Henricksen: Joliet West’s Teyvion Kirk commits to Drake

As Joliet West’s Teyvion Kirk played out his junior year, the stock of the 6-2 point guard began to climb. He led the Tigers to a sectional championship in March and hasn’t looked back since.

College coaches took notice and the offers followed. He became a high priority for mid-major schools and several high academic schools, including the Ivy League. Drake had just enough on the court and in the classroom to lock up the rising Joliet West star on Wednesday.

“There were Ivy League schools that were on me and offered, but I thought Drake was a better mixture of both basketball and academics,” says Kirk. “There was no point waiting around.”

Kirk, who was a standout with Young and Reckless on the club circuit this past spring and summer, made two separate visits to the Drake campus. He said he “felt a family feel” at Drake and acknowledged that he recognized and appreciated the intense interest head coach Ray Giacoletti showed.

While the majority of college interest came during the month of July, Drake was the very first mid-major program to offer Kirk –– back in April.

“They were at every game of mine in the summer, and they believe in me,” Kirk said of Giacoletti and his staff. “I have a great relationship with coach Giacoletti. We talk almost every day.

“Plus, the Missouri Valley is a great basketball conference to play in.”

Kirk is a steady, multi-faceted point guard who impacts on both ends of the floor with his underrated athleticism, length and willingness to defend. With a presence and feel at point guard, Kirk has continued to show steady improvement to go along with untapped potential.

Although he’s now among the Hoops Report’s top 15 prospects in the senior class and sported double-digit offers, Kirk didn’t generate the college interest until this past spring.

“I felt I was under-recruited for the longest time, so I was on a mission,” says Kirk. “I knew there was more I had to work on and need to continue to work on. I worked on my shot, became more aggressive.”

Kirk, who averaged 12.5 points, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals a game this past season, will lead a Joliet West team that is expected to be among the top teams in the state this coming season.