For the last month of the prep basketball season, Missouri-St. Louis coach Chris Pilz was a regular at games and practices for the Edwardsville Tigers.
Pilz is shopping for a point guard and he made Tigers senior Brandon Hogg a priority. But with the signing date looming Wednesday, April 16, for prospects that did not sign during the early signing period Nov. 14-21, UMSL has heavy competition for Hogg’s signature.
Division II national power Southern Indiana is also after Hogg and the Screaming Eagles made a positive impression when Hogg visited campus in Evansville, Mo. UMSL remains a possibility, but and Pilz’s diligence may be factor. But competing with USI will be tough for UMSL.
Hogg, a first-team All-SWC pick, averaged 14.0 points per game for a 26-3 Tigers team that won the Southwestern Conference championship wiht a 12-2 league record.
EHS head coach Mike Waldo said there is also interest in Hogg by some Division I programs, including Eastern Kentucky of the Ohio Valley Conference.
The SWC has two players signed or committed to play D-I next year. Edwardsville’s Anthony Campbell has signed with Austin Peay and Alton’s Ruben Cotto has committed to Saint Louis.
O’Fallon standouts Kenny Leverette (SWIC) and Jared Woolfolk (Wabash Valley) are taking the JUCO route.

– Greg Shashack

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