Thursday, July 21, 2005

 

Westbury Christian's Preadom to Wichita State

Shockers add guard to roster
Wendell Preadom changes plans for prep school to commit to Wichita State

BY PAUL SUELLENTROP, The Wichita Eagle

Guard Wendell Preadom hasn't visited Wichita yet, but what he's heard about the Wichita State basketball program is good enough.

Preadom, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound guard from Houston's Westbury Christian School, said he has committed to Wichita State and will sign a nonbinding letter of intent within a week.

Preadom, who will be a freshman this season, said WSU assistant coach Tad Boyle saw him play with his AAU team this summer. Boyle was impressed enough to bring in coach Mark Turgeon and they sold Preadom on WSU, causing him to change his plan to attend Maine Central Institute, a prep school.

Preadom said Turgeon offered him a scholarship last weekend after watching him play with the Houston-based T-Mac All-Stars in a tournament in Denton, Texas.

"I know the program is up and coming," Preadom said. "Good competition. Every game is packed. That sounds pretty good."

Preadom said he will visit WSU in late July or early August. He will join Houston products P.J. Couisnard, Karon Bradley and Nick Rogers on the WSU roster.

Preadom averaged 12 points, five rebounds and four assists for Westbury Christian, which won its third straight Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools Class 5A title in March. Teammates Jeremy Barr (Southern California), Sean Coleman (Tulsa), Peter Stein (William and Mary) and Obi Ikeakor (Saint Louis) will also play Division I basketball.

Westbury Christian coach Greg Glenn described Preadom as an explosive player who can drive, shoot and plays good defense.

"He's very good in the open court," Glenn said. "He plays bigger than he is."

TexasHoops.com ranked Preadom as the No. 63 senior in Texas after the season. He was one of 20 players named TAPPS All-State for classes 4, 5 and 6A.

TexasHoops.com describes Preadom as a strong, well-rounded guard who can penetrate and score inside as well as shoot three-pointers, run the team, rebound and defend.

Preadom's letter of intent is nonbinding because the signing period ended May 18. He will also a sign a financial aid agreement. WSU coaches cannot comment until they receive the signed paperwork.

He said Evansville, Jacksonville State, Louisiana-Lafayette and Lamar also had shown interest.
Preadom fills WSU's 13th and final scholarship for the 2005-06 season. He joins a recruiting class that includes freshman center Ryan Bradley, from Florida, and junior college transfers Ryan Martin (Coffeyville) and Jared Young (Pratt).

Division I transfers Keith Wooden (Arizona State) and Phillip Thomasson (Colorado State) are also expected to attend WSU this fall and be eligible in 2006-07.

Reach Paul Suellentrop at 269-6760 or at psuellentrop@wichitaeagle.com.

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