Multiple sources are reporting that Oregon and men’s basketball head coach Ernie Kent have received verbal commitments from Illinois high schoolers Michael Dunigan and Matthew Humphrey to join the Ducks in 2008. Dunigan, a 6-foot-10 post player from Farragut High, and Humphrey, a 6-foot-5 guard from Hales Franciscan High, are both highly rated by Rivals.com as being among the top 100 players from the Class of 2008.
The two also play on the MeanStreets AAU team that Oregon sophomore-to-be Joevan Catron, another Chicago-area native, played on. Humphrey told the Chicago Sun-Times that Catron’s presence at Oregon “wasn’t a huge factor. It was just a bonus.”
Despite the fact that Dunigan and Humphrey are friends and teammates, they both decided on the Ducks by themselves.
“It just turned out that way,” Humphrey told the Sun-Times. “It wasn’t like a package deal or anything. Oregon wanted us individually just as much as together.”
Both players are scheduled to compete at the Nike Global Challenge tournament in Portland July 29-31.
The Ducks have also received a verbal commitment from Drew Wiley, a 6-6 forward who just transferred from McKenzie High School to Springfield’s Thurston High for his senior year.
The fall signing period isn’t until November and NCAA rules prohibit coaches from commenting on players who haven’t signed yet.
“(We) cannot comment on a prospect while they’re being recruited,” Oregon Media Services Director Dave Williford said. Williford did, however, confirm that Dunigan and Humphrey are being recruited by the Ducks.