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Grand Canyon University Athletics
Lopes sign 4-star hoop recruit
11/16/2017 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro
Illinois shooting guard Tim Finke is GCU-bound
The Grand Canyon men's basketball team landed its most heralded recruit Wednesday when four-star Illinois shooting guard Tim Finke signed his letter of intent with the Lopes.
Finke, a 6-foot-6 Champaign (Ill.) Central High School senior, made his commitment to GCU head coach Dan Majerle by phone on Tuesday night after visiting the campus for a Nov. 2 exhibition game at GCU Arena.
Finke is rated as the 148th best prep player in the nation by 247sports.com, which reported that he received offers from 22 programs. It also ranked him as Illinois' fifth-best prep player and the No. 35 shooting guard in the nation. ESPN.com regarded Finke as Illinois' No. 2 high school player and No. 27 shooting guard in the nation.
"He's a top-notch recruit," Majerle said. "He was highly recruited. He really liked our atmosphere and our program. He's a terrific kid. He's got a great family. He can really shoot the ball. He's athletic and strong. He's got a great body and he'll only get stronger once we get him in the weight room. And he's a high-level shooter, which is what we need. I'm excited. He's a great get for us."
As a junior, Finke averaged 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for 2017 regional champ Champaign Central, which is coached by his father, Jeff, who played one basketball season and three football seasons for Illinois.
Finke's brother Michael is a junior starting power forward for Illinois, where GCU will play this season on Dec. 30. His brother Nick is a 6-foot-7 freshman for Army.
Finke's shooting will make him an ideal arrival next season following the departure of senior Joshua Braun, GCU's leading scorer.
"He's got a great body, strong lower body," Majerle said. "He's got the kind of frame that can put on good weight to get stronger. I'm really happy. I think his potential is huge. It's going to be fun to work with the kid because he loves to work. He's a gym rat."
GCU's splash in recruiting has increased in recent years with sophomore Oscar Frayer being the previously most touted prep signing in the spring of 2016. The Lopes signed two high-level European recruits, freshmen Roberts Blumbergs and Alessandro Lever, earlier this year.
"We want to be top 25," Majerle said. "We continue to get better and better recruits. This signing is another step in the right direction."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Finke, a 6-foot-6 Champaign (Ill.) Central High School senior, made his commitment to GCU head coach Dan Majerle by phone on Tuesday night after visiting the campus for a Nov. 2 exhibition game at GCU Arena.
Finke is rated as the 148th best prep player in the nation by 247sports.com, which reported that he received offers from 22 programs. It also ranked him as Illinois' fifth-best prep player and the No. 35 shooting guard in the nation. ESPN.com regarded Finke as Illinois' No. 2 high school player and No. 27 shooting guard in the nation.
"He's a top-notch recruit," Majerle said. "He was highly recruited. He really liked our atmosphere and our program. He's a terrific kid. He's got a great family. He can really shoot the ball. He's athletic and strong. He's got a great body and he'll only get stronger once we get him in the weight room. And he's a high-level shooter, which is what we need. I'm excited. He's a great get for us."
As a junior, Finke averaged 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for 2017 regional champ Champaign Central, which is coached by his father, Jeff, who played one basketball season and three football seasons for Illinois.
Finke's brother Michael is a junior starting power forward for Illinois, where GCU will play this season on Dec. 30. His brother Nick is a 6-foot-7 freshman for Army.
Finke's shooting will make him an ideal arrival next season following the departure of senior Joshua Braun, GCU's leading scorer.
"He's got a great body, strong lower body," Majerle said. "He's got the kind of frame that can put on good weight to get stronger. I'm really happy. I think his potential is huge. It's going to be fun to work with the kid because he loves to work. He's a gym rat."
GCU's splash in recruiting has increased in recent years with sophomore Oscar Frayer being the previously most touted prep signing in the spring of 2016. The Lopes signed two high-level European recruits, freshmen Roberts Blumbergs and Alessandro Lever, earlier this year.
"We want to be top 25," Majerle said. "We continue to get better and better recruits. This signing is another step in the right direction."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
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