Christmas is supposed to be a time for giving, so Morgan Park junior Wayne Blackshear did his part.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard, one of the top juniors in the country, gave Louisville and its coach, Rick Pitino, his verbal commitment Friday.
"I'm not surprised about Louisville," said Scouts Inc. recruiting coordinator Reggie Rankin. "I think he's a good fit for them. He has good size and is strong and is very versatile. He reminds them of their big wings, and he'll only get better."
Blackshear took a step forward in his game during the July evaluation period and has continued to dominate in the high school season. His performances have included 37 points and 13 rebounds in Morgan Park's season opener, 34 points and 10 rebounds against St. Rita and 42 points and 18 rebounds versus East Aurora.
Blackshear was also considering DePaul, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marquette, Michigan State, North Carolina, SIU, Tennessee, Texas, UNLV and USC.
"It was a family decision," said Kevin Thomas, Blackshear's stepfather. "We just felt everything at Louisville was just right for Wayne. He felt the same. He was extremely excited. He's knows it's a big deal -- the recruiting process."
Scott Powers covers high school and college sports for ESPNChicago.com and can be reached at preps@espnchicago.com.