Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 33

Week of January 31, 2021

“High school sports fans, trust me when I say the return to competition is as enjoyable as you’ve dreamed about.”

That’s Tuscola’s boys head coach Justin Bozarth, writing for the News-Gazette on his team opening the season Friday night. It’s a day so many of you have waited for, hoped for, even given up hope in happening. But it did happen. There was real high-school basketball played in Illinois this weekend, more than 300 days since we last saw it.

There’s plenty of the usual newsletter stuff in here, but you’d better believe this is jam-packed with season opening stuff. As the season goes along, I’ll do my best to adapt to this new reality of actual basketball.

Reminder: You can receive this newsletter in your inbox every week for free by subscribing below.

Basketball is Back

After its meeting Wednesday, the IHSA said basketball can start right away. The speed of the season was perhaps a surprise, though rumors leaked the info over the 24 hours prior. For basketball, that means that schools could start playing immediately once their region had reached Phase 4 and the individual team had conducted seven practices.

Teams are allowed to play as many games as they can get in within reason through March 13. Teams need to play within conference or region, and there will be no state tournament.

Yes, the season is short. Yes, some regions can’t play immediately. Yes, it’s going to be tough for multi-sport athletes. Yes, we all want a state championship. But we should all appreciate how much it took to get here, and be happy for the players to get any chance at a season.

• “Illinois prep sports are back: Be happy, but be patient.” (Tom Johnston/Dispatch-Argus)

• “Faith rewarded: After months of uncertainty, athletes finally know when they will play.” (Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)

• NPR Illinois reported that a “groundswell” of protests helped bring basketball back.

• Chicago reached Phase 4.

• “Players, coaches react to IHSA news: ‘I’ve been waiting so long for this.’” (Kevin Chlum & Kevin Hieronymus/News Tribune)

• After expecting a cancellation of the season, we’re all getting “bonus basketball,” as Liberty girls head coach Brad Bergman told the Herald-Whig.

• Teams looking for games I’ve seen: NDCP boys; Northridge (boys); Willows Academy (girls).

Actual. Basketball. Games.

There were two boys games to start Illinois’ season on Friday night: ALAH at Tuscola; Flanagan-Cornell at Midland.

• Michael O’Brien (Sun-Times) went to Tuscola and wonderfully detailed the various perspectives on the return of the sport. This was my favorite story of the week.

• Tuscola head coach Justin Bozarth wrote his own version of what it was like to get back to playing for the News-Gazette. Also a must-read. “For one night, all eyes in the state of Illinois were on Tuscola High School.”

• The News-Gazette gave its own story of the ALAH-Tuscola game.

There were more games on Saturday, here were the stories I found:

• Midland 57, Flanagan-Cornell 56 - boys. J.T. Pedelty with the story for The Times.

• Effingham 87, Vandalia 38 - boys (Effingham XFM story)

• Flanagan-Cornell 50, Pontiac 32 - boys (Pontiac Daily Leader story)

• Central Catholic 62, Metamora 60 - boys (Pantagraph story)

• Quincy Notre Dame talked to the Herald-Whig’s Matt Schuckman about what it’s like to be thrust right back into ‘game week.’

The Mad Dash to Schedule a Season

With games allowed immediately, ADs and coaches rushed to get games on the schedule across the state.

I created a spreadsheet to try and collect them all. I’ve over 200 right now, thanks to many people, including my lovely wife who grinded out 100-plus while I wrote the newsletter. Please help me fill this out so she doesn’t have to!

• “Athletic directors rush to fill out schedules, clear logistical hurdles as high school sports return.” (Alex Kantecki/Shaw Media)

• “‘It’s literally tomorrow’: With firm start dates in hand, coaches start preparing for IHSA seasons.” (Eddie Carifio/Daily Chronicle)

• Southwestern Conference ADs met on Friday to work on a schedule, though the region is not in Tier 4. (Matt Kamp/Edwardsville Intelligencer)

What About Regions Not at Phase 4?

• Edwardsville is in Region 4, which is in Tier 2 and can only conduct non-contact practices. Still, just getting together is a positive to EHS girls coach Caty Happe. “We know the guidelines needed to play. We just need to get there now.” (Matt Kamp/Edwardsville Intelligencer)

• East Aurora and other teams may not be able to play if COVID-19 numbers remain high.

• “High school basketball in Illinois can begin ASAP, but not in the metro-east.” (Megan Valley/Belleville News-Democrat)

• Sherrard had a positive test, so the earliest it can play is Feb. 18.

Season Preview Stories

• The Chicago Sun-Times’ Twitter previews are constantly being updated.

Commitments

• Tuscola 2021 point guard Brynn Tabeling committed to D-II Limestone (SC).

• Rich Township 2021 wing Devonta Blevins committed to NAIA Virgin Islands.

• Rich Township 2021 guard Gary Clay Jr. committed to Virgin Islands.

• Conant 2021 shooting guard Isabella Tierney committed to D-III Dubuque.

• Andrew 2021 point guard Jolo Amoranto committed to D-III Benedictine.

• Tinley Park 2021 wing Autumn Jones committed to juco Morton College.

• Oswego 2021 wing McKenna Engler committed to Morton College.

• Putnam County 2021 forward Sophia Harris committed to juco Illinois Valley.

• Regina Dominican 2021 guard Laura Strenk committed to Colorado College on Jan. 19. Dion Martorano has the story for the Journal & Topics.

• Springfield Lanphier 2021 center KJ Debrick committed to Big Tyme Prep in Texas and will reclassify to 2022.

• Kenwood 2021 shooting guard Hamahrie Bowers committed to Big Tyme Prep and will reclassify to 2022.

• Lincoln-Way Central 2021 power forward James Ogrodnik committed to Big Type Prep and will reclassify to 2022.

• List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.

Transfer News

• Oak Forest: 2022 guard Fred Robinson transferred from Lincoln-Way East.

• Huntley: 2023 power forward Wilfred Kamukama is back at Huntley after leaving the state for Desert Valley.

• List of Illinois high school basketball players to transfer out of state

Boys Recruiting News

• Proviso East 2023 guard Jaloni Johnson received an offer from D-I Tennessee Tech.

• Hersey 2021 shooting guard Ethan Roberts received an offer from D-I Navy.

• Notre Dame (Niles) 2021 guard Jake DeFranza received an offer from D-III St. Mary’s (MN).

• Solorio 2021 guard Jordan Hill received an offer from D-III Ripon (WI).

• East St. Louis 2021 forward Jalen Watson received an offer from juco Illinois Valley.

• Belleville West 2021 wing Ty Lampley received an offer from Illinois Valley.

Girls Recruiting News

• Lincoln-Way Central 2023 point guard Azyah Newson-Cole received an offer from D-I Coppin State.

• Nazareth 2022 forward Caroline Workman received an offer from D-II Illinois-Springfield.

• Lincoln-Way West 2022 big Evan Pittman received an offer from D-II Lindenwood (MO).

• Waubonsie Valley 2022 point guard Amari Banks received an offer from NAIA Briar Cliff (IA).

Coaching Stories and News

• Former Taft head coach Frank Hood passed away.

Illinois Players in the Pros

• Naperville Central: Graduate Candace Parker signed with the Chicago Sky. From the Chicago Tribune: “6 things to know about new Chicago Sky star Candace Parker, including her Tennessee volleyball offer and basketball running in the family”

Illinois Players in College

• Oakwood: Katelyn Young exceeding expectations in freshman year at Murray State. (Kaleb Carter/Illinois-Basketball.com)

• For the Sun-Times, Joe Henricksen recently counted down the top 10 players from the state playing men’s basketball. He released a list of the next top 30 this week.

• Maine West: Graduate (2020) Angela Dugalic made her first career start at Oregon. (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics).

• Sycamore: “Grad Kylie Feuerbach adjusting to life starting for Iowa State.” (John Gallione/Daily Chronicle)

• Jacobs: “Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Hersey Hawkins ... and Cameron Krutwig. The Loyola senior is in elite company and looking to go out the way he started as a freshman — on a Final Four team.” (Shannon Ryan/Chicago Tribune)

• Notre Dame (Niles): Graduate Sean Johnson set the Carthage career blocks record. (Martorano/Journal & Topics)

• Grant: “John Kerr didn’t have many basketball options when he was a Grant senior. Much has changed for the St. Ambrose forward.” (Bob Narang/Lake County News-Sun)

• Mother McAuley: “A change in coaches. A change in styles. A canceled season. None of that will stop Mother McAuley graduate Grace Hynes [University of Chicago].” (Tony Baranek/Daily Southtown)

• Rich Central: “[Graduate] Chance Love among several transfers looking to make a difference at South Suburban College: ‘It’s definitely exciting.’” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)

• West Aurora: “Graduate Camron Donatlan puts football and track in his past at North Central Missouri.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)

• 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 continued their list of the Chicago area’s 50 winningest programs of the past decade: No. 5 Stevenson; No. 6 Newark; No. 7 Bogan; No. 8 Whitney Young; No. 9 Evanston; No. 10 Hillcrest; No. 11 Geneva.

• The Peoria Journal Star continued its “3 questions” series, asking players about training and recruiting in a pandemic, and more. Lots of players highlighted this past week: Peoria High’s Dionysius Hogan; Wethersfield’s Coltin Quagliano; Pekin’s Taylor Goss; Washington’s Georgia Duncan; Fieldcrest’s Jaxon Cusac McKay; and Roanoke-Benson’s James Early.

• A neat story on an unheralded member of the basketball community: Vern Turner was named the Daily Journal Sports Citizen of the Year, in part for his role as a high school referee. Newly inducted to the IBCA HoF, Turner also grew up playing against Isiah Thomas and works at Chicago Bulls home games. (Mason Schweizer/Daily Journal)

• The Galesburg Register-Mail continued its series on the 1981-82 Monmouth Zippers. In Part 7 of 10, they win in the elite eight to move to 30-2.

You can receive this newsletter from free in your inbox weekly by subscribing below. Follow @jakubrudnik and @Ill_ HS_Hoops on Twitter for regular Illinois basketball updates.