Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 31
Week of January 17, 2021
We’re back to the drama of a potential high school season. No decision yet, though this week felt like an inflection point.
Lots of stories, plenty of Illinois high school grads in college and a number of commitments this week.
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Let’s get to basketball!
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The Latest on a High School Season
After several quiet weeks due to the holiday season, the ‘will-we-won’t-we’ season started back up. The governor made an announcement, the IHSA held a meeting and made statements of its own, a website was changed and the various regions and stages of COVID-19 restrictions came under a microscope.
Here’s my attempt to distill all the info:
No official ruling has been made on a 2020-21 IHSA basketball season. Things don’t look good, however. The Sun-Times’ Michael O’Brien tweeted on Jan. 15 that “Basketball is done.”
There will be no basketball games if regions are in Tier 1 or Tier 2, as it is currently labeled “High risk.” It doesn’t seem like it will be moved to “Medium risk.” Three regions moved from Tier 3 to Tier 2 this week, though several are still at Tier 3.
The basketball season could be pushed back, IHSA executive director Craig Anderson told the Chicago Tribune's Tony Baranek. The IHSA’s next meeting is Jan. 27. It hopes to have more guidance from the governor and IDPH prior to the meeting.
Illinois remains one of 18 states that has not started its high school basketball season, writes Troy Taylor for the Star Courier.
Players, coaches and teams seeking to play have taken to social media in hopes to put pressure on the governor, potentially to change the risk level of the sport. #LetUsPlay has been around all year, but it certainly picked up steam this week, adding the hashtag #HearOurVoiceIllinois. (Stories: Cody Smith/Daily Journal; Jacob Bartelson/Shaw Media)
More Season Start Stories
The Chicago Tribune wrote a solid explainer on all the changes that the IHSA has had to make to its seasons since the start of the pandemic.
“When will prep sports resume in Illinois? ‘It’s getting late in the school year,’ coaches say.” (Story: Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood gave his support to the IHSA and high school basketball players. “"It is a very tough situation for all and I know everybody is thinking about safety. … Our livelihood is based on the high school prospects and I wanted them to know that I was thinking about them." (Story: Matthew Flaten/The Pantagraph)
This is a perspective I’ve seen more and more lately: “Athletic Directors: Any decision is better than no decision.” As in, stop giving the athletes false hope if there’s no chance there will be sports this season. (Story: Fred Kroner/Mahomet Daily)
Commitments
Evanston 2021 Small forward Amarii Mays committed to D-III Knox College.
Notre Dame (Niles) 2021 guard Jimmy Dohoney, who played at Guerin before it was closed last season, committed to D-III Aurora.
Oak Park-River Forest wing Abby Spencer committed to D-III Illinois Wesleyan.
Hillcrest 2021 small forward Jakobi Heady committed to Moraine Valley Community College.
Thornton 2021 small forward E’laiyah Heard committed to Iowa Western Community College.
Benet’s Tyler Van Eekeren recently committed to D-III Wash U. He’s just the latest in his family to play college sports. (Story: Patrick McGavin/Naperville Sun)
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Transfer News
Boys Recruiting News
Hersey 2021 shooting guard Ethan Roberts received an offer from Army.
Longwood 2021 wing Damarcies Moore received an offer from NAIA William Penn.
Former Hinsdale Central 2023 forward Matas Buzelis (transferred to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire) received an offer from Providence.
Girls Recruiting News
Lincoln-Way Central 2023 point guard Azyah Newson-Cole received an offer from Florida Atlantic.
Lake Zurich 2022 point guard Alayna Soukup received an offer from NAIA St. Xavier (Chicago).
Aurora Christian 2021 small forward Thaya Luse received an offer from NAIA Ottawa University Arizona.
Bolingbrook 2021 guard Miranda Elder received an offer from NAIA Ottawa University Arizona.
Coaching Stories and News
Bishop McNamara coaches Adrian Provost (head boys basketball) and Kurt Quick (basketball assistant, head baseball) are each police officers. The friends are also now fighting their own battles with cancer. A powerful story including the motivation coming from their teams: ““But when they found out I was sick and reached out with encouragement and prayer … it really hits you. It’s why you do it.” (Story: Mason Schweizer/Daily Journal)
Deserea Howard “working to create winning culture at Alton.” (Story: Greg Shashack/The Telegraph)
Doc Rivers — a Proviso East graduate and head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers — went on one of my favorite podcasts: The Moment with Brian Koppleman. He had some great stories, but his lessons for anyone in leadership or coaching were even better. My favorite quote:
”Winning a lot of people can do. Being the winner is really hard. You have to get everybody to do the right stuff, to buy into their roles, to buy into the team. If one guy doesn’t do that, it can literally throw your team off. It’s so important in a team sport.”
Illinois Players in the Pros
Zion-Benton graduate Admiral Schofield was the No. 1 selection in the G League draft.
Stagg and DePaul grad Max Strus was cut by his hometown Chicago Bulls and suffered a torn ACL. He’s back healthy and with the Miami Heat. “I’m the lowest guy on the totem pole and Jimmy Butler is yelling at me to shoot the ball.” (Story: Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
St. Viator 2012 graduate D.J. Morris has continued his professional career during the pandemic by playing in Estonia, all while coaching for Full Package’s AAU team. (Story: Bob Narang/Pioneer Press)
Illinois Players in College
The Sun-Times’ Joe Henricksen ranked the top 10 men’s college basketball players from the state. No surprise that Morgan Park and Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu comes in at No. 1. The rest of the list comes from all over the state, includes a freshman and nine programs are represented overall.
“It’s what winners do. Lemont’s PJ Pipes came off the bench last year. He erupts for 30 points to lead turnaround for Green Bay.” (Story: Pat Disabato/Daily Southtown)
“Halle Idowu ‘did everything for everybody’ at Richards. Now, she’s ready to contribute even more on the basketball court for Toledo.” (Story: Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“McHenry’s Katie Beyer graduates early to start college basketball career at Valparaiso.” (Story: Alex Kantecki/Northwest Herald)
“‘She’s just that quiet assassin’: Oswego East’s Ty Battle takes control in first season at Delaware after transferring from Indiana State.” (Story: Rick Armstrong: Aurora Beacon-News)
“They grew up playing basketball with Baltimore Ravens receiver Miles Boykin. The journey continues for [Marist graduates] Julia and Kate Ruzevich.” (Story: Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)
“The return of ‘King James’: [Thornwood graduate James] Pennington produces 20 points and nine rebounds as Trinity Christian slips past Governors State” (Story: Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Katie Jaseckas was a rebounder for back-to-back state championship teams at Benet. She’s transformed into a star for Truman State.” (Story: Matt Le Cren/Naperville Sun)
“A nagging ankle injury held back Bailey Vance. Fully recovered from surgery, the Lake Park graduate hopes to help Aurora advance. (Story: Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
Kara Shimko, a member of the last graduating class from Queen of Peace, is in her senior season at Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. She’s managing a starting point guard role, volunteering and finishing up a degree, all during a pandemic. (Story: Tim O’Brien/Beverly Review)
A list of all D1 men’s basketball players from Illinois.
A list of all D1 women’s basketball players from Illinois.
Other Stories and News
The Sun-Times continued its countdown of the top 50 winningest programs in the Chicago area over the past decade:
Henricksen also wrote a story on his top memories from the past decade. There’s a little bit of everything: Simeon’s dominant run, a slew of NBA talent, underrated stars, the best passing big man he’s ever watched and more.
Building on this theme, Dion Martorano compiled the most-winningest girls programs of the decade for the Journal & Topics area in the northwest suburbs. Fremd won 80 percent of its games, and eight total teams averaged at least 20 games per season. A lot of good notes in this one; what a strong region for girls hoops.
Fun pandemic idea for coaches: The Indian Creek and Somonauk boys basketball teams faced off in a video conference trivia competition. Losers have to wear their rivals’ colors to the next on-court meeting. What a great way to keep your teams engaged and add a good-humored layer to a rivalry. (Story: Brian Hoxsey/Shaw Media)
Colin Likas at the News-Gazette spoke to nine players, coaches and others in the basketball community about their biggest rivals, the most memorable game they’ve been part of, the schools they like to visit and more. People interviewed from Tri-County, Champaign Central, Uni High, Danville, Monticello, Prairie Central and more.
Kolby Gilles, a junior wing for St. Ignatius in Chicago, talked to the Beverly Review about training in a pandemic, the potential season, the cancellation of the 2019-20 season, MJ vs. LeBron and more. (Story: Tim O’Brien/Beverly Review)
The Galesburg Register-Mail continued its series on Monmouth’s 1981-82 season. Part 5: “Regular season ends as win streak hits 17 games.” (Story: Barry McNamara/The Register Mail)
“[Carthage graduate] McKensey Green looks back on IBCA Hall of Fame career.” (Story: Keith Yex/Journal-Pilot)
“When They Played: Hall boys basketball coach Mike Filippini.” (Story: Kevin Chlum/NewsTribune)
Mundelein 2021 guard Trey Baker is likely to play basketball in college, but the sport is far from all that defines him. He is deeply involved in community and social issues. President Barack Obama recently sent him a letter thanking him for his efforts. (Story: James Norman/Pioneer Press)
A bittersweet story to leave off on: "What are you missing most this winter without basketball?” Kevin Hieronymus lists what he’s missing this winter. Squeaking shoes on the hardwood connected to me especially. I’d also love to walk in to a school and smell that cheap high school popcorn. I bet I’m not alone. (Story: Bureau County Republican).
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