Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 21
Week of November 8, 2020
A Sunday newsletter because it seems like there was bigger news yesterday.
Last week may have been the wildest week of the year for Illinois high school basketball, but this week gave it a run for its money. Districts, conferences and schools all tried to react to the IHSA’s and governor’s conflicting decisions for a winter basketball season. This meant reporters from around the state were attending virtual emergency board meetings and trying to get information from athletic directors, who were scrambling to get rulings themselves.
Overall, the majority of schools in the state still have not made a decision. Expect the flurry of news to continue this week as November 16 is quickly approaching.
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!
Who Is Playing?
As of now, hardly any schools have committed to playing. My Season Start Tracker only has seven schools playing thus far, and one (Morton) is still pending board of education approval.
On the other side, well over 100 schools have opted out, though the majority are Chicago Public Schools. Still, we’ve seen major opt outs from suburban conferences, the Diocese of Rockford and the Diocese of Peoria.
There were far too many playing/not playing stories to link to in here, and you can find all stories in the tracker. The Sun-Times’ Michael O’Brien has the best story on the evolving situation.
The biggest issue for schools that want to play is coming from insurance companies, as Patricia Babcock McGraw wrote for the Daily Herald. Even if parents and students sign waivers, there is concern about liabilities.
If you’re looking for a podcast this week, here are two about the potential season:
The Record North Shore: “Fall wrapup and IHSA's controversial defiance”
The Jon and Joe Show: “Jon and Joe Fly Solo, Talk Hoops Decision and On Record, Off Record for Reporters”
In other COVID-related news, the 2020 Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs has been cancelled.
Commitments
Mattoon 2022 PG Mallory Ramage announced her commitment to Loyola-Chicago. She was a 3A all-state honorable mention and Herald-Review area player of the year as a sophomore. Averaged 21.5 points and shot 56% from three.
Homewood-Flossmoor 2021 guard Tai Walters announced his commitment to NAIA Governors State (University Park).
Proviso East 2021 wing Gabriel Wright committed to Governors State.
Roanoke-Benson 2021 center Luke Braman announced his commitment to NAIA Olivet Nazarene (Bourbonnais).
Yorkville 2021 PG Kenzie Senffner announced her commitment to Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.
Marmion and Mercury Elite 2021 PG Nick Reid announced his commitment to D3 Central College (Iowa).
Saint Viator 2021 PG Emma Morrisey announced her commitment to D3 Saint Norbert College (Wisconsin). She’s averaged eight points and three rebounds during her two varsity seasons, according to MaxPreps.
Stagg 2021 SG Kelsey Dwyer announced her commitment to D3 DePauw (Indiana)
Kaleb Carter wrote about five commitments from last week for Illinois-Basketball.com, including De La Salle’s TaKiya Howard committing to Murray State.
Video: Zach Schumaker interviewed Fenwick’s Bryce Hopkins about why he went from Louisville to Kentucky and more. Bob Narang wrote about Hopkins’ commitment for the Pioneer Press.
Bob Narang wrote about Lake Zurich’s Ashley Geisler committing to Trinity International for the Pioneer Press.
Transfer News
2023 forward Chikasi Ofoma has transferred from Joliet West to Simeon, according to PrepHoops’ Scott Burgess. He had been homeschooled prior to this year, and this news comes less than two weeks after Joliet West 2023 PG Jeremy Fears Jr., a top 25 player nationally, transferred out of state.
Boys Recruiting News
Hinsdale Central 2023 forward Matas Buzelis received an offer from Wake Forest.
Former Kankakee 2022 wing AJ Storr (Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas) received offers from New Orleans, Ohio and UIC.
Cobden 2021 SF Noah Franklin received an offer from IUPUI.
Hersey 2021 SG Ethan Roberts received an offer from D2 Southern Indiana.
Downers Grove North 2021 PF Jack Mielke received an offer from Southern Indiana.
Dunlap 2021 PG Gabe Calhoun received an offer from NAIA Judson (Elgin).
Joliet West 2021 PG Jamari Ward received offers from NAIA Briar Cliff (Iowa); Wisconsin D3s Lawrence and Beloit; Webster (St. Louis).
Rich East 2021 PG Gary Clay received an offer from NAIA Governors State.
Rock Island 2021 PG Colton Sigel received offers from D3s Knox College (Galesburg) and the University of Dubuque.
Collinsville 2021 forward Nathan Hall received an offer from D3 Iowa Wesleyan.
“Normal Community High School basketball star Zach Cleveland adjusting to COVID-19 recruiting changes” via Jim Benson at The Pantagraph.
Girls Recruiting News
Libertyville 2023 guard Emily Fisher received an offer from NC State.
Carmel Catholic 2023 forward Jordan Wood received an offer from Marquette.
Evanston 2022 wing Lola Lesmond received an offer from Penn.
Bradley-Bourbonnais 2021 SF Faith Davis received an offer from D2 Quincy.
Neuqua Valley 2021 center Claudia Gallegos received an offer from D2 Maryville (St. Louis).
Lincoln-Way East 2021 PG Samara Swire received an offer from NAIA Trinity International (Deerfield).
Tinley Park 2021 wing Autumn Jones received an offer from D3 Iowa Wesleyan.
Downers Grove South 2021 PF Ashley Lang received an offer from D3 Alverno (Milwaukee).
Coaching Stories and News
“New Kankakee girls hoops coach Kurt Weigt embracing return to area,” from Mason Schweizer at the Daily-Journal.
“Highland boys basketball coach Cunningham survives near-death scare from COVID-19,” writes David Kvidahl from STL Today.
“Wisconsin assistant coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton looks back on her days as a basketball star at Neuqua Valley” writes Matt Le Cren for the Naperville Sun.
Illinois Players in College
Elk Grove Village alumni Jimmy Sotos was granted immediate eligibility following his transfer from Bucknell to Ohio State.
Da’Monte Williams (Peoria Manual) and Adam Miller (Morgan Park) are reunited at Illinois and once again working out with Manual assistant David Williams. A fun story from Gavin Good for the Journal-Star.
Miller is among three freshmen getting big hype from Illinois coach Brad Underwood, writes Scott Richey for the News-Gazette.
The Duke Chronicle did a season preview for former Whitney Young and Fenwick guard DJ Steward. His NBA comparison: Jamal Murray.
Angela Dugalic (Maine West) is among a “Fab Five” freshman class at Oregon. The Register-Guard introduced her to Ducks fans.
Other Stories and News
“Mendota to leave Big Northern, join Three Rivers” reports Kevin Hieronymus for BCR News.
