2009 forward Shaun Pratl (Richards) just felt the timing was right and was ready to pull the trigger on Eastern Illinois.

“Everyone I talked to about recruiting told me that somewhere would just feel right. And to me Eastern did just that. I’m real excited to turn this program around and help add to this young team,” said Pratl.

Many motives factored into Pratl’s decision, but the one that stuck out above the rest was location. “Location was a huge part of the commitment as well. I really want my family and friends to be able to see me play.”

This 2009 forward is a big-time catch for EIU and figures to get minutes right away, “The players have all been texting me saying I was the missing piece. For them to say that to me really means something.”

Along with Eastern Illinois, Pratl received interest from all over the board Boston University, Illinois State, Indiana State, Penn State, and Iowa were all among the suitors.  Expect a big and productive season from this 6-8 forward who says he is out just to lead his team to victories.

We saw this one coming. 6-8 class of 2009 forward Shaun Pratl has committed to Eastern Illinois University.

Pratl spoke to members of the Illinoishsbasketball.com staff after he took official visits to Boston and Eastern Illinois, and raved about the coaching staff, players, basketball program and more. It was clear after that conversation that Eastern Illinois would be his pick, and that it was only a matter of time before he announced the commitment. What we didn’t know, however, was how quickly Pratl was going to announce it.

Look for a full interview in the near future…

Class of 2009 forward Shaun Pratl (Richards) recently embarked on two official visits. One was a stone’s throw away from home, at Eastern Illinois, while the other was quite a distance away at Boston University. Pratl is a 6-8 forward who has a versatile game and a wide array of moves in the post and in transition. These two official visits come not long after he decided to play college basketball, rather than football.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Pratl of the visit to Boston. “I mean no one in my family had ever been to Boston, one of my friends who had been to Boston just told me I was going to love it. It was really cool; the city is way different from Chicago. It’s more laid back and ‘chill,’ kind of slower than Chicago and I kind of like that. The team was pretty cool, the coaches were awesome they seemed like just a couple of the guys on the team. I had a lot fun out there, it was nice weather and the city really likes sports everywhere I went someone was talking about Patriots, Red Sox, Boston College, BU. It was pretty cool.”

On top of the city, Pratl liked a lot more of what the school had to offer. “Yeah it’s a great education out in Boston,” he stated. “They said the scholarship is worth almost like $200,000 for four years, and I couldn’t complain with that. They said once you get a degree from Boston you’re pretty much set.”

Two weeks prior Pratl visited Eastern Illinois, and thoroughly enjoyed his visit, “The visit to Eastern was everything I expected it to be. I have some friends that go to Eastern and they say I will never have a bad time. I did have a lot of fun it’s definetly a college campus. It was really a good time down there,” said Pratl.

“The players are really what sold me at Eastern most of them are freshman and sophomores and I will be playing with them for the next two or three years. That’s definetly a big thing and they were all cool. It just seems through the whole process they have wanted me the whole time and they have been patient I just really feel like they really do want me. The coaching staff was awesome at Eastern I have known these guys for a little bit now because they have been recruiting me probably the longest. They have been honest with me the whole time and said I was going to be the first guy to visit.”

Will location be a factor or not? “That’s the thing I’m going to have to decide, I mean it really is huge that my family and friends see my games and stuff. BU games are on the Internet so I guess it wouldn’t be a huge deal, and I liked Boston enough that I could live out there and not mind it. But at the same time it’s kind of important part of my decision that my family is able to see me play,” commented Pratl.

With two visits out of the way and his senior season around the corner, Pratl decision could be coming soon. “It’s pretty much up in the air between those two (EIU and BU) and Saint Louis is a third option. Saint Louis has offered, but I don’t know about them. I might be going down to SLU tomorrow or this weekend. I just want to get the decision out of the way and start focusing on the season coming up.”

This 6-8 forward remains one of the top uncommitted prospects in the state of IL.  So keep it tuned to illinoishsbasketball.com for the latest news and updates…