Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 23
Week of November 23, 2020
On what would normally the start of a big week of high school hoops, instead I’ve got a far different newsletter for you. We’ve swapped season previews for season uncertainty. Out-of-state transfers continue to make headlines as games start up in many places around the country.
Still, many players from around the state made college choices in the past week — it’s not all bad news.
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!
The Latest Season Updates
The IHSA invited governor JB Pritzker’s office to its latest meeting, but none of his staff attended. It didn’t take reading the tea leaves to see that not much would come out of the meeting. All winter sports were put on pause, and the IHSA seems to have put the possibility of a season on hold until January, Michael O’Brien reports for the Sun-Times. The IHSA board will meet again on December 2. Jon Kerr writes in his newsletter that the spring is the best chance for a season.
As uncertainty remains the only certainty around the basketball season, players and coaches are looking for a “sliver of normal” during what is typically the most exciting time of the year for basketball fans, Bill Welt writes for The State Register-Journal. Troy Taylor summed it up well for the Star Courier: “It's been a roller coaster ride.” Not the good kind either.
Commitments
Galesburg 2021 wing Lauren Livingston announced her commitment to D3 Dubuque.
Richwoods 2021 wing Liv Allen announced her commitment to juco Central Maine.
Antioch 2022 center Avery Larson announced her commitment to D2 Truman State in Missouri.
Palatine 2021 guard Luke Seiffert announced his commitment to play at D3 Augustana.
Eisenhower 2021 wing Keon Mitchell committed to Joliet Junior College.
“Hillcrest forward Julius Rollins finds the place where he’s needed ‘more than any other school’ in Kent State” writes Pat Disabato for the Daily Southtown.
For Rock Island boys guard Jordan Rice committed to D2 Illinois-Springfield, as Drake Lansman writes for the Dispatch-Argus.
Benet’s Kendall Moriarty “excited about Big Ten future” at Nebraska, writes John Lemon for the Daily Herald. He also wrote about Benet’s Molly Sheehan signing with Valpo.
Lemon also wrote about Aurora Christian’s Anna Griffin’s excitement playing for former WNBA player Tina Thompson at Virgina. Kaleb Carter wrote about Griffin’s commitment to Virginia for Illinois-Basketball.com in September.
Loyola 2021 guard Arielle Dabu committed to play at D2 Florida Southern. Bob Narang has the story for the Pioneer Press.
Carter wrote about three boys commitments from last week for Illinois-Basketball: Romeoville’s Trayton Trice, Thornton’s Brandon Hall and St. Patrick’s Caleb Corro.
Transfer News
I’ve added six more players to the out-of-state transfer list since last newsletter, though I suspect there are more. That brings the list to 37 players to leave the state since the end of last season: 35 boys, two girls.
Hinsdale Central 2023 forward Matas Buzelis will transfer to Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. He already holds offers from Illinois and Wake Forest.
St. Bede 2022 guard Paul Hart transferred to Flippin in Arkansas. He was the Bureau County Republican’s player of the year last season. Kevin Hieronymus has the story for BCR.
Kenwood 2021 PG Kendall Martin transferred to AOSS Prep in California. He had 12 assists in a game over the weekend.
Huntley 2023 forward Wilfred Kamukama transferred to Desert Valley Prep in Las Vegas.
Lyons 2022 PF Mikayla Rudolph transferred to Westfield in Indiana. She averaged 10 points, six rebounds and five assists as a sophomore.
Hononegah 2021 guard Trent DeVries transferred to Madison Southern in Kentucky.
Peoria Notre Dame brothers Noah and Nelson Reynolds transferred to Merrilville. Last week we had a story about them leaving the Illinois program. Mike Hutton at the Post-Tribune wrote about what their addition does for Merrillville in Indiana.
Boys Recruiting News
Springfield 2021 guard Shane Miller received an offer from NAIA Judson.
IVC 2021 guard Mac Parmelee received an offer from D3 Carthage.
Loyola Academy 2021 guard Scotty Dean received offers from D3 Augustana and DePauw.
Loyola Academy 2021 guard Jalen Axibal received an offer from D3 DePauw.
Notre Dame College Prep 2021 guard Jake DeFranza received an offer from North Central.
Pekin 2021 guard Adam cash received an offer from juco Carl Sandburg.
Wheeling's Jaden Terrell is determined to reach his goals, despite having D1 offers pulled during the pandemic, Patricia Babcock McGraw reports for the Daily Herald.
Girls Recruiting News
Joliet West 2023 PG Lisa Thompson received an offer from North Carolina.
Burlington Central 2022 forward Taylor Charles received an offer from Davidson.
Evanston 2022 wing Lola Lesmond received an offer from Columbia.
Marist 2022 PG Kira Chivers received an offer from UIC.
Joliet West 2022 wing Grace Walsh received an offer from D2 Illinois-Springfield. it is her first offer.
Bloom 2021 guard Jayiona Cobb received an offer from juco Angelina (Texas).
Coaching Stories and News
Putnam County legendary coach Joe Massino died at age 83. He’s a member of the PC, Northern Illinois University and Illinois Basketball Coaches Associations Halls of Fame. Kevin Chlum has the story for the Putnam County Record.
Doug Wellenreiter, former head baseball coach and assistant basketball coach for Momence, died at age 63. The Daily-Journal has the story.
“After 25 years of coaching boys basketball, ‘crazy’ Mike Curta brings the Grinnell system to Eisenhower’s girls program,” via Pat Disabato of the Daily Southtown.
“Former Hampshire, NIU standout [Stephanie} Smith having a winning run coaching [high school] in Florida,” John Radtke writes for the Daily Herald.
“For high school athletic directors, the pandemic has made life even more hectic,” Joe Stevenson writes for the Daily Chronicle.
Illinois Players in the Pros
Former Maine East and Niles North standout Abdel Nader was included in a blockbuster trade, Dion Martorano writes for the Journal & Topics.
Rockford Auburn’s Fred VanVleet signed a major deal to stay with the Raptors.
“U High graduate Chante Stonewall adjusting to life, basketball in France,” via Jim Benson from The Pantagraph.
No players from Illinois high schools were selected in the NBA Draft. Since at least the 2000 draft, that’s only happened one other time. Illinois also hasn’t had a first-round pick since 2015. Here’s the list of NBA Draft picks from Illinois high schools.
Illinois Players in College
“A different flow for Brooke: Schramek gets used to new surroundings, going from Benet star to freshman forward for Wisconsin” Matt Le Cren writes for the Naperville Sun.
“Joliet Catholic graduate Kaitlyn Williams wants to be key scorer and senior leader for Lewis in women’s basketball: ‘I’m extremely excited.’” Steve Millar has the story for the Daily Southtown.
Also from Millar: “Despite an 18-day layoff between games, H-F graduate Sterling Fields scores 12 points in Governors State loss: ‘I always stay ready.’”
“Stevenson graduate Eric Zalewski committed to ‘exhausting’ work as a manager for the Northwestern men’s basketball team. But he craved a roster spot.” Sam Brief has the story for the Pioneer Press.
Libertyville graduate Drew Peterson was granted immediate eligibility at USC after transferring from Rice.
Other Stories and News
Unfortunately we’re ending the newsletter on a sad note. The body of former St. Joseph (Westchester) standout Davane Gross was found on a South Side beach. She had been missing since late October.
