Abdel Nader has signed to join the Huskie men’s basketball program this coming fall, head coach Mark Montgomery announced Wednesday.
The 6-foot-7 product of Niles North High School in Skokie, Ill., becomes the seventh NIU signee for the 2011-12 freshmen class.
“We are extremely pleased that Abdel will be joining the NIU program,” Montgomery said. “He is a very talented offensive playmaker who has the ability to play multiple positions and has unlimited shooting range. Abdel is an exceptionally versatile player who has the ability to score in a variety of ways. He can score off the dribble, he can catch-and-shoot and he can score both inside and outside.”
As a senior at Niles North, Nader led the Vikings to their first sectional championship and Central Suburban League titles in the school’s 47-year history.
Nader averaged 23.8 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in his final year as a Viking while earning First Team All-State honors from the Chicago Tribune. Nader helped lead Niles North to a 24-6 record, just two seasons after winning just three games.
Nader’s signing of an Athletic Financial Aid Award makes him the fifth Chicago-area recruit to sign with NIU this season. Nader also was recruited by schools from many of the top conferences from around the country, including the Big East, Big 10, Big 12 and SEC.
“Abdel’s signing is a boost for our 2011 recruiting class,” Montgomery said. “Our staff has done an outstanding job of assembling this class in a relatively short period of time since we have been here and we can’t wait to get this group onto campus.”
Nader joins 6-foot-2 guard Marquavis Ford from Saginaw, Mich., 6-foot-7 twin forwards Keith and Kevin Gray from Chicago, Ill., and 6-foot-6 wing Andre Henley from Chicago, Ill., as the fifth signee for NIU this spring. In addition, the Huskies inked 5-foot-9 guard Zach Miller from Chicago, Ill., and 6-foot-4 wing DeAndre Barnette from Jackson, Tenn., during the November signing period.
For more information on NIU men’s basketball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
