Alexander and Cooks sign from Redlands

With the majority of the big-time prospects already signed, sealed and delivered, Bruce Weber and Illinois made a big splash this afternoon. The Illini landed Redlands forward Rodney Alexander, perhaps the best junior college prospect left on the board this spring. Alexander signed with Illinois at a 4 p.m. ceremony at Redlands.

"I really liked the coaches mainly, and the players, I got along real good with all of them," Alexander said. "It feels real good. It was real important to just get this off my chest."

Alexander averaged nearly 14 points and 5 rebounds for a Redlands team that was number one in the nation for much of the season. He should make an immediate impact in Champaign.

"I'll play the three," he said. "I'm going to be a big impact player."

Not that Alexander expects anything to be given to him.

"That's something you've got to work for," he said of a starting spot. "You can't just go in and say you're going to start. You've got to work for that."

Alexander chose Illinois over Indiana, Tennessee, Syracuse, Oklahoma and many others.

The highly-touted forward was not the only player to sin in El Reno this afternoon. Teammate Chris Cooks inked his national letter of intent to Missouri State. In fact, he had just gotten off the phone with Bears' coach Barry Hinson when he spoke to JucoJunction.

"He just told me he is glad I'm a part of his family and glad I signed with them," Cooks said.

Cooks spent last weekend in Springfield on his official visit.

"I loved the college atmosphere and the team," he said. "I loved the support they just get from the whole town."

Cooks did not get the pub Alexander did, but the numbers were almost identical. The 6-foot-4 prospect averaged 13.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 steals this season.

"I just want to make everyone better," he said. "I want to get better all around, improve my shooting and my consistency."