DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's basketball team has signed a pair of guards in Teyvion Kirk and Tai Bibbs to National Letters of Intent for the 2017-18 season, head coach Ray Giacoletti announced on Wednesday, Nov. 9.
Kirk is a 6-3 point guard from Joliet, Ill., attending Joliet West High School. Kirk is a consensus top-20 prospect in Illinois for the class of 2017 and a top-five ranked point guard. After helping his high school team to a 21-10 record last season including the Class 4A sectional title, the team has earned a preseason ranking in the top 5 for this upcoming season in the state of Illinois.
"Teyvion will bring a competitive edge and attitude to this program from his first day on campus," Giacoletti said. "He is a pure, pass-first point guard who relishes in making others around him better. He plays with a tremendous basketball IQ and he will have the unique ability to impact the game on both ends of the court."
Kirk is one of five NCAA Division I players to come from the AAU All-In Young & Reckless team. Playing in the NY2LA Association, the team is recognized nationally and ranked as a top 5 AAU program in the state of Illinois.
Bibbs, a 6-2 guard from West Chicago, Ill., is ranked alongside Kirk as one of the top-five senior guards in the state and is also a top-20 prospect in Illinois.
Playing for West Chicago High School, Bibbs helped his team to a 22-7 record last year to win the school's first basketball conference title in its 113-year existence. He was named first-team all-conference for his contributions and was also named the MVP of the West Chicago Thanksgiving Tournament and to the all-tournament team of the prestigious DeKalb Holiday Tournament.
"Tai comes to Drake with a limitless amount of potential and God given talent," Giacoletti said. "He is a relentless hard worker both on and off the basketball court. That is exemplified with his basketball accomplishments on top of his 4.0 GPA. Tai is capable of playing both guard positions and possesses the ability to defend multiple players by using his long frame and versatility."
Kirk and Bibbs will join a roster that is only slated to lose one senior heading into the 2017-18 season. The current edition of the Bulldogs is set to begin their season on Friday, Nov. 11, when they host South Dakota in the Knapp Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:35 p.m.
