College recruiting is in full swing and local high school student-athletes in the classes of 2025 and 2026 are making verbal commitments to institutions where they will compete collegiately.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), March 13, senior boys basketball center Alex Vincent of Oak Park and River Forest High announced an oral commitment to Case Western Reserve University, an NCAA Division III institution in Cleveland, Ohio. Vincent chose the Spartans over Army-West Point, Denison University, Grinnell College, and Kenyon College.
“The main things that went into my decision to commit to Case Western were the team environment being super-cool and feeling like I fit in well,” Vincent told Wednesday Journal. “Case having a top business school that offers my intended major was also very important to me. Lastly, Case is a winning program, having won two of the last three (University Athletic Association) titles.”
Vincent averaged 12.8 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks per game this season for OPRF. He also made both the West Suburban Silver All-Conference and All-Academic Teams. He hopes to apply what he learned during his OPRF career as he prepares for the next level.
“My main thing I’m going to take from Oak Park is knowing a strong team culture,” he stated. “Throughout my time there, Coach Phil (Gary), Coach Dom (Ferguson), and my teammates have been truly amazing to work and be around.”
On March 16, Fenwick junior football and basketball player Tommy Thies announced on X he has orally committed to Miami University of Ohio for football. Thies, a 6-foot safety, chose the RedHawks, of the Mid-American Conference, over Akron, Army West Point, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, New Mexico, Northern Illinois, Ohio, San Diego State, Toledo, and Western Michigan, among others.
“For me, the biggest thing was the [Miami] coaches. I feel the demeanor they have and what they want to see out of their players every day is something I can totally relate to,” Thies said. “The way they strive to be the best at everything they do and the way they push themselves to get 100 percent out of everyone is the main reason, and I can see myself fitting in their scheme. It’s the perfect spot for me.”
He added that although he hasn’t decided on a major, Miami’s academics made his choice “a no-brainer.”
“Miami has a great culture off the field,” he said. “It’s somewhere that after you’re done playing, you set yourself up with a degree.”
Thies, whose father Scott is Fenwick’s athletic director and brother Jake a sophomore football and basketball player, registered 85.5 tackles (six for loss), two interceptions, 11 passes broken up, and one forced fumble for the Friars last fall. He was voted Fenwick’s Defensive Most Valuable Player and named to the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference White Division all-conference team.
Tommy, along with Jake, were also integral parts of Fenwick’s boys basketball team, which finished 23-12 and advanced to the Class 3A Little Village sectional final, where the Friars lost to St. Patrick, the eventual third-place finisher in the state.
“Any sport you play with your brother, it’s the best thing,” Thies said. “Jake and I have always looked forward to playing football and basketball at Fenwick.”
Thies says he is looking forward not only to one more Fenwick season with Jake, but also beyond.
“We do everything together off the field,” he said. “All the training, running, and working out, it’s always with Jake. When he makes plays on the field, it makes my job easier. That’s the dream, to play with Jake on the next level.”
