Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 16
Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 16
Week of October 3, 2020
Another early fall newsletter as we await (and hope for) actual basketball games. We’re in the time of year where AAU has died down and so has recruiting, though commitments are plentiful as many players want to lock in their futures before the high school season starts.
This newsletter is again just the stories and news, as I’m writing from Portland, Maine, at the tail end of my honeymoon. Please excuse me as I brag about my beautiful wife who doesn’t mind that I finish this while we’re on our trip.
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!
Commitments
Naperville Central 2021 PG Gabi Melby verbally committed to Tennessee-Martin. According to her recruiting profile, she averaged 16 points and 7 assists as a junior.
Rock Island 2021 PG Jordan Rice verbally committed to D2 Illinois-Springfield.
St. Charles North 2021 PG Talia Pellegrini committed to D2 Bemidji State after receiving an offer on September 25.
Downers Grove South 2021 PG Jake Dimovski committed to D3 Edgewood College.
Dixon 2021 SG Abby Guthrie verbally committed to D3 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
“Lake Forest senior forward Walter Mattingly decides not to wait for more D-I offers and commits to Hillsdale” writes Bob Narang for the Pioneer Press. The notebook also features recruiting notes on Libertyville’s Emily Fisher, Carmel’s Kimahri Wilson and Carmel’s Jordan Wood.
Transfer News
2022 PF Sean Paige has transferred from Willowbrook to Proviso East, reports PrepHoops’ Scott Burgess on Twitter.
“Highly regarded sophomore JJ Taylor transfers from Morgan Park to Kenwood” via Joe Henricksen with the Sun-Times
Boys Recruiting News
Whitney Young 2023 PG Dalen Davis received an offer from Nebraska.
Thornton 2021 PG Brandon Hall received an offer from East Tennessee State.
Hillcrest 2021 SF Julius Rollins received an offer from Youngstown State.
Orr 2019 and current South Suburban College SG Ty Mosley received an offer from Detroit Mercy.
Brother Rice 2021 PF Luke Moustakas received an offer from D2 NW Missouri State, per Scott Burgess on Twitter.
Roanoke-Benson 2021 C Luke Braman received an offer from NAIA Olivet Nazarene.
Curie 2021 G Kendall Brasfield received an offer from D3 Cornell College, his first offer.
Bloomington Central Catholic 2021 SG JT Welch received an offer from D3 Millikin.
Girls Recruiting News
Libertyville 2023 G Emily Fisher received an offer from Drake.
O’Fallon 2023 PG Shannon Dowell received an offer from Indiana State.
Richland County 2022 PG Anna Blank received an offer from UT-Martin.
Kenwood 2022 G Whitney Dunn received an offer from UIC.
Saint Viator 2021 PG Emma Morrisey received an offer from D3 UW-Platteville.
Huntley 2021 PF Kamsi Nwogu received an offer from D3 Millikin.
Grayslake Central 2021 PG MK Drevline received an offer from D3 Denison.
Prep Girls Hoops and Jacob Wohlwend released the state’s top 10 2023 prospects.
The Next, a women’s basketball newsletter, talked to Kenwood 2022 G Brianna McDaniel and Jerald Davis about her recruiting and much more. “Brianna McDaniel looks like Chicago's next basketball star” they write.
Coaching Stories and News
“Chuck Schwarz, ‘the kind of guy you wanted to run through a wall for,’ crafted winners from St. Laurence to Lewis” writes Tony Baranek for the Daily Southtown.
Caprice Smith — a former Trinity and DePaul University player, and Montini and Morton College assistant coach — has taken a video coordinator position with DePaul. Kaleb Carter has the story for Illinois-Basketball.com.
COVID-19 Updates and News
The Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic will not be played this year, the event announced on Twitter.
“Mask up to tip off? Contact days show upcoming boys basketball season can be played as scheduled with precautions in place.” from Pat Disabato with the Daily Southtown.
“DuPage County judge denies parents a temporary restraining order against IHSA’s Return to Play guidelines” via Michael O’Brien with the Sun-Times.
“Judge Denies DuPage County Parents’ Request for Temporary Restraining Order Against IHSA” writes Joe Stevenson for My Suburban Life.
Illinois Players in the Pros
Six former Illinois prep players are in the NBA Finals, as Burgess noted on Twitter: Anthony Davis, Talen Horton-Tucker, JaVale McGee, Kendrick Nunn, Meyers Leonard, Andre Igoudala.
St. Rita alum Charles Matthews “ready for NBA journey: 'I'm back'“ writes Josh Henschke for 247 Sports.
“What Fred VanVleet can learn from other small, successful guards” via Yasmin Duale at Basketball News.
Illinois Players in College
A first look at DJ Steward’s Duke jersey shows “Equality” written below the number.
Other Stories and News
“Althoff seniors wanted to address COVID-19 doldrums. They went retro for a solution” writes Dean Criddle for the Belleville News-Democrat. This story about a backyard basketball league started to cure COVID boredom is one you should read today.
“Students anxious with 'pride' as Heyworth ready to unveil new gymnasium” reports Jim Benson for The Pantagraph.
“Has the time come for a high school shot clock in Illinois?” from Dave Reynolds at the Journal Star.
