NIU-bound Cyrus Tate almost completed the circle of Huskies basketball recruits with a state championship Saturday at Peoria’s Carver Arena in the Class AA state title game.

Tate, a 6-foot-7 power forward for Homewood-Flossmoor High School, saw his team fall 53-47 to Peoria Central. He finished with a team-high 17 points on 6-of-7 shooting.

Tate is the only one of the four NIU recruits who will finish high school without a state title. Leo’s Frank Clair (6-foot-6, SF) won the Class A state title this year and Schaumburg’s Zach Pancratz (6-foot-5, SG) and Craig Reichel (6-foot-8, C) both won championships as freshmen on varsity three years ago.

“We always like to recruit guys from successful programs,” sad NIU coach Rob Judson, who was in Peoria. “It’s good when kids have those winning programs they come from. I think he really elevated his game in the state tournament, and they looked to him for more of an option. Cyrus has a big body and a very bright upside.”

In Saturday night’s game, Tate scored the game’s first five points. Then, with 1:11 left in the first quarter, he picked up his third foul of the game and was sent to the bench for the rest of the half. Homewood-Flossmoor went into halftime down 30-23.

Tate brought Homewood-Flossmoor within five points, 49-44, on a lay-up and free throw after a foul call. On the very next possession, Tate brought his team within three points with a pair of free throws.

That’s the closest Homewood-Flossmoor would get as Peoria Central player and Duke recruit Shaun Livingston pulled away. Livingston, a 6-foot-7 point guard who is contemplating a jump straight to the NBA next year, finished with game highs of 27 points and nine rebounds.

“It was great that their team got to the championship game,” Judson said. “Shaun Livingston was just too much for them.”