Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 5
Week of July 18, 2020
We had an absolutely jam-packed basketball week. A pair of D1 boys commitments and a massive girls commitment. A major transfer out of the state. A whirlwind of news related to fall sports and COVID-19. And much, much more.
Let’s get to basketball!
Two Boys Stay In-State
Southern Illinois continues its strong 2021 recruiting, picking up a commitment from Notre Dame College Prep 2021 shooting guard Troy D’Amico. The Salukis, who got a commitment from Mundelein center Scottie Ebube just a couple weeks ago, were able to keep D’Amico in state over offers from Hofstra, Saint Louis, UC Davis and UW-Milwaukee.
D’Amico is part of the NDCP 2021 trio that was the favorite to win 3A this spring. I saw him play against Simeon this winter and he gave them trouble, with a nice outside jumper and a lot of size for a 2-guard. Stories from Joe Henricksen at the Sun-Times and Todd Hefferman at The Southern.
Later in the week, Waubonsie Valley’s Ben Schwieger committed to Loyola. Head coach Porter Moser has done well keeping talent in-state where other programs have struggled the past decade or so. The 2020-21 Loyola roster has six players out of Illinois.
Schwieger had offers from SIU, UIC, UW-Milwaukee and others. Henricksen had this story as well.
No. 2 Girl in 2021 Commits
Whitney Young 2021 point guard Timia Ware committed to LSU Saturday. Ware is the No. 2 girl in the state for the 2021 class, a 5-star commit and the No. 53 recruit in the country, according to ESPN. LSU won 20 games in 2019-20 and has been to three Final Fours since 2005.
Other Commitments
West Aurora 2019 guard Traevon Brown, who averaged 10.8 points for Olive-Harvey as a freshman, committed to Waubonsie Community College.
Oswego 2020 guard Joey Niesman committed to Waubonsie Community College.
Thornwood 2021 forward Donald Coats commits to JuCo John A. Logan College.
Marian Catholic 2020 SG Jordan Green committed to Victory Rock Prep. Last week Bloom’s Justin Moore also committed to Victory Rock.
Pettigrew Leaving Fenwick
Fenwick 2022 point guard Trey Pettigrew, the top junior guard in the state, is leaving Fenwick and transferring to Hillcrest Prep in Arizona. The Friars had a top-two player in both the senior and junior classes in Pettigrew and Bryce Hopkins prior to the news. I’d have put them right up there with NDCP as favorites in 3A this season.
Instead the guard, who has offers from Illinois, Penn State and Nebraska, will head to one of the best programs in the country and team up with former Morgan Park guard Brandon Weston.
Fenwick basketball star transfers to Arizona high school from James Kay of the Wednesday Journal
“Hillcrest Prep gets another big basketball transfer in 2022 PG Trey Pettigrew” from the Arizona Republic
Other Transfers
2022 SF Keynan Davis will transfer from Hampshire to Romeoville.
2023 guard Raeshom Harris will transfer from Hyde Park to Bloom.
COVID-19
“IHSA exec: Decisions on how to return must be made in next 2 weeks” via Schmidt of the Daily Herald
“IHSA getting out of return-to-play business, will let other state agencies take the lead” by Michael O’Brien with the Chicago Sun-Times
“Glenbrook South Athletic Camps Reopen After Positive COVID Test” via Tom Robb of the Journal & Topics
“Attorney who sued Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker takes on IHSA over face covering rules” from Mike Koziatek of the Belleville News-Democrat
“For Candace Parker, it’s a ‘package deal’ with her 11-year-old daughter inside the WNBA bubble in Florida” from the AP
Boys Recruiting
Bolingbrook 2023 PF Donaven Younger received offers from Illinois and Western Illinois.
Glenbard West 2022 forward Braden Huff was offered by Wisconsin.
St. Joseph 2023 guard Bryce Coleman received his offer from Nebraska.
DePaul College Prep 2021 center Brian Mathews received an offer from UW-Milwaukee.
Glenbard West 2022 guard Caden Pierce received an offer from UW-Milwaukee.
Lincoln-Way West 2021 guard Connor Jenkins received an offer from Wayne State.
Bloomington 2021 guard Landon Moore received an offer from Winona State.
Chicago Vocational 2021 guard Amarion Osborne received an offer from Governors State.
“High-scoring Zion-Benton senior guard Amar Augillard has three college offers but is hungry for more: ‘I need to show everybody who I am.’” by Bob Narang of the Lake County News-Sun.
Girls Recruiting
Joliet West 2023 guard Lisa Thompson had a crazy recruiting week with offers from Minnesota, Iowa, Texas Tech, Arizona, Wisconsin, DePaul, Boston College and Mississippi State.
Carmel Catholic 2023 forward Jordan Wood received an offer from Arizona and Minnesota.
Oak Forest 2023 guard/forward Janae Kent received an offer from Toledo, Arkansas State, Bradley and Indiana State.
Lincoln-Way West 2022 forward Brianna Wooldridge received offers from Arkansas State, SIU and San Jose State.
Thornwood 2022 guard Nayo Lear received offers from Arkansas State, St. John’s and Western Michigan.
Kenwood 2022 SG Brianna McDaniel received an offer from Vanderbilt and Missouri State.
Mattoon 2022 guard Mallory Ramage received an offer from Loyola and Indiana State.
St. Ignatius 2021 guard Lauren McDonald received offers from Kent State and Air Force.
Marian Catholic 2023 guard Brianna Hill received an offer from Oakland.
Bartlett 2022 SG Kenzie Hare received an offer from St. Thomas the same week the school announced it’s moving to D1, as well as from Western Michigan.
Crete-Monee 2022 guard Jayda Bowen received an offer from Western Michigan.
Montini 2023 guard Madisyn Saracco received an offer from Oakland.
Joliet Catholic 2023 guard Jasmine Brown received an offer from Arkansas State.
Waubonsie Valley 2021 guard Lauren McKnight received an offer from Judson.
Loyola Academy 2021 guard Isabella Ogliore received a roster spot offer from Carthage College.
York 2021 guard Amaya Rufus received an offer to play at DePauw.
Nequa Valley 2021 PG Ellie Wisner received offers to Cornell College, Loras, Judson, North Central and DePauw.
Prospect 2021 PG Eliot Dojutrek received an offer from Eureka College.
Schaumburg 2021 guard Emma Raup received offers from Concordia University Chicago and Clarke University.
Willowbrook 2021 PF Stephanie Dasbach received an offer from North Park.
“Makiyah Williams, Brianna McDaniel Friendship Tested in Chicago to DI Jump” on Nothing But Nylon
Coaching
Lincoln Park hired Antwon Jennings as its new boys head coach.
Morgan Park hired Chris Gardner, an assistant for the past two seasons, as its new boys head coach.
“Family ties lure Wheaton North grad Dunn to York” from Schmidt of the Daily Herald.
“‘To Get the Opportunity, It Was a Dream’ Mike Dunn Named New York Head Coach” via Joshua Welge with MySuburbanLife.
Other Stories
“Coaches want shot clock in high school basketball” from Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star
“Courting success: Benet’s Kendall Moriarty, Molly Sheehan and Lenee Beaumont among area players going out of state for basketball tournaments” via Matt Le Cren of the Naperville Sun.
“What’s next for Kelvin Balfour? West Aurora grad, a top unsigned player from the 2020 class, looks back and moves forward: ‘It was bittersweet.’” from Patrick McGavin of the Aurora Beacon-News.
Steve Reaven for the Pioneer Press writes about family basketball influence for Glenbrook North’s Jackson Carsello: “Northwestern football recruit Jackson Carsello follows in sister’s footsteps with another sister on the way: ‘They’re pushing me constantly.’”
Niles North’s Aquan Smart revealed why he’s wearing 23 at Maryland.
“Lane Tech To Launch Survey, Vote On ‘Indian’ Mascot: ‘It’s Important We … Get This Settled’” on Block Club Chicago