PEORIA, Ill. -- The Bradley men's basketball team went big Wednesday, signing a pair of skilled 6-foot-8 high school players on the first day of NCAA Early Signing Period. Jordan Prosser of nearby Eureka, Ill., High School and Milos Knezevic of Liberty High School in Henderson, Nev., both signed National Letters of Intent today to attend Bradley University and play basketball for the Braves during the 2009-10 season.
“I am excited about the addition of not only two quality basketball players, but two great young men, to our progam,” said seventh-year Bradley head coach Jim Les. “I think this recruiting class, combined with last year's group, gives Bradley Basketball a bright future.”
Prosser averaged 19.5 points and 11.7 rebounds as a junior at Eureka in 2007-08, earning first-team Class 2A all-state honors. He played for Indiana Elite One during the AAU season this past summer.
Prosser cited the dedication of Bradley's coaches, the construction of the basketball program's new facilities and the team's style of play as factors in his decision to join the Braves when he intially announced his commitment in August.
“I like the Bradley coaches,” Prosser told the Peoria Journal Star this past summer. “They've been recruiting me since my freshman year and they've been there at every one of my AAU games. And the new facilities will be there my freshman year. I like Bradley's offense better than some other schools I was looking at, which play a lot slower.”
Knezevic -- full name pronounced MEE - los, keh - NEE - zeh - VICH -- was born in Croatia and moved to the Las Vegas suburbs at age 6. Friends with current Brave Darian Norris, a freshman guard from Las Vegas Mojave High School, Knezevic averaged 14 points and eight rebounds during his junior season at Liberty High School, helping the Patriots to a 21-9 record in 2007-08.
Although listed at 6-foor-8, 220 pounds, Knezevic offers a good inside-outside game and believes his skill set will fit well in Bradley's spread motion offense.
“My game is based from the outside,” told the Peoria Journal Star when he initially committed to Bradley in June. “The way Bradley plays is unbelievable. I think I will thrive in that offense.”
Bradley has won at least 21 games in three consecutive seasons and the team's seven postseason wins since 2006 are tied for eighth-most in the country the last three years. Utilizing the spread motion offense, which was modeled after the system played by the NBA's Phoenix Suns, Bradley has drained 695 3-point field goals in 2006-07 (349) and 2007-08 (346), the third-best total in the country the last two years.
The Braves will open the 2008-09 season Friday by hosting in-state rival Illinois-Chicago in a 7:05 p.m. tilt at Carver Arena. Bradley fans will benefit from two give-away promotions at Friday night's game, which is being billed as a White Out. All fans are encouraged to wear white Friday, but also will receive a white Bradley Basketball t-shirt, courtesy of Maui Jim Sunglasses, Methodist Medical Center and the Wingate by Wyndham. In addition, Friday is Country Financial Schedule Poster Night and everyone in attendance will receive a 2008-09 Bradley Basketball schedule poster. Tickets for Friday's game range from $9-20 based on location and may be purchased in advance at the Bradley Ticket Office at Shea Stadium (1523 W. Nebraska Ave.), the Carver Arena Box Office or online at www.BradleyBraves.com.
