Valley Recruits

[Da Coach]

On 4/28/25- SIU is also expected to get a commitment from Max Pikkar, a 6'11" freshman forward at St. Louis University. He is from Leiden, Netherlands, and played prep ball at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas.
He played in 26 games this past season as a freshman, and averaged 0.9 ppg and 1.0 rpg.
Bio- https://slubillikens.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/max-pikaar/12599
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/5239709/max-pikaar

SIU signs Dutch big man Max Pikkar, a transfer from St. Louis.


Updated 2025 commitment list -
2025 MVC commitments-
Belmont- Isaiah West, Nic McClain, Jack Smiley
Bradley- Matt Zobrist, Montana Wheeler, Dietrich Richardson, A.J. Smith, Alex Huibregtse, Mayar Wol, Kai Yu, Jackson Seastrunk, Gustavo Guimarães
Drake- Tate Sage, Braden Appelhans, Bryson Bahl, Owen Larson, Griffen Goodbary, Jaehshon Thomas, Jalen Quinn, Isaiah Carr, Wilguens Jr. Exacte, Okku Federiko
Evansville- Bryce Quinet, A.J. Casey, Keishon Porter, Marlon Barnes, Jr., Alex Hemenway, Aaron Gutman, Leif Möller
INSU- Enel St. Bernard, Martin Kaupanger, Ian Scott, Sterling Young, Zyair Greene, Xavier Hall
ILSU- Nick Allen, Isaac Ericksen, Tyreek Coleman, Mason Klebo, Landon Davis
Missouri State- who cares?
Murray State- Tristian Ford, Mason Miller, Frederick King, K.J. Tenner, Ben Shtolzberg, Javon Jackson. Layne Taylor, Brock Vice, J.J. Traynor, Brayden Shorter, Dylan Anderson, Mathis Courbon, Roman Domon
SIU- Luke Walsh, Daniel Pauliukonis, Caden Hawkins, Quel'Ron House, Jalen Haynes, Max Pikkar, Isaiah Stafford, Prince Aligbe
UIC- Rashund Washington, Andy Johnson, Nano Barrantes, Mekhi Lowery, Sam Silverstein, Abdul Momoh, Josiah Hammons, Ante Beljan, Elijah Crawford
UNI- Jalen Wilson, Geon Hutchins, Ismaël Diouf, Tristan Smith, Marino Dubravcic, Levi Valdo
Valparaiso- J.T. Pettigrew, Carter Hopoi, Rakim Chaney, Owen Dease, Shon Tupuola, Isaiah Barnes, Mark Brown, Jr., Kobe Walker, Tucker Tornatta, Brody Whittaker

2026 MVC Committments-
Bradley- Race Kowalczyk

 

[yoda]

Evansville also landed a German kid for 2025 - LINK

 

[Da Coach]

Evansville has apparently gotten a commitment from a 6'7" German guard, Leif Möller. He is 21 years old and currently playing for a BBL club team in Hamburg, Germany.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1923478021308084648

 

[yoda]

Evansville has apparently gotten a commitment from a 6'7" German guard, Leif Möller. He is 21 years old and currently playing for a BBL club team in Hamburg, Germany.

Evansville with a commit from Germany. 6’7 guard that is already 21 yrs old! Leif is going to be a mismatch nightmare running the point.

You gotta get old and stay old in the Valley! https://t.co/MZbPSVQ5zi

— MVC Hoops (@hoops_mvc) May 16, 2025

He’s just a couple weeks from turning 22 y/o
If he takes a couple redshirt years, he’d be almost 30 by the time his eligibility expires.
NCAA used to have a rule that if you hit 20 y/o before you enroll, your eligibility “clock” would start ticking anyway, but I think they did away with that.

 

[Da Coach]

I am hearing that SIU will announce tomorrow that they have signed 6'7" junior forward Prince Aligbe of Seton Hall who is in the transfer portal. He received offers from numerous high-majors out of high school in Minneapolis in 2022, and committed to Boston College. After playing 2 seasons at BC, he transferred and played at Seton Hall in 2024-25. He started 29 of 32 games this past season for SHU, and averaged 7.8 ppg & 3.6 rpg.- https://verbalcommits.com/players/prince-aligbe
Stats- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/stats/_/id/4609653/prince-aligbe
Bio- https://shupirates.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/prince-aligbe/7384

Prince Aligbe is the older brother of current SIU freshman Rolyns Aligbe, which likely played a part in his decision to transfer to SIU.
He is back in the portal, and again was getting a lot of interest. Bradley was one of the schools recruiting him in the transfer portal-

https://twitter.com/x/status/1910737891384270955

 

[Da Coach]

I am hearing that SIU will announce tomorrow that they have signed 6'7" junior forward Prince Aligbe of Seton Hall ....

Despite the rumors from over a week ago, there has still not been any official confirmation that Prince Aligbe is transferring from Seton Hall to Southern Illinois. Could there be an issue with NIL money? If anyone knows, let us hear from you.

Northern Iowa just signed another international player- 6'4" guard Levi Valdo (full name Guimdo Levi Valdo) who is playing for a 3rd level Italian league team, Fulgor Fidenza, where he was averaging 18.5 ppg. He is originally from Cameroon.

Levi Valdo Guimdo Basketball Player - from Cameroon & Italy

Levi Valdo Guimdo from Cameroon & Italy born in 2005 - Last Teams: FULGOR FIDENZA, PALLACANESTRO VARESE

scoutbasketball.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1926685345396957568

Video-

 

[Tommy]

If that dude is 19 years old, I’m 27.

 

[yoda]

Despite the rumors from over a week ago, there has still not been any official confirmation that Prince Aligbe is transferring from Seton Hall to Southern Illinois.

"Seton Hall transfer Prince Aligbe has committed to SIU. The 6’7” junior forward started 29/32 games played, averaging 7.8 points, and 3.6 rebounds per game this season. Prince will be joining his brother and rising sophomore Rolyns Aligbe.
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also- answers to Thursday's trivia question...
The players are Bradley's David Thirdkill (#35) and Drake's Pop Wright (#25)
The photo was taken at Bradley's Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse on January 15, 1981, Bradley won 59-57.
...and obviously the 2nd photo is Anthony Parker!