BLOOMINGTON - The Illinois Wesleyan basketball recruiting class got bigger in more ways than one on Tuesday.

Along with landing Normal West High School guard Sean Seibring, Evanston guard Stephen Rudnicki and Morton forward Dexter Walker, IWU also added 6-foot-9, 270-pound Ryan "Big Country" Connolly of Springfield Lanphier.

A Big 12 Conference all-star, Seibring is the third member of the Pantagraph All-Area team to opt for Wesleyan. He joins University High's Eric McCullough and Delavan's Jordan Zimmer.

The 6-foot-2 Seibring averaged 12.0 points for the Wildcats and was a 77 percent free-throw shooter.

"I've been around there so much as a fan. Now that I'm an actual Titan, It's pretty special," said Seibring, whose father Steve is IWU's associate vice president for advancement. "It's a great school with great academics. Coach (Ron) Rose is a great coach and it's a real fun team. I'm really excited."

Seibring helped the Wildcats to a Class 3A regional championship.

"It's great to have someone who is well aware of the tradition and how special it is to be a Titan," Rose said. "Sean really showed great improvement as the year went on and finished out his senior year very strong."

The 6-5, 210-pound Walker hails from Rose's hometown and played for Coach Steve Schupp, who was Rose's sophomore coach.

"Dexter is really a physically strong kid," said Rose. "He has great court awareness and can score in a variety of ways."

Walker averaged 18.1 points and 6.1 rebounds while earning first team all-Mid-Illini Conference honors for the Potters.

"It's a really good education and the basketball program is really solid. Even when they were rebuilding last year they got second in conference," Walker said. "I'm versatile. I can post up and do things down low and I can shoot the ball pretty well, too."

A 6-3 guard, Rudnicki was a co-captain and the leading scorer of an Evanston team that finished 30-4 and took third place at the Class 4A State Tournament.

"I can play both (point and off guard). I'm a versatile player offensively," said Rudnicki. "I can shoot the ball, and I try to set up the offense so everyone gets goods shots."

Rudnicki averaged 10 points, five assists and four rebounds for the Wildkits.

"What stood out about Stephen was his ability to pass the ball. He has a high basketball IQ," Rose said. "He really thinks the game through. He played against (former Titan) John Camardella's Prospect team, and John said he had a propensity for hitting big shots."

Connolly and the 6-9 McCullough give the Titans needed height. IWU started no players over 6-5 last season.

"I think I can go right in and fit into their program. I should be able to compete for some playing time," said Connolly. "I'm good at using my size to post somebody up. At the Division III level, not too many people should be able to match up with me one-on-one."

Connolly, who had 37 points and 21 rebounds against Peoria Notre Dame in a December game at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, averaged 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds his senior year at Lanphier and was a Central State Eight Conference all-star.

Rose could not comment on Connolly because he has yet to receive his admissions contract.