April 22, 2005

Chicago, Ill. - Head Coach Jimmy Collins announced on Friday afternoon that 6-foot-11 center Scott VanderMeer (Dyer, Ind./Lake Central) will join to the University of Illinois at Chicago men's basketball program after spending his freshman year at Bowling Green.

VanderMeer will not be able to compete for the Flames until the 2006-07 campaign per NCAA transfer guidelines. He will then have three years of eligibility remaining at UIC.

"VanderMeer brings us a presence inside defensively," Collins said. "He can guard bigs and block shots.

"What makes him really special is that he also has the ability to step back and shoot the basketball and is also a good passer."

As a true freshman, VanderMeer played in all 29 games for the Falcons, earning the starting nod in 11 outings. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in just less than 10 minutes per game while ranking fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 31 blocked shots.

VanderMeer, who set a school record with seven blocked shots in his first career start versus Ohio on February 7th, totaled five points, seven rebounds and three blocks in Bowling Green's win over the Flames last year on Nov. 24th.

A first-team all-conference recipient his senior year at Lake Central High School in Dyer, Ind., VanderMeer averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and three assists per game in 2003-04.

He played his first three seasons of prep basketball at Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Ill.

VanderMeer joins D.J. Smedley (San Francisco, Calif./Saddleback CC), Josh Mayo (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville), Othyus Jeffers (Chicago, Ill./Hubbard/Los Angeles Southwest CC), Danijel Zoric (Serbia and Montenegro/Collin County CC) and Lance Young (Rock Island, Ill./Alleman) as newcomers on UIC's 2005-06 roster.