29 April 1999CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206 and/or head coach Dennie Bridges, (309) 556-3345
All-Stater Luke Kasten to Attend Illinois Wesleyan
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- All-state basketball player Luke Kasten of Hillsboro High School has decided to continue his athletic and academic career at Illinois Wesleyan University, IWU head coach Dennie Bridges announced today.
Kasten, a 6-foot-7, 190-pound forward, averaged 19.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for a Hillsboro team that finished with a 30-1 mark and lost in the supersectional round of the Class A state tourney. A first team all-South Central Conference selection, he connected on 65 percent of his field goal attempts and was a 79 percent free throw shooter. He had 53 blocked shots and made 61 steals.
"This is saying a lot, but I feel Luke has the potential to develop into a 'Bryan Crabtree' type player," said Bridges. "He played most of the time in high school on the low post with his back to the basket. He will grow as a player as he is given the freedom to create out on the floor. He is unselfish almost to a fault and has an engaging and outgoing personality. I'm thrilled with his decision."
Crabtree, IWU's third all-time leading scorer with 1,871 points, played for Bridges from 1993 to 1997 and was the Division III "Player of the Year" as a senior when he led the Titans to the national championship.
Kasten had outstanding credentials as a senior, including being named to the Chicago Sun-Times all-state squad and earning third team on the Class A all-state squad selected by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. He finished third all-time at Hillsboro in scoring with 1,500 points and was chosen to play for the Class A South in the annual IBCA all-star game. He was also named to the all-area squads selected by the State Journal Register and the Decatur Herald and Review.
"We are all aware of Luke's athletic ability and what he can do on a basketball floor, said Hillsboro coach Dyke Buerkett. "He is a very intelligent young man who has a feel for the game. His communication skills and knowledge of the game are outstanding.
"Luke is also an up-front kind of guy and I trust his opinion because he's always given me an honest answer and knows what he's talking about. He's a blue-collar guy who works hard and will succeed in life."
About IWU Men's Basketball
The Titans were 17-9 last winter and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament for the sixth straight season and for the 13th time in the 16 years of NCAA association. Bridges completed his 34th season at the Titan helm with a career mark of 626-304 and a league record of 402-120.