CHAMPAIGN — A year ago, Nick Finke wasn’t sure what path his life and basketball career would take after high school. He hadn’t yet gone through a summer with the Illinois Irish AAU team that he called his best basketball season ever, in which he said he showed off increased athleticism and versatility. Offers had yet to flow in, either. But going into the armed services was far from the Champaign Central senior’s mind. No longer. After visiting West Point this past weekend, Finke announced Monday that he committed to play basketball for Army. He’s the second Finke to do so, with older brother Michael a redshirt freshman at Illinois. Younger brother Tim is one of the top 2018 prospects in the country. “I have no military background in my family,” Finke said. “Before I started talking to Army, I never even thought about doing it. But once I took my visit there this weekend, I really was intrigued by how different it was from what my normal life has been, just because of the discipline everyone has.” Finke is still learning about the 17 career branches offered at West Point, from which he’ll choose along the way. But after receiving recent interest from Southeast Missouri State, Air Force and South Dakota State, he decided he couldn’t pass up the education at West Point. “One of the biggest impacts was the degree,” he said. “What happens to my life post my service, with the degree, it’ll help me do what I wanted to do. But I felt like that would help me out better than any of the other schools that I could go to.” The 6-foot-7 forward will first head to the Military Academy Prep School, which will serve as a de facto redshirt for a league that doesn’t offer them. The Black Knights finished last in the Patriot League with a 6-12 conference record in the 2014-15 season, but coach Zach Spiker’s team finished 8-6 and 10-8 the two previous seasons. “Ever since (Spiker) came in (in 2009) they’ve started to pick it up a little faster,” Finke said. “They’re looking for me to gain strength (at the prep school) and just become better. “Once I come in, they’ll want me to fill in the 3 to 4 range, being a 4 but also being able to pop out, hit a couple of shots, being more flexible.” Finke said he’s relieved the recruiting process is over, adding he’s also excited about the prospect of going down a road that, a few months ago, he didn’t realize was an option. “There’s infantry, but there’s so much more,” said his father, Central boys’ coach Jeff Finke. “He’s excited about it. He doesn’t know if he’ll be a military career guy, but he’s gung-ho. “We’re so proud of him. Nick’s worked so hard, both (in) basketball and academically, and now it’s coming to fruition, his dream of playing Division I basketball in a competitive conference for a school that has great facilities and great tradition beyond athletics.