Former Flames: Where are they now?
Chris Burrows
Issue date: 7/13/09 Section: Sports
Media Credit: [1] Shaun Botterill/Getty Images [2] Andy Mead [3] UICFlames.com
Curtis Granderson
An outfield phenom for the Flames from 2000-2002, Curtis Granderson was recently selected to appear in his first All-Star game. He'll be representing the American League as a Detroit Tiger.
Granderson still lays claim to three single season records set in his 2002 season at UIC (100 hits, .483 batting average and 76 runs scored over 60 games) and he still holds the career record for runs scored at UIC with 178 in just three seasons.
The Tigers drafted Granderson in the third round of the 2002 draft and he worked his way through the minor leagues to a starting position in the Tigers outfield in 2006. By the next season he led all of baseball in triples but was left off the All-Star ballot. Granderson received more write-in votes than any other player but still didn't make the cut that year. This year it worked out for Granderson and on July 14th he'll be the first UIC alum to appear in the All-Star game in the 80th year of the midsummer classic.
Jay DeMerit
Another Flames success story, DeMerit led the Flames backfield from 1998-2001 and helped to garner an NCAA playoff appearance for the team in 2000. Most recently he played an instrumental role in Team USA's shocking clean sheet shut-out against Spain in the Confederations Cup.
After graduating from UIC, DeMerit played for the Chicago Fire reserves but wasn't picked up by any MLS teams. So he took his hopes to Europe and worked his way up through the English Football Club system and was picked up by Watford F.C. in 2004 impressing fans and eventually donning the arm-band. In 2007 DeMerit earned his first U.S. national cap and started a friendly against Guatemala.
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup propelled DeMerit and his teammates into a nationwide success story. DeMerit started all 5 games for the U.S. team that most notably shocked the world by defeating Spain 2-0 for the first time ever. He will be back on the pitch as part of the U.S. MNT team for the CONCACAF Cup, which takes place through the month of July.
Baggio Husidic
He last took to Flames Field just last April but wasn't dressed in Flames red, the First Team All-American for UIC in 2008, Baggio Husidic donned the red of the Chicago Fire as he took on his former team in a charity friendly.
Husidic led the Flames to the NCAA sweet sixteen two seasons in a row and was the 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft for the Fire. He made his MLS debut May 28 in a touted 3-2 route of Chivas USA and made his first starting appearance on June 23 in another victory over Chivas USA in the 2009 Superliga match-he played 89 minutes in that 1-0 win. Look for the former Flames phenom to get more minutes on the pro pitch.
Scott VanderMeer
Former UIC center, and block king, Scott VanderMeer was picked up by the Indiana Pacers for the upcoming NBA Orlando Pro Summer League.
VanderMeer will team up with fellow rookies such as Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and A.J. Price of Connecticut, as well as notable second-year players such as Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, on the Pacers' summer league squad that will head to Orlando for five games from July 6-10.
The three-year UIC letterwinner will don the number 48 for the Pacers.
VanderMeer averaged 11.9 ppg and finished 2008-09 as the Horizon League leader in rebounding (8.9 rpg) and blocked shots (2.5 bpg), the second consecutive season he led the conference in both categories.
The three-time Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection holds school and league records for blocked shots in a career (273), in a season (111) and in a single game with nine vs. Cleveland State on Jan. 27, 2007.
Josh Mayo
A model student, athlete and person Josh Mayo left UIC as the school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,718 points, but Mayo is far from satisfied.
Josh graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and nutrition on May 8. Less than 24 hours after walking the stage, Mayo relocated to Dallas to start preparing for his future. For as long as he can remember he has had the same goal: to turn his passion into a profession.
Making the transition from a college basketball player to a pro has not been easy, as Josh has been working out anywhere from two to four times a day.
"Not only are the workouts longer; they are more intense," said Mayo. "That's the biggest difference between college and the pros: intensity."
Throughout the summer months Josh has had private workouts with both the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks. He is currently waiting to find out if he will be participating in an NBA Summer League.
As for next year, Josh is entertaining offers both stateside and abroad.
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An outfield phenom for the Flames from 2000-2002, Curtis Granderson was recently selected to appear in his first All-Star game. He'll be representing the American League as a Detroit Tiger.
Granderson still lays claim to three single season records set in his 2002 season at UIC (100 hits, .483 batting average and 76 runs scored over 60 games) and he still holds the career record for runs scored at UIC with 178 in just three seasons.
The Tigers drafted Granderson in the third round of the 2002 draft and he worked his way through the minor leagues to a starting position in the Tigers outfield in 2006. By the next season he led all of baseball in triples but was left off the All-Star ballot. Granderson received more write-in votes than any other player but still didn't make the cut that year. This year it worked out for Granderson and on July 14th he'll be the first UIC alum to appear in the All-Star game in the 80th year of the midsummer classic.
Jay DeMerit
Another Flames success story, DeMerit led the Flames backfield from 1998-2001 and helped to garner an NCAA playoff appearance for the team in 2000. Most recently he played an instrumental role in Team USA's shocking clean sheet shut-out against Spain in the Confederations Cup.
After graduating from UIC, DeMerit played for the Chicago Fire reserves but wasn't picked up by any MLS teams. So he took his hopes to Europe and worked his way up through the English Football Club system and was picked up by Watford F.C. in 2004 impressing fans and eventually donning the arm-band. In 2007 DeMerit earned his first U.S. national cap and started a friendly against Guatemala.
The 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup propelled DeMerit and his teammates into a nationwide success story. DeMerit started all 5 games for the U.S. team that most notably shocked the world by defeating Spain 2-0 for the first time ever. He will be back on the pitch as part of the U.S. MNT team for the CONCACAF Cup, which takes place through the month of July.
Baggio Husidic
He last took to Flames Field just last April but wasn't dressed in Flames red, the First Team All-American for UIC in 2008, Baggio Husidic donned the red of the Chicago Fire as he took on his former team in a charity friendly.
Husidic led the Flames to the NCAA sweet sixteen two seasons in a row and was the 20th overall pick in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft for the Fire. He made his MLS debut May 28 in a touted 3-2 route of Chivas USA and made his first starting appearance on June 23 in another victory over Chivas USA in the 2009 Superliga match-he played 89 minutes in that 1-0 win. Look for the former Flames phenom to get more minutes on the pro pitch.
Scott VanderMeer
Former UIC center, and block king, Scott VanderMeer was picked up by the Indiana Pacers for the upcoming NBA Orlando Pro Summer League.
VanderMeer will team up with fellow rookies such as Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina and A.J. Price of Connecticut, as well as notable second-year players such as Brandon Rush and Roy Hibbert, on the Pacers' summer league squad that will head to Orlando for five games from July 6-10.
The three-year UIC letterwinner will don the number 48 for the Pacers.
VanderMeer averaged 11.9 ppg and finished 2008-09 as the Horizon League leader in rebounding (8.9 rpg) and blocked shots (2.5 bpg), the second consecutive season he led the conference in both categories.
The three-time Horizon League All-Defensive Team selection holds school and league records for blocked shots in a career (273), in a season (111) and in a single game with nine vs. Cleveland State on Jan. 27, 2007.
Josh Mayo
A model student, athlete and person Josh Mayo left UIC as the school's fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,718 points, but Mayo is far from satisfied.
Josh graduated with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and nutrition on May 8. Less than 24 hours after walking the stage, Mayo relocated to Dallas to start preparing for his future. For as long as he can remember he has had the same goal: to turn his passion into a profession.
Making the transition from a college basketball player to a pro has not been easy, as Josh has been working out anywhere from two to four times a day.
"Not only are the workouts longer; they are more intense," said Mayo. "That's the biggest difference between college and the pros: intensity."
Throughout the summer months Josh has had private workouts with both the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks. He is currently waiting to find out if he will be participating in an NBA Summer League.
As for next year, Josh is entertaining offers both stateside and abroad.
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