Salukis add a fifth recruit to class

In his first year at the head coach of the school he graduated from, Southern Illinois head coach Chris Lowery is bringing in one heck of a recruiting class when Chris Cornelius picked the Salukis this weekend. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound forward from Brewster Academy (N.H.) will head home to join a solid five-man class.

Cornelius verbally committed to the bracket-busting program after a long recruitment. And that time is just what he needed.

"I just had a long time to think about it and I think that's what I needed," Cornelius said. "They were my second option back in the fall but I really began to feel like they were best for me basketball wise. They have a really good program and I feel like I can be a good fit for them. Plus, it's in my home state and I trust what coach Lowery and his staff are doing there."

Cornelius said his first option was Illinois State for the longest time but wanted to see how the season played out before making any kind of final decision. Perhaps the team's 22-6 record and solid recruiting class helped, too.

Lowery and staff have put together a class that should continue to make NCAA hoops bracket prognosticators advance the Salukis deep into the tournament even more.

Cornelius joins AAU teammate Bryan Mullins, forward Jordan Armstrong, athletic guard Josh Tabb and Indiana big man Nick Rogers. Cornelius believes that he and his new teammates will help make bracket-busting a little easier.

"I think we have a great class coming in and we won't have any seniors next year either. So we'll be young and good for a long time," Cornelius said. "I think we'll be able to do some damage for a while."