Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 3
Week of July 4, 2020
Happy July 4 to you and your loved ones!
Before we get to the basketball news, I’ve got some programming notes:
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. Thank you in advance.
Let’s get to the basketball!
This Week’s Commitments
Mundelein’s 2021 center Scottie Ebube announced his verbal commitment to Southern Illinois. He chose SIU over Toledo and NIU. Todd Hefferman wrote about what Ebube, who averaged 14.5 points and 10 rebounds as a junior, brings to the Salukis for the Southern Illinoisan.
Morton 2022 forward Katie Krupa committed to play at Harvard over more than a dozen other schools, Wes Huett wrote for the Journal Star. Krupa averaged nearly 12 points and four rebounds for a state runner-up team as a sophomore. She helped Morton to a state title as a freshman as well.
Hersey 2021 wing Mary McGrath commits to Lindenwood.
Boys Recruiting News
St. Joseph 2022 center Kyle Thomas received an offer from Nebraska. He has also been offered by Illinois and Western Illinois.
DePaul Prep 2021 PG Ty Johnson received offers from Appalachian State and Bowling Green. He already held offers including Colorado State, Loyola, UIC and Valparaiso.
Waubonsie Valley 2021 guard Ben Schwieger received an offer from Elon. He already holds offers from Loyola, UIC, IUPUI, Robert Morris, William & Mary, UC Riverside, and UW-Milwaukee.
Kankakee 2021 SG AJ Storr received an offer from Chicago State.
Hillcrest 2022 forward Karmryn Thomas received an offer from Chicago State.
Rock Island 2021 PG Jordan Rice received his first offer from Illinois-Springfield.
Downers Grove 2021 PF Jack Mielke received an offer from Rockhurst.
Girls Recruiting News
Carmel Catholic 2023 forward Jordan Wood received an offer from Michigan State.
Joliet West 2023 guard Lisa Thompson received an offer from Michigan State.
Thornwood 2022 guard Nayo Lear received offers from Penn State, Cleveland State and Grand Canyon.
Kenwood 2022 guard Brianna McDaniel received an offer from Virginia Tech.
Bartlett 2022 guard Kenzie Hare received an offer from Florida International.
Lincoln-Way West 2022 forward Brianna Wooldridge received an offer from Cleveland State.
De La Salle 2021 guard Takiya Howard received offers from Old Dominion and North Carolina Central.
Fenwick 2021 forward Lauren hall received an offer from Loras.
Kenwood 2022 center DonYeil Bolton received offers from Morton and Saint Xavier.
Sad News from Kewanee
Kewanee head boys basketball coach Shaune Lewis died Thursday, reported by the Journal Star. Lewis, also a business owner and racing enthusiast, reportedly “suffered a medical incident while behind the wheel.” He was 47.
Lewis went 93-60 in five seasons, including a best 27-5 in 2019-20 with a Three Rivers Conference East Division championship.
Coaching News
Ryan McVickers hired as Mount Pulaski’s girls basketball coach, reports The State Journal-Register. Vickers is the son of hall of fame coach Carey McVickers and takes over a team that went 10-23 in 2019-20.
COVID-19 Stories
“Commentary: Illinois prep sports caught between hope and a false start” by Troy Taylor at the Journal Star.
“High school sports moves into new phase of Return-to-Play on Monday” via Michael O’Brien at the Chicago Sun-Times.
“No summer games could be a good thing” writes Orrin Schwarz at the Daily Herald, arguing that injuries and burnout could go down with this break.
More Prep Basketball Stories
“Augustana turns to Batavia grad to lead basketball program” via John Lemon of the Daily Herald.
“Hampshire’s Kelby Bannerman picks Davidson for academics, basketball” from Lemon.
“‘He’s a hard worker’: Ayo on newest Morgan Park to Illini star Adam Miller” writes Matthew Stevens at Sports Illustrated.
“There were cheers, jeers, tears. Brianna Wooldridge plans to take ‘learning experience’ at state to a new level for Lincoln-Way West” by Tony Baranek at the Daily Southtown.
“Lieb, Illini commit to prolonged plan: 'Focus on the long-term'“ via Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.
“Sarah Carstensen, Hannah Schuringa create academic atmosphere for Timothy Christian girls basketball” via Rich Mayor at the Pioneer Press
“Sandburg graduate Alec Martinez makes smart choice, switches to golf after injuries derail baseball and basketball career: ‘He’s a talented kid.’” by Jeff Vorva of the Daily Southtown
“Local coaches have mixed emotions on state tourney move back to Champaign” by Terry Duckett at the Dispatch-Argus
“Clubhouse Chatter: The best athlete ever to come out of the suburbs” from the Daily Herald. A girls basketball legend gets two nominations.