JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Head Coach
Steve Schweer and the Illinois College Men's Basketball team have introduced seven new Blueboys to the program.
Connor Brown, Henry Thomas, Andrew Thomas, Brady Clark, and DeShawn Nolan join the new class of 2028 at IC, and the Blueboys get two transfers including Javonte McKenzie and Jaylen Swinney.
Coach Schweer had this to say on the newcomers: "We are thrilled with our incoming class this fall. We lost some significant pieces after last season and knew that we had to add talent and depth to compete for some of those roles, and we were able to do that with this group. We were able to identify people who exemplify the characteristics that matter to us- toughness, selflessness, and an exceptional work ethic. Our incoming class is filled with dynamic players who can do a lot of different things well, and we are excited to see them challenge our returning group and help continue to elevate the level of our program. All the credit for putting this class together goes to our assistant coach Jay Rowell. He worked relentlessly to find the right people for us, and he deserves recognition for a job well done.
We can't wait to get started!"
Connor Brown // 6'4 Guard // Springfield, IL // Calvary HS
- 2x 2nd Team IBCA All State
- IBCA All Star Game participant
- MSM Male Athlete of the Year
- 2x Springfield Journal Register All Area
- 3-time Sangamon County All-Tournament team
- 1602 Career Points
- Averaged 19.7 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists per game as a senior
Calvary Athletic Director Brittany Welk on Connor: "Connor is an all-around great kid. He is very active at our school and at the church. He's at every school activity and spends a lot of time with the younger kids at our school in the after-school program... We've been very fortunate to have Connor represent our school for the last 4 years and he will be sorely missed."
Coach Schweer on Connor: "We feel very fortunate to have Connor joining Illinois College and our basketball program. We have been building a relationship with Connor for a few years now, and it was clear to us from the very beginning that he is exactly the type of young man we want in our program. His basketball ability aside, Connor is a fantastic young man, and we have no doubt he is going to make a positive impact on our campus, the Jacksonville community, and in our basketball program."
Henry Thomas // 6'1 Guard // Tolono, IL // Tolono Unity HS
- Twin brother to fellow incoming freshman Andrew Thomas
- IBCA All Star Game Participant
- News Gazette All Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year
- 1,158 Career Points Henry
- Averaged 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.9 assists per game as a senior.
Coach Franks on Henry and Andrew: "We could not be prouder of Henry and Andrew. They were great players for us at Unity and had unbelievable work ethics. They were constantly working on their games. Their passion and drive for the game of basketball makes them special."
Andrew Thomas // 6'3 Wing // Tolono, IL // Tolono Unity HS
- Twin brother to fellow incoming freshman Henry Thomas
- "Jack of all trades" for one of the best Tolono Unity teams in school history
- Versatile player that can play all 5 positions on the court and can guard all 5 positions
- Elite student with a perfect 4.0 GPA and graduated as the valedictorian in his class
Coach Schweer on Henry and Andrew: "It's probably just natural for them to get lumped together all the time because they are twin brothers, but really their floor games are very different. They impact the game in different ways, but both bring very important intangibles to our program. We say we want workers in our program and that is exactly what these two young men are: high character guys who are willing to put in the work. They are both great fits for our program and we are excited to have them here with us."
Brady Clark // 6'3 Wing // Kewanee, IL // Kewanee HS
- 2024 Illinois Media All-State Team - Honorable Mention
- 2024 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) - 3rd Team
- Canton Kiwanis All-Star Game
- Iowa - Illinois All-Star Game
- Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) 1A/2A All-Star Game
- 4x TRAC East All-Conference
- Junior and Senior season 1st Team unanimous
- Senior year stats: 21.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists
- 1,825 Career Points
High School Coach, Dayton Ince: "Brady had an exceptional career at KHS as a 4-year multi-sport student athlete. Brady is an everyday guy that will contribute to the team in many ways with his abilities and leadership qualities. He will never shy away from a challenge and will never blink when faced with adversity."
Coach Schweer on Brady: "Brady had an incredibly accomplished high school career and his statistics and awards can really speak for themselves. Brady is a coach's kid who brings a level of toughness and competitiveness that we absolutely love. He can do a lot of things on the floor, and we are excited to see how he fits in with our group."
Deshawn Nolan // 6'0 Guard // Oak Forest, IL // Oak Forest HS
- 2x All South Suburban Conference performer
- 1000+ Career Points
- Averaged 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds per game as a senior
- He also finished as a top 5 student in his class with a 6.0 gpa
Oak Forest HS Coach TJ Cobbs: "As good as he is as a basketball player, he is an even better person and leader."
Coach Schweer on DeShawn: "We are really excited about adding DeShawn to our program. He played in an incredibly tough conference against some very high-level competition on a nightly basis, and we think that will help him come in prepared for the challenge of competing at the college level. DeShawn is shifty and creative with the basketball, and we are looking forward to finding ways to use his unique abilities on the floor. Above all else DeShawn is a phenomenal kid and a great student- a great fit for our program."
Javonte McKenzie // 6'3 Wing // Moraine Valley CC
- All Skyway Conference selection
- Averaged 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2 steals per game
Moraine Valley CC Head Men's Basketball Coach, Kyle Huppe: "Javonte is the type of player any coach would be thrilled to have on their team. As a player he is tough, scrappy on defense and has that "hates to lose" mentality. He is Mr. Consistent with his energy and effort every day and in his two seasons at Moraine Valley, he got better every single day. We're thrilled to see him move on to the next level and are eager to see him at IC!"
Coach Schweer on Javonte: "Vonte played in a great junior college league and had a lot of success. The first thing you will notice about him is his ability to defend at a high level. He really competes on that end of the floor and that is something that we are always looking for. He has had an opportunity to compete against great competition and has produced at the college level in a way that translates well to our program. We are excited to have Vonte with us!"
Jaylen Swinney // 6'5 Forward // Fontbonne University
- Jaylen was a key contributor on a Ladue HS team that finished 2nd in state
- As a freshman last year at Fontbonne Jaylen averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds on a 20 win team that received a bid to the NCAA tournament.
Coach Schweer on Jaylen: "Jaylen has some ties to our program that have allowed him transition to IC smoothly. Maybe more importantly than anything else, Jaylen has won at a high level both in high school and in his first year in college. He brings good size and ability to stretch the floor which we are excited about, and we can use him in a lot of different ways. We value versatility and he certainly brings that to the table. Jaylen is a great addition to our program!"
