Nov. 12, 2015
Purchase 2015-16 UIC Season Tickets
CHICAGO -- UIC head coach Steve McClain received National Letters of Intent this week from a pair of talented players who will join the Flames for the 2016-17 campaign. Tarkus Ferguson from Belleville Althoff H.S. in Illinois and Jordan Blount, a native of Ireland, who is prepping in Ohio, will bolster the squad beginning next fall.
"With the additions of Tarkus and Jordan we added two players that bring winning and a toughness to our culture," said McClain. "They are both multi-dimensional players, and because of that they can play numerous positions."
Ferguson is a 6-foot-4 player from Althoff H.S. in Belleville, Ill., and as a junior in 2015 he helped the Crusaders finish as runners-up in the Illinois High School Association's 3A state championship. He contributed in a variety of different ways as he averaged approximately 15 points per game for Althoff with seven rebounds, four assists and 2.7 blocks per contest.
For his outstanding effort on the hardwood, Ferguson was named First Team All-Area by the Belleville News-Democrat, and to the All-South Seven First Team. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association also tabbed the versatile player as an All-State Third Team selection.
"Tarkus is a young man that played for a state championship a year ago and his team will be preseason number one in the state this year," noted McClain. "He comes from a great culture of winning both at his high school and in the summer AAU program."
Joining Ferguson will be Blount, a 6-foot-8 international talent who is prepping at SPIRE Academy in Geneva, Ohio. Originally hailing from Cork City, Ireland, Blount played with his countrymen at the 2015 European Championships. He was the team's leading scorer, averaging 25.4 points per game to go along with 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. At the U18 EuroLeague Next Generation Tournament, Blount averaged a double-double behind 15.8 ppg and 10.5 rpg while earning All-Tournament plaudits.
Blount speaks five languages and he spent 2013-15 at Canarias Basketball Academy in Gran Canary, Spain. Through seven games with SPIRE Academy in 2015, the Irishman has continued to shine. He is averaging 19.2 ppg, 6.6 rpg and four apg.
"Jordan is a young man who has played internationally against great players," said McClain. "He brings an unbridled enthusiasm to the game when he plays. His motor is non-stop, and like Tarkus, he can play multiple positions on the team."
"As we continue to build this class, we will continue to recruit guys who can play multiple positions," concluded McClain.
UIC opens the 2015-16 regular on Friday night at the UIC Pavilion when the San Francisco Dons visit for the first time ever. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, please call 312-413-UIC1.
