Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 4
Week of July 11, 2020
AAU season is full swing, and that means lots of recruiting news. Otherwise, players and coaches from around the state are keeping an eye on COVID-19 cases and the IHSA’s response. Everyone is talking about football and the fall sports, but the basketball season will be here before we know it.
Let’s get to basketball!
Max Christie Makes His Decision
The state’s top senior is off the market. Rolling Meadows 2021 shooting guard Max Christie announced his commitment to the Michigan State Spartans via Twitter. He had no shortage of options, passing on the likes of Duke, Illinois, Florida, Iowa, Ohio State, Virginia, Villanova and many others.
Christie is one of the state’s top-ranked prospects of the decade, currently ranked No. 12 in the country by ESPN and 247, and No. 17 from Rivals. He will team up with No. 74 prospect Pierre Brooks, and possibly 2022 No. 1 prospect Emoni Bates, if Bates reclassifies.
What’s to like about Christie? He’s 6-6, has a massive wing span and has great athleticism. He’s thin but will add strength; he got out-muscled by Fenwick’s Bryce Hopkins (the No. 2 prospect in 2021) when the two met this season, but Christie didn’t shy from the contact against the bigger player and had a trio of huge blocks at the rim.
In Christie teams see a modern wing, capable of playing multiple positions, switching defensively and shooting at an elite level. The intrigue now is how long Christie will stay in East Lansing, and whether his brother Cam Christie — a 2023 point guard who holds offers from Michigan State and others — will follow in his brother’s footsteps.
From an AAU perspective, 247’s Jeremy Werner said it best:
Rolling Meadows star Max Christie chooses Michigan State over Duke by Joe Henricksen from the Chicago Sun-Times
“Max Christie Makes His Decision” from Dion Martorano at the Journal & Topics
“Michigan State the choice for Rolling Meadows' Christie” via Patricia Babcock McGraw of the Daily Herald
“With Max Christie, Tom Izzo finally beats Duke on the recruiting trail. It's not a dream.” via Shawn Windsor with the Detroit Free Press.
“With Max Christie on board, stars are aligning for Spartans on recruiting trail” from Matt Charboneau at the Detroit News.
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Lauren Huber to Holy Cross
Lauren Huber, a 5-10 guard, has become Libertyville’s first D1 prospect since 2003, verbally committing to Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
Huber was an all-conference player who led Libertyville to a 27-5 record and a regional championship as a junior. Joe Aguilar at the Daily Herald wrote about Huber’s, as did Bob Narang for the Pioneer Press.
Other Commitments
Simeon 2019 PG Kejuan Clements committed to Triton after playing for Hinds Community College, where he averaged 8.1 points and started 12 of 24 games.
Kenwood 2019 guard Elijah Stewart committed to D2 Morehouse in Atlanta. He played his freshman season at Clark Atlanta University, where he averaged 6.5 points per game.
Palatine 2019 guard Lamon Berry committed to D2 Wisconsin-Parkside after playing for Triton, where he averaged 3.6 points and started one game.
Mount Prospect 2017 guard Frankie Mack committed to D2 Lynn University after playing for Minnesota State, where he averaged 2.9 points over 41 games in three years.
Plainfield East 2020 PG Keon Killins committed to NAIA Clarke University.
East St. Louis 2020 PG Jashawn Anderson committed to Des Moines Area Community College.
Sullivan 2020 PG Joey Tianen committed to Des Moines Area Community College.
Bloom 2020 PG Justin Moore committed to Victory Rock Prep.
COVID-19
This week the IHSA took positive steps to allowing fall sports, then released more restrictive guidelines. I saw basketball teams across the area cancel summer workouts and practices to take precaution, while others practiced in masks. No shortage of articles about the IHSA guidelines, take your pick:
Chicago Sun-Times, Wednesday Journal, Dispatch-Argus, Berverly Review, Journal Star, Daily Herald, Belleville News-Democrat, The State Journal-Register, The Pantagraph
Boys Recruiting
Tinley Park 2022 forward A.J. Casey received an offer from Michigan. Casey holds offers from Illinois, Louisville, Indiana, Purdue and others. From 247: Top 25 prospect AJ Casey updates his busy recruitment.
Yorkville Christian 2022 wing Jaden Schutt received an offer from Wisconsin. He holds offers from Illinois, Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern and others. From SB Nation: Wisconsin basketball recruiting: a 2022 sniper is offered by Greg Gard.
Waubonsie Valley 2021 guard Ben Schwieger received an offer from Belmont. He holds offers from UIC, Loyola, SIU and others.
DePaul Prep 2021 PG Ty Johnson received an offer from Miami (OH) after Appalachian State and BGSU offered last week. Scott Burgess of Prep Hoops caught up with him: “Recruiting Report: Ty Johnson (2021)”
Danville 2021 SF Tevin Smith received an offer from Miami (OH). He holds offers from DePaul and UT Martin.
St. Laurence 2021 PG Ismail Habib received an offer from Austin Peay.
Simeon 2023 PF Davius Loury received an offer from DePaul.
“After a series of growth spurts, Lake Forest Academy’s Danny Wolf hits 6-10 and starts receiving Division I offers on the first day: ‘It was the coolest thing ever.’” via Narang with the Lake County News-Sun.
Girls Recruiting
Joliet West 2023 guard Lisa Thompson received an offer from Ole Miss and Missouri.
Hersey 2023 guard Katy Eidle received an offer from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Lincoln-Way West 2023 guard Ava Gugliuzza received an offer from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Stevenson 2022 point guard Simone Sawyer received an offer from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Saint Viator 2022 guard Joy Bergstrom received an offer from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Mattoon 2022 guard Mallory Ramage received an offer from Tennessee Chattanooga and Eastern Illinois.
Aurora Christian 2021 forward Anna Griffin received an offer from Grand Canyon.
Paris 2022 guard Madyson Rigdon received an offer from NAIA St. Louis School of Pharmacy.
Plainfield Central forward Melissa Schmidt received an offer from D3 Concordia University Chicago.
Dundee-Crown 2021 guard Gianine Boado received an offer from D3 Edgewood.
Coaching Stories
Mike Dunn is the new boys head coach at York, according to Joshua Welge of MySuburbanLife. Dunn was previously the head coach at Yorkville.
“Kewanee coach Lewis will be remembered for his passions” from Terry Duckett of the Dispatch-Argus.
“Veteran coach Joe Kilbride keeps Benet on the rise in girls basketball: ‘I think that’s why we’ve been so successful. He’s one of the best.’” via Matt Le Cren at the Naperville Sun.
“Sophie Brunner ready to take leap from star player to coach, starting at Rockford Christian” via Jay Taft at the Rockford Register Star.
More Prep Basketball Stories
“Evanston High School basketball players paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ on Dodge Avenue in front of school, but work defaced hours later” via the Evanston Review.
“Five things that would have happened during the canceled June basketball live period” by Henricksen
“Zion-Benton graduate Admiral Schofield ‘feeling really good and ready for the opportunity’ to resume his rookie season with the Washington Wizards later this month” via Narang with the Chicago Tribune.
“With stunning SAT score and oozing two-sport potential, H-F role player Chad Readey is a risk worth taking for colleges” via Pat Disabato at the Daily Southtown
“SIU lands verbal commitment from Mundelein big man” from Joe Aguilar of the Daily Herald
“Measuring up: Barrington boys basketball team wins 20 games, but goes one better by being named Academic All-State” by Marc Perlman with the Pioneer Press.
“Honoring the ‘brainiacs’: Omar Farrag and Danny Locascio lead the way as Maine South named Academic All-State in boys basketball” from Steve Reaven with the Pioneer Press.
“‘It’s a great honor’: Grant Niego hits all the right notes about Lyons being named Academic All-State in boys basketball” via Rich Mayor with the Pioneer Press.
“A change for the better: Carmel boys basketball coach Zack Ryan implements study hall, which pays off in Academic All-State honor” from Jon Kerr with the Pioneer Press.
Reminders:
For news or tips, email rudnik.jakub@gmail.com or message me on Twitter @jakubrudnik. That includes stories yet to be written.
If you have access to school records or season stats, I’d love to hear from you for a bigger project I’m working on.