Shaw to announce intentions today

By Gus Bode

Forward to choose between SIU and Saint Louis

Highly coveted prep basketball star Matt Shaw will have a press conference this afternoon at Centralia High School where it is expected he will announce his college destination.

Shaw recently narrowed his list of choices to SIU and Saint Louis.

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The 6-foot-6 senior forward has previously said SIU was the leading choice for his services. He made an official visit to SIU’s campus this past weekend, following visits to Saint Louis and Stanford the previous weekends.

He ruled out attending Stanford after his visit to Palo Alto, Calif.

Shaw, who has been unavailable for comment Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game last season for the Orphans.

If he chose SIU, Shaw would probably be the biggest local recruit the Salukis have nabbed since Bruce Weber inked Mount Vernon guard Kent Williams during his first year in Carbondale.

First-year SIU head coach Matt Painter has been adamant about his need for a big man, and the only commitment the Salukis have received for the 2004-2005 season came from Indianapolis guard Wesley Clemmons.

With Clemmons committed, the Salukis currently have three scholarships open for next season.

The Salukis have lost out on several post players that they were recruiting, including two from Minnesota who chose other Missouri Valley Conference schools in the past week.

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Everette Pedescleaux, a 6-foot-6 forward from Robbinsdale, Minn., chose to attend Northern Iowa, while Patrick O’Bryant, a 6-foot-11 center from Blaine, Minn., committed to Bradley.

Reporter Ethan Erickson can be reached at [email protected]

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