GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Greg Mays and Keifer Sykes have signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) to play college basketball at Green Bay, head coach Brian Wardle announced Wednesday. The first-year head coach is extremely high on both players, who will bring a versatile set of skills and competitiveness to the program.

"Both are great kids with fun, outgoing personalities that I think the Green Bay community will really embrace and enjoy," said Wardle. "They are both unbelievable competitors and unselfish team guys, and I know both of them are excited to play with each other here at Green Bay. We would not have been able to go into Chicago and get these kids without the hard work of our assistants - Brian Barone, Chrys Cornelius and Jimmie Foster - who worked their tails off from the moment they were hired to help us get these special talents."

Mays is a 6-foot-9 power forward from Crete, Ill. who attends Crete-Monee High School. He played his AAU basketball this past summer for the Illinois Wolverines.

"It feels great," Mays said of signing with Green Bay. "I have had so much support from everyone, and it is really a great feeling to know that the school recruiting you truly wants you. The biggest factor was coach Wardle and the staff at Green Bay and their interest in my academics as well as my ability. They were at every AAU game that they could come to and were always very upbeat. After my visits and talking to my mom and dad and coach [Matt] Ryndak, Green Bay just seemed like a perfect fit for me. It means a lot when the head coach comes to see you as much as the assistant coaches. They did not pressure me and were just straight with me."

Sykes is a 5-foot-10 point guard who played at Marshall Metropolitan High School in Chicago, Ill. The point guard played for the Mac Irvin Fire on the AAU circuit.

"It feels really good just to get everything over with it and getting to play at the collegiate level," Sykes said. "The biggest reason I chose Green Bay was the coaching staff. They showed a lot of passion and they connect with you on the court, in the classroom and on a personal level. They had confidence in me and that made me have confidence in them that Green Bay was the place for me to become a better basketball player and a better man."

GREG MAYS
Height: 6-foot-9
Position: Power Forward
Hometown: Crete, Ill.
High School: Crete-Monee
AAU Team: Illinois Wolverines

Accomplishments

• Averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game last summer for the Illinois Wolverines
• Ranked as the most athletic post player in the entire state of Illinois by ChicagoHoops.com
• Ranked No. 23 in the Class of 2011 Illinois Top 100 by ChicagoHoops.com
• Helped Crete-Monee High School to two consecutive regional titles
• Also a football standout and was included in the Elite Group for the Under Armour Football Combine

Quotes
Greg Mays: "I am looking forward to getting on campus and helping my teammates win games. I met a bunch of the players and I know how hard they work. With that kind of work ethic and the coaching staff there, I know we can win the Horizon League. My goals are to help us go to the NCAA Tournament and win a lot of games."

Brian Wardle: "Greg Mays is a special talent. He is a very athletic, raw talent with great shooting touch and great hands. He plays with a high motor so obviously we are very fortunate to get a 6-foot-9 high-motor kid that is very active and athletic."

Joe Hendrickson (City/Suburban Hoops Report): "Greg Mays could potentially be one of the bigger recruiting steals in the class of 2011 in the state of Illinois. It is so difficult to find a package like Mays has with a good body, athleticism and size who still has a high ceiling. He is just scratching the surface as a player. For Brian Wardle to come in and get Greg Mays at this time could prove to be one of the biggest steals in this class. He runs the floor, rebounds and alters shots. He is getting better with his skill level. He still has a ways to go, but he has so much upside."

Jeff Hammond, Greg's Dad: "I am really excited about Greg going to Green Bay because it is close. His uncle and three of his cousins live in South Milwaukee and he has lots of friends and old coaches that are close so they are excited to get to see his career as well. I think Greg can be successful there, not only athletically but also academically. It is an atmosphere where he can succeed and get his four-year degree and possibly even a master's down the road. Athletically, I am really excited because the way that the coaching staff gets after basketball in terms of teaching the game and letting the kids be who they can be and should be on the court. With the Horizon League, he will be playing against a lot of local talent. It is a perfect fit for Greg."

KEIFER SYKES
Height: 5-foot-10
Position: Point Guard
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
High School: Marshall Metropolitan
AAU Team: Mac Irvin Fire

Accomplishments

• Led his team to 28 wins and a third-place finish in Class 3A in 2009-10; Lost in city championship by one
• Scored 20 points in back-to-back wins in the state tournament and averaged 18 points during the state tournament as a junior
• Averaged 10 points and four assists per game as a junior
• Ranked second academically

Quotes
Keifer Sykes: "I am looking forward to playing with the great guys that I played with when I was on the visit. I'm looking forward to getting better and stronger and helping them win, make the tournament and win conference. I just want to better the program."

Brian Wardle: "Keifer Sykes is a tough, hard-nosed true point guard and the word that best describes him is winner. He plays his best in big games and he makes plays to win, whether that means scoring, getting to the paint, getting fouled or getting a teammate an open shot. He just wins, and that is what I loved about him. His high school teams always won and he was the one who made them go. We think he will be able to do that for us in the future."

Joe Hendrickson (City/Suburban Hoops Report): "What sets Keifer Sykes apart is his competitive nature. He is a tough kid who has a knack for coming up big and making key plays in big moments. He is a fearless point guard who does not back down from anything. He is going to take care of the ball and run the show well. He is really a solid Horizon League prospect."

James Sykes, Keifer's Dad: "I am glad to see him go to a nice university and help their program. I know there he will finish school. I like the coaches and they gave us a real good understanding about school and education. I think Green Bay will fit his game and his style of play. Going there will help make him a better man, graduate from college and do what he needs to do."