Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 14
Week of September 19, 2020
Quite a busy week in Illinois basketball. Three D1 girls commitments. A steady stream of college recruiting. The state’s top 2023 boys player transferred. Several icons from the state’s past passed away.
And there was COVID-19 related craziness (that sentence is evergreen content). Football was the focus, but so much of it trickles to basketball, all while most teams around the state started contact days.
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Let’s get to basketball!
COVID-19 Craziness
Contact Days
CPS schools withstanding, teams from around the state were able to start their contact day practicing.
Kaleb Carter spoke to three girls teams from around the state about contact days for Illinois-Basketball.com (my new site): DeKalb, Hersey and Aurora Christian.
Rick Armstrong spoke to West Aurora boys basketball coach Brian Johnson and Mother McAuley junior about contact days, among athletes from other sports, for the Aurora Beacon-News.
Bill Welt of The State Register-Journal spoke to Southeast boys basketball coach Lawrence Johnson about contact days, along with coaches from other sports.
“As Contact Days Begin, Season’s Still in Doubt” writes John Lemon for the Daily Herald.
IHSA Eases Scheduling Restrictions
The IHSA had previously limited basketball teams to two games per week under its COVID-19 guidelines. Those restrictions have been lifted for winter sports.
Dion Martorano wrote about the news for the Journal & Topics.
Dean Criddle wrote about how the change affects area teams for the Belleville News-Democrat.
Alex Kantecki broke down the news for the Daily Chronicle.
Journal Star writers talked to area coaches who say the rules changes have been a “roller coaster.”
Commitments
Bolingbrook 2021 De’Ahna Richardson announced her verbal commitment to Western Michigan. I spoke to Richardson and head coach Chris Smith about the commitment, how she learned from Bolingbrook players now playing D1, her leadership style and more.
Moline 2021 Bralee Trice announced her verbal commitment to Bellarmine, which is transitioning to Division I this year. She averaged 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds as a junior.
Lincoln-Way West 2021 SF Haley Stoklosa also committed to Bellarmine.
Chicago Vocational 2021 PG Nakiyah Callon committed to NJCAA Odessa College in Texas.
Transfer News
2023 forward Javonte Taylor has transferred from Morgan Park to Kenwood. He’s the top-ranked 2023 in Illinois according to ESPN. Kenwood has added three top 2023 players since hiring Mike Irvin at the end of August (Darrin Ames from Morgan Park and Bloom, and Davius Loury from Simeon).
Jimmy Dohoney will play his senior season at Notre Dame College Prep after the closing of Guerin, reports Dion Martorano for the Journal & Topics. Dohoney averaged 16.6 points per game as a junior and has 711 points for his career. Arguably the top team in 3A added another piece. Scary.
Batavia 2022 PG Kyle Neibch is transferring to Fort Mill in South Carolina. He also plays football.
Boys Recruiting News
Lane Tech 2022 SG Cam Lawin received an offer from DePaul.
Quincy 2022 SF Jeremiah Talton received an offer from Western Illinois, his first offer.
Former Fenwick 2022 guard Trey Pettigrew (now at Hillcrest Prep in Arizona) received an offer from Grand Canyon.
Clark 2022 SF Mikell Jones received an offer from Grambling State.
Clark 2022 SF Mikqwon Jones received an offer from Grambling State.
Geneva 2021 PF Dylan Fuzak received an offer from D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Pekin 2021 PG Adam Cash received an offer from D3 Knox.
Elk Grove Village 2021 SG Brandon Burns received an offer from D3 Loras (Iowa).
Neuqua Valley 2021 SG John Poulakidas is announcing his commitment Sunday. He holds offers from Minnesota, Butler, Bradley, Loyola, Yale, Rutgers and others.
Yorkville Christian 2022 SG Jaden Schutt has heard from 10 D1 programs over the past week, according to Endless Motor Sports on Twitter. Eight are in the Big Ten. He also joined the Hoops With Us Podcast to talk about his recruiting and more.
Normal Community 2022 forward Zach Cleveland talked to NY 2 LA Sports about his first offer, from D1 Southeast Missouri State.
“Mundelein senior guard Trey Baker has ‘40-year plan,’ and that includes college basketball” writes Bob Narang for the Pioneer Press.
Girls Recruiting News
Kenwood 2022 guard Brianna McDaniel received offers from Maryland and Pitt.
Thornwood 2022 guard Nayo Lear received offers from Toledo, Murray State and Detroit-Mercy.
Hersey 2023 guard Katy Eidle received an offer from Nebraska. Scout My Game had a scouting report this week on Eidle.
Libertyville 2023 guard Emily Fisher received an offer from Nebraska.
Evanston 2022 wing Lola Lesmond received an offer from Central Michigan.
Richland County 2022 PG Anna Blank received an offer from UNC-Wilmington.
Simeon 2021 PF Khaniah Gardner received an offer from Houston.
De La Salle 2021 PG TaKiya Howard received an offer from Chicago State.
Saint Charles North 2021 SG Talia Pellegrini received an offer from NAIA St. Ambrose (Iowa).
Sacred Heart-Griffin 2021 wing Emily Brenneisen received an offer from D3 Millikin.
Peoria Richwoods 2021 guard Liv Allen received an offer from D3 Illinois College.
Grayslake Central 2021 guard MK Drevline received an offer from D3 Dubuque (Iowa).
Maine West 2021 guard Brianna Hernandez received an offer from D3 Dubuque (Iowa).
Saint Viator 2021 PG Emma Morrisey received an offer from D3 Benedictine.
Schaumburg 2021 guard Emma Raupp received an offer from D3 Dominican.
Loyola 2021 guard Silvana Scarsella received an offer from D3 Wisconsin Lutheran.
Niles West 2021 SG Angelica Cirineo received an offer from D3 Wisconsin Lutheran.
Loyola 2021 guard Isabella Ogliore received an offer from NJCAA Kirkwood (Iowa).
Coaching Stories and News
Former St. Laurence coach Chuck Shwarz passed away this week. He coached the program in the 1960s and 1970s before coaching at Lewis University and serving as Loyola University’s athletic director, retiring in 1999.
Joseph Phillips at the Chicago Crusader wrote about Mike Irvin taking over as boys head coach at Kenwood.
Brimfield boys head coach Scott Carlson wrote a book about his basketball journey and the program’s 2015 1A state title run, reports Dave Eminian for the Journal Star.
Social Issues
“Heritage or caricature?” Dave Eminian asks for the Journal Star. “What proposed legislation means for Native American imagery at Peoria-area high schools.”
Illinois Players in the Pros
Niles West graduate Jewell Loyd enters the WNBA playoffs with the 2nd-seeded Seattle Storm and seeks her second WNBA title, writes Dion Martorano for the Journal & Topics.
Naperville Central graduate Candace Parker wants you to know she’s not done yet” as she enters the WNBA playoffs with the third-seeded LA Sparks. Story from The New York Times via the Chicago Tribune.
Peoria graduate Shaun Livingston went to Harvard Business School before stepping into his front-office role with the Golden State Warriors. Story on the Journal Star, originally published on The Mercury News.
Neuqua Valley 2016 graduate Myia Starks has made the San Rafelle Serie B in Italy, per the NV girls basketball Twitter account.
Illinois Players in College
Former Morgan Park standout Ayo Dosunmu was named the No. 1 most intriguing player in college basketball this season by The Athletic. Former Althoff Catholic (Belleville) player Jordan Goodwin (Saint Louis) is No. 16 on the list.
Events
Chicago basketball coaches held the “Above All Odds” rally in Englewood, Chicago at 2 p.m. today. I spoke to Hyde Park head coach Jamere Dismukes and former Simeon star (and current assistant) Tim Flowers about the event.
Other Stories and News
Lindblom sophomore Natasha Barnes is poised to have the team built around her for the next three seasons after the graduation of three key seniors. Kaleb Carter wrote about her for Illinois-Basketball.
Argo junior Breana Dugans tore her ACL attempting a layup while playing with Example Sports, reports Tony Baranek for the Daily Southtown. The standout averaged 19 points and 6 rebounds as a sophomore.
Princeton High School graduate Joe Ruklick died at 82. He was an All-American at Northwestern in 1959. He played for the NBA’s Philadelphia Warriors from 1959 to 1962 and is famous for assisting Wilt Chamberlain’s final basket during his 100-point game. Shannon Ryan has the story for the Chicago Tribune.
Former Spalding star Elias “Alvin” O’Neal died on September 2, reports Dave Eminian for the Journal Star. He led the team to a second-place finish in 1969.
Galesburg senior Riley Jenkins didn’t let closed gyms stop her from working on her game. She has been shooting in the barn of Steve Watts, her mentor and former coach, reports Matthew Wheaton for The Register-Mail.
The Rockford Register-Star continued its series of top Rockford basketball players of all time. At No. 3 is Danny Jones, who starred at Boylan Catholic and then at Wisconsin in the 1980s. He never played in the NBA but spent more than 10 years playing professionally.
At No. 4 is Carl Cain, a Freeport graduate who is one of the best players in Iowa basketball history. He helped lead the Hawkeyes to an NCAA title appearance and another Final Four, and he won an Olympic gold medal. He was drafted to play in the NBA but retired due to a back injury.
At No. 5 is Allen Rayhorn, a Dakota center who went on to play at Northern Illinois. He held 16 NIU records when he graduated. He was drafted in the 7th round of the NBA Draft but only played in the CBA.
I attended the Xposure runs last week. I wrote about the top 2022 and 2023 performers for PrepHoops Illinois.