Pat Hickey
The 6-7 guard announced Wednesday evening
He's the son of a former Olympian, brother of a current NBA player and has a cousin who is All-ACC
Reportedly also held offers and made official visits to New Mexico and Fresno State
The University of Evansville men's basketball coaching staff laid a short trail of breadcrumbs the past few days.
First, head coach Walter McCarty wrote Saturday night on Twitter, "Bright future! I love this stuff…" One of his assistants, Terrence Commodore, also shared optimism Tuesday morning by tweeting out a couple of star-eyed, grinning face emojis.
UE fans longing for recruiting news only had to wait a little longer.
Class of 2019 prospect Thomasi Gilgeous-Alexander added to the suspense late Tuesday night saying that he'd reveal his college decision at 5 p.m. CDT Wednesday. Right on cue, the tall and lanky guard announced via Twitter his verbal commitment to the Aces.
The Hamilton, Ontario (Canada) native is the younger brother of former Kentucky standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and averaged 11 points per game as a rookie this season for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Their mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, was a standout sprinter at Alabama who represented Antigua and Barbuda by competing in the 400 meters at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Their cousin, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, was All-Atlantic Coast Conference as a sophomore this past season for Virginia Tech.
More: UE also has offers out to another 2019 and junior-college transfer
Thomasi, who's listed at 6-foot-7 in the most recent articles and described by some as a true point guard, also reportedly held offers by and made official visits to New Mexico and Fresno State. According to VerbalCommits.com, he was previously offered by South Carolina and Drake.
He went unranked by 247Sports, which aggregates from major scouting services.
This past winter, Gilgeous-Alexander played for Potter's House Christian in Jacksonville, Florida. He spent one season there after transferring from Tennessee Hamilton Heights Christian, where Shai graduated, in Chattanooga. Last summer, he told PrepHoops that his biggest strengths were his ability to get into the paint, create for his teammates and defend against any position except for the "5" spot.
More: UE's other 2019 recruit is also a point guard
Gilgeous-Alexander being labeled a point guard shouldn't be a concern to UE fans. There would seemingly be a logjam at the facilitator spot as Kansas transfer Sam Cunliffe is expected to be the primary ball-handler, Shamar Givance stood out at the position this past winter as a freshman and there's another incoming point guard in Marcus Henderson.
But McCarty has often stressed wanting versatile players and Gilgeous-Alexander has the length and game to play a slasher/drive and dish-type along the wing in the future. Regardless, the Aces' staff is clearly excited to work with someone who's 6-7 and has guard skills.
UE now has one scholarship remaining for the 2019-20 season.
It's not a given the Aces use all 13 scholarships. But they still could use more size and experience on the low blocks. Pittsburgh transfer Peace Ilegomah, at 6-9 and with a 7-4 wingspan, is currently their only true post option. He awaits a waiver to be granted from the NCAA to allow him to play immediately. Otherwise, Ilegomah would have to sit out the fall semester.
More: Could a former UNLV big man be next?
UE went 11-21 in McCarty's first season on the job, including a 5-13 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play.
It returns six players who logged double-digit minutes per game while four others gain eligibility – Cunliffe, Ilegomah, Coastal Carolina transfer Art Labinowicz and former three-star recruit Deandre Williams – in addition to Henderson and Gilgeous-Alexander.
Pat Hickey is the UE beat reporter for the Courier & Press. Contact him by phone at (812) 464-6736, email at pmhickey@gannett.com or follow along on Twitter @patmhickey.