The Eastern men’s basketball program made strides this season by winning 19 games, including a playoff game.

Well, head coach Mike Miller is all smiles as he announces the first signees for the 2010-11 incoming class in star recruits Tommy Woolridge and Isaac Smith III.

Woolridge, a 6-2, 170-lb shooting guard, hails from Chicago Foreman High School and was coached by Terry Head.

During his senior season, Woolridge averaged 11.8 points per game, 3.4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2.7 steals.

In a press release, Woolridge liked Miller and assistant coach Chrys Cornelius.

Miller said not only is Woolridge a top athlete, but he played with top talent in teammates Mike McCall and Lavonte Dority.

Both also signed Division I scholarships, with McCall going to Saint Louis and Dority going to South Florida.

“They had an outstanding team,” Miller said. “Tommy had a good year, and did a lot of good things. He is a very versatile player and he is very similar to guys who you see in this league in terms of a perimeter player who could do a lot of different things.”

Miller said that Woolridge is a different player from junior guard Tyler Laser, but Smith brings in his own unique skills.

Smith, a 6-3, 185-lb guard from Chicago Saint Leo High School, was an All-Chicago Catholic League team member as a junior. As a junior, he averaged 18 ppg, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. As a senior, Smith had 20.7 ppg for his high school coach Noah Cannon.

“Isaac is a high level athlete,” Miller said. “As he comes in, he may be one of our top two or three athletes on this team next year. He has shown that ability as a guard playing above the rim, being fast with the ball.

“I’ve seen him play in different settings where he has that versatility to play as a scorer, playmaker, really defend on the ball and his athleticism gives him the ability to do all those things.”

The Panthers have always wanted to have a strong state recruiting strategy, especially in the Chicagoland area. Eastern has recently signed sophomore guard Jeremy Granger (Elgin), senior guard T.J. Marion (Aurora), freshman forward Shaun Pratl (Chicago Ridge) and 2009 graduate Billy Parish (Naperville).

“I think with the success these guys are playing with here, it will open the door for the future to bring in more guys,” Miller said.

The coach wants to continue bringing in top talent.

“As we go through, we need to make sure that every time we bring a guy into the program that they’re productive,” Miller said. “Ultimately, we try to get better. Each guy upgrades us in some way.”

Miller said he recruits on needs, like if he needs a scorer, shooter, ball handler, rebounder or defender.

Later this off-season, Miller said he is looking for two to three more players to fill out his roster. He wants to have a mix of incoming freshmen and transfer student athletes.

Bob Bajek can be reached at 581-7944 or rtbajek@eiu.edu.

Men’s basketball head coach Mike Miller looks at the scoreboard during a game against Austin Peay on Feb. 25 in Lantz Arena. Miller announced the two newest signees, Tommy Woolridge from Chicago Foreman High School and Isaac Smith III from Chicago Saint L

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