(#24 Preston Phillips)

On Tuesday, Bosco Institute forward Preston Phillips committed to the University of Evansville. He is a 2020 Jimtown graduate that spent a post-grad season at Bosco.

Last year, Phillips piqued the interest of a wide range of colleges. The beginning of the pandemic halted his ability to take visits and make a well-informed decision. It also stopped colleges from entering the picture late in the process. His post-graduate year allowed those schools to watch Phillips and recruit him.

Phillips is a tall, lanky forward that is best as a passer and playmaker. His combination of size and passing ability should make him an asset in a Todd Lickliter system. Another positive to his game is outside shooting. The lefty has a smooth stroke from the perimeter. He did not look for it a lot at Jimtown, but Phillips proved to be a consistent shooter with time and space. At the collegiate level, that could develop into a major strength.

Coming out of Jimtown, Phillips had plenty of small college options. Teams like Huntington University recruited him hard, but he wanted to be a small fish in a big pond rather than the other way around. D1 programs took a look at Phillips, but with the beginning of the pandemic, they did not offer him. At Bosco, IUPUI extended him an offer before he decided to go to Evansville.

Before the transfer portal has taken full shape, Evansville has five players coming in next year. Heritage Hills forward Blake Sisley is the only other Indiana native of the group. Most D1 teams are facing major overhauls, but Evansville has been planning this one as Lickliter molds his roster.