best of them."
Zoric, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward, is currently in his sophomore season at Collin County Community College in Texas. Through three games this season, he is averaging 17.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game in leading the Cougars to a 3-0 record.
Last season, Zoric played at Three Rivers Community College in Missouri, where he averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game for the Raiders.
"Danijel Zoric is a 6-foot-9, hard-nosed player, who scores in so many different ways," Collins said. "He is a great rebounder as well, and truly competes every second he is out on the floor."
The Flames, who are coming off three-straight 20-win seasons and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004, open the season on Monday, November 22nd, when they welcome #3 Georgia Tech to the UIC Pavilion at 7:00 p.m.
