UTEP announced the official signings of Chicago's Evan Gilyard, and Mississippi forward Tirus Smith.
Gilyard is a 5-9, 160-pound guard from Simeon Career Academy in Chicago, which has produced numerous NBA standouts including Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker and New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose.
He is regarded as a three-star prospect by ESPN and the no. 13 player in Illinois. He averaged 13.5 points and 3.2 assists last season while shooting 49 percent from three-point range. He was second team All-City, two-time All-Conference and honorable mention All-State. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter of the city championship game as Simeon beat Kenwood 54-49.