CHICAGO (November 8, 2017) – Three highly touted individuals have signed National Letters of Intent to attend Loyola University Chicago and play men's basketball for the Ramblers beginning with the 2018-19 season, head coach Porter Moser announced today. Joining the roster next season will be Franklin Agunanne (Abuja, Nigeria/La Lumiere), Isaiah Bujdoso (Hamilton, Ontario/Sunrise Christian Academy), and Cooper Kaifes (Shawnee, Kan./Mill Valley).
 
"I've always said if you want to build culture, you have to hire culture and recruit culture," Moser said. "All three guys come from outstanding programs. Frank won a national championship, Cooper won a state title and Isaiah won multiple championships in Canada. On top of that, all three players have competed and excelled on the biggest of stages on the Nike EYBL Circuit as well as with their respective competitive high school programs."
 
Agunanne, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound center, has a 7-foot-3-inch wingspan and plays for one of the top prep programs in the country at La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana, which won a national championship last season. A physical, athletic post player, Agunanne was a 4-star recruit according to ESPN and this summer led the Nike EYBL in defensive rebounding percentage and was also ranked in the top 10 in the EYBL in block percentage. Over the last four seasons, Agunanne has had the second-highest defensive rebound percentage behind 5-star recruit and current University of Texas freshman Mohamed Bamba.
 
"Frank gives us a phenomenal inside presence and is an elite rebounder," Moser said. "It's one thing to have a 7-foot-3 wingspan, but what makes him special is he pursues every rebound. Frank plays with a physical toughness in which he makes his presence felt in the paint."
 
Bujdoso, a 6-foot-3 point guard, played on the Nike EYBL Circuit with UPLAY Canada, averaging 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals per game, while playing with the No. 1 player in the country, RJ Barrett. At MacNab Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, he was a three-time city champion and a three-time Southern Ontario Secondary School Association (SOSSA) champion.
 
Bujdoso was a two-time team most valuable player at MacNab and last season was a key member of a Top 25 program at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, where he contributed 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals per contest.
 
"Isaiah possesses great length for a point guard and has a 6-foot-8 wingspan that helps make him an elite defender as well," Moser said. "An outstanding passer off ball screens, he has an innate ability to make other players around him better. Isaiah has a great competitive spirit and every coach he has played for has said he is a natural leader."
 
Kaifes is a sharpshooting, 6-foot-3 guard, who spent the summer playing on the Nike EYBL Circuit with MOKAN Elite. He pitched in 11 points, 2 boards, 3 assists and 1 steal per game, while connecting on 45 percent of his three-point attempts to help MOKAN Elite to an 11-5 record and the Nike Peach Jam Finals.
 
"Cooper is as tough and competitive as they come, and at first glance, you can't help but love his shot," Moser said. "He is an elite shooter with range and gets that shot off extremely quick. But Cooper can do so much more than just shoot the basketball. He is a great passer off the dribble and in ball screens. Cooper is very athletic and finishes at the rim."
 
As a junior at Mill Valley High School last season, Kaifes averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 steals per game while earning honorable mention all-state recognition. A two-time team captain, Kaifes helped Mill Valley to a state title in 2015-16.
 
Loyola opens the 2017-18 season Friday night when it hosts former conference mate Wright State at 7 p.m.