Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 27
Week of December 20, 2020
Another week of waiting impatiently for more news about a season start.
This week we got news that the IHSA still plans to play all sports in 2021. Couple that with the start of vaccinations and declining hospitalization and positivity rates in the state, and I think we have to call this a positive, if not satisfying week for the prospects of a season.
The college basketball season is underway, and even with a slew of cancellations every day, we’re still getting lots of games. I started publishing a list every day of all the players from Illinois who played in a D1 game along with a handful of top performances.
Otherwise, lots of college commitments this week, as well as four more boys leaving the state.
Reminder: To send me stories or recruiting news, find me on Twitter or email rudnik.jakub@gmail.com. And if you like the newsletter, please share with others who would like it!
Let’s get to basketball!
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Commitments
Brimfield 2022 power forward Ella Lune committed to play at Eastern Illinois.
Lanphier 2020 guard PJ Edwards committed to play at Central Florida after a prep year at Liberty Heights.
Providence Catholic 2019 guard Adam Taylor committed to play at NAIA Governors State. He averaged 18 points per game at Joliet Junior College in 2019-20.
Stevenson 2021 guard Lydia Lueck committed to play at D3 Lawrence (WI).
Stevenson 2021 guard Nikki Ware committed to play at D3 Grinnell (IA).
Hinsdale Central 2021 shooting guard Quinn Cain committed to play at D3 Tufts (MA).
Downers Grove South 2021 shooting guard Meghan Stapleton committed to play at D3 Loras (IA).
Bushnell-Prairie 2021 guard Abbey Donaldson committed to play at juco Carl Sandburg.
Villa Grove 2021 guard Kyleigh Block committed to play at juco Illinois Central.
Hope Academy 2021 guard Dionna Brooks committed to play at juco Morton.
Kankakee 2020 guard Abranette Storr, who entered the transfer portal after starting the year at Drake, signed with Moberly Area CC. She’ll have four years of eligibility.
Kenwood 2018 point guard Jalen Hughes committed to NAIA Our Lady of the Lake (TX).
“Annawan post player signs with Parkland.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Transfer News
Five more transfers this week. That brings my count to 52 out-of-state transfers since the end of the 2019-20 season.
Bogan 2021 PG Jalen Houston transferred to Carolina Basketball Academy. He joins former Corliss player Sincere Malone at the school.
Bogan 2023 guard Yarell Greer transferred to Keba Prep in Ohio.
Bloom 2022 guard Frank Iverson also transferred to Keba Prep in Ohio.
Roanoke-Benson 2021 center Luke Braman will transfer to Feltrim Academy in Florida for his final semester before enrolling at Olivet Nazarene. Jim Mattson reported a video story for NBC 25 News.
Lake Park 2021 big man Alex Burzawa will transfer to Feltrim Academy in Florida as well.
“Taris Thornton and Sophie Sullivan helped Montini to a third-place trophy last season; now at Willowbrook, they are waiting to take the court.” (The Independent Newspaper)
Boys Recruiting News
St. Joseph 2022 big man Kyle Thomas received an offer from Arizona. Thomas, a top-three player in Illinois for 2022, spoke to PrepHoops Illinois about his four current offers and where each school stands (Illinois, Nebraska, Western Illinois, Arizona).
Former Kankakee 2022 wing AJ Storr (AZ Compass) received an offer from Murray State.
Mascoutah 2021 guard Braden Bryant received an offer from NAIA Culver-Stockton (MO).
Senn 2021 guard Jeremiah Word received an offer from D3 The Kings College (NY).
Romeoville 2021 guard Ty Johnson received an offer from juco Lake Michigan College (MI).
Girls Recruiting News
Kenwood 2022 guard Whitney Dunn received an offer from Central Michigan.
Stagg 2022 guard Laila Barakat received an offer from NAIA St. Xavier.
“Summer Parker-Hall’s hoops journey has taken her from Oak Lawn to Loyola Academy and soon to Cornell.” (Nick Frazier/The Record North Shore)
IBCA Hall of fame
“West Aurora assistant coach Dan Batka lands spot in Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
“Megan Edwards Joins List Of HOF Inductees From Maine West.” (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
“Looking back at Jenna Thorp, Hinckley-Big Rock winning back-to-back girls basketball state championships, and a sea of blue.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
Coaching Stories and News
“Late North Lawndale coach and West Side icon Lewis Thorpe gets two honorary street signs in memory of his work.” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
“Veteran coach Mike Curta is ready to raise Eisenhower’s profile using the Grinnell System.” (Mike Clark/Chicago Sun-Times)
“Hersey Alum Brian Gregory Wins 300th Game with South Florida’s Win.” (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
COVID-19 Updates and News
“IHSA still plans to play every sport in 2020-21 school year.” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
“Audit: IHSA finances hit hard by COVID-19 cancellations.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
“Wheeling grad Nosa Igiehon Sits Out 2020-21 College Season Because of COVID-19.” (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
Illinois Players in the Pros
Stagg graduate Max Strus had his contract with the Miami Heat converted to a two-way. (Xavier Sanchez/Icon Sports)
Bolingbrook graduate Brodric Thomas had his contract with the Houston Rockets converted into a two-way contract.
Benet graduate Frank Kaminsky was released by the Sacramento Kings.
Illinois Players in College
“Wauconda career scoring leader Allie Tylka finds confidence early in sophomore season at Florida Atlantic.” (Bob Narang/Lake Forest News-Sun)
“Peoria native Jaida McCloud off to a quick and successful start for the UIC women's basketball team.” (Adam Duvall/Peoria Journal Star)
“Glenbrook South’s Carie Weinman, Caitlin Morrison Shine At Valparaiso.” (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
“Former Jacobs star Krutwig leads Loyola as one of top players in MVC.” (Patricia Babcock McGraw/Daily Herald)
“Highland Park’s Addie Budnik putting up big numbers at Richmond.” (Bob Narang/Pioneer Press)
“‘A different mindset’: Stagg’s Tom Kazanecki relished opportunity to face pair of NCAA Division I opponents with St. Ambrose.” (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)
“Former local stars Stephanie Hart (Geneva), Kathryn Schmidt (Burlington Central) help Lewis adapt in crazy COVID season.” (Patricia Babcock McGraw/Daily Herald)
“Lincoln-Way West’s Taylor Gugliuzza and Yorkville’s Lindsay Harrison help lead, but Lewis women done in by frigid fourth quarter.” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“[Morgan Park Grad] Dillard, Governors State enjoying return after long break.” (Tim O’Brien/Beverly Review)
Players from Maine South, Leyden and Loyola Academy hope to see bigger playing time at new college programs. (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
Saturday’s top D1 performances were from Simeon, Saint Viator, Geneva, Normal Community and Orr alumni, among others. 93 players in action with 21 in double digits.
Friday’s top D1 performances via alumni from Champaign Central, Bloom, Bolingbrook, Geneva, Lake Forest Academy, Jacobs, Sycamore and others. 66 total players in action, 15 scoring double digits.
Thursday’s top D1 performances via players from Evanston, Schlarman, Kenwood, Lincoln Park, Edwardsville, Mattoon, Althoff Catholic and others. 37 players in action, 14 scoring double digits.
Wednesday’s top D1 performances via players from Whitney Young, Glenbrook South, Belleville West, Normal and more.. 47 total players in action, 13 scoring double digits.
Tuesday’s top D1 performances via players from Curie, Sycamore, Glenbard South, and others.. 52 total players in action, 18 scoring double digits.
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 Chicago Sun-Times and Joe Henricksen are going through the top-50 winningest programs in the Chicago area of the past decade. An excellent series to bridge the gap until we get a season:
Also for the Sun-Times, Michael O’Brien is re-watching classic games. Proviso East’s Three Amigos beat Peoria Manual (1991) was this week’s edition.
Mother McAuley 2022 guard Bella Finnegan spoke to the Beverly Review about the postponed season, what she’s worked on in the meantime, college basketball and more.
“She played basketball at Hillcrest and Northwestern. Now, Nadia Bibbs looks forward to testing her skills in international flag football.” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)
“IHSA will add equity position to board.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
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