Henricksen: Micah Bradford commits to Valparaiso

Valparaiso has found a niche recruiting the state of Illinois. Coach Bryce Drew and his staff, which includes former Illinois prep stars Roger Powell (Joliet) and Matt Lottich (New Trier), added another piece from Illinois Monday with a commitment from Bradley-Bourbonnais point guard Micah Bradford.

The 6-0 senior, who put up 21 points a game as a junior in leading the Boilermakers to a 20-win season, took an unofficial visit to Valpo this past Friday night to catch the team’s season opener. Bradford, a top 20 prospect in Illinois in the Class of 2026, ended his recruitment and will sign with the Crusaders.

“The biggest reason was coach Bryce Drew,” said Bradford. “He’s a great coach who is big on player development. I think he’s the coach that can help me, teach me and develop my game. Plus, he knows how to win.”

The winning that Valpo has experienced of late, which included a trip to the NCAA Tournament last year and big expectations this season as the Horizon League favorite, was certainly a plus in Bradford’s eyes as he made his final decision.

“The opportunity to win and go into a winning program is exciting for me,” says Bradford. “Overall, it’s a great fit for me.”

Bradford joins a program that currently features Jubril Adekoya (Andrew), who Bradford has known and played with, Darien Walker (Simeon), Keith Carter (Proviso East), Lexus Williams (Marist) and Alec Peters (Washington, Ill.).

Bradford, along with James Madison recruit Zach Hollywood, lead a Bradley-Bourbonnais team that will be among the top 25 teams in the preseason rankings.