Good Morning, Illini Nation: Tom Michael, the basketball player
May 10—Tom Michael will return to Champaign starting May 14 as deputy athletic director — the No. 2 administrator in the DIA. He first arrived in Champaign ahead of the 1989-90 season as part of a notable recruiting class for Lou Henson.
Deon Thomas, of course, topped the list. The Simeon star. De La Salle teammates Tim Geers and Brooks Taylor and Christopher standout T.
J. Wheeler rounded out the group. Michael had some cachet, though, as a state champion.
The 6-foot-8 forward had just led Carlyle to the Class A title in rather impressive fashion. Michael was basically unstoppable once the state tournament reached then Assembly Hall, averaging 32. 7 points on 76 percent shooting.
That included a 45-point effort in the semifinals against Prairie Central and 28 points on 10 of 12 shooting in Carlyle's 65-56 victory against Rock Island Alleman in the championship game. Michael redshirted the 1989-90 season at Illinois with frontcourt minutes mostly occupied by Marcus Liberty, Andy Kaufmann, Rodney Jones and Ervin Small. Four seasons on the court saw Michael turn into a key role player for the early '90s Illini.