2008 Woodie Awards
Securing the future
Collins and co. sign two to next year's recruiting class
Andrew Smothers
Issue date: 12/4/06 Section: Sports
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The men's basketball season is less than a month old, but UIC basketball head coach Jimmy Collins and his staff has already started securing the team's future by signing prep stars Robert Kreps and Tori Boyd within the past few weeks.
Kreps is an all-state athlete in both basketball and football from Maroa-Forsyth in Maroa, Illinois. Collins has had his eye on the 6'0" guard since his birth.
"His mother and his father have been friends of mine for 22 years and from day one he was primed as an athlete," said Collins. "His dad put a lot of time into Robert and Robert was one of those kinds of kids that you didn't have to force to be an athlete, he was an athlete by birth. His mom played volleyball, his father played basketball and football, and he just loved competition, so he's always been the kind of athlete who's worked towards being the best."
Kreps, a first team all-state football player, was also all-state in basketball last season.
"We're extremely pleased and lucky to have Robert Kreps join our basketball family, said Collins. "I think he's going to do well for the Flames."
Boyd, a 6'5" swingman from Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford, IL, brings along a similar pedigree to Kreps and, according to Collins, outstanding athleticism to UIC.
"Tori's mom is a marathon runner and his father is an athlete as well," said Collins. "What people think about Othyus Jeffers in terms of his elevation, how competitive, and how he jumps, well, Tori is the same type of athlete with a tremendous outside game, who can drive, who can shoot threes, who can come in and get you rebounds."
Kreps, who made an oral commitment to UIC last winter, was pursued by Yale, Western Illinois, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Austin Peavy and Bucknell before choosing the Flames.
This past January, Kreps told his local newspaper in Decatur that, "I just liked everything about the program. I liked that it wasn't too far from home and that they have a good team in a good conference."
'Robo' Kreps also led Maroa-Forsyth's football team to the 2006 IHSA 2A championship, scoring two touchdowns, and catching nine passes for 139 yards in the title game.
Boyd, who participated in the IHSA slam dunk and three-point contest last March, was recruited by the likes of Illinois and Marquette, according to Mike Pankow of the Chicago Tribune.
He was given all conference honors last season, averaging over 13 points and six rebounds per game.
"He [Boyd] and Robert both will bring intellect to the court," said Collins. "Again, these are the type of young men that we are trying to attract to the university, and we are certainly blessed to be able to land these two."
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Kreps is an all-state athlete in both basketball and football from Maroa-Forsyth in Maroa, Illinois. Collins has had his eye on the 6'0" guard since his birth.
"His mother and his father have been friends of mine for 22 years and from day one he was primed as an athlete," said Collins. "His dad put a lot of time into Robert and Robert was one of those kinds of kids that you didn't have to force to be an athlete, he was an athlete by birth. His mom played volleyball, his father played basketball and football, and he just loved competition, so he's always been the kind of athlete who's worked towards being the best."
Kreps, a first team all-state football player, was also all-state in basketball last season.
"We're extremely pleased and lucky to have Robert Kreps join our basketball family, said Collins. "I think he's going to do well for the Flames."
Boyd, a 6'5" swingman from Rockford Boylan High School in Rockford, IL, brings along a similar pedigree to Kreps and, according to Collins, outstanding athleticism to UIC.
"Tori's mom is a marathon runner and his father is an athlete as well," said Collins. "What people think about Othyus Jeffers in terms of his elevation, how competitive, and how he jumps, well, Tori is the same type of athlete with a tremendous outside game, who can drive, who can shoot threes, who can come in and get you rebounds."
Kreps, who made an oral commitment to UIC last winter, was pursued by Yale, Western Illinois, Illinois State, Eastern Illinois, Austin Peavy and Bucknell before choosing the Flames.
This past January, Kreps told his local newspaper in Decatur that, "I just liked everything about the program. I liked that it wasn't too far from home and that they have a good team in a good conference."
'Robo' Kreps also led Maroa-Forsyth's football team to the 2006 IHSA 2A championship, scoring two touchdowns, and catching nine passes for 139 yards in the title game.
Boyd, who participated in the IHSA slam dunk and three-point contest last March, was recruited by the likes of Illinois and Marquette, according to Mike Pankow of the Chicago Tribune.
He was given all conference honors last season, averaging over 13 points and six rebounds per game.
"He [Boyd] and Robert both will bring intellect to the court," said Collins. "Again, these are the type of young men that we are trying to attract to the university, and we are certainly blessed to be able to land these two."
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