It was Frank Clair’s first football game ever, and boy, did he pick a dandy.

NIU’s upset of ranked Maryland on Thursday was the first gridiron duel that Clair, an NIU basketball recruit, saw firsthand. The atmosphere, coupled with his time spent on the NIU campus, helped the 6-foot-6 Chicago Catholic League star make up his mind that NIU is the place for him.

“I committed on Saturday after my parents and I had breakfast with Coach Jud and his staff,” said Clair, who is a senior at Leo High School, the alma mater of NIU assistant coach Donald Whiteside.

“Also, Coach Whiteside attended Leo, so I really trust him, and he played in the NBA so he has a lot of connections,” Clair added. “Compared to all my other visits I really felt at home with NIU.”

The 195-pound small forward also visited Dayton and Valparaiso twice.

Clair is widely regarded as a top 25 prospect in Illinois from the Class of 2004. A three-year varsity starter, he averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game last season. He also helped Leo to a 20-7 record and quarterfinal finish in the Illinois High School Association state playoffs.

Competing in the Class A division of the IHSA, Leo was knocked out of the playoffs by eventual state champion Hales Franciscan last year. Leo will look for redemption this year, as they return their top eight players.

The NIU coaching staff is not allowed to comment on any recruits until they sign a letter of intent. Current high school players are only allowed to verbally commit to universities at this point of the recruiting process.

“He’s going to fit in very well,” said first-year Leo head coach Noah Cannon. “Northern is an up-and-coming program. He will have an opportunity right away to start.

“He wanted to be someone who could help bring Northern on the map. And with Coach Whiteside being a Leo grad, he felt like he was at home.”