Illinois HS Basketball News: Issue 26
Week of December 13, 2020
Another week without high school basketball.
It seemed to get to a lot of people this week, as I saw tweet after tweet from coaches talking about how they would have been starting the conference season or getting ready for holiday tournaments.
The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association offered a nice distraction with its 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees. Seeing all the great players, coaches and teams definitely gave us a dose of nostalgia.
We also saw a huge number of commitments this week, and we’re all still getting our basketball fix via the college game.
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!
IBCA 2021 Hall of Inductees
The IBCA inducted 96 individuals and 11 teams to its Hall of Fame. It also gave three individuals and three organizations its annual awards. Publications around the state wrote stories on inductees from their area. I’ve done my best to compile all those stories here.
“Peoria area well-represented in IBCA Hall of Fame's Class of 2021.” (Wes Huett, Journal Star)
Commitments
Bartlett 2022 shooting guard Kenzie Hare committed to St. Louis and Kaleb Carter wrote about her commitment for Illinois-Basketball.com. Paul Johnson also wrote about Hare for the Aurora Beacon-News, as did John Lemon for the Daily Herald.
Brother Rice 2021 power forward Luke Moustakas committed to Northwest Missouri State, the defending D2 national champs (2019).
Metamora 2021 center Alana Terry committed to D2 Lewis.
Riverton 2021 wing Dayton Durham committed to NAIA Governors State.
MacArthur 2021 wing Nick Spannaus committed to NAIA Culver-Stockton in Missouri.
Prairie Central 2021 guard Trey Bazzell committed to D3 Illinois Wesleyan.
Lake Forest Academy 2021 big man Jake Wolf committed to D3 Washington University in St. Louis.
Washington 2021 wing Tyler Bass committed to D3 Loras in Iowa.
St. Ignatius 2021 small forward Leah Poorman committed to D3 Middlebury College in Vermont.
Proviso West 2021 guard Josylin Doxie committed to Morton College.
Maine West 2021 guard Brianna Hernandez committed to Morton College.
West Aurora 2021 guard Jalyssa Carrasco committed to Morton College.
I wrote about Wheeling 2021 wing Jaden Terrell committing to D2 Davenport after having two D1 offers pulled due to the extra eligibility granted to current players.
“Thornton’s Brandon Hall says ‘it’s all about confidence,’ improves shot before committing to East Tennessee St.” (Steve Millar, Daily Southtown). Kaleb Carter also wrote about Hall’s commitment to ETSU in November for Illinois-Basketball.com.
“Not even a derecho could stop Neuqua Valley’s Jada Devine from committing to Kirkwood Community College.” (Matt Le Cren, Naperville Sun)
“Lake Forest senior guard Molly Fisher overcomes odds with big shots, finds a college basketball home” at Denison in Ohio. (Bob Narang, Lake County News-Sun)
List of 2021 girls college commitments and 2021 boys college commitments.
Transfer News
Zion-Benton 2021 wing Amar Augillard transferred to Victory Rock Prep in Florida. He holds D1 offers from WIU, Green Bay, Grambling State and Chicago State.
Springfield 2021 shooting guard Tyvin Garrison transferred to Feltrim Prep in Florida. He's got D3 offers from Augustana and Iowa Wesleyan.
Curie 2023 forward Mykell Lindsey is transferring to Bella Vista Prep in Arizona.
O’Fallon transfer Shaun Riley shattered a backboard in Louisiana.
List of Illinois high school basketball players to transfer out of state
Boys Recruiting News
Former Thornton 2021 wing Donald Coats (transferred to Warren Central in Indiana) received an offer from D2 UW-Parkside.
Former Bolingbrook 2021 shooting guard Isaiah Stafford (transferred to Crispus Attucks in Indiana) received an offer from D2 Southern Indiana. He also windmilled in a game.
Former Springfield 2021 shooting guard Tyvin Garrison received an offer from Augustana.
Springfield 2021 point guard Shane Miller received an offer from Augustana.
Perspectives 2021 wing Jabari Scuefield received an offer from Central College.
Joe Henricksen wrote for the Sun-Times about how A.J. Casey’s lost junior season, lost holiday tournaments, Downers Grove North’s Jack Mielke committing, former Kankakee wing AJ Storr’s rising stock and more.
Casey also did a video interview with Zach Schumaker about transferring to Whitney Young, recruiting and more.
“Neuqua Valley’s Connor Davis considers offer from Quincy University in men’s basketball but keeps options open.” (Patrick McGavin, Naperville Sun).
“Round Lake senior guard Hakim Williams is a Division I prospect with no scholarship offers. His coaches ‘can’t figure it out.’” (Narang, Lake County News-Sun)
247’s Eric Bossi talked to former Kankakee wing AJ Storr about his slew of offers after transferring out west. He also windmilled in a game.
Kenwood 2023 power forward JJ Taylor moved up to the No. 6 overall player nationally in ESPN’s latest rankings. He’s the only player from Illinois in the top 25.
Girls Recruiting News
Lake Park 2022 guard Sara Balli received an offer from D2 Ouachita Baptist (Arkansas).
Coaching Stories and News
Hersey alumni Brian Gregory is on the cusp of 300 career collegiate wins. (Martorano, Journal & Topics)
“College basketball notes: Plano’s Brad Korn in first lead role at Southeast Missouri State, which gets win over Jake Wolfe and Lipscomb.” (Rick Armstrong, Aurora Beacon-News)
“Wally Keller, educator and coach, who established a legacy at Wethersfield High School and at his second home in Charlotte County, Florida, has been invited to attend his namesake tournament during Thanksgiving week 2021.” (Troy Taylor, Star Courier)
Her Chi Culture interviewed Hyde Park girls coach Corey Morgan.
Illinois Players in the Pros
St. Rita graduate Ed Streit is the strength and conditioning coach for the 2020 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. (Tim O’Brien, Beverly Review)
“Daniel Poneman’s path from teenage basketball guru to NBA agent.” The Evanston graduate’s story in The Athletic.
Illinois Players in College
Missouri senior and Edwardsville grad Mark Smith was named SEC player of the week. (The Intelligencer)
“Morgan Park’s Charlie Moore ready to put DePaul back on the national map in men’s basketball with more wins, more fun.” (Pat Disabato, Daily Southtown)
Henricksen wrote for the Sun-Times about how DJ Steward (Whitney Young to Duke), Adam Miller (Morgan Park to Illinois), Konner Cochera (Saint Viator to William & Mary) and Marcus Watson (Morgan Park to Western Illinois) are doing to start their freshmen years.
Belleville West graduate EJ Liddell will be out at Ohio State indefinitely with a non-COVID illness.
The Journal & Topics’ Dion Martorano compiled a list of 150 area athletes playing college basketball. He also wrote about highlights from area athletes, including Maine West’s Alisa Fallon (Army), Maine West’s Angela Dugalic (Oregon), Rolling Meadows’ Kyra Spiwak (Providence) St. Viator’ Trey Calvin (Wright State), Niles Notre Dame’s Anthony D’Avanzo (SIU) and Stevenson’s Justin Smith (Arkansas).
Lake Park West graduate Darrione Rogers was named Big East Freshman of the Week.
NIU guards Paulina Castro (Harvest Christian) and Janae Poisson (Marian Catholic) are finally healthy and contributing in big ways. (Patricia Babcock McGraw, Daily Herald)
Mother McAuley alumni Tara O’Malley added to roster as walk-on for Illini hoops. (O’Brien, Beverly Review)
“A postseason hero for Geneva, Stephanie Hart finds a new role as a versatile guard for Lewis women’s basketball: ‘She’s going to be the glue for us.’” (Steve Millar, Daily Southtown)
“When she’s not playing basketball at Illinois Wesleyan, Tinley Park’s Emily Kleffman crochets for charity: ‘Be the change you want to see.’” (Millar, Daily Southtown)
“Jacobs’ Jaden Henderson plays pickup games against pro players before heading to Elgin Community College: ‘It’s all a shock.’” (Paul Johnson, Aurora Beacon-News)
Nimari Burnett, who won a state championship with Morgan Park before transferring out of state, had a big and-one dunk for Texas Tech.
A list of all D1 men’s basketball players from Illinois.
A list of all D1 women’s basketball players from Illinois.
Other Stories and News
An important Chicago hoops story: “A case of disappearing hoops in gentrifying neighborhoods: In the last decade the Chicago Park District has removed 12 of 16 basketball courts from neighborhoods that have doubled and tripled in value, further marginalizing communities facing displacement.” (Alison Saldanha, Chicago Reader)
The Sun-Times’ Michael O’Brien is re-watching one classic game per week. Week 1 was 1995’s Thornton vs. Farragut, featuring Kevin Garnett, Ronnie Fields, Tai Streets and Melvin Ely.
The Beverly Review caught up with Marist senior and Iowa commit Sydney Affolter. She talked about her commitment, the paused season, Christmas favorites and more.
How Grace Christian AD Jeff Cross balances time with career as NCAA women's basketball official. (Mason Schweizer, Daily Journal)
Monticello’s new gymnasium was named for Arthur “Buz” Sievers. He has long-standing ties to the community and the boys basketball program. (Matt Daniels, News-Gazette)
“'Not being able to attend games right now is a hole that I can't plug': Basketball-crazy village of Newark missing its signature sport.” (Bill Lidinsky, Kendall County Now)
The State Farm Holiday Classic may be cancelled, but in its place is something great: “The Classic Can Drive has been established to collect canned goods, non-perishable items and even cash for donation to the Midwest Food Bank in Bloomington-Normal.” Learn more in Randy Kindred’s story for The Pantagraph.
