Illinois State head coach Porter Moser gained some size and bulk when Lorenzo Gordon from Mineral Area Community College, in Park Hills, Mo., signed a national letter of intent to continue his education and basketball career at Illinois State Monday.
Gordon, a 6-foot-7, 235 pound forward, ranked No. 19 nationally among junior college players with 20.5 points per game en route to being honored as a 2004 National Junior College Athletic Association Third Team All-America selection. Gordon also averaged 10.7 rebounds per game last season with the Cardinals. As a freshman he averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 boards per game.
By shooting 64 percent from the field last season, Gordon led the region in field goal percentage. His rebounding total was also the high in the region.
Moser is excited about Gordons play inside and his addition to the Redbird roster.
Lorenzo is a power post player who can score from the high post and from the block, Moser said. He was a part of three championship teams at Vashon, the premiere basketball program in the city of St. Louis. He has a wide body with a physical presence and he gets a lot done (inside).
As a prep, Gordon helped Vashon secure three straight Class 4A state championships. In his senior season, the Wolverines posted a 28-1 mark and finished the year ranked No. 3 nationally by USA Today. Gordon, who was also recruited by St. Louis, averaged 18.9 points per game his senior season.
The St. Louis native wants to return Illinois State to its place of prominence in the Missouri Valley Conference.
I just want to help coach Moser turn it around and get ISU back to being a winning program, Gordon said. I felt a good connection with the coaches and players on my visit and Im just looking forward to getting started.
As a junior at Vashon, Gordon averaged 17.5 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots per game on a team that finished 27-2 with another state title.
Gordon joins Justin Dentmon and Nedu Onyeuku (NEY-do oh-NEW-cue), who each signed during the early signing period in the fall, as part of Mosers first recruiting class at Illinois State.
