2009-2010 Roster

[Greg]

Men's Basketball Unveils 2009-10 Roster

6-foot-11 junior college transfer Kyle Robbins headlines newest additions.


Aug. 25, 2009


CHICAGO- With the first week of classes now in full swing, UIC head men's basketball coach Jimmy Collins revealed the Flames' 2009-10 roster on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Collins announced that 6-foot-11 center Kyle Robbins (Falmouth, Maine/Cheverus H.S./Southwestern Illinois College) has signed with the Flames and will play beginning this fall.

Robbins began his collegiate career at Vermont before transferring to Southwestern Illinois in Belleville.

"Kyle has a big body with great hands and great offensive tendencies," said Collins. "He is very sound fundamentally. We're looking forward to working with him and helping him, and us, plug our paint up."

Collins and his staff also unveiled five new walk-ons: 6-foot guard Arthur Wiley (South Holland, Ill./Thornwood H.S.), 6-foot-3 guard Erin Pryor (Chicago, Ill./King College Prep), 6-foot-5 forward Mylin Northern (Chicago, Ill./Kenwood Academy/Triton College), 5-foot-10 guard Corey Gray (Missouri City, Texas/Hightower H.S.) and 6-foot-4 guard Matt Bush (Quincy, Ill./Quincy H.S./Black Hawk College).

The six latest additions join a 2009-10 rookie class that already includes 6-foot-9 center Louis Green (Hillside, Ill./St. Joseph H.S.), 6-foot-7 forward Brad Birton (Chicago, Ill./North Lawndale College Prep/South Suburban College), and 6-foot-5 guard Anthony Kelley (Aurora, Ill./Aurora Central Catholic H.S.).

"I really like the balance of this roster," said Collins. "With veteran leadership from Robo Kreps, Spencer Stewart and Jeremy Buttell to go along with the needed additions of athleticism from Brad Birton, Louis Green and others, we have a good mix of guys who will really work to be successful."

Collins also announced that junior forward Tori Boyd and fifth-year senior forward Jovan Ignjatovic have decided to forego their remaining collegiate athletic eligibility to pursue other interests. Both will remain at UIC to complete their degrees.

"I want Tori to succeed in any endeavor he chooses," said Collins. "If his real interest is anything he works towards, he will be successful.

"I have always said that Iggy was one of our most skilled big men, and we will miss him," said Collins. "We wish both Iggy and Tori the best in their future endeavors as they stay at UIC to finish their education."

In addition, senior forward Rob Eppinger and freshman forward DeMarkus Isom-Jones have left the University for personal reasons.

[Big D]

Oh man, are we in a world of hurt this year.

Losses: Mayo, Vandermeer, Boyd, Eppinger, Iggy, Isom-Jones

Gains: 9 new players, including 5 walk-ons....

wtf?

[uic53]

I just saw this and was about to post. Thank God I didn't renew my season tickets! This is just awful. Tori Boyd is gone, Eppinger is gone and so is Iggy! What an awful team UIC is going to throw out there! I guess they have lots available now because they signed 5 walk ons.

I really don't know what to say. I mean, you have most sports excelling at UIC and then you have this garbage? I don't see this team winning more than 7 total games. Maybe this will be enough to motivate the powers that be to buy Collins out of his last year. I am disgusted right now.

This will be one of the worst teams UIC has ever put together since becoming D1. It also has a great chance to be the worst D1 team ever. Good luck!

[Big D]

btw, i just checked the updated roster and noticed that we have 2 centers, 4 forwards, and 12 guards.

We're in big trouble!

[Greg]

I noticed that Jelani Poston and Zavion Neely are also on the team as they weren't mentioned before.
Also there's no way we're going to have 18 on our roster so there will still be changes especially with the walk ons.

42 Brad Birton 6-7 220 Forward JR Chicago, Ill. North Lawndale South Suburban College
31 Chris Buchanan 6-3 190 Guard JR Joliet, Ill. Providence Catholic Joliet Junior College
50 Matt Bush 6-4 195 Guard JR Quincy, Ill. Quincy Black Hawk College
33 Jeremy Buttell 6-7 235 Forward JR Colleyville, Texas Heritage Texas Tech University
14 Corey Gray 5-10 160 Guard FR Missouri City, Texas Hightower
41 Louis Green 6-9 240 Center FR Hillside, Ill. St. Joseph
15 Jimmy Harding 6-5 165 Guard SO Minooka, Ill. Minooka
22 Kris Harris 6-3 185 Guard JR Chicago, Ill. Westinghouse South Suburban College
2 Austin Hood 6-2 190 Guard SO Chicago, Ill. York Kellogg C.C.
20 Anthony Kelley 6-6 180 Guard FR Aurora, Ill. Aurora Central Catholic
3 Robo Kreps 6-0 180 Guard SO Forsyth, Ill. Maroa-Forsyth
23 Zavion Neely 6-1 170 Guard FR Chicago, Ill. Hope
13 Mylin Northern 6-5 210 Forward JR Chicago, Ill. Kenwood Triton College
35 Jelani Poston 6-7 220 Forward FR Chicago, Ill. Harmony Community School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
5 Erin Pryor 6-3 180 Guard FR Chicago, Ill. King
44 Kyle Robbins 6-11 250 Center JR Falmouth, Maine Cheverus Southwestern Illinois College
25 Spencer Stewart 6-4 185 Guard JR Edwardsville, Ill. Edwardsville
1 Arthur Wiley 6-0 170 Guard FR South Holland, Ill. Thornwood

[UICJohn]

We all knew that we would struggle losing Scott Vandermeer and Josh Mayo so we were all worried. Then word came that we were losing Tori Boyd and we were even more upset and pessimistic. Now comes word that we're also losing Rob Eppinger and Demarkus Isom Jones.

I think 7 games is honestly being a little optimistic at this time.

[Captain A]

So the Flames are basically going to be fielding a rec league team in '09-'10... wonderful.

If Jimmy is finally getting rid of all the bad apples, that is great, but I think that believing he is actually doing that is far too optimistic of me.

So I will chalk it up as another year of having hopes dashed before a second of practice is even completed.

Maybe as a result they'll get a good draft pick this year- HA!

[PantherU.com]

Do the Stompers have any college eligibility?

Don't want to be the a$$hole, but where do you guys see yourself finishing in conference? I've been staring at the rosters of the teams that could be in the bottom three, and I just can't justify putting UIC higher than 9th.

I have to admit, I don't know much about some of these players. Kyle Robbins? He's got the size like Vandermeer, but he might be a big plodder like that tree they have up in Detroit.

If I'm looking through the optimist's goggles, where does UIC finish this season?

[diehardfan21]

where is rob eppinger headed?

[Big D]

blackpantheruwm,

UIC finished 7th last year with "good" players. I think it's safe to say UIC with walk-ons will reek worse than hot garbage. If it weren't for Loyola, I'd guarantee UIC in the 10th spot. But I think they'll be pretty bad as well. So, flip a coin heavily biased towards heads...heads UIC, tails Loyola...the winner is in the cellar.

Looked up Kyle Robbins and when Vermont signed him, they said he had great fundamentals. Unfortunately, I then looked at the box scores for the one season he was there, and minus exhibition, I think he had one FG all year....and he probably averaged about 1 minute per game (he didn't appear in a lot of games). The most minutes he got in one game was 4. The fact that he's headlining this class isn't saying much about the class.

Could be wrong, of course....I mean, maybe he's improved, or needed a change of scenery, or was in the wrong system. But things don't look promising.

[Big D]

btw, would anyone else love to hook a polygraph to JC given some of the quotes he's provided over the years?.

"I really like the balance of this roster"

He'd be off the charts on that one.

"We have a good mix of guys who will really work to be successful"?

How many times have we heard this one?

[axaguy]

Well, well, well..........certainly a "new" look... I actually will want to see how this group progresses....they may actually be hungry and willing to fight for playing time, but, and this is a BIG but, coaching and teaching will have to be very heavily emphasized and we all know "our" strength in that catagory. I will go out on a limb and say we may be pleasantly surprised but will certainly have growing pains. BUT.........UIC should NEVER, EVER be in a position as this. The walk-ons I'm sure don't count against any scholarship total, which has been hurt by several years of poor team management/player selection and probably reduced the actual number of true "rides" we can offer a higher quality recruit. I cetainly don't want to criticize a kid before he plays for us, but really!!!!!!!! At 6' 11" where are the bigger time D1 schools?? Big D's stats and comments/concerns are very valid. With no seniors on this team I will carefully watch for improvement from Nov to March. Maybe not many wins but improved floor play. I'll give Jimmy the benefit of the doubt here and say his coaching and leadership will be really challenged this year. If progress is noted, even ever so small, I'll be pleased but if we get hammered without signs of life, direction and purpose.....it's time for an immediate change at season's end, without question....................the noise will be deafening, or the silence...........

[spike1057]

hahahahahhahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is almost to funny! I think that this proves that Jimmy Collins is not someone players want to play for. We have read time and time again that the players have problems with him. So we lost what 75 percent of the roster? Good luck there. This should be a funny year with lots of blowouts. At least in the first few weeks of the season all us gamblers should take home some huge pots since there is no way UIC is going to win more then 3 games this year. I guess this will save my knee since their probably will be no need to stomp with this team playing. Close games I dont think so.

[circle70]

My question is why 5 walk-ons? We usually have only 1 or 2. Are we anticipating several academic casualties and/or redshirts?

[Captain A]

There have been other years when there have been 4 walk ons, but it never lasts the season. Especially with the look of this team, I suspect they have been told that they really have a chance to play, and if they play well, a scholarship will be coming their way in the future. The reality is after several games of not dressing and watching from behind the bench, reality sets in and they one by one start to stop showing up...