Pinckneyville Standout Kyle Cassity Inks With SLU
April 16, 2008
Saint Louis University head men's basketball coach Rick Majerus today announced that 6-foot-4 guard Kyle Cassity (Pinckneyville, Ill. / Pinckneyville) has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University and play basketball for the Billikens. Cassity will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2008-09 academic year. "Kyle is the product of a storied high school program," Majerus said. "He has been extremely well-coached and understands the nuances of the game. Kyle is among the two or three best passers I have seen during the course of this past season. He has the unique ability to make the appropriate play and pass with the precise timing. The game makes sense to him as he spaces the floor and moves without the ball. There are few people who can pass the ball in transition, to a post and off dribble penetration. Kyle has all of those characteristics. "In addition, Kyle is an outstanding student," Majerus said. "He resides near the top of his class and wants to avail himself of a quality education. He is gifted academically as well as athletically and will have many options in his future. His biggest decision will be to decide which academic endeavor he wants to pursue. There is no question about Kyle's leadership skills. He was a captain extraordinaire and a fierce competitor who addressed all issues of improving his game." Cassity was a Class 2A first-team All-State selection by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 20 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Panthers. He led Pinckneyville to a 28-6 record and a fourth-place finish at the 2008 Illinois State Tournament. Cassity was named Player of the Year by the Southern Illinoisan and was a member of the Southern Illinois Coaches Association All-South Team. He scored 1,319 points in his career, including 641 points as a senior, to rank fourth all-time at tradition-laden Pinckneyville.
Also signing with the Billikens during the spring signing period is 6-foot guard Ruben Cotto (Alton, Ill. / Alton). Last fall, SLU signed an outstanding class comprised of 6-foot-8 power forward Brian Conklin (North Eugene, Ore. / North Eugene), 6-foot-4 guard Femi John (St. Louis, Mo. / McCluer North), 6-foot point guard Kwamain Mitchell (Whitefish Bay, Wis. / Dominican), 6-foot-11 forward Willie Reed (Kansas City, Mo. / Bishop Miege) and 6-foot-11 center Brett Thompson (Vienna, Ill. / Vienna). |
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