Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 6
Week of July 25, 2020
Another big news week as coaches organized for a shot clock, a Chicago star committed, there was plenty of recruiting news, and more. If you’re enjoying the newsletter, share it with someone who appreciates high school hoops.
To send me stories or recruiting news, find me on Twitter or email rudnik.jakub@gmail.com.
Let’s get to basketball!
Coaches Make Shot Clock Push
A group of high school coaches from around the state are making a push to require a shot clock in prep games, as Joe Henricksen wrote for the Chicago Sun-Times. The effort is led by Whitney Young’s Tyrone Slaughter, Evanston’s Mike Ellis and others who have organized to send a survey to all boys and girls head coaches in the state, with results to be released Monday.
The survey will provide more scientific results, but anecdotally support seems high. Here’s a sampling from Twitter: Oak Lawn, Yorkville Christian, Glenbard West, Westinghouse, DeKalb.
Generally, the thought process is that a shot clock will modernize Illinois prep basketball while also eliminating the occasional game where a team holds the ball for long stretches in order to limit the possessions. I’ve also heard arguments for preparing players for the next level and even generating more exposure for players, though I think those are more fringe impacts.
On the other side of the coin, literally, is the cost. Potentially as high as $10,000 per school, per Hendricksen’s article. This Tweet from Lindblom’s boy’s account is a good snapshot.
There’s also the difficulty of having a trained operator at every single game all season long, as well as integrating with referees.
More on this week when results are announced. The group of coaches said it hopes for a 70% positive “super majority” to bring to the IHSA, which follows national regulations that do not allow the shot clock.
2020 is the year of change, including in sports. It seems we’re headed for a big one in Illinois basketball.
Dean Criddle of the Belleville News-Democrat spoke to coaches, of both boys and girls teams, about their opinions on a shot clock. A really good sample of the opinions out there, with the majority supporting the move.
Ty Johnson Stays In Chicago
Loyola University is at the top of the newsletter for the second-straight week. The Ramblers continue to keep in-state talent at home, getting a commitment from DePaul Prep 2021 guard Ty Johnson on his birthday. The 6-3 combo guard averaged 22 points a game as a junior, and he’ll join Waubonsie Valley’s Ben Schwieger in Loyola’s 2021 class.
In his story for the Sun-Times, Henricksen details Johnson’s decision: The role of Loyola’s Final Four run, how close he came to committing to Colorado State, and more.
Other Commitments
Bogan PF Kennedy Brown has decommitted from Vincennes, reclassified to 2021 and committed to a post-grad year at Springfield Commonwealth Academy. He held an offer from UIC.
Joliet Catholic 2020 guard Cristian Young decommitted from Waubonsie Community College and committed to the College of DuPage.
Transfers
2023 guard Darrin “Dai Dai” Ames is transferring from Morgan Park to Bloom. He has offers from Illinois and Western Illinois, according to Verbal Commits. He’s a super-quick lefty with good range.
Boys Recruiting
St. Rita 2024 (yes, class of 2024 recruiting has begun!) big man James Brown received offers from Siena and Western Illinois. Lots of buzz already around the 6-8 incoming freshman. Here’s a highlight video to get a sense of his play.
Joliet West 2023 guard Jeremy Fears Jr. received offers from Ole Miss and Missouri. His offers include Iowa State, Maryland, Kansas State and DePaul.
Former Bloomington and current Indian Hills CC PF Chris Payton received an offer from Texas A&M. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.7 rebounds for Indian Hills as a freshman.
Chicago U-High 2022 shooting guard Ryan Duncan received his first offer from Loyola Maryland.
Corliss 2021 SF Sincere Malone received offers from Southern University and Chicago State.
DePaul Prep 2021 C Brian Mathews received an offer from Western Illinois.
Peoria Notre Dame 2021 SG Noah Reynolds received an offer from D2 Winona State.
Conant 2021 wing Devon Ellis received an offer from NAIA Governors State.
Saint Viator 2021 guard Aidan Harrington received an offer from D3 Rose-Hulman.
Glenbard West 2021 wing Aidan Murphy received a roster spot offer from D3 Denison University.
Glenbard West PF Danny Mulcare received a roster spot offer from D3 Edgewood College.
Joliet West 2021 guard Jaiden Lee received an offer from Des Moines Area CC. Brett Putz, a former Chicago State and and Highland CC assistant, was officially announced as the new Des Moines Area CC head coach this week and has begun to recruit Illinois immediately.
Scott Richey of The News-Gazette wrote that Yorkville Christian’s 2022 shooting guard Jaden Schutt “could be the shooter Illini are looking for.” Good details here about Schutt’s rise and recruiting.
“Local college basketball notes: West Aurora graduate Traevon Brown transfers to Waubonsee, joins burgeoning group of talented players” via Rick Armstrong at the Aurora Beacon-News.
Girls Recruiting
Joliet West 2023 guard Lisa Thompson continues to see offers come in from high-major schools. She received offers from Kentucky, Purdue and Michigan after eight offers last week.
Lincoln-Way West 2022 forward Brianna Wooldridge continued her hot recruiting streak as well with an offer from Marshall.
St. Viator 2022 guard Joy Bergstrom received offers from Saint Louis and Akron.
Libertyville 2023 guard Emily Fisher received an offer from UW-Milwaukee.
Hersey 2023 guard Katy Eidle received an offer from UW-Milwaukee.
Bartlett 2022 guard Kenzie Hare received an offer from D1 Nebraska-Omaha.
York 2021 guard Amaya Rufus received an offer from D3 Webster University.
Niles West 2021 guard Angelica Cirineo received an offer from D3 Aurora University.
Prospect 2021 guard Eliot Dojutrek received an offer from Aurora University.
Kaneland 2021 guard Kelsey Modaff received an offer from JuCo McHenry County College.
St. Charles North 2021 SG Talia Pellegrini received an offer from NAIA Park University Gilbert.
COVID-19 Updates
John Radtke of the Daily Herald writes that a decision on high school sports must be made now.
“IHSA delays meeting, fall sports decisions” to Wednesday, July 29 (Steve Batterson of the Dispatch-Argus).
IESA Shuts Down Fall Sports Season via Dion Martorano of the Journal & Topics
Mike Miletich of WGEM wrote that a ruling is expected this week in DeVore v. IHSA, a lawsuit that claims “the IHSA doesn't have the authority to require masks, eliminate physical contact, or limit crowd size for sporting events.”
Former Niles North and Maine East small forward Abdel Nader, and former Whitney Young center Jahlil Okafor are both competing in the NBA bubble, via Martorano at the Journal & Topics.
Jon Kerr started a newsletter about sports and culture in Chicagoland. The first two stories in The Kerr Report are about the fall sports decision.
Illinois Players in The Basketball Tournament
Morgan Park graduate Kyle Davis (2013) helped a team of Dayton alumna to the semifinals. A great story by Tim O’Brien of the Beverley Review about Davis’ year: playing professionally in Argentina during a pandemic, losing his father (long-time Mac Irvin Fire coach Steve Hudson) to COVID-19 complications, and living in a bubble for TBT.
Prospect alum Mike LaTulip (2012) coached the House of ‘Paign team to the quarterfinals of The Basketball Tournament, via Martorano of the Journal & Topics. He graduated as the leading scorer in school history.
Coaching News and Stories
Limestone is looking for a new boys basketball coach after Jarrett Brown resigned — just three months after taking the job. Brown stepped down for personal reasons, he said in Steve Stein’s story for the Journal-Star.
Former Freeport High School (2012), Highland CC and Eastern Illinois guard Luke Norman takes over as the Highland CC head coach. Norman is the son of Highland AD and former head basketball coach Pete Norman. Scott Leber has the story for My State Line.
“Family ties: Mike Dunn calls it a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to take over as York’s boys basketball head coach” via Bob Narang for the Pioneer Press.
Other Stories
“Offered a scholarship by DePaul in eighth grade, Benet sophomore Lenee Beaumont prepares for bigger things: ‘She has such a great future.’” by Matt Le Cren of the Naperville Sun.
“The Last Chance: Harvard recruit Blake Peters and Evanston hope to ‘achieve our only goal of winning a state championship’” via Narang for the Pioneer Press.
The schedule for the 31st Coach Kipp’s Hoopfest has been released. Fourteen girls teams will compete at Montini on January 16, 2021. From Martorano of the Journal & Topics.
Rivals’ national writer Eric Bossi wrote about Fenwick 2021 forward Bryce Hopkins and how he’ll be an even better prospect than expected for Louisville.
Loyola Academy guard Vaughn Pemberton has committed to Ball State for football, where he plays running back.
Normal West forward Corey Walker has decommitted, in football, from Illinois State and committed to Western Michigan.
Video
Podcasts
Former Fenwick guard Mike Smith (2016) joined The Athletic’s podcast The Beat to talk about transferring from Columbia to Michigan.