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The Redbirds accomplished both by signing Jackie Carmichael and Austin Hill to national letters of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the spring signing period.

Carmichael is a 6-foot-9, 230-pound power forward from Manhattan, Kan., who played this past season at South Kent (Conn.) Prep School. The 6-1, 205-pound Hill is a junior college guard from Covington, Ky., who played the last two seasons at Southeastern Illinois.

"We definitely got what we wanted," said ISU coach Tim Jankovich.

The Redbirds apparently are not done recruiting, either.

Tony Lewis of Ellsworth Community College in Iowa Falls, Iowa, will visit the ISU campus this weekend. Lewis is a 6-7, 220-pound power forward who averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds this past season and earned first-team junior college Division II All-American status.

Lewis is well known to ISU assistant coach Paris Parham and senior-to-be guard Osiris Eldridge. Parham coached Eldridge and Lewis at Phillips Academy in Chicago.

Carmichael averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds for South Kent, while Hill contributed 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists for Southeastern Illinois.

ISU tried to recruit Carmichael last year when he went to Manhattan High School, which Jankovich also attended in the 1970s. Carmichael was a Class 6A All-Stater who averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as a senior.

"We think Jackie is a tremendous addition. I'm really excited about, as good as he's done already, his potential," said Jankovich. "He's an elite athlete with an outstanding work ethic. I can't wait to work with him."

Jankovich said Carmichael went 23 feet in the long jump and ran a 49-second quarter-mile in high school track.

Hill could help the backcourt immediately with the graduation of guards Champ Oguchi and Emmanuel Holloway.

"Obviously losing Emmanuel and (Oguchi) and all they brought to the table we felt it was important to bring in a guard with strength, maturity and experience to fill that void somewhat," said Jankovich.

"Austin definitely fits that bill. He's very versatile and does a lot of things well. He played in a great junior college program. Because of that hopefully his transition will be a little quicker than the norm."

Carmichael will be one of five freshmen on ISU's roster. The Redbirds signed four prep players in the fall - guard Justin Clark and forward Jon Ekey of Independence, Mo.; guard Terry Johnson of Chicago North Lawndale and swingman Zeke Upshaw of Chicago University High.

"Over time and in the long run, which we're in it for, I felt it was time to have a real, real solid foundation in the freshman class," said Jankovich, who has compiled a 49-20 record in two seasons as ISU coach.

ISU does not have any scholarships available for next season right now, and Jankovich said he doesn't anticipate any players leaving. How Lewis would fit into the equation is not known.

Ellsworth coach Troy Muilenberg said Lewis already has taken a visit to Southern Illinois. "He will be deciding not long after the visit to Illinois State," said Muilenberg.

The Redbirds were in a similar situation last year and brought in Kellen Thornton with the stipulation he would be put on scholarship for the 2009-10 season. Thornton ended up on scholarship this past season when Kenyon Smith was declared academically ineligible.