Owensboro Catholic’s Luke Beickman has signed with Eastern Illinois University to continue his basketball and academic career. While his senior season on the court has yet to begin, Beickman has helped lead the Aces to three straight district championship appearances and two consecutive region championship appearances.
Beickman’s head coach Tim Riley has a working relationship with the head coach of Eastern Illinois, putting the two of them in touch.
“When coach Simmons started reaching out to me, I felt the interest and then he ended up offering to me,” Beickman said. “I went on a visit in June, and I felt like it was the best place for me. I really like the campus the facilities, the assistant coaches, and the way the team plays. I felt like it was the best place for me to be.”
During his college visit, Beickman was captivated by the high intensity of the team’s practice and the competitiveness of the guys, making his decision easy for him. During his recruitment process, he heard from a plethora of schools, including Hillsdale and Campbellsville, yet his mind was already made up.
“Honestly, I knew all along I was signing with Eastern Illinois,” Beickman said.
The senior enjoyed the recruitment process and stated that once he made the right connection, he knew it was the right decision. After his sophomore season ended, Beickman started hearing from schools, with the process picking up during and after his junior season. Riley and Beickman focused on his footwork and ball handling, allowing him to take the next step.
Now that he has made his decision, Beickman said he can relax and focus on a deep playoff run with the Aces.
“I’m glad to have the decision about next year off my chest so I can focus on my senior season this year,” Beickman said. “I’m super excited for it and I think we are going to have a good year.”
