CHICAGO – The UIC men's basketball program announced Thursday it has received a National Letter of Intent from
Dikembe Shaw, a 6-foot-7 forward from Crown Point, Ind., to join the Flames for the 2026-27 season. Shaw
(first name pronounced dih-KEM-bay) is the first newcomer for next year's UIC roster, another strong addition for a youthful program that currently features five true or redshirt freshmen and is off to a 2-1 start under second-year head coach
Rob Ehsan.
"Dikembe is a versatile wing who has emerged as one of the top players in the country at his position," Ehsan said. "He has a diverse skill set and the talent to either post up or stretch defenses with his perimeter scoring ability. We're looking forward to welcoming Dikembe to our Flames Family next year and helping him develop his game even further."
Shaw is beginning his senior season at Crown Point (Ind.) High School, where he is a three-star prospect and is ranked among the top 10 players in the Hoosier State, as well as the top 50 power forwards in the country. Last season, Shaw averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game and earned all-state and all-area honors while leading Crown Point to a 24-2 record and a berth in the Class 4A semistate final. He also was named to the core group of the Indiana Junior All-Star Team, which defeated the Indiana Senior All-Stars (Shaw had 26 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-6 three-pointers), as well as the Kentucky Junior All-Stars (16 points, five rebounds, five assists).
All told, Shaw has helped Crown Point to 60 wins in his first three years, averaging 13.0 points per game during the 2023-24 season when the Bulldogs reached the semifinals of the 4A semistate round.
Along with his prep accolades, Shaw has been a standout on the club circuit with Indiana Elite 3SSB (3Stripes Select Basketball). This past summer, he played a key role in Indiana Elite winning the Earn Your Stripes Invitational in Ladera Ranch, Calif., going a perfect 7-0 during the four-day event.
For the 2025 club season, Shaw averaged 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while shooting .538 from the field and .362 from three-point range. He also scored in double figures 12 times and had a pair of double-doubles, including a 28-point, 14-rebound outing in the Earn Your Stripes semifinal win over D1 Minnesota.
For more information on UIC men's basketball, fans are encouraged to visit
UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (
@UIC_MBB and
@UICFlames) and Instagram (
@uic_mbb and
@uicflames).
