Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 29
Week of January 3, 2021
We made it to 2021! Let’s hope for a better year for high school basketball than the last was.
Without our normal holiday tournaments, last week was once again filled with college updates and waiting on the IHSA and the governor. And unfortunately we lost a legendary coach for the second-consecutive week.
Otherwise, writers around the state wrote about the year in review, shedding light on the silver linings that really do exist, even if you have to squint a bit. And there were a number of stories on great teams or players of years past, as free time and nostalgia have made many of us historians during the pandemic.
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!
Legendary Chicago Coach Donnie Kirksey Dies of COVID-19 Complications
Vocational head coach Donnie Kirksey died this week at age 57 after complications from COVID-19.
In high school hoops, he also had head coaching stints at Julian, Dunbar and Hyde Park. At the college level, he held assistant roles with UIC, DePaul and Chicago State.
You could see how well-loved he was across Chicago and the surrounding areas as news spread of his passing. Everyone on Twitter seemed shaken by the news, and many shared great notes about his personality and all the people he touched.
Stories:
“Vocational coach Donnie Kirksey, a fixture of Chicago basketball for 40 years, dies at 57.” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
“Donnie Kirksey, Chicago basketball legend, dies at 57 of complications related to COVID-19.” (Kelli Smith/Chicago Tribune)
“Michigan basketball mourns death of Donnie Kirksey, Juwan Howard mentor.” (Detroit Free Press)
“Juwan Howard and a victory at a time of loss.” (The Athletic)
“Michigan basketball's Phil Martelli explains the importance of losing Donnie Kirksey.” (Detroit Free Press)
End of the Year
What were the biggest basketball stories of the decade? Joe Henricksen reminded us of all the craziness of the last 10 seasons: NBA players, brawls, COVID-19, scandals and more.
“Please 2021, bring back sports as we knew them, warts and all.” (Randy Kindred/The Pantagraph)
“Local sports hopes and goals for 2021.” (Mason Schweizer/Daily Journal)
“Year in Review: Cream of the local crop.” (Daily Journal)
“Year in Review: Sports stories outside the lines.” (Daily Journal)
“Top Sports Stories of 2020 in the Suburban Life area.” (Joshua Welge/My Suburban Life)
“IHSA and COVID-19, the top sports story of 2020.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
“Top 10 Northwest Herald local sports stories of 2020.” (Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)
“Top 10 DeKalb County sports stories of 2020.” (Eddie Carifio/Daily Chronicle)
“Photos: The best sports shots from around Starved Rock Country in 2020.” (Scott Anderson/BCR News)
“Top local sports stories of 2020.” (Matt Daniels/News-Gazette)
“Journal-Area Sports Year in Review.” (Dion Martorano/Journal & Topics)
“Preps athletes make best of year despite COVID-19.” (Tim O’Brien/Beverly Review)
Holiday Tournaments
“‘They just like great basketball.’ Pontiac provides fans with the best in holiday basketball.” (Steve Soucie and Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)
“Annual Collinsville trip always feels like going home for holidays.” (Matt Schuckman/Herald-Whig)
“‘So many epic games’ Montini Christmas Tournament has brought out the best of the best over the years.” (Joshua Welge/My Suburban Life)
“Future stars and state champions: Dundee-Crown’s Charger Classic usually offers best of the best.” (Joe Stevenson/Northwest Herald)
Matt Daniels of the News-Gazette spoke to area coaches, players and athletes about their top holiday tournament memories. Part 1 and Part 2.
“Eldorado Holiday Tournament Rewind: Do you have a memory as a fan that has nothing to do with being a player or coach?” (Sypder Dann/Harrisburg Register)
“Eldorado Holiday Tournament Rewind: What one game stands out in your mind in the EHT?” (Sypder Dann/Harrisburg Register)
Historical Teams and Players
“Elite Season 1981-82 - Part 3: Zippers ‘come of age’ en route to Macomb title.” (Barry McNamara/The Register-Mail)
“Nick Ladas’ Unwavering Support for Maine West Earns HOF Nod.” (Dion Martoran/Journal & Topics)
“Former Oak Lawn star Jim Bocinsky, a ‘dandy outcourt shooter,’ named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.” (Jeff Vorva/Daily Southtown)
“Look Back: "Annawan’s Contrasting State Champions.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
Where are they now: Former Edwardsville all-time leading scorer Kim Jackson is now a middle school principal. (Scott Marion/The Intelligencer)
Commitments
Danville 2021 SF Tevin Smith committed to Cal-State Fullerton. (Colin Likas/News-Gazette) (Bret Beherns/WCIA)
Montini 2021 PG Jemari Moore committed to D-III Knox (Galesburg).
Springfield 2021 PG Shane Miller committed to D-III Illinois Wesleyan last week. For Illinois-Basketball.com, Kaleb Carter wrote about Miller’s commitment.
Timothy Christian guard Joshua Harris committed to D-III Illinois College last week. Bob Narang wrote about his commitment for the Pioneer Press.
Mendota 2021 wing Amellia Bromenschenkel graduated early to join Purdue-Fort Wayne. She scored her first career basket against Cleveland State.
“Harvard commit Katie Krupa of Morton keeping basketball skills sharp amid pandemic.” (Adam Duvall/Peoria Journal Star)
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Transfer News
Boys Recruiting News
Whitney Young 2022 F AJ Casey received an offer from Memphis.
Tuscola 2022 PG Jalen Quinn received an offer from Drake.
Former Bolingbrook 2021 SG Isaiah Stafford (transferred to Crispus Attucks in Indiana) received an offer from D-II Lewis (Romeoville).
Mundelein 2021 PG Trey Baker received an offer from D-II Maryville (Missouri).
Henricksen wrote about the top uncommitted boys in the 2021 class for the Sun-Times. There are players from Evanston, Hillcrest, Joliet West, Whitney Young, Hersey, Notre Dame and Mt. Carme.
Girls Recruiting News
Edwardsville 2022 G/F Sydney Harris received an offer from Central Michigan.
Neuqua Valley 2021 C Claudia Gallegos received an offer from Radford (Virginia).
Kankakee 2020 guard Ambranette Storr, who left Drake after one semester to join Moberly Area CC, received an offer from New Orleans.
Waubonsie Valley 2022 PG Amari Banks received an offer from NAIA Stephens College (Missouri).
Coaching Stories and News
Edmond Goodwin, the first girls basketball coach in Crystal Lake’s history, died on Christmas at age 94. He was a long-time softball coach and teacher for the school.
“Time on my hands: Illinois coaches find ways to stay sane waiting on hoops season.” (Matt Schuckman/Herald-Whig)
“[Maine South and DePaul University Grad] Jacqui Grant Lands Assistant Coaching Job At Omaha.” (Dion Martoran/Journal & Topics)
“Coaching legend, icon, Rich Herrin passes away.” (Spyder Dann/Harrisburg Register)
COVID-19 Updates and News
“During COVID-19, high school basketball refs must adopt an NBA-style social distancing.” (Troy Taylor/Star Courier)
Illinois Players in the Pros
Oak Park-River Forest graduate Iman Shumpert went on Quentin Richardson’s podcast. A highlight: saying he asked coaches to play city teams like Foreman and Westinghouse “to impress girls.”
Illinois Players in College
Angela Dugalic won a state title and player of the year honors at Maine West. She’s now a freshman for undefeated Oregon. For Illinois-Basketball.com, Kaleb Carter spoke to Dugalic for about her freshman season at Oregon, playing for the Serbian national team and much more.
Evanston graduate Nojel Eastern will forego the season at Howard and prepare for the NBA Draft. He played his first three seasons at Purdue before transferring in the summer of 2020.
“A long, hot summer helped Geneva’s Margaret Whitley prepare for an expanded role at UAB in women’s basketball.” (Rick Armstrong/Aurora Beacon-News)
“Why Michigan basketball's Mike Smith [Fenwick graduate] is a great fit after 'reinventing himself.’” (Detroit Free Press)
Draft Express did a video breakdown of Lincoln Park grad and Texas Tech player Terrance Shannon.
“The Buggemi man: Lincoln-Way East graduate Joey Buggemi wants to ‘just turn it up a little bit’ in men’s basketball for St. Francis.” (Steve Millar/Daily Southtown)
“Reggie Cole (Elgin) and David Hill (St. Edward) among players affected by Elgin Community College canceling 2020-21 men’s basketball season.” (Paul Johnson/Aurora Beacon-News)
A list of all D-I men’s basketball players from Illinois.
A list of all D-I women’s basketball players from Illinois.
New: A list of all D-II men’s basketball players from Illinois.
New: A list of all D-II women’s basketball players from Illinois.
New: A list of all D-III men’s basketball players from Illinois.
Other Stories and News
A story that will apply to so many athletes across the state if we do get sports before the summer: “Clinton's Mallory Cyrulik will try to balance basketball, volleyball and track in 2021.” (Matthew Flaten/The Pantagraph)
The Sun-Times continued its series on the top 50 winningest programs of the decade for the Chicago area:
No. 39: Neuqua Valley (this one was published retroactively)
Sam Samorian, who played on the Rockford East 1948 state runner-up team, died at 89. He was best known for his football coaching at Glenbrook North, though he reached the state finals in basketball as a player, wrestling as an official and baseball as an assistant coach. Mike Clark has the story for the Sun-Times.
“Classic high school basketball game rewatch: East St. Louis Lincoln vs. King (1987).” (Michael O’Brien/Chicago Sun-Times)
Kankakee’s boys Twitter account posted its All-Decade team. If any other team gets inspired to make these, please share them my way!
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