PEORIA, Ill. – Bradley Basketball completed its 2014 recruiting class with the highest-ranked high school recruit in more than 30 years Wednesday when Chicago Morgan Park High School star Josh Cunningham returned his signed National Letter of Intent to attend Bradley University and play basketball for the Braves during the 2014-15 season.

A 6-foot-7 forward who led Morgan Park to consecutive IHSA Class 3A state championships on Bradley's home court at Carver Arena in 2013 and 2014, Cunningham is rated No. 88 in the Rivals150 and No. 98 in the ESPN100 national high school recruit rankings, making him the highest-ranked recruit to sign with the Braves out of high school since Voise Winters in 1981. Cunningham also becomes the third Chicagoland recruit in Bradley's 6-man class and he becomes the sixth Chicagoland product on Bradley's 2014-15 roster, the most Chicago area players on the Bradley roster since the 1996-97 Braves also featured six from the Windy City and its suburbs.

“We are thrilled to add Josh to the Bradley Basketball family,” said Braves head coach Geno Ford. “Obviously, it's a significant signing for our program. He had a lot of options. It was a lengthy process, but we are happy he has chosen Bradley as his home for the next four years.

“Josh gives us a high-level, athletic wing forward who brings winning qualities to the table,” Ford added. “This is a very exciting day for our program.”

Cunningham was a first-team all-state selection by both the Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association in 2014 after averaging 21.6 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists to help Morgan Park defend its state title. Among his season highlights, Cunningham posted 36 points and 22 rebounds in the first round of the Chicago Public League playoffs, as well as 16 points and 15 rebounds in a 68-67 win against Bogan in the Supersectional.

“Coach (Ronald) Coleman did an outstanding job leading Josh's recruitment and I am very excited about the players our staff has added this year,” said Ford.

Bradley returns six lettermen from its 2013-14 squad, which finished 12-20 overall and seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 7-11 league record. Bradley's recruiting class includes NJCAA Division I honorable mention All-America Tramique Sutherland, as well as NJCAA all-region selections Kendahl Amerson and Jermaine Morgan. In addition to the six 2014 recruits, Illinois transfer Mike Shaw also becomes eligible for the Braves, giving Bradley a pair of top 100 high school recruits on the roster.

2013-14 Bradley Basketball Recruits

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