April 22, 2010

9:30 A.M. CST

A number of mid-major college programs first identified Abdel Nader as a viable recruiting target this past summer while watching him on the traveling team circuit.  However, Nader really came into his own during the 2009-10 Illinois high school basketball season and in doing so saw his recruiting stock rise considerably.  All of his hard work has paid off, as reliable sources have informed us that Nader offered University of New Mexico head coach Steve Alford a verbal commitment last evening.  The Lobos have landed a major recruiting get from a prospect that keeps rising and will only continue to get better.

Nader, a 6'7 class of 2011 forward from Niles North High School in Skokie, IL,  put up monster numbers all season long in 2009-2010.  He did so once again when we watched him this past February in a Central Suburban Conference crossover contest versus Evanston Township.  Nader scored 26 of his team's 42 points in that game, and on multiple occasions topped 30 points.

What really makes Nader an attractive D1 prospect is his all-around offensive skill set.  We see him as a skilled 3 man offensively.  He is a very good perimeter shooter with a smooth release and range that extends beyond the 3-point line.  He also has the ability to put the ball on the floor, is a good interior passer and is highly athletic, as he gets out on the break well and finishes with authority.  He projects to grow to either 6'8 or 6'9, and with his perimeter skills and ability to handle the ball, has drawn many comparisons to former Chicago Bulls star Toni Kukoc.  Indeed, Full Package Athletics CEO Steve Pratt, for whom Nader played AAU ball last season, has already made this comparison, and talk continued along these lines from several national scouts who recently observed Nader playing for his new traveling team (the Illinois Flash which is sponsored by Dwyane Wade) at the Swish N' Dish Classic in Mequon, WI over this past Easter weekend.

In addition, Nader also brings a lot of positive intangibles to the table, including having a strong work ethic, being highly coachable and being a top-flight student.  All of those came into play with respect to Alford's and Associate Head Coach Craig Neal's recruitment of Nader.  They knew they were getting a quality young man and the type of versatile and big wing player that has succeeded in the Mountain West Conference.  They are hoping that Nader can be a Jimmer Fredette type player, and with continued improvement, we are NOT going to bet against it!  

Some of the other high majors that showed recruiting interest in Nader were hoping to be able to recruit him as a 4, but word has it that Nader definitely wants to play the 3, and that is where the Lobos envision him, with the possibility that he could play some 2 as well.  Nader is also much more likely to be successful defending at the 2 or 3 spots than he is at the 4, and that was a crucial factor in the Lobos' recruitment of Nader.  Congratulations go to the Lobos for getting this deal done!

On the recruiting front, Nader received scholarship offers from the likes of Baylor, Bradley and Wyoming, and was also being recruited by Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Southern Illinois.  He also was starting to receive heavy interest from a number of Big Ten schools, including Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa and Purdue.  We see Nader as a player that has a huge up side and someone who is certainly capable of emerging as a breakout performer this spring and summer when he competes on the traveling team circuit.

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