SUMMER PREVIEW ISSUE RELEASED

Monday July 6, 2009 - Ill. Hoops has released its summer preview issue. The issue features Illinios Wolves star Jacob Williams. It also includes a profile of Ryan Boatright, a column by Taylor Bell, Q&As with Illinois Warriors coach Larry Butler and former Southern Illinois guard Bryan Mullins, scouting analysis by Joe Henricksen, Roy and Harv Schmidt and Van Coleman, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.<

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL 3A ISSUE

Friday May 22, 2009 - Marshall's Darius Smith is featured as Ill. Hoops' Class 3A Player of the Year in our latest issue. The issue also includes three all-state teams. The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL 4A ISSUE

Tuesday May 12, 2009 - Waukegan's Jereme Richmond is featured as Ill. Hoops' Class 4A Player of the Year in our latest issue. The issue also includes three all-state teams and a Taylor Bell column. The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL 1A ISSUE

Tuesday May 12, 2009 - Macon Meridian's Dakota Getz is featured as Ill. Hoops' Class 1A Player of the Year in our latest issue. The issue also includes three all-state teams and a Taylor Bell column. The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL 2A ISSUE

Thursday April 30, 2009 - Seton's D.J. Cooper is featured as Ill. Hoops' Class 2A Player of the Year in our latest issue. The issue also includes three all-state teams and a Taylor Bell column. The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES 3A-4A STATE TOURNAMENT ISSUE

Wednesday April 8, 2009 - The Class 3A and 4A state tournaments are featured in the newest issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue includes a Taylor Bell column, features, photos and complete coverage of the tournaments.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES 1A-2A STATE TOURNAMENT ISSUE

Thursday March 19, 2009 - The Class 1A and 2A state tournaments are featured in the newest issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue includes a Taylor Bell column, features, photos and complete coverage of the tournaments.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

BREESE CENTRAL'S GARRETT GAFFNER AND DAVID WIEGMANN FEATURED IN THE NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Tuesday March 3, 2009 - Breese Central's Garrett Gaffner and David Wiegmann are featured in the newest issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue also includes a column by Taylor Bell, feature on Columbia's Brad Buettner, a Q&A with Rock Falls' Tevin Rumley, a story on Hales Franciscan's regional championship, polls, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

MARSHALL'S LUCAS AND LOGAN EITEL FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Wednesday February 25, 2009 - Marshall's Lucas and Logan Eitel are featured in the newest issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue also includes features on Altamont's Kieffer McCarron and Landon Duckwitz and Neuqua Valley's Dwayne Evans, a column by Taylor Bell, photos, polls and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

HONONEGAH'S DAVID BROWN FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Wednesday February 18, 2009 - Hononegah's David Brown is featured in the newest issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue also includes features on Aurora Central Catholic's Anthony Kelley and Evergreen Park's Anthony Welch, a Q&A with Macon Meridian's Trent Swigert, a look at under-the-radar teams by Jack Gleason, a column by Taylor Bell, polls and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

WINNEBAGO'S CHAS CROSS FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Thursday January 29, 2009 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Winnebago star junior Chas Cross. It also includes a feature on the University of Illinois' recruiting, a Q&A with Illinois assistant coach Jerrance Howard, a Taylor Bell column, a feature on Proviso West's Robert Covington, polls, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT ISSUE RELEASED

Sunday January 18, 2009 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features everything you need to know about the holiday tournament season from the winners to the best tournaments to the best performances. It also includes a column by Taylor Bell, a feature of Schaumburg's Cully Payne, a profile of former Lovington star Chas McFarland, a Q&A with Scout.com's Evan Daniels, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

SENECA'S SETH EVANS FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Wednesday December 24, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features a cover story on Seneca's Seth Evans. It also includes a Taylor Bell column, a story on North Chicago's DeShawn Chambliss and Keith Ford, a feature on D.J. Richardson, a look at Robinson's Meyers Leonard, a Q&A with North Lawndale's Jermaine Winfield, a look back at the 2002 high school class, a profile of Marquette's Maurice Acker and Jerel McNeal, polls, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

FOUR SEASON PREVIEW ISSUES RELEASED FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Monday December 1, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A season preview issues. They're all available for free download by clicking on "E-MAGAZINES." The issues include profiles of all the top teams, all-state candidates, Taylor Bell columns, Q&As with top coaches, recruiting analysts and players, features, photos and more.

For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

DWYANE WADE FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Saturday September 20, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features NBA star and Illinois prep product Dwyane Wade. It also includes a column by Taylor Bell, features on Curie's Wayne Blackshear and Whitney Young's Marcus Jordan, a Q&A with Richards' Shaun Pratl, a Q&A with City/Suburban Hoops Report's Joe Henricksen, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILLINOIS SPOT-LITE FALL SHOOTOUT NEARING

Friday August 29, 2008 - Illinois Spot-Lite will host its fall shootout on Sunday, Sept. 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Plainfield Central High School. Many of the top sophomores, juniors and seniors in the state are expected to attend. For any high school players interested in participating in the event, contact shootout director Larry Butler at 708-574-2457. The fee is $35 and will include a jersey.

BERTRAND FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Wednesday August 6, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Sterling senior and Illinois Wolves guard Joseph Bertrand. It also includes a column by Taylor Bell, features on Glenbrook North's Alex Dragicevich, North Lawndale's Paul Bunch and Simeon's Brandon Spearman, future stars Rock Island's Chasson Randle and Lake Forest Academy's Angus Brandt, pictures from the IBCA all-star games and End to End's Danny Hazan's favorite high school basketball memory.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES 4 SEASON-ENDING ISSUES

Wednesday April 30, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released four season-ending issues -- one for each class. Each issues features a player of the year, a profile of the rest of the first-team players, second and third all-state teams, columns, photos and more.

The issues are only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

MERRILLVILLE SHOWCASES APPROACHING

Tuesday April 8, 2008 - The Great Lakes Region “Rock Toss” Showcase will held in Merrillville, Indiana from May 16-18. The Lake Look Showcase will also be in Merrillville from July 25-27. The showcases are open to both boys and girls ages 14-19. To register, contact Tony Czapla or Ben Porter at 219-476-7740.

CLASS 3A & 4A STATE TOURNAMENT ISSUE RELEASED

Friday March 21, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 3A & 4A state tournament issue. The issue features two covers -- Marshall's 3A championship and Richards' 4A title. The issue also includes a Taylor Bell column, features, photos and more from the state tournament weekend.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

CLASS 1A & 2A STATE TOURNAMENT ISSUE RELEASED

Thursday March 13, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 1A & 2A state tournament issue. The issue features two covers -- St. Anne's Class 1A championship and North Lawndale's 2A title. The issue also includes a Taylor Bell column, features, photos and more from the state tournament weekend.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday March 4, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features one of the biggest upsets of the playoffs as Mount Carmel defeated Farragut in the Class 4A regionals. The issue includes a column by Taylor Bell, a profile of Riverside-Brookfield's Chris Parrish, a journal by Decatur Eisenhower's Lewis Jackson and Jeremy Robinson, analysis by Jack Gleason, the top 16 playoff performances, a Q&A with Eisenhower coach Jeremy Moore, photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

NEW ISSUE AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Monday February 18, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue and it available for free download. The issue features Madison's Cornelius Chatt. It also includes a column by Taylor Bell, a Q&A with Centennial's James Kinney, a coach corner with Macon Meridian coach Jack Blickensderfer, analysis by Danny Schwab, profiles of New Trier's Tim McCrary, Englewood's DeMarkus Isom-Jones and Byron's Travis Bond, journals by Winnebago's Heath Hoffman and Decatur Eisenhower's Lewis Jackson and Jeremy Robinson, pictures of the Riverton Shootout, polls and more.

or anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

LINCOLN PARK'S MONTGOMERY FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Sunday February 3, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Lincoln Park's Jeremy Montgomery on the cover and includes a column by Taylor Bell, profiles of Thornton's Jay Parker, Mt. Zion's Mark Yelovich, Hononegah's David Brown, Zion-Benton's Lenzelle Smith and Glenbrook South's Jack Cooley, journals by Decatur Eisenhower's Lewis Jackson and Jeremy Robinson and Oak Park's Iman Shumpert, photos, polls and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

DRISCOLL'S JAKE LINDFORS FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Thursday January 24, 2008 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Driscoll's Jake Lindfors on the cover and includes a column by Taylor Bell, Q&As with Boylan coach Steve Goers and Chicago Washington junior Michael Haynes, a profile on Brother Rice's Mike Kennedy, polls, plenty of pictures and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

PINCKNEYVILLE'S KYLE CASSITY FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Friday December 21, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Pinckneyville's Kyle Cassity on the cover and includes a column by Taylor Bell, Q&As with St. Joseph coach Gene Pingatore, New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas and Gurnee Warren's Brandon Paul, a feature on high school basketball shootouts, polls for all classes, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. For anyone interested in subscribing to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more information. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all past issues of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL SEASON PREVIEW ISSUE FOR FREE

Tuesday November 27, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 1A season-preview issue. It is available for free download. The issue includes a column by Taylor Bell, three pre-season all-state teams, a player of the year front-runner, in-depth stories on the top five teams in Class 1A and plenty of other info about the next 20 or so teams.

For those interested in receiving Ill. Hoops throughout the season or looking for a great holiday gift, a year's subscription to the e-magazine is only $20. The subscription includes more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. We've released more than 75 issues over the past three seasons.<

3A PREVIEW ISSUE AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Tuesday November 27, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 3A season-preview issue. It is available for free download. The issue includes a column by Taylor Bell, three pre-season all-state teams, a player of the year front-runner, in-depth stories on the top five teams in Class 1A and plenty of other info about the next 20 or so teams.

For those interested in receiving Ill. Hoops throughout the season or looking for a great holiday gift, a year's subscription to the e-magazine is only $20. The subscription includes more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. We've released more than 75 issues over the past three seasons.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES 1A PREVIEW FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Sunday November 25, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 1A season-preview issue. It is available for free download. The issue includes a column by Taylor Bell, three pre-season all-state teams, a player of the year front-runner, in-depth stories on the top five teams in Class 1A and plenty of other info about the next 20 or so teams.

For those interested in receiving Ill. Hoops throughout the season or looking for a great holiday gift, a year's subscription to the e-magazine is only $20. The subscription includes more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. We've released more than 75 issues over the past three seasons.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES 2A PREVIEW FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Wednesday November 21, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class 2A season-preview issue. It is available for free download. The issue includes a column by Taylor Bell, three pre-season all-state teams, a player of the year front-runner, in-depth stories on the top five teams in Class 2A and plenty of other info about the next 20 or so teams.

For those interested in receiving Ill. Hoops throughout the season or looking for a great holiday gift, a year's subscription to the e-magazine is only $20. The subscription includes more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. We've released more than 75 issues over the past three seasons.

DILLARD FEATURED IN OCTOBER ISSUE

Wednesday October 17, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its newest issue. The issue features Homewood-Flossmore point guard Kevin Dillard. It also includes an update on Josh Crittle, recruiting news on Donovan Foster, a Q&A with Xavier Humphrey, an in-depth story about player rankings, a column by Scott Phillips and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

LEWIS JACKSON, JEREMY ROBINSON FEATURED THIS MONTH

Tuesday September 4, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its newest issue. The issue features Decatur Eisenhower's Lewis Jackson and Jeremy Robinson. It also includes a column by Taylor Bell, Bill Liesse's favorite high school basketball memories, a shout out by Batavia's Nick Fruendt and the opening of Tim Grover's new gym in Chicago.
The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE IN RISING STARS FALL LEAGUE

Wednesday August 29, 2007 - The Rising Stars Fall Basketball Exposure League is still accepting signups. The league begins play on Sept. 9 and runs through October for 9th-12th graders at the JG Center in Deerfield. The league will feature 40-minute games with equal playing time, uniforms, IHSA referees, weekly recaps, individual player evaluations and more. The cost is $300 per player. For more information or to sign up, go to www.joyofthegame.com or call 847-498-6646.

ILLINOIS WOLVES-IBA FALL SHOWCASE LEAGUE BEGINS NEXT MONTH

Wednesday August 15, 2007 - The Illinois Wolves and IBA Fall Showcase League is now signing up players. The league begins on Sept. 16 and runs until the end of Octobers at the Illinois Basketball Academy in Naperville. Eighty players will be accepted in the three divisions (junior high, frosh/soph and junior/senior). Each day of play will consist of an hour and 30 minutes of instruction followed by two games. Each player will receive a reversible jersey and get equal playing time, and no team will have more than 10 players. The league costs $250 per person. Payment can be sent to the Illinois Basketball Academy, P.O. Box 2045, Naperville, IL 60567-2045. Contact Craig Veselik at 630-637-4667 or e-mail him at IBA4Hoops@yahoo.com with any questions.

PROVISO WEST TOURNEY ANNOUNCES TICKET POLICY CHANGE

Monday August 6, 2007 - (Proviso West media release) The Proviso West Holiday Tournament will offer reserved seating for the first time in the 47-year history of the event, as the Proviso West Sports Arena will have stadium style seating in the lower levels. The full lower level seat backs are a one-of-a-kind state of the art improvement not seen at any other on-campus high school facility in the Chicagoland area. Fans will welcome the change from the original 49-year old bleachers which lacked a great deal of comfort for those loyalists who would stay for a full day’s action at the Tournament. With the advent of the new seats, a reserved seating season ticket package where fans can select their own reserved seat location, will become a new option which will be offered.

A season ticket book can be purchased at a price of $50 which is good for all 28 games of the tournament. The season ticket book contains individual session tickets and allows a reserved downstairs seating location for all games. Advanced season ticket book sales can be purchased in the Proviso West Business Office, starting on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 through Thursday, December 20, 2007 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Season ticket books can also be purchased on-line from Tuesday, November 13 through Thursday, December 20 through the official website of the Holiday Tournament at www.pwhoops.com.

Single session tickets can only be purchased during the session that is being played on the day of the game. There are no single game or single session advanced ticket sales. Individual tickets are priced at $12 (downstairs seating) and $10 (upstairs access) per session during the first round and for all championship rounds. All non-championship session tickets are priced at $8 for four games in those sessions. Individual game sessions are not available for advanced purchase.

NICK FRUENDT FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Wednesday August 1, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its newest issue. The issue features Batavia's Nick Fruendt. It also includes profiles Niles West's Nik Garcia, West Carroll's Chris Anderson and East Aurora's Ryan Boatright, books reviews and an in-depth story on recruiting.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

SHUMPERT FEATURED IN FREE ILL. HOOPS ISSUE

Monday June 11, 2007 - Oak Park-River Forest star Iman Shumpert is featured in this month's Ill. Hoops issue, which is available for free download. The issue also includes Q&As with soon-to-be lottery pick Julian Wright and Cully Payne, profiles of Kaleb Wright, Joseph Bertrand, Diamond Taylor and Chancellor Carter, a workout plan by Mike Procopio, a diary by Nick Fruendt, an early look at the top high school teams for next season, player updates and more.

If you like what you see, a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

SEASON-ENDING CLASS AA ISSUE RELEASED

Monday May 14, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its season-ending Class A issue. The issue features Ill. Hoops Class AA Player of the Year Derrick Rose of Simeon. It also includes profiles of all five first-team selections along with the second, third, fourth and honorable all-state teams.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

SEASON-ENDING CLASS A ISSUE RELEASED

Thursday May 3, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its season-ending Class A issue. The issue features Ill. Hoops Class A Player of the Year Carlton Fay of Putnam County. It also includes profiles of all five first-team selections along with the second, third, fourth and honorable all-state teams.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

FLASH'S SPRING HOOPS REVIEW UPCOMING

Tuesday April 10, 2007 - Bill "Flash" Flanagan will hold his annual Flash's Spring Hoops Review at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center in Bloomington on April 29. Regristration begins at 10 a.m. and games start at noon. For more information, go to Flash's new Web site www.flashshoops.com.

MIDWEST UNSIGNED PROSPECT SHOWCASE APPROACHING

Friday March 30, 2007 - The Midwest Unsigned Prospect Exposure Showcase will be held Decatur Indoor Sports Center on April 14. The showcase is for all underclassmen and unsigned seniors looking for exposure. It is expected to include players from throughout the Midwest. More than 50 colleges from Division II and III, NAIA and junior college are also expected to be in attendance. In addition, 200 more schools will receive an evaluation report from the event.

Pre-registration runs until April 7 and costs $75.00. After then, the fee is $85. There are limited spots, and walk-up spots will be minimal. Checks/money orders can be sent to Orlandus Thomas/Mixers Basketball, 1010 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL 60622. Any questions can be e-mailed to coachthomas@comcast.net.

CLASS AA STATE ISSUE RELEASED

Tuesday March 20, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its Class AA state tournament issue. The issue features stories on Simeon's historic championship, profiles on Stevenson's Jong Lee and O'Fallon's Mike Malat, a look at the stars of the state tournament, a column by Jack Gleason, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

CLASS A STATE ISSUE RELEASED

Tuesday March 13, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has relased its Class A state tournament issue. The issue, which is 35 pages, includes stories on Maroa-Forsyth's Robert Kreps and Ben Cochran, Farmington's Matt Goedeke and Josh Watznauer, Teutopolis coach Ken Crawford, North Lawndale's DeAntwan Jackson and Brad Birton, Brown County's Josh Babb, a Q&A with Class A historian Jeff Lampe, a Class AA column by Jack Gleason, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Subscribers also have access to all of Ill. Hoops' past issues. For more information, click on SUBSCRIBE.

CLASS AA SUPER-SECTIONAL BREAKDOWN

Monday March 12, 2007 - Sixteen teams head to Class AA super-sectional sites this week to determine which teams will travel to Peoria for the weekend. As always, it’s a diverse group. We’ve got teams we knew would be there. And then we have teams that we wonder, “Well, how did they do that?”

So let’s look at some interesting facts about these teams. Who was ranked? Who wasn’t? Who had the most big wins? Who did these teams lose to?

The Sweet 16 qualifiers have a composite win-loss record of 401-76, a winning percentage of 84%. Seven of the teams finished among the top 16 in the state’s final AP Poll. Four more were included among the 11 teams named in the honorable mention supplement. That leaves five teams unnamed as among the best at season’s end.

Three super-sectional games feature rematches of regular-season games. One, the match up between North Suburban-Lake Conference rivals Warren and Stevenson, will be their third meeting with Warren victorious in the previous two, 46-34 and 51-50. Simeon and St. Joseph will play a rematch of Simeon’s 74-66 win at Northwestern University a month ago, and Hillcrest will try to reverse a 71-60 loss at Thornton in January.

Each of the teams has played at least one game against another Sweet 16 representative with the exception of Decatur Eisenhower and Glenbard West. Four teams have played at least three games against the others. Of these, Simeon has played five of the teams, defeating Thornton, Warren, Lockport, Marshall and St. Joseph. Warren is 3-1 with wins against Stevenson twice and Evanston and a loss to Simeon. Thornton is 2-2, beating Hillcrest and Evanston while losing to Simeon and Conant. Evanston is 0-3 with losses to Thornton, St. Joseph and Warren.

Here’s how each stacked up during the year with their final ranking, record, losses and big wins to look back on when that extra jolt of confidence is needed.

Simeon (#1, 29-2) -- Losses to Farragut, and Rice (Ny.). Simeon played 11 of its games against the season-ending ranked teams and in almost every instance dominated. Its biggest win came in January over then No. 1 nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy (Va.). Two late-season lopsided victories over Farragut avenged the holiday tournament upset loss to the Admirals.

St. Joseph (#5, 25-4) -- Losses to Milwaukee Vincent (Wisc.), St. Patrick, Conant and Simeon. Who says that you can’t beat a team three times? St. Joe’s did just that beating neighborhood arch-rival Proviso East for Thanksgiving, Christmas and sectional titles. There are no wins bigger than those.

Warren (#7, 26-3) -- Losses to Mundelein, Simeon and Loyola. Despite a lofty ranking, Warren’s only big wins were a blowout win at Evanston and a win at New Trier. On the flip side, though, the North Suburban-Lake Conference was grossly underrated this year with strong performances by Stevenson, Zion-Benton and Mundelein, and Warren has only one blemish to show for a rugged conference schedule.

Marshall (#8, 23-6) -- Losses to Decatur Christian, Saginaw (Mich.), Farragut (twice), Von Steuben and Simeon. Even as inconsistent as Marshall was during the season, there were plenty of big wins. A 33-point thrashing of Thornwood in December and a one-point win over Proviso East were the biggest.

Lincoln (#9, 32-2) -- Both losses to East St. Louis. Lincoln defeated fellow Sweet 16 member O’Fallon, Alton and sectional finalists Rock Falls and Bloomington.

Thornton (#14, 24-5) -- Losses to Conant, Simeon, Lincoln Park, Thornton Fractional North and Thornwood. How about this team’s schedule? Wins included super-sectional opponent Hillcrest, Evanston, Thornwood twice, and Chicago Washington.

Richwoods (#15, 25-4) -- Losses to Franklin Central (Ind.), Duncansville (Tx.), Champaign Centennial and Manual. A sectional final defeat of Washington and a Pekin tournament victory over Boylan were the highlights.

Hillcrest (HM, 26-4) -- Losses to Proviso East, Proviso West, Young and Thornton. Two of these losses came during the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. A win over Thornwood and two defeats of conference opponent Richards were Hillcrest’s best performances.

Boylan (HM, 26-3) -- Losses to Washington, Richwoods, and Hononegah. Two of these losses came at the Pekin tournament. A sectional final victory over Rock Falls was Boylan’s only defeat of a season-ending ranked team. Convincing home-court wins over Young and Homewood-Flossmoor weren’t bad.

Conant (HM, 27-2) -- Losses to Schaumburg and Lake Park. Actually, notwithstanding Simeon, Conant may have been the season’s best big-game performer. Conant avenged an early-season buzzer-beater loss to Schaumburg and a short0handed loss to Lake Park with a sectional final win. Two huge wins against Thornton and St. Joseph proved that this team was for real.

Decatur Eisenhower (HM, 23-7) -- Losses to Champaign Central, Schenley (Pa.), Fort Myers (Fla.), Charlotte (Fla.), East St. Louis, Bloomington and Decatur Christian. With three December losses at the City of Palms national tournament in Florida, Eisenhower played under the radar during the second half of the season. Wins against conference opponents Bloomington, Champaign Central and Centennial were the best.

Evanston (NR, 22-8) -- Losses to Oak Park, Crane, Thornton, Von Steuben, Proviso East, New Trier, St. Joseph and Warren. Playing what was one of the strongest schedules among the Sweet 16 resulted in the most losses among them. None, however, were to a team that was not ranked at one time during the season in the Chicago area. A December home win against Lincoln Park was easily the most impressive, but two wins against New Trier were probably the biggest in Evanston’s mind.

Glenbard West (NR, 22-7) -- Losses to Glenbard North, Hinsdale Central (twice), Proviso West (twice), and Lyons (twice). There was plenty of optimism after an opening-day win over ranked Glenbard East, but a 6-6 conference record with sweeps by three teams did not bode well coming into the tournament. A second victory over Glenbard East in the sectional semi-final put this team back on track.

Lockport (NR, 21-7) -- Losses to Homewood-Flossmoor, Curie, Simeon, Lincoln-Way East, Bloom, Bolingbrook and Stagg. The loss ledger shows the inconsistency of Lockport during the season. There is nothing to show on the positive side with not a single win against a ranked team. Of course, does it matter? This is basically the same team that made a late season run last year.

O’Fallon (NR, 24-7) -- Losses to Lincoln, Alton (twice), Edwardsville, East St. Louis (twice) and Belleville East. Early season wins over Alton and East St. Louis were the top performances for O’Fallon.

Stevenson (NR, 25-5) -- Losses to Buffalo Grove, Loyola, Warren (twice) and Zion-Benton. Stevenson’s big win came over then undefeated Lake Park in the semi-finals of the Wheeling tournament, but two strong showings against Warren and a challenging North Suburban conference schedule point toward an underrated team. -- By Jack Gleason

CONANT'S MCCAMMON FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday March 6, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Conant's Geoff McCammon, one of the season's biggest surprises. It also includes profiles of Thornton's Josh Parker, Carbondale's William Cobb and Chicago Washington's Keyon Smothers, a favorite high school hoops memory by the Rockford Register Star's Emily Tropp, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs $20. That's less than $1 an issue. Issues are published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Subscribers also receive access to all of our past issues. We've put out 69 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

RIVERTON'S MIKE TISDALE FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday February 27, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features Riverton's Mike Tisdale, one of the state's top Class A players. It also includes profiles of Rock Falls' Zach House and Taft's Darrell Jones, a Q&A with Warrensburg-Latham's Zach Boyd, a column by Jack Gleason, a Q&A with Western Michigan's Donald Lawson, a final Class AA poll, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs $20. That's less than $1 an issue. Issues are published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Subscribers also receive access to all of our past issues. We've put out 68 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

NORTH LAWNDALE FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday February 20, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue features North Lawndale, one of the state's top Class A teams. It also includes a profile of Hubbard's Aaron Johnson, a diary by St Joseph's Evan Turner, a Q&A with Kent State's Chris Singletary, coverage from the City-Suburban Showdown, polls, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs $20. That's less than $1 an issue. Issues are published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Subscribers also receive access to all of our past issues. We've put out 67 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

UNSIGNED PROSPECT SHOOTOUT APPROACHING IN MARCH

Friday February 16, 2007 - The Midwest Unsigned Prospect Shootout will be held at Triton College beginning at 7 a.m. on March 18.

Th Unsigned Prospect Showcase is for all uncommitted seniors looking to find a school and for transfers looking for new schools. Over 200 players are expected from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Iowa. Over 100 college coaches from varying leavels are expected to be in attendance. In addition, 200 other schools will receive an evaulation report from the event. The report will also be includedo on www.windycitybasketball.com.

The price is $40 for anyone who signs up before March 11. The cost is $50 for late registration. There are two ways to register and pay: 1)via mail by check to Windy City Basketball, 5422 N. Kimball Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625; 2)pay online with a credit card at www.windycitybasketball.com. Question can be e-mailed to info@windycitybasketball.com.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FREE ISSUE FEATURING BILL COLE

Tuesday February 13, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue, which feature Richwoods' Bill Covle as the cover story, is available for free download by clicking on "E-MAGAZINES". The issue also includes a feature on Teutopolis' Jason Runde, analysis of Class A & AA by columnists Al Hartwig and Jack Gleason, Daily Herald writer Marty Maciaszek's favorite high school memory, coverage from the Riverton Shootout, a profile on Decatur Eisenhower's Lester Hart, polls, photos and much more.

If you like what you see, you might be interested in a year's subscription to Ill. Hoops. For more than 20 e-mag issues a year, an Ill. Hoops subscription costs only $20. That's less than $1 an issue. Issues are published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Subscribers also receive access to all of our past issues. We've put out 66 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

WINDY CITY CLASSIC DATES SET

Wednesday February 7, 2007 - The Windy City Classic Boys Basketball Tournament will be held May 11-13 at the University of Illinois-Chicago and North Park College. The tournament will include players from 7th-11th grade/13, 14, 15, 16 and 17-and-under AAU teams. Each team is guaranteed three games. Last year the tournament included more than 80 teams from Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio.

The entry fee is $350 per 15, 16 and 17-under team and $295 for 13 and 14-and-under teams. The deadline is April 1. For more information or to sign-up a team, contact Chris Head at 773-544-4295 or chris_h_60624@yahoo.com.

A SCOUTING VIEW BY MIKE PROCOPIO

Tuesday February 6, 2007 - By Mike Procopio

To be honest with you, scouting and evaluating players at the high school, college and NBA level are not too different from each other. As scouts, we are always looking for the next great one. It doesn’t matter if I am courtside at the University of North Carolina or going to Whitney Young. It’s a tough business. The only difference is if you make a wrong decision when evaluating a high school kid you waste a scholarship. At the NBA level when you make a wrong decision on a player in a draft, you can cost your franchise not only $10 million over a life in a first contract, but you could set your franchise back five years when passing on a better player.

While scouting you always tend to hear that a player is long, athletic, and my personal favorite, he has upside. I hate that word because it is such a dangerous word. If I had a dime for every time I heard that phrase, I’d be a rich man. More times than not while saying that about a certain player, they usually never make use of that upside. Players love hearing people saying that about them because it gives them hope and they can live off that statement.

What I am saying to you as a scout who’s been at every level is develop your game. Develop a skill that separates you from the pack. If it’s coming off screens, passing, a post-up game or a mid-range game, it doesn’t matter what it is because if you have athletic ability, length or size, you can add something to that to make you just that much better. It gets tiring to sit in a gym and talk to people about players and say, ‘Yeah, this freshman is going to be great. He has so much upside.’ This state is full of great coaches. While attending games I love watching the coaches of some of these teams. There’s a lot of people who develop players; there is no excuse for someone not to improve his game. There are so many people out there as far as trainers, AAU coaches, club teams and many others who love to work with players. Go out there and ask for some help. Don’t be one of those players who regrets when it’s all done what he could have been. Today more than ever, there are so many resources given to players to improve their games.

Have a skill to hang your hat on. Don’t be defined by people telling you that you have potential or upside. Go out there and work on a facet of your game to improve. Never be happy with your game. Push yourself to get better. One of the reasons I left pro scouting was at the end of the day all I would do was fill-in reports about players and their positives and negatives. I couldn’t do anything to help those players get better and get to the League. I have a passion for helping people. Never take what you have for granted. You never pay attention to how quickly your playing career is over. Take advantage of all of the tools at your fingertips.

LOYOLA ACADEMY vs FENWICK
Jeff Jordan 6’2 SR Combo Guard Loyola Jeff makes the best of his abilities without question. He’s a strong and very aggressive combo guard that is a born leader. It’s that passion he takes with him on the court that makes him a very good on the ball defender. He has good length and can score on the ball and off of it. He’s very good on pick and rolls, pulling up for jump shots and as well setting up teammates. He has a very good basketball IQ that makes him tough to guard. He needs to improve the consistency of his outside shot to keep defenders honest. He has a similar game to Delonte West of the Boston Celtics, a smart combo guard that can knock down shots and attack the basket.

Marcus Jordan 6’3 SO Small Forward Loyola Marcus has improved in many areas of his game over the past year. He is a jack of all trades for his team that does anything they need to get a win. He plays very hard and is very aggressive. He plays much bigger than his 6-3 height suggests. He’s always in the action going after rebounds, steals and loose balls. He has a game similar to Ron Artest, because his toughness and IQ are his best attributes. Marcus needs to improve his offense in the mid range. He needs to be able to knock down 15-foot shots either on spot ups or coming off screens. At his height, he’ll be asked to play small forward to shooting guard. If he adds that to his aggressive play, he can be an all-around threat on the court. Right now his role on his team is to be that role player that brings energy to the court. When his brother graduates after this year, his role offensively will increase for sure.

Derek Tartt 6’1 JR Combo Guard Fenwick A very pleasant surprise to find. I am very impressed with this kid’s game. He has juice off the dribble and deep range. I look on a lot of lists of players and I’m shocked this kid isn’t on any of them. He brings a lot of offensive talent to the court. Derek shows composure and can just find ways to score. He’s athletic, smooth and has good vision. He scored in so many ways vs. Loyola as far as pulling up for jumpers, transition and taking it to the basket. His length allows him to get deflections on defense and get into the lane and make plays on offense. I think someone of the Big Ten should be looking at him as secondary recruit. Game is similar to Troy Bell.

SOPHOMORE GAME
Chance Carter (Loyola) is the most high-profile young player that Loyola has. He can score on the block, is smart and can also score in the mid range. At 6-5 if he doesn’t grow anymore, he will need to play the small forward position eventually. Rob Wennington (Loyola) also shows promise. He’s big and smart. Lacks length, but his IQ really helps him a lot. A very skilled big man. For a freshman, he has plenty of time to grow. Matt Sullivan (Loyola) is a sharp-shooting small forward. Has a knock down 3-point stroke. I like his size and IQ. He’ll be a prospect in the next couple of years.

NEW TRIER vs Corliss
Peter Boehm 6’5 JR SF New Trier Peter has very good size for a wing player. Plays for a very well coached and talented New Trier team. He’s good on the wing for spot ups and taking the ball to the basket. He needs to improve his perimeter shooting to increase consistency. He has the ability to come off screens and score on the block as well. Once he hits that outside shot consistency, he could be one of the best wing players in the state.

Alex Rossi 6’5 FR SF New Trier Another talented freshman for this team. He shows a lot of skill and composure for a freshman. He can take the ball to the basket and also spot up. I like his passing and basketball IQ the best. He needs to add weight to his frame and he can be a very talented wing player. Good court vision and his length makes him a tough player to guard.
Durell Tucker 6’0 SR PG Corliss Durell is a strong hard-nosed combo guard who can score from the mid range and also drives to the basket. With good size, Tucker showed composure and toughness on the court. In my opinion, he was Corliss’ best player.

Sophomore Game
The only prospect that was in that game was New Trier’s Fred Helding. I like Helding a lot. He’s 6-7, but from the looks of it could grow a few more inches. He can run the floor, has good coordination and is very smart. He needs to get stronger and a little bit tougher, but it is very early. I like his chances because he is very far along with his game as far as touch and IQ. I think once he fills into his body and does some work and plays a lot this summer he should be one of the better players in is class if he keeps with it.
For more information on player development workouts, please visit my Web site at attackskillsclinics.com or call me at 774-229-7106.

ST. PAT'S MANISCALCO FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday February 6, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. St. Patrick's Sam Maniscalco is featured on the cover. The issue also includes profiles of Richards' Carl Richard, Macon Meridian's Travis Rosenkranz, Winnebago's Heath Hoffman, a Q&A with West Virginia's Devan Bawinkel, a diary by Robert Kreps, coverage from Loyola vs. North Central (Ind.), photos and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 65 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

WASHINGTON'S JOHNSON AND ROTH FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE

Monday January 29, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Washington's duo of Sean Johnson and Matt Roth are featured on the cover. The issue also includes a profile of Glenbrook North's Chris Stamas, a Q&A with Jon Scheyer, a diary by St. Joe's Evan Turner, a column by former scout Mike Procopio, last week's meeting between Batavia and West Aurora, polls, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 64 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

SIMEON'S WIN OVER OAK HILL FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday January 22, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue includes a cover story on Simeon's win over No. 1 Oak Hill, a profile of Von Steuben's Mike Di Nunno, a column about the East-West Aurora rivalry, a former pro scout's perspective on Illinois high school hoops, recognition of Pincknevyille coach Dick Corn's 700th win, photos, polls and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 63 issues. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

ST. JOE'S TRIO FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday January 16, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue includes a cover story on Whitney Young's Dwight McCombs, a Q&A with Geneseo's Tyler Storm, a profile of undefeated Oak Lawn Richards, Lake Park upsetting Proviso West, polls, plenty of photos and much more.
The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 61 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

YOUNG'S DWIGHT MCCOMBS FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday January 8, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue includes a cover story on Whitney Young's Dwight McCombs, a Q&A with Geneseo's Tyler Storm, a profile of undefeated Oak Lawn Richards, Lake Park upsetting Proviso West, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 61 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT ISSUE RELEASED

Wednesday January 3, 2007 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The issue is packed with two weeks of holiday tournament coverage. From the top teams to the top players to top games, the issue has it all from throughout the state.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 60 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.> The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 59 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ILL. HOOPS

Monday December 25, 2006 - Ill. Hoops would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays! See you back on the hardwood soon.

MICHAEL THOMPSON FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday December 18, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Lincoln Park's Michael "Juice" Thompson is featured on this week's cover. The issue also includes a preview of the holiday tournaments, coverage of North Lawndale's upset over Crane and St. Pat's upset over St. Joe's, photos from the Shootout at the Hall, Class A and AA polls, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 59 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.<

ILL. HOOPS OFFERING NEW ISSUE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Monday December 11, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue and is offering it for free download. Just click on "E-MAGAZINES" to get to it. The issue features West Frankfort's Isiah Simelton, Proviso East's Nathan Fuqua, the Macon County Tournament, Decatur Eisenhower's Jeremy Robinson, Maroa-Forysth's Robert Kreps, coverage from games throughout the state, a Q&A with a few of the nation's top scouts, plenty of photos and much more.

Ill. Hoops is the perfect holiday gift. Ayear's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 58 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

SENECA'S GRIFFAN CALLAHAN FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday December 4, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Seneca senior Griffan Callahan is featured on this week's cover. The issue also includes a profile of North Shore freshman and Illini recruit Jereme Richmond, a Q&A with Butler's Willie Veasley, Class A & AA polls, individual highlights from the week, Crane vs. Senn, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 57 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops is also offering a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

A GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT: ILL. HOOPS SEASON-PREVIEW ISSUE

Sunday November 26, 2006 - This season Ill. Hoops for the first time is offering a hard copy of our season-preview issue. For $10, which includes shipping and handling, you'll receive 80 pages of the most complete preview of Class A & AA basketball. Aside from pre-season all-state teams and capsules of the top 25 teams, the issue includes features on Bloomington Central Catholic's Brandon Dunson, Glenbard East's Mike Cappoci, Peoria Notre Dame's Josh Edmonds and Warrensburg-Latham's Dillon Binkley, Q&As with Putnam County's Carlton Fay, Simeon coach Rob Smith and Pinckneyville coach Dick Corn and diaries by Maroa-Forsyth's Robert Kreps, St. Joe's Demetri McCamey and Evan Turner, Lincoln Park's Michael Thompson and Nashville's Lucas O'Rear.

While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending cash, check or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

CLASS AA SEASON PREVIEW ISSUE RELEASED

Wednesday November 22, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class A season-preview issue, which features pre-season No. 1 Simeon. The issue includes a class-expansion column by hoops historian Taylor Bell, pre-season all-state teams, profiles of the top 25 teams, diaries by Demetri McCamey, Michael Thompson and Evan Turner, a feature on Peoria Notre Dame's Josh Edmonds, a column by Jordan Wilson, photos and much more. The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 55 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops will also offer a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

CLASS A SEASON PREVIEW ISSUE RELEASED

Tuesday November 21, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class A season-preview issue, which features pre-season No. 1 Pinckneyville. The issue includes a class-expansion column by hoops historian Taylor Bell, pre-season all-state teams, profiles of the top 25 teams, a diary by Maroa-Forsyth's Robert Kreps, a Q&A with Pinckneyville coach Dick Corn, a feature on Warrensburg-Latham's Dillon Binkley, a column by Jordan Wilson, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 54 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

This season Ill. Hoops will also offer a hard copy of a combined Class A & AA season-preview issue. The issue, which costs $10, contains 80 pages of pre-season rankings, all-state teams, features, diaries, columns, Q&As, photos and more. While Ill. Hoops will be at select locations selling the issue over the next few weeks, it is otherwise only available by sending in a check, cash or money order to Ill. Hoops, P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631. Be sure to include your address.

CHICAGO PREP CLASSIC BEGINS ON FRIDAY

Thursday November 9, 2006 - Below are the brackets and schedule of games. All games will be played at th JG Sports Center in Deerfield, Ill.

Group A
Boys To Men Academy I
Decatur Christian
Cornerstone Prep
Milestone Prep

Group B
Genesis Elite
University Park
Harmony Prep B
Laurinburg

Group C
Boys To Men Academy 2
Covenant Christian
Genesis Select
God's Academy

Group D
Christian Life Center
Sound Doctrine
Harmony Prep A
Taps
Stoneride Prep
Houston Inner City

Friday Schedule
5:00 PM A2 vs A3, B2 vs B3
6:15 PM A1 vs A4, B1 vs B4
7:30 PM C2 vs C3, D2 vs D3
8:45 PM C1 vs C4, D1 vs D4, D5 vs D6

Saturday Session I
9:00 AM A2 vs A4, D2 vs D6
10:15AM A1 vs A3, D1 vs D5
11:30AM B1 vs B3, C1 vs C3, D3 vs D4
12:15PM B2 vs B4, C2 vs C4

Saturday Session II
3:00PM D4 vs D5, A3 vs A4
4:15PM D3 vs D6, A1 vs A2
5:30PM C3 vs C4, B3 vs B4, D1 vs D2
6:45PM C1 vs C2, B1 vs B2

ILL. HOOPS CLASS A PRE-SEASON CLASS AA ALL-STATE 1ST TEAM

Wednesday November 8, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released it Class AA pre-season all-state first team:

* Bill Cole, Richwoods, senior, forward
* Tim Flowers, Simeon, senior, forward
* Demetri McCamey, St. Joseph, senior, guard
* Derrick Rose, Simeon, senior, guard
* Evan Turner, St. Joseph, senior, forward

ILL. HOOPS PRE-SEASON CLASS A ALL-STATE 1ST TEAM

Wednesday November 8, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released it Class A pre-season all-state first team:

* Carlton Fay, Putnam County, senior, forward
* Eric Hobbie, Vandalia, senior, forward
* Robert Kreps, Maroa-Forsyth, senior, guard
* Lucas O’Rear, Nashville, senior, forward
* Mike Tisdale, Riverton, senior, center

ILL. HOOPS SET TO RELEASE PRE-SEASON AWARDS, RANKINGS & ISSUES

Tuesday November 7, 2006 - Over this week and next, Ill. Hoops will be releasing its Class A and Class AA pre-season all-state teams and its top-25 team rankings. Later this month, we will then release our season-preview issues that will packed with everything you'll ever need to know to follow Illinois high school hoops this season. In addition to our e-mag issues, Ill. Hoops for the first time will be publishing a hard copy of our season-preview. The issue will include past features and Q&As in addition to everything else. Be sure to check back here to find more information throughout the season. Tomorrow, we will release our Class A pre-season all-state first team.

DUNSON FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Tuesday October 31, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue, which features Bloomington Central Catholic's Brandon Dunson, a Q&A with Batavia's Nick Fruendt, a diary by Nashville's Lucas O'Rear, Taylor Bell talkign about his new hoops book, Kane County Chronicle sports editor Jay Schwab's favorite Illinois high school memory, a column by Jordan Wilson, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 53 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES INTRODUCES HOOPS BLOG

Friday October 13, 2006 - The Chicago Sun-Times debuted its high school sports blog today at suntimes.com. With the commitment of Eric Gordon to Indiana over Illinois, it’s been a busy day for the blog and Sun-Times prep basketball beat writer Michael O’Brien. If you’re looking for the latest prep hoops info from the Chicago area, this should be a good place to visit.

2006 ILLINOIS JR. SHOWCASE NEARING

Wednesday October 4, 2006 - The 2006 Illinois Jr. Superstars Showcase will be held at Triton College on Oct. 14. The showcase will include players from 7th grade to high school sophomores. Each player is guaranteed three games. The event will also feature all-star games. For more information contact Terry Head at coachthead@aol.com.

CAPOCCI FEATURED IN NEWEST ILL. HOOPS ISSUE

Friday September 29, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue, which features Glenbard East's Mike Capocci. The e-mag issue also includes a diary by Demetri McCamey, a Q&A with Simeon coach Robert Smith, a Q&A with And 1's Tony "Go Get It" Jones, an analysis of some of the best basketball books, a profile of Oak Park's Iman Shumpert, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 52 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

FALL EXPOSURE LEAGUE STILL HAS OPENINGS

Saturday August 19, 2006 - The Joy of the Game Fall High School Exposure League is right around the corner and still has opening for players. Tryouts will be held on Sunday, Sept. 10, and the league will be begin on Sept. 17 and will run until late October at the Joy of the Game Sports Center in Deerfield.

The league is open to high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Aside from the regular-season games, playoffs and all-star game, ChicagoHoops.com will scout and provide extensive coverage of the league.

The cost of the league is $299. For more information, or to register, call (847) 498-6646, or visit joyofthegame.com.

FARRAKHAN FEATURED IN NEWEST ILL. HOOPS ISSUE

Tuesday August 15, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue, which features Thornton's Mustapha Farrakhan. The e-mag issue also includes a diary by Ceola Clark, Jeff Jordan and Michael Thompson, a Q&A with Putnam County's Carlton Fay, a diary by Riverton's Mike Tisdale, a Q&A with ABA coach Lamont Carr, an analysis of the summer basketball scene, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 51 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

SPOTS AVAILABLE IN FALL SPOT-LITE SHOOTOUT

Wednesday August 9, 2006 - The Illinois Spot-Lite Fall Shootout will be held at Planfield Central High School on Sept. 10. Teams and individuals interested in signing up should contact Larry Butler at 708-444-2609.

2006 PEP FALL CLASSIC APPROACHING

Wednesday August 9, 2006 - The 2006 PEP Fall Classic will be held on Sept. 2-3 at Riverside-Brookfield High School. The tournament will feature 16- and 17-and-under teams with pool play followed by playoffs. Each team is guaranteed at least two games. The entry fee is $200. There will be a maximum of 24 allowed in the tournament. For more information, contact tournament director Vince Carter at 312-642-4191 or 312-520-0905 or at pepdemons@aol.com.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES NEW ISSUE FEATURING NIKE CAMP

Wednesday July 12, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue, which features the Nike All-America Camp. The e-mag issue also includes a diary by Ceola Clark, Jeff Jordan and Michael Thompson, a Q&A with New York Times columnist Ira Berkow, a diary by Maroa-Forsyth's Robert Kreps, a Q&A with Scout.com's national recruiting analyst Dave Telep, an analysis of the best basketball movies ever made by film critic Patrick Z. McGavin, a feature on New York City's basketball playgrounds, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 50 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

ILL. HOOPS OFFERS SUMMER PREVIEW ISSUE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Thursday June 1, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released it summer preview and has made it available for free download. The e-mag issue include 30 pages of profiles, Q&As, diaries, photos and much, much more. Click on "E-MAGAZINES" to get to the download button for the newest issue.

If you like what you see, a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 49 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

JOY OF THE GAME TO HOLD ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN SHOWCASE

Friday April 28, 2006 - Joy of the Game will hold its Academic All-American Showcase on July 14 and 15 at the JG Center in Deerfield. The event is designed to give exposure to high acheiving academic students in the 2007 and 2008 classes. It will be a certified NCAA event and is expected to attract schools from the Ivy League, Patriot League and other high-level academic programs. The event will also include a minimum of five games and measurements of height, weight and vertical.

The fee for the showcase is $200. For more information, check out joyofthemgame.com.

SEASON-ENDING CLASS AA ISSUE RELEASED

Wednesday April 26, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its 2005-2006 final Class A issue. The issue features Glenbrook North's Jon Scheyer, the Class AA Player of the Year. It also includes profiles of all the first-team selections along with photos of the three other all-state teams. There is also coverage from the Jordan All-American Classic in New York.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 48 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

BEVERLEY CHOOSES ARKANSAS

Thursday April 20, 2006 - Patrick Beverley couldn’t stand visiting Arkansas when he was a child.
“He never wanted to go back because he thought it was too boring,” said his mother Lisa Beverley, who grew up in McGehee, Ark.

On Wednesday afternoon, Beverley decided Arkansas wasn’t that bad after all. With an Arkansas hat to his right and a Michigan-look-alike lid to his left, the Marshall senior ended his recruiting suspense.

“I’ve followed my heart and I’ve chosen to become a Razorback,” said Beverley as he picked up the Arkansas hat and placed it on his head.

For most, even those close to him, his decision wasn’t known until he announced it in Marshall’s gym. He didn’t even tell his mother until 7:30 a.m. Arkansas’ staff found out soon after the press conference. Michigan was his second phone call.

Beverley’s commitment wasn’t the only good news on the day for the 6-foot-2 guard.

To start the press conference, Marshall coach Lamont Bryant said Beverley’s No. 21 jersey would be retired by the school.

Later as Beverley was making phone calls to the colleges, he went to Rivals.com and discovered he was ranked No. 65 in the Class of 2006. The only other Illinois player ahead of him was Crane’s Sherron Collins at No. 21.

Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer, Illinois’ Mr. Basketball, was placed at No. 71.

“I’m even ahead of Jon Scheyer,” Beverley said. “It’s about time. I think I worked hard to get where I’m at. I just wanted to go out and prove to people I can play with anybody in the nation.

“This was for all the doubters out there who didn’t think I’d be a high-major player. It just made me go out and work hard every day.”

After de-committing from Toledo before the season, Beverley was out on a mission this season to prove himself. He showed he was for real by scoring 40 or more points four times in his first nine games. He closed the season by leading the Commandos to a third-place finish at state.

He averaged 34 points and six assists a game. He was named to the all-state first team and was selected to play in the recent Roundball Classic.

The final topping of his senior season was his commitment to Arkansas.

“More than anything else I take my hat off to him,” said scout Roy Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-eye. “He’s proven what the benefit of hard work can be. He went out and did what he wanted to do.” -- Scott Powers

SEASON-ENDING CLASS A ISSUE RELEASED

Friday April 14, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its 2005-2006 final Class A issue. The issue features Winnebago's Devan Bawinkel, the Class A Player of the Year. It also includes profiles of all the first-team selections along with photos of the three other all-state teams.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 47 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

ILL. HOOPS CLASS AA ALL-STATE TEAMS

Saturday April 1, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has relased it Class AA All-State teams:

First Team
Patrick Beverley, Marshall, Sr.
Joevan Catron, Thornton, Sr.
Sherron Collins, Crane, Sr.
Derrick Rose, Simeon, Jr.
Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North, Sr.

Second Team
Brian Carlwell, Proviso East, Sr.
Bill Cole, Richwoods, Jr.
Osiris Eldridge, Phillips, Sr.
Willie Veasley, Freeport, Sr.
Will Walker, Bolingbrook, Sr.

Third Team
Nick Fruendt, Batavia, So.
T.J. Marion, West Aurora, Sr.
Jonathan Peoples, St. Joseph, Sr.
Billy Rush, Thornridge, Sr.
Spencer Stewart, Edwardsville, Sr.

Fourth Team
Justin Bocot, Bloomington, Jr.
Tim Flowers, Simeon, Jr.
Mario Little, Washington, Sr.
Jeremie Simmons, Von Steuben, Sr.
Andre Walker, Homewood-Flossmoor, Sr.

ILL. HOOPS CLASS A ALL-STATE TEAMS

Saturday April 1, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class A All-State teams:

First Team
Devan Bawinkel, Winnebago, Sr.
Justin Brock, Liberty, Sr.
Garrett Callahan, Seneca, Sr.
Jerome Randle, Hales Franciscan, Sr.
Mike Tisdale, Riverton, Jr.

Second Team
Hayward Brown, North Lawndale, Sr.
Carlton Fay, Putnam County, Jr.
Eric Hobbie, Vandalia, Jr.
Lucas O'Rear, Nashville, Jr.
Austin Peebles, Maroa-Forsyth, Sr.

3rd Team
Jon Huizinga, Timothy Christian, Sr.
Robert Kreps, Maroa-Forsyth, Jr.
JaVale McGee, Hales Franciscan, Sr.
Robert Rexroade, Seneca, Sr.
Zach Thornton, Illinois Valley Central, Sr.

4th Team
Matt Buren, Macomb, So.
Zach Hawkins, Pinckneyville, Jr.
Travis Rosenkranz, Macon Meridian, Jr.
Scott Ubbenga, Hartsburg-Emden, Sr.
Dennie Whitlow, Warrensburg-Latham, Sr.

FLASH'S SPRING HOOPS REVIEW APPROACHING

Tuesday March 28, 2006 - Bill "Flash" Flanagan will host his annual Spring Hoops Review at York High School in Elmhurst on Saturday, April 15. The event is by invitation only, but for any player interested in playing should have his high school contact Flanagan at 309-693-8548.

The event will be open for college coaches to scout players. Games begin at 1 p.m. and will run the entire day. Most of the state's top players are expected to attend.

Flanagan will also host a camp at Bradley University in Peoria at noon on Sunday, May 7. Flanagan can be contacted at flashshoops@sbcglobal.net.

SIMEON'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP FEATURED IN NEWEST ILL. HOOPS' ISSUE

Tuesday March 21, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Simeon's Class AA state championship is featured as the cover story. The issue also includes West Aurora's Travis Marion, Thornwood's Trey Blue, Schaumburg's Pancratz family, Richwoods' Justin Dehm, fans Jack and Patrick Gleason, the Peoria Journal Star, Glenbrook North's Jon Scheyer, Marshall's Patrick Beverley and plenty of other coverage from the Class AA state.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 46 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES CLASS A STATE ISSUE

Tuesday March 14, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Seneca's Class A state championship is featured as the cover story. The issue also includes a profile of Pinckneyville's Thad Hawkins, Illinois Valley Central's Ryan Thornton, a diary by Winnebago's Devan Bawinkel, a Q&A with Glenbrook South's Jeff, a feature on Batavia's Rashad Mitchell and plenty of other coverage from Class A state.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 45 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

BRIAN CARLWELL FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Monday March 6, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Proviso East's Brian Carlwell is featured as the cover story. The issue also includes profiles of Washington's Mario Little, Seneca's Robert Rexroade, West Frankfort's Matt Weeks, Larkin's Dayvon Ellis and Carliss Henderson and Liberty's Justin Brock.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 44 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

NEW ILL. HOOPS' ISSUE FEATURES SIMEON'S PUBLIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday February 27, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Simeon's Public League championship win is featured on the cover. The issue also includes plenty of photos from the title game, a profile of Timothy Christian's Josh Crittle and Jonathan Huizinga, a look at Hillcrest's state-contending squad, North Lawndale's Isaiah Evans and the final Class AA poll.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 43 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

RUSH FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Tuesday February 21, 2006 - lLl. Hoops has released its newest issue. Thornridge's Billy Rush is featured on the cover. The issue also includes a profile of Maroa Forsyth's backcourt of Austin Peebles and Robert Kreps, a Q&A with former Chicago star Will Bynum, Class A & AA polls and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 42 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

MCINTOSH FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Monday February 13, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Julian's DeAngelo McIntosh, one of the state's most athletic players, is featured on the cover. The issue also includes coverage from the City-Suburban Showdown, a recap of the Riverton Shootout, a story about Decatur Eisenhower defeating Champaign Central, Class A and AA polls, a column by Jordan Wilson about Dakota's undefeated season and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 41 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

HOBBIE FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Tuesday February 7, 2006 - lll. Hoops has released its newest issue. Vandalia's Eric Hobbie, one of the state's biggest unknowns, is featured on the cover. The issue also includes a profile of undefeated Johnsburg, coverage from West Aurora at Glenbard East, a Lucas O'Rear diary, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 40 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

BOYS TO MEN FEATURED AT CHICAGO PREP CLASSIC

Thursday February 2, 2006 - Boys To Men Academy will be one of 10 teams competing in the Chicago Prep Classic at the Joy to the Game Center in Deerfield on Feb. 10-12.

Boys To Men, which is headed by former Julian coach Loren Jackson, is currently 20-7 and riding a 9-game winning streak. Its roster includes DePaul recruit and former Carbondale player Manual Cass, Bradley recruit Xavier Crawford, Thijin Moses, Jeremiah Kelly, Mac Koshwal and Marcus Relphorde.

"I feel like they're playing well, getting better everyday," Jackson said.

Moses, a 6-8 swingman, has been offered by St. John's, DePaul, Nevada and the University of California-Santa Barbara, according to Jackson. Aaron Jackson, a 6-2 guard from Baltimore, has been offered by Northern Illinois.

For more information, including the tournament schedule, check out www.joyofthemgame.com or www.btmainc.org.

EDUCATION, BASKETBALL DRAW PEOPLES TO NOTRE DAME

Tuesday January 31, 2006 - St. Joseph’s Jonathan Peoples has seen Hoops Dreams more times than he can count.

He knows from the start to finish the tale of former Chargers star William Gates, whose career never lived up to expectations after suffering a knee injury. Peoples doesn’t worry about the same happening to him, but he knows life doesn’t always go as planned.

It’s part of the reason why he has committed to play basketball next season at Notre Dame.

“My No. 1 goal is still get to the NBA,” said Peoples, a 6-4 guard. “That’s not going to change. I just know it’s a big if. I may get hurt or it just may not work out. The school’s perfect not just athletically, but academically, too. If I get my degree there, I’ll be set for life with a job.”

Peoples is averaging about 14 points, four rebounds and four assists for the 18-1 Chargers.
He visited Notre Dame over the weekend and saw the Fighting Irish play Villanova. Cincinnati, Marquette, Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Tulane and USC had also shown interest, according Peoples.

NEWEST ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS RELEASED

Monday January 30, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. The 20-page issue includes coverage from the Southern Illinois Shootout in Pinckneyville, a Q&A with Wyoming senior Justin Williams (one of the nation's top shot blockers), a profile of Phillips senior Osiris Eldridge, a Q&A with Edwardsville senior Dustin Maguire, a diary by Winnebago senior Devan Bawinkel, Class A & AA polls, plenty of pictures and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 39 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

PEOPLES FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Monday January 23, 2006 - St. Joseph's Jonathan Peoples is featured in this week's issue of Ill. Hoops. The issue also includes Illinois' James Augustine, Crane's Brandon McGee, a recap of Glenbrook South vs. Glenbrook North, plenty of photos, Class A and AA polls, more four-class opinion and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 38 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

BIG GAMES SET FOR SUNDAY'S BILLINGER MEMORIAL SHOOTOUT

Saturday January 21, 2006 - Whether you're craving some more hoops or need to get out of the house and get your mind off the NFL playoffs without the Chicago Bears, the Ronald "Chops" Billinger Memorial Shootout could be the cure on Sunday. The shootout, which is held at North Park College in Chicago, features six games with a number of big-time players and teams throughout the day.

The schedule is as follows - 12 p.m., Urbana Tigers vs. Curie Condors; 1:30 p.m.; Niles West Wolves vs. Robeson Raiders; 3 p.m., Moline Maroons vs. Farragut Admirals, 4:30 p.m., Milwaukee South Red Rockets vs. Westinghouse Warriors; 6 p.m., Evanston Wildkits vs. Lincoln Park Lions; 7:30 p.m., Hales Franciscan Spartans vs. Von Steuben Panthers.

ILL. HOOPS OFFERS NEW ISSUE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

Monday January 16, 2006 - Ill. Hoops is offering this week's issue for free download. The match-up of Class A powers Warrensburg-Latham and Hartsburg-Emdem is this week's cover story. The issue also includes a Q&A with Richwoods junior Bill Cole, reaction to the four-class expansion, coverage from the High School Hoops Showdown, the week in pictures, recap of Edwardsville topping Alton and more. Click on "E-MAGS" to find where you can download the issue.

If you like what you see, you may be interested in a year's subscription to Ill. Hoops. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive more than 20 new e-mail issues a year and also have access to all of our past issues. This was our 37th issue. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more info.

BEVERLEY FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday January 9, 2006 - There may be no one hotter than Chicago Marshall's Patrick Beverley in the state of Illinois. Beverley has been dropping 40 or more points on his opponents as if it was an easy accomplisment. After dominating the Chicago Public League Holiday Tournament last week, Beverley earned himself this week's cover story and propelled Marshall to the No. 1 spot in the state. The issue also includes a profile of Winnebago's Wes Reinke, Bolinbrook remaining undefeated, Class A and AA polls, photos and plenty more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 34 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT WRAP

Monday January 9, 2006 - The past two weeks Ill. Hoops bounced around the state to cover as many holiday tournaments as possible. From Vandalia to Forreston, we tried to experience it all. Here’s a summary of what we saw.

Most dominating performance: Glenbrook North senior Jon Scheyer solidified his legacy as one of the state’s greatest players of all-time with his performance at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament on Wednesday. He scored a tournament-record 52 points, including 21 points in a span of one minute, 15 seconds in the fourth quarter. His future college coach, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, also happened to be in the crowd.

Scheyer also had two games of 41 points. In his final game at Proviso West, he didn’t show up until halftime after spending over four hours at the hospital due to dehydration. He came in game during the third quarter and finished with six points.

Scheyer now holds the tournament records for points, field goals, 3-point baskets and free throws. His 140 points in four games this season also set a single-tournament record.

Best game (Part I): Peoria Richwoods beats Thornridge in double overtime at Pekin. The best was kept for last on the first day of the Pekin Holiday Tournament. This game started around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday and nearly ran over into Wednesday. It was well worth it for the fans who stuck around.

Richwoods held control of the game through three quarters behind the play of 6-foot-9 junior Bill Cole, who recently committed to Illinois. Cole had 18 points heading into the fourth quarter, and his team led 33-23.

Thornridge 6-5 senior Billy Rush took over the following quarter. He scored nine points, including the team’s final six points of the quarter and the game-tying basket with 4.0 seconds left with a driving layup.

Rush kept it going in overtime and dropped in Thornridge’s first five points. The Falcons built a 51-44 lead with 1:47 remaining. Richwoods fought back and tied it at 51. Thornridge’s Brean Liggett put his team ahead 53-51 with a layup with 3.1 seconds left.

Richwoods called a timeout. The ball was inbounded to Justin Dehm who dribbled up the left sideline toward half court. Just when Dehm was about to run out of room by the sideline, Liggett tripped and fell backward while guarding the ball. Dehm tripped over Liggett and a foul was called with 1.5 seconds left.

After Dehm sank his first free throw, Thornridge called a timeout to ice him. It didn’t work. Dehm returned to the court and hit the second one.

In double overtime, Richwoods opened with a 5-0 run and Thornridge never responded, losing 61-55. Cole shot 11-of-14 and finished with 26 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Rush had 26 points and four 3-pointers.

“It doesn’t get more exciting than that,” Cole said.

Best game (Part II): Dakota’s Ben Rayhorn was fading out of bounds when he shot a rainbow over the side of the backboard that fell with 2.2 seconds to give the Indians a 54-52 win over Forreston in the Forreston Holiday Tournament.

“I drove baseline and thought I drew a foul so I just put up a shot,” Rayhorn said. “But there was no whistle, so I thought that it better go in because I didn’t want to shoot that. Thank God it went in.”

Sophomore sensation: Washington’s Matt Roth displayed at Pekin why he’s considered one of the top sophomores and best shooters in the state. Roth sank 7-of-10 3-pointers against Rockford Boylan and was hot most of the tournament. He led his team to the championship game and earned the tournament MVP honors.

Expect them to be around in March: Wesclin was impressive at the Vandalia Holiday Tournament. With size, athleticism and guards, the Warriors took the tournament championship and should be considered a threat to the rest of the state’s Class A competition.

Continuing to roll: Class A’s Seneca, Warrensburg-Latham, Orion, Riverton, Barry-West Pike, Dakota and Waltonville remained undefeated during the holiday tournament season. Pinckneyville, Teutopolis, Winnebago, Chillicothe IVC and Timothy Christian all have one loss.

Dropping like flies: The holidays weren’t as kind to Class AA’s unbeaten teams. Chicago Crane, Bolingbrook and Edwardsville were among the few who made it through undefeated.

Best miss: Roth threw a line drive from three-quarters court that hit the back of the rim against Burlington Central.

The new No. 1: With Glenbrook North losing at Proviso West, Simeon takes over the top spot in Class AA. The Wolverines knocked off Gurnee Warren, another top 5 team, in the championship of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Junior Derrick Rose scored a game-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting for Simeon.

The best 1-2-3 punch: St. Joseph senior Jonathan Peoples and juniors Demetri McCamey and Evan Turner lived up to their hype at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. The trio led the Chargers to their second straight tournament championship. In the title game, Peoples (17 points, 5 steals, 4 assists), McCamey (16 points, 7 assists, 4 steals) and Turner (12 points, 5 assists, 2 steals) all contributed.

Let the holiday fun continue: The Chicago Public League will hold its holiday tournament this week. It has the potential to be even better than the ones over the past few weeks. Crane (Sherron Collins), Simeon (Derrick Rose), Marshall (Patrick Beverley), Von Steuben (Jeremie Simmons) and Washington (DeAndre Liggins) are among the top teams playing at Chicago State.

Dropping 50: Jon Scheyer wasn’t the only Illinois player to score 50 points over the holidays. Winnebago’s Devan Bawinkel scored 52 points against Freeport Aquin at the Forreston Holiday Tournament.

Top uncommitted seniors: St. Joe’s Jonathan Peoples and Thornridge’s Billy Rush sure didn’t hurt their college recruitments over the past week. Both were key to their team’s success and were named to their respective all-tournament teams.

Best Scheyer impression: Glenbrook North junior Chris Stamas helped the Spartans get by without a healthy Jon Scheyer in their final Proviso West game. Stamas set a new tournament record by hitting 10 3-pointers in GBN’s win. He sank 10-of-11 long-range shots and scored 34 points.

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS FEATURED IN NEWEST ILL. HOOPS ISSUE

Tuesday January 3, 2006 - Ill. Hoops has released it latest issue. It features complete coverage of the state's holiday tournaments. We traveled from Forreston to Vandalia to see the state's top players and teams compete. The issue includes Mike Tisdale, Jon Scheyer, Eric Hobbie, Josh Davis, Bill Cole, Billy Rush, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 34 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

LEO'S DONALD LAWSON FEATURED IN NEWEST ISSUE

Monday December 19, 2005 - Ill. Hoops has released it latest issue. It features Leo's Donald Lawson, one of the state's premier shot blocker. The issue also includes a profile of Von Steuben's Jeremie Simmons, a diary by Devan Bawinkel, coverage from the Challenge of Champions in Indianapolis, photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 34 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

STATE FARM HOLIDAY CLASSIC BRACKETS UNVEILED

Thursday December 15, 2005 - The pairings are set for the 2005 State Farm Holiday Classic, which will be held at six different venues in the Bloomington-Normal area Dec. 27-30.

In Boys Class A, top-seeded Chillicothe IVC (6-0), which is led by a talented senior cast, is off to its best start in IVC history (Its predecessor, Chillicothe High, was 8-0 in 1967-68). The Grey Ghosts will seek their first Holiday Classic title against the likes of No. 2 seed Quincy Notre Dame (the defending State Farm Holiday Classic champ), No. 3 seed Bloomington Central Catholic (pre-season No. 7 team in the state) and No. 4 seed Hartsburg-Emden.

The Boys AA field is led by South Holland Thornwood, which won the State Farm Holiday Classic from 1999-2002. The remaining top seeds include Rockton Hononegah, Mt. Zion (last year’s Holiday Classic champ) and Tinley Park Andrew.

Throughout the tournament, live game updates and box scores will be posted on the official tournament Web site, www.theclassic.org. The site will also include tournament tidbits, school information and tournament records. For a complete schedule of games, ticket and hotel information, visit www.theclassic.org.

ST. LOUIS SHOOTOUT FEATURED IN NEWEST ILL. HOOPS ISSUE

Monday December 12, 2005 - As always, the Shootout in St. Louis was competive with state-wide and national-wide top players and teams. Illinois again held its own. This week's issue features coverage from the 25th Annual Shootout. The issue also includes a profile of Bloomington Central Catholic's Justin Safford, a diary by St. Joe's Jonathan Peoples, plenty of photos and much more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 33 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

PROVISO WEST TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED

Tuesday December 6, 2005 - Six unbeaten teams and five once-beaten teams highlight the opening-round pairings for the 45th Annual Proviso West Holiday Tournament. Those eleven teams have combined for a 48-5 record - and two of those losses came at the hands to another tournament team.

The first round pairings, with records indicated as of December 3, are as follows:

Session One (Dec. 27)

Game 1 - Von Steuben (1-0) vs. De La Salle (5-0), 9:00 a.m.

Game 2 - Hillcrest (4-1) vs. New Trier (3-1), 10:30 a.m.

Game 3 - Saint Joseph (4-1) vs. Whitney Young (3-2), 12:15 p.m.

Game 4 - Julian (6-0) vs. Hubbard (0-3), 1:45 p.m.

Session Two

Game 5 - Proviso West (5-1) vs. Peoria (4-0), 3:45 p.m.

Game 6 - Glenbrook North (6-0) vs. Leyden (2-3), 5:15 p.m.

Game 7 - Proviso East (4-1) vs. Fenwick (2-2), 7:00 p.m.

Game 8 - Homewood-Flossmoor (6-0) vs. Evanston (2-3), 8:30 p.m.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES NEWEST ISSUE

Monday December 5, 2005 - Derrick Rose and Jon Scheyer, two of Illinois' top players, put on a show in Kentucky over the weekend at the Marshall County HoopFest. Ill. Hoops was there and provides complete coverage of the event in this week's 19-page issue. The issue also includes a Lucas O'Rear diary, a feature on Proviso East's Jacob Pullen, the week in review, plenty of pictures and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. We publish weekly during the high school season. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 32 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

SINGLETARY COMMITS TO MISSOURI

Monday November 28, 2005 - Chris Singletary missed the opportunity to go up against Crane's Sherron Collins this season because Singletary transferred from Chicago's Farragut to Florida Prep before the year.

On Monday, Singletary made sure he'd meet his old rival on the hardwood for the next four years. Like Collins, Singletary committed to the Big 12. Unlike Collins, who chose Kansas, Singletary decided to go with the University of Missouri.

"It's going to be great playing against Sherron Collins in the Big 12 Conference," said Singletary from Florida. "I didn't get that chance my senior year of high school. It's always fun playing up against the great player that he is."

Singletary isn't that bad himself. A 6-foot-3 guard, Singletary uses the finesse of a guard and the power of a forward to terrorize opponents. He averaged about 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as a junior at Farragut.

Over the past few years, Singletary had developed a reputation of having an attitude problem. Over the summer, he decided a fresh start was what he needed and that involved getting out of Chicago. Singletary decided on Florida Prep in Port Charlotte, Fla.

It took some getting used to, but Singletary has finally adapted to his new envirorment. It helps that Florida Prep recently started its season.

"Here, I'm able to figure things out and make decisions on my own," Singletary said. "Being away has helped me get ready for college in knowing how far and how long I'll be away from home."

He does still keep in touch with people at Farragut. He expects to home in mid-December and hopes to check out a few games.

Sherron Collins and Crane may just be one of those games Singletary goes to see.

It's never too early for a college scouting report. -- Scott Powers

SCHEYER ANSWERS FANS ONE-ON-ONE QUESTIONS

Monday November 28, 2005 - Jon, first, I would like to say that my family and I watched you play in the state tournament last year. It was a great tournament and you guys played great. I would like to say that it shows that you worked hard to get where you are at this time. Best wishes to you in the future. I have an 8-year-old son named Adam and he loves to play sports. He plays basketball almost everyday in the driveway. I was wondering if there was one thing that stands out that made you a good shooter or was it just shooting hundreds of shots a day? Is there one drill that may help better than most? Again, good luck this season and in the future, can't wait to see one of our state’s finest playing on ESPN.
Bob Hill, East Alton

Scheyer: The biggest thing that helped my shooting was form shooting. When I’m starting to workout in the beginning of the summer or the fall, I always do form shooting from 5-to-15 feet around the basket to get comfortable with my shot. Once I get that, I go at game speed. You got to be ready for guys pushing you and coming off screens. That’ll the regular speed for you in the game. Also Bob, when I was younger my dad never put pressure on me to score and do everything. I think that’s why I love the game so much. It was important to me to play all sports.

I'm just asking how hard you practiced on average each day when you were in eighth grade and as a freshman to get where you are now?
Jason Auker, Rockford

Scheyer: Very hard. I practiced a bunch. I practiced extremely hard. I had a hard work ethic for an eighth-grader. I didn’t have workouts of a typical eight-grader. I was always in the gym shooting or dribbling. I was in the gym for a purpose. I knew as a freshman how hard it’d be playing varsity. I’m not just going in there and throwing up some shots. I feel like I get better workouts in half an hour than other guys do in two hours. I do what I need to do.

Hey Jon, what's going on? My name is John as well and I am a sophomore in high school. I am a 6-foot shooting guard and will be starting for my sophomore team this season. My question for you is what do you do on a typical day in the summer to improve your game? I have watched you since you were a freshman and have really looked up to you ever since. I am a good shooter who likes coming off screens like yourself and really pattern my game off of yours. However, I need to really improve my game this upcoming summer and it would be great if you could give me a schedule of your typical workout: running, shooting, ball handling, weight training, etc. Thanks for your time and good luck with the upcoming season.
John Williams, Illinois

Scheyer: This summer I started off real slow and just did form shooting. I don’t even shoot 3s for a couple weeks. In the beginning of the summer, I focus on free throws and shooting no farther than 15 feet. I set goals for myself and hit so many free throws before leaving the gym. It’s about focus and energy. Free throws are one of the most important parts of the game.
A typical day, I start off with a warm up. I’ll make five shots from different spots on the floor. Five from one the wing, five from elbow and so one. Then I’ll start doing it on the move. Wing to corner, make 10. Elbow to elbow, make 10. Then I’ll do free throws. Then I’ll go full court. I switch off from half court to full court, full court to half court.
I lift three or four days at the Berto Center. I get up there at 8 a.m.. From 8 o’clock to 9:30, I’d lift. I’d shoot around 30-45 minutes. From 2-4, I’d have my real workout, my shooting workout. My motivation was I didn’t want look to back this year and wonder what I was doing all summer. I could have been faster. I could have been bigger. I didn’t want to be regretful. I worked the hardest I ever did this summer and I think it’ll payoff this year.

Your play and hype are reminiscent of Glen Grunwald (East Leyden, Indiana U., Toronto Raptors) fame... How much more refined can you tweak your skills?
The athleticism will be greatly challenging at each succeeding level. Are you capable of enduring it physically? Where do you see yourself after Duke (playing/coaching/agent/no sports venture)?
Randy Gollay, Buffalo Grove

Scheyer: One thing I’m constantly trying to work on is shooting on the move. In college, you’re not going to be able to stand there and get your shot off. That’s one thing I need to work on. I also need to work on my ball-handling skills. Each level the guys are going to get faster and quick.
I’ve been playing against great athletic guys my whole life. This will be the next step, playing in college, but it’ll be no different than going up against guys in AAU and high school I’ve been working my athleticism, too. I’ll be prepared for it. That’s why I’ve been working out at the Berto Center.
As for the future, I want to play basketball as long as I can . I love basketball. I’m going to see what’s out there. I could see myself coaching. I’d love to play in the NBA. That’s every kid’s dream. I’m going to get to Duke and see what’s there and take it by step by step.

If you had a chance to pick a class of 2006 superstar to team up with this season, who would it be?
Jerome Campbell, Chicago

Scheyer: That would be my boy Gerald Henderson. I can’t wait to play with him next year at Duke. People will see how athletic and strong he is. We’re two different kinds of players on the wing. I think we’ll be tough to stop.

Jon, I know you’re a good athlete and a good student, but how do you deal with things on the streets with your friends with the status you have? How do you deal with peer pressure about drinking and smoking?
Matthew Adent, Alsip

Scheyer: I think one thing that’s great our starting five — Matt Shamis, Zach Kelly, Jonathan Radke, Tyler Cullitan — and the rest of the guys are real tight on the team. No one on the team drinks or smokes. When we’re hanging out at someone’s house, no one’s drinking or smoking. It’s easy for me when my core group of friends don’t drink or smoke.
Also I’m really focused. I have goals I want to reach for myself. I think that’s one of the reasons I don’t smoke and drink. I think my friends have the same goals and want to be the best players they can be. It’s real important to surround yourself with good people. My friends and my family are the reason I stay out of trouble.

Jon, us Dukies are more than excited about you and the rest of the class that Coach K has assembled. I've got a pair of questions for you.
Firstly, what do you need to improve on before arriving in Durham and are there any specific areas the coaches have asked you to address?
Secondly, what sort of role do you think you'll play in your first year at Duke? Have the coaches told you how they plan to use you early on in your career?
I apologize for flooding you with questions, but inquiring Blue Devil minds want to know. Hopefully you'll be able to make the trip from Glenbrook North down to Durham and catch a game this year, or even better, follow the team to Indianapolis. Good luck this season. Capture those back-to-back titles in Illinois, then come lead the Blue Devils to back-to-back titles in Durham. Take care and we can't wait until you suit up for the Devils! Let's go Duke!
Austin Emory, Durham, North Carolina

Scheyer: The coaches all say that Coach Weber has done a great job of coaching me and they love what they’re doing with me right now. They tell me to keep doing what he’s telling me to do.
Obviously, strength is important. No matter how strong you are you have to get stronger each year. Also one the things you always need to be quicker with everything.
Coaches told me they expect to make an I mpact my freshman year. I expect the same thing. I want to help the team out any way I can. I think the one thing that coach stressed was, ‘You’ll earn your playing time.’ I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Jon, you guys were really good last year... and now that you lost that really, really good looking point guard that was head and shoulders the best player on your team, do you think you guys will even finish .500? Let me know!
Sean Wallis, St. Louis, Missouri

Scheyer: It was a tough loss losing our best player, which was you, Sean, but we do have the best looking guys coming back on the team so we should be all right.

Jon, why not Illinois?
Dave Miller, Peoria

Scheyer: It’s nothing that Illinois didn’t do. It was just so many things that I loved about Duke. I was considering Illinois hard. I love Duke and I’m excited to play there the next four years.

Dear Jon, who is your favorite sister?
Love, your favorite sister, Brooke Scheyer, Texas

Scheyer: That’s a trick question. I have two favorite sisters.

Yes, I have some questions. When you were on Maple Junior High's basketball team, did you play 6th, 7th and 8th grade on Maple's team or only some of those years? Did you crush Northbrook Junior High school? Did you consider trying out for Glenbrook North's baseball team? You were a good player in the Northbrook Youth Baseball Association in 8th grade. Also, did you go to Wescott School for elementary school? You don't have to answer all these just your favorite or whatever.
Todd Marver, Northbrook

Scheyer: I only played in sixth grade for my junior high because I had an injury in my seventh-grade year and toward eighth grade with a stress fracture in my back. Yes, we did crush Northbrook Junior High. I always wanted to play baseball in high school, but I got caught up with basketball and the AAU season. I still love baseball and like to play. And yes, I did go to Wescott. Miss Kahn was my favorite teacher there.

Jon, as a high school basketball coach, I am always looking for ways to motivate players to do more in the off-season. I know they have to have the burn and desire to do it and that they need some goals they want to achieve (college ball, all-conf., all-state, a starter, etc.), but I always wish there was more I could do to get players excited enough to focus on the gain and not the effort and time they have to put into the workouts. You were obviously blessed with some gifts, but I know you must have put a whole lot of time in on a regular basis to get where you are today. Basketball players just can't be the best players anymore unless they put a lot of time in. My questions are:
What motivation did you use to get yourself to put the time and sweat in on a regular basis, even on those hot, summer days you really didn't want to?
What type of things did your workouts consist of while you were coming up in high school?
Brad Storm, Geneseo

Scheyer: I just think about on the hot summer days when everyone else is out playing and doing social things those are the times that make you great. When I’m in a pressure situation that’s what I was in the gym for. I can tell myself, ‘You work the hardest.’ I put in that effort so I don’t have to look back and regret what happens.

Jon, I know deciding Duke over Illinois was tough in many ways. What was the toughest part? Have you received any negative feedback? Are you still confident in your decision?
Nick Donaldson, Moline

Scheyer: The toughest part for me was telling the other schools I had chosen Duke. People always ask me why didn’t I go to Illinois. It would have probably been the same way if I had chosen Illinois. People would have asked me why I didn’t go to Duke. It doesn’t bother me. I’m more than confident in my decision. I’m completely happy with my decision. The coaches have been great and look forward to playing at Duke.

Finally, I want to say Jonathan Radke’s shut down every player we’ve played so far. I think he’s the best defender in the state. I want to give a shout out to him. Keep working hard.
And thanks to everyone for all the questions. I enjoyed reading and answering them.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES NEWEST ISSUE

Monday November 28, 2005 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Freeport's Willie Veasley is featured on the cover of the season's first issue. Inside the 18-page issue, there's a full review of the first week's action along with info on some of the top peformers, including Sherron Collins, Jon Scheyer, Veasley, Craig Parks and Justin Bocot.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For less than a $1 an issue, you receive all the new issues, but also have access to all of our past ones. We've put out 31 issues so far. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more info.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FREE CLASS A SEASON-PREVIEW ISSUE

Wednesday November 23, 2005 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class A season-preview issue and is offering it for free download. The issue is packed with team rankings, in-depth stories and capsules about the top Class A squads, preseason all-state teams, a list of must-see games, photos and much more. Click on "E-MAGAZINES" and then hit "DOWNLOAD" beside the preview to check it out. You must have a PDF reader to see it.

If you like what you see, you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops' e-magazines and have access to all of our past issues for only $20. We publish our e-mags weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. It comes out to more than 20 issues a year, so you pay less than a $1 an issue and have access to over 20 past issues. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more info.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FREE CLASS AA SEASON-PREVIEW ISSUE

Monday November 21, 2005 - Ill. Hoops has released its Class AA season-preview issue and is offering it for free download. The issue is packed with team rankings, in-depth stories and capsules about the top Class AA squads, preseason all-state teams, a list of must-see games, photos and much more. Click on "E-MAGAZINES" and then hit "DOWNLOAD" beside the preview to check it out. You must have a PDF reader to see it.

If you like what you see, you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops' e-magazines and have access to all of our past issues for only $20. We publish our e-mags weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. It comes out to more than 20 issues a year, so you pay less than a $1 an issue and have access to over 20 past issues. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" for more info.

We will be releasing our Class A preview in the next few days.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM HALES, ST. JOE'S AND ELSEWHERE

Thursday November 17, 2005 - Ill. Hoops attended practices at Hales Franciscan and St. Joseph on Wednesday. With the season soon approaching, we will wait for our Class A and AA season-preview issues to release our in-depth team previews on both teams. You can check out photos from both schools along with all of the other practices we've been to in the past few weeks in our photo gallery.

* Next week don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of each school, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

CARBONDALE'S CASS CHOOSES DEPAUL

Wednesday November 16, 2005 - Carbondale senior Manual Cass is glad he finally chose a school.

Between the recruiting process, trying to study for the ACT and worry about returning Carbondale to the state tournament, it was becoming a lot for Cass.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-7 forward got the rid of one of those by committing to DePaul.

“Got that out of the way,” said Cass, who averaged 16 points and 6.3 rebounds last season. “Now I can worry about the team and my academics.”

Cass will be taking an upcoming ACT. He said he will be more confident this time around because he’s actually preparing for it. The past one was shortly after the school year started and he hadn’t study much.

Iowa, Baylor and USC were among the schools Cass was also eyeing. Cass said Illinois got involved late, but he was not interested.

He did like what the Blue Demons and coach Jerry Wainwright offered.

“The atmosphere, the academics and the Big East were main reasons,” Cass said. “There are great teams in the Big East and a lot of competition. There’s a lot of TV play. I thought was great for me because I want to get to the next level.

“They have a lot of good athletes. I bring some more athleticism to them, some more speed, some more defense and a lot more offense. Just basically everything around, the whole 9.” -- Scott Powers

GBN, SIMEON INCLUDED IN USA TODAY'S RANKINGS

Tuesday November 15, 2005 - Two of Illinois' top teams were included in USA Today's preseason high school basketball rankings. Glenbrook North, last year's Class AA state champions, was ranked 22nd in the paper's national top 25 list and put fifth in the Midwest. Simeon was ranked seventh in the region.

A couple of Illinois' opponents were also included in the rankings. Oak Hill Academy, which is ranked No. 2 in the nation, will face Simeon at the Marshall County HoopFest in Kentucky this season. Glenbrook North and Proviso East are scheduled to face No. 5-ranked Lawrence North.

SENECA SHOOTS FOR BETTER SHOWING AT STATE

Monday November 14, 2005 - Garrett Callahan recently popped in game tape from last year’s Class A state tournament.

It wasn’t pleasing.

He saw himself miss jumpers, turn the ball over and do other things he normally didn’t do. His stat line in the semis against Hales Franciscan was 4-of-15 from the field, 2-of-8 on 3-pointers, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 10 points and 6 turnovers.

It was way off the numbers he had put up the entire season while leading the Fighting Irish downstate for the first time since 1991.

Although watching last year’s footage made Callahan sick to his stomach, it did have one positive effect. It made him even hungrier to get back to Peoria to prove he and Seneca are better than that.

“I know I didn’t play as well as I could have,” said Callahan, who averaged 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists last season. “Hopefully we can get back downstate and I can play like I know I can.”

All signs point to Callahan getting that chance.

With Callahan and 6-foot-6 senior Robert Rexroade back from last year’s team, Seneca has one of the best inside-outside tandems in Class A. Rexroade averaged 12.7 points and 4.6 rebounds as junior. The Fighting Irish also return junior Griffin Callahan and senior Marty Hetelle, who both started last year, and expect to be major contributors again this season.

The surrounding talent should be even better than last season. Seneca only lost three seniors from last year’s team and bring in a number of players from a sophomore team that went 23-3.

The key to this year’s squad granting Callahan’s wish may just be everyone understanding their roles.

“Some of the guys were scorers on the sophomore level,” Rexroade said. “Here, they have to be passers and defensive guys. They have to figure out their roles.”

Seneca coach Doug Evans compared it to baseball’s world champions.

“The White Sox lineup wasn’t a bunch of all-stars,” Evans said. “But they were the best team.”

* Check out photos from Seneca’s practice in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending at a number of other schools this week.

* Next week don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Seneca, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

GLENBROOK NORTH THINKING REPEAT WOULD BE A TREAT

Friday November 11, 2005 - (NORTHBROOK) Just the other day, Glenbrook North coach David Weber had to tell Jon Scheyer to settle down.

It was the Spartans’ fifth practice of the year and Scheyer was playing like it was the state championship. He was tip dunking. He was flying through the lane and putting the ball down on teammates. He was all over the court, making plays, stealing passes, hitting jumpers and, finally, Weber saw enough to scare him.

“I didn’t want him hurt himself,” Weber said.

Scheyer listened, but it’s all you need to know about his and Glenbrook North’s intentions this year. The Spartans aren’t satisfied with one Class AA state championship They want to repeat. “Winning state last year, this may sound kind of weird, made me hungrier to win another one,” said Scheyer, who was last year’s Ill. Hoops’ Class AA Player of the Year. “Winning the first one felt good. Winning a second one would feel twice as good.”

With Scheyer back for his senior season, Glenbrook North has as good a shot as anyone to win Class AA. Scheyer, a 6-foot-6 guard, showed during last year’s state run that he can create for himself and his teammates no matter what defense the opponent throws at GBN.

He averaged 25.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season and has signed to play next season at Duke. He has 2,106 points in his career and is nearing Chris Collins’ school record, which Weber is trying to exactly find out.

The Spartans also return 6-7 Zach Kelly and 6-5 Jon Radke from last year’s starting lineup. The duo provides Glenbrook North with a strong inside presence on the both ends of the floor.

The two newcomers to the starting five will be Matt Shamis and Tyler Cullitan. Shamis, who will play at Lehigh next year, will run the point for the Spartans. Cullitan will provide another outside shooter for the team.

Off the bench, seniors Jon Karis, Alex Prosperi and Mike Rosen bring experience from last year’s team. Junior Chris Stamas, sophomore Brian Peel and freshman Tyler Ponticelli could be some of the underclassmen to step in throughout the year.

The Spartans’ schedule includes a meeting with Indianapolis’ Lawrence North, considered the No. 1 team in the nation with Greg Oden.

* Check out photos from Glenbrook North’s practice in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Seneca on Saturday, Nov. 12.

* In less than two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Glenbrook North, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

EXPERIENCED, MORE MATURE SIMEON EYEING STATE TITLE

Friday November 11, 2005 - (Chicago) Devastation is the only way to describe the look on Simeon’s faces after losing in the Chicago Public League title game to Westinghouse and in the St. Xavier Sectional to Brother Rice.

Derrick Rose, Tim Flowers and the other young Wolverines weren’t used to losing in big games. They won those games up until that point. As freshmen and throughout their junior high careers, they were the champions.

It was a strange, different feeling for those players.

A season later and with nearly everyone back, Simeon coach Robert Smith believes those experiences made his team mature and realize what it takes to win those contests. Now he feels they’re truly ready to go after a Class AA state championship.

“Especially the Brother Rice game, we grew up mentally and physically to understand what it takes to win a championship,” Smith said. “Our expectation this year is to win the state championship. Going in, that puts a lot of pressure on my and the kids.”

It’s pressure that the Wolverines like.

Simeon is led by Rose, one of the nation’s top juniors. After a strong sophomore season, Rose, a 6-foot-3 guard, was worried about going through a junior slump as he had seen others experience and prepared for this season harder than any before.

Rose will likely see a lot of time at point guard position, giving him the opportunity to create for himself and his teammates.

There will be a number of returning Wolverines for Rose to go to this year.

Simeon returns Tim Flowers, one of the state’s top post players, Bryant Orange, an athletic guard, Randall Hampton, a strong ballhandler, Josh Davis, a do-it-all swingman, Kevin Johnson, a threat inside, and Dexter Williams and David McKinney, both capable guards.

The Wolverines also hope to benefit from transfers Brandon Hall, a guard from Whitney Young, and 6-6 Jelani Poston from Lincoln Park. Both have yet to be cleared by IHSA. If they do, expect both to play major minutes.

Smith believes he has all the tools for a state championship. He only has one concern.

“Complacency,” he said. “I think we can be complacent. We need to be ready to play all the time. If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, you can get beat. That’s the thing about the Public League, anyone can get beat on any night.”

* Check out photos from Simeon's practice in our photo gallery. A certain well-known coach was in attendance.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Seneca on Saturday, Nov. 12.

* In less than two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Simeon, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

LEO NOW READY TO WIN STATE

Thursday November 10, 2005 - (CHICAGO) Losing wasn’t Leo’s goal last season, but the Lions also weren’t expecting to win a state championship.

Winning state was what they planned for this season and the following.

Leo coach Noah Cannon dressed 10 sophomores on varsity last season. Sure, they took their fair share of lumps, but they also won some games. But more than winning and losing, Canon’s design was set up to give the youngsters experience at the varsity level, figure out their roles and get prepared to win the Class A state title the following two seasons.

Now with 13 of his 15 players back from last season, Canon believes his team is right on track to achieve its goal.

“After winning state in 04’, the best thing we could do to win state the next few years was play our young guys,” Cannon said. “I see us as the frontrunner. Personally, I don’t think anyone has the size, talent and experience we have.”

While the Lions are represented by mostly juniors, seniors Donald Lawson and Kijuane Leach are two of the most talented players on the team and in the state.

Lawson, who is 6-foot-9, is an athletic, shot blocker whose offensive game continues to improve. He is headed to Western Michigan to play next season.

Leach is an explosive, athletic guard who isn’t afraid to try and dunk on anyone. He transferred out of Leo for part of last school year, but returned in the fall. He has signed to play at Eastern Illinois.

The juniors are a talented class. Leo is expecting major contributions from Tony Topps, the team’s leader, Dionte Gaskew, Steven Gross, Kevin Woods and Mario Allen.

“Experience last year was everything for us,” Lawson said. “It was a growing period. It helped us grow individually and as a team.”

* Check out photos from Leo’s practice in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Simeon and Glenbrook North on Friday, Nov. 11.

* In less than two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Leo, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

VON STEUBEN GETTING AFTER IT AT BOTH ENDS

Thursday November 10, 2005 - (CHICAGO) Von Steuben senior Jeremie Simmons hears everyone talk about his offensive ability.

He can score going to the rim. He can score from deep. There pretty much isn’t a way he can’t put it in the net.

What he never hears about, though, is his defensive game.

“People underestimate my defense,” Simmons said. “They only notice my offense.”

The Panthers and Simmons believe opponents will take notice of their defense more than anything this year.

Alongside Simmons in the backcourt will be junior Michael Horton, a 5-foot-9 point guard known to lock up the best of the best.

“Our guards put a lot of pressure on the ball,” Horton said. “A lot of guards don’t do that in the Public League.”

Von Steuben is again loaded at the guard position. Aside from Horton and Simmons, Panthers coach Vince Carter is expecting to play senior Trevor Dale, sophomore Cordarrel Eldridge and senior Lewis Wilson, a transfer from Highland Park.

Inside, Von Steuben will be relying mostly on 6-5 senior Kendall Russell, a returning starter. Juniors Darius Fields, a 6-5 forward, and Michael Fakuade, 6-6, will also be expected to contribute.

Carter will see just what his team is made of when it opens the season with four straight tough games. The Panthers will face Westinghouse, Simeon, St. Ignatius and Thornton. They are also scheduled to play in the Proviso West Holiday Tournament, the Chicago Public School Holiday Tournament and against Hales Franciscan in a shootout.

* Check out photos from Von Steuben’s practice in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Simeon and Glenbrook North on Friday, Nov. 11.

* In less than two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Von Steuben, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

'BAGO PREPARING FOR ANOTHER TRIP TO PEORIA

Wednesday November 9, 2005 - (WINNEBAGO) A question came from the crowd, “Will West Virginia play anywhere in the Midwest?”

Sporting a No. 44 West Virginia Jerry West jersey, senior Devan Bawinkel fielded the question from behind a brown desk in Winnebago High School’s library. He told the crowd about the Mountaineers playing in Milwaukee against Marquette, in Rosemont against DePaul and in South Bend against Notre Dame.

So, yes, the Indians fans will have plenty of opportunities to see the town’s greatest basketball player continue his career.

That is the future, though.

As much as Wednesday was Bawinkel’s day to sign his commitment to West Virginia and for others to applaud his accomplishments, once his press conference ended shortly after 4 p.m., the focus for Indians’ fans, coaches, players and even Bawinkel turned back to the 2005-2006 basketball season.

After back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class A the past two seasons for the Indians, Winnebago’s community has high expectations for this year. Bawinkel and company don’t have any time to spare thinking about West Virginia and beyond if they want to meet those expectations.

With some hard work and chemistry, the Indians believe they have the necessary ingredients to do just that.

It all starts with Bawinkel, an all-state, 6-foot-5 guard, who can do a lot of everything on the floor. He averaged 20.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season.

With teams expected to bring even more double teams Bawinkel’s way this season, Winnebago will look to 6-3 senior guard Wes Reinke to carry some of that burden. Reinke is an athletic guard who can get to the hole and knock down pressure jumpers. He averaged 10.7 points last year.

“I wouldn’t feel nervous at all passing him the ball at the end of the game to take the last shot,” Bawinkel said.

Senior guard Craig Nelson also returns to give the Indians some more experience from last year’s squad.

Sophomores Jake Spencer and Heath Hoffman will also be looked to contribute as starters. Spencer, 6-7, will be Winnebago’s go-to big man and Hoffman can light it up from outside.

“I think last year showed this year’s team that you don’t have to have all great seniors,” Winnebago coach Joe Murphy said. “You do your job and you work hard and you can make it downstate.”

* Check out photos from Winnebago’s practice and Bawinkel’s and Freeport senior Willie Veasley’s college signings in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Leo and Von Steuben on Thursday, Nov. 10.

* In less than two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature an even longer preview of Winnebago, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

THORNTON AIMING EVEN HIGHER THIS SEASON

Tuesday November 8, 2005 - (HARVEY) Thornton senior Joevan Catron loved last season.

What wasn’t there to love? The Wildcats were ranked first in the state for some time. They were even put No. 1 in the nation by USA Today at one point. They scored inside and out. They put on a show for all fans. Plus, they made it to state.

Catron enjoyed all that, but he believes Thornton is capable of better. He believes a state championship is in the school’s future.

He also believes he and this year’s squad are the ones to bring it home to Harvey.

“I know coach is always going to compare this year’s team to last year’s,” said Catron, who has committed to Oregon. “Next year, I want them to compare this year’s team to the greatest ever.” The Wildcats lost four starters, but they’ve reloaded just fine.

With Catron, junior Mustapha Farrakhan, a top shooter, senior George McGrew, an agile big man, junior Josh Parker, an athletic point guard transfer from De La Salle and a number of athletes off the bench, Thornton coach Troy Jackson doesn’t worry about filling the basket or defending.

His worries have nothing to with athleticism.

“Skill-wise, they’re as competitive as anybody,” Jackson said. “The only concern is leadership and building that chemistry.”

If the Wildcats can find that leadership and chemistry of last year’s team, who knows? Catron may just be lugging some hardware from Peoria back to school.

* Check out some photos from Thornton’s practice in our photo gallery.

* Also be sure to check back with Ill. Hoops for more team capsules and photos. We’ll be attending Winnebago on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

* In two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature even longer preview of Thornton, pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

START OF NEW SEASON BRINGS JOY, EXPECTATIONS

Monday November 7, 2005 - (GURNEE) Balls bouncing, nets swishing, coaches yelling … it all can only mean one thing – basketball season has returned.

Waiting for its return was harder on some more than others. Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer couldn’t contain himself last week. He pulled out nearly ever game tape of his since sixth grade and watched them.

“My mom doesn’t know what to do with me,” Scheyer said last Thursday.

His mom can be thankful basketball has returned.

It also brought joy to many others on Monday.

From our message board to Illinoishighschoolsports.com to ChicagoHoops.com to every other Illinois high school Web site, fans filled the forums with opinions, expectations, taunts and more about the upcoming season.

For now, no one can be certain whether Brother Rice or Marist is better or anyone can knock off Simeon in the Chicago Public League or Nashville can run through the South again.

It is that time of year. Everyone has a chance to win state. Everyone is an all-state candidate. Each team, player and fan can wish big.

Soon, fact and fiction will be determined.

It is then the gyms will fill again. Tickets will be taken at the door. Brown bags of popcorn will be available around the corner. Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, classmates and all other basketball fanatics will escape the freezing cold, jam themselves in a warm, sweaty gym and cheer on their favorite teams and mascots.

Warren High School in Gurnee was where Ill. Hoops kicked off its season. Expectations are high for the Blue Devils this season as they return their top seven players from last year’s 24-4 squad. Defense and being unselfish is what this team does best.

Each player can flat out defend. Warren coach Chuck Ramsey doesn’t allow any other way. If they don’t defense, they can sit on the bench. When Ramsey wasn’t comfortable with his team’s work ethic on Monday, the players learned the consequences. After running a few suicides, the Blue Devils seemed to be more attentive to his demands.

Nearly everyone on Warren is also a magician when it comes to seeing the court. Teammates of senior Jordan Dalton and junior Ceola Clark know to be ready at all times.

The Blue Devils had expected to be without a few of their top players for a couple weeks due to football, but Warren was upset last week on the gridiron. Marvin Bembry, Marcus Lewis and the other football players were given Monday off, but expect them to return to the basketball floor even hungrier now that their fall season didn’t work out.

The trip to Gurnee was the first of many for Ill. Hoops this week. We already have plans to go to Thornton, Winnebago, Freeport, Leo, Simeon, Glenbrook North, Seneca and. Hales Franciscan. Next week, we hope to hit even more.

Be sure to check back with us with stories from each practice and we will post practice photos in our photo gallery.

Then in two weeks, don’t miss our season previews. We will be releasing Class A and Class AA e-magazines during the first week of play. They will feature pre-season all-state teams, team rankings, stories and capsules about the top teams, diaries, features, Q&As, plenty of photos and more.

For a one-time offer, we will provide both issues for free. Download the issues, check them out and if you like what you see, you may just want to subscribe for a year and get more than 20 issues, plus all of our back issues, for only $20. It’s less than a $1 an issue.

When the basketball season was last seen, it provided us with state champions Hales Franciscan (Class A) and Glenbrook North (Class AA).

Who will it give us this year?

We can’t wait to see. -- Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS' NEWEST ISSUE FEATURES CARBONDALE'S MANUAL CASS

Monday October 31, 2005 - Ill. Hoops has released its newest issue. Carbondale senior Manual Cass is feature on the cover and inside. The issue also includes coverage of the Future Stars Fall Shootout in Deerfield, a profile of Geneva's Gabe Landau, a Q&A with Duke senior Sean Dockery, a diary by Winnebago's Devan Bawinkel, an update on Richards' Cody Yelder, plenty of photos and more.

The issue is only available to Ill. Hoops subscribers. If you don’t have one, get one now for less than a $1 an issue. A year's subscription to the e-magazine costs only $20. For the price, you get more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. Click on “SUBSCRIBE” to find out more.

Here's what people are saying about Ill. Hoops:

"Scott Powers is a refreshing new face in the high school hoops scene, and his Ill. Hoops magazine has its finger on the pulse of basketball in Illinois." -- Bob Sakamoto, Chicago Tribune

"There are a lot of recruiting Web sites on the Internet but Scott Powers offers a unique concept -- stories about the best high school basketball players in Illinois, who they are, what makes them tick, personality profiles that reach beyond the repetition of revealing which colleges a prospect is considering today." -- Taylor Bell, author of "Sweet Charlie, Dike, Cazzie, and Bobby Joe -- High School Basketball in Illinois"

"It was really well-written. It was better than any other newsletter than I've seen before." -- Bobby Frasor, North Carolina freshman guard

NELMS BIG ENOUGH, GOOD ENOUGH FOR DAVIDSON

Thursday October 20, 2005 - A star, a Division-I recruit, these are not words Dan Nelms would have called himself last season at Lake Forest.

Ask him his stats and he doesn’t know them or pretend they were significant.

A year ago, Nelms was an average player with height.

That has since changed. He still has the height – 6-foot-10 last time he checked – but he also has a game and Division-I commitment to Davidson to go along with it.

Nelms committed to the Wildcats on Thursday.

In the past year, especially the past AAU season, Nelms transformed his game into one worthy of playing for Davidson, a school that last made the NCAA Tournament in 2002.

With the help of the Rising Stars’ AAU coaches and players, Nelms got a push in the right direction.

“I like someone constantly pushing me,” said Nelms, who is at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. “I’ll work hard to be good. I feel like I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but I also have a long ways to go and that’s why I picked Davidson.”

With the addition of 20 pounds over the last year, Nelms learned to use his size and weight to become a more effective inside player. He also developed a more versatile game. It wasn’t unordinary for Nelms to finish and end a fastbreak this summer.

“Davidson’s getting a tall, athletic player who has a high ceiling,” Rising Stars coach Mike Weinstein said. “He keeps getting better and better.”

Nelms chose Davidson because its system is designed for athletic big men. He was also impressed that the Wildcats play the best and the best and don’t expect to lose. They have Duke, Missouri, Syracuse and North Carolina on its schedule this year.

“When mid-major teams go in playing those programs, they just excited to play,” Nelms said. “Davidson goes in looking to win.” - Scott Powers

LEHIGH PICKS UP STEAL IN BAYER

Monday October 17, 2005 - If Moline senior Paul Bayer hadn’t been injured most of the summer or had waited for the high school season to show college coaches what he’s capable of, Rising Stars coach Michael Weinstein doesn’t think Lehigh could have gotten him.

But he was injured and he didn’t wait, so the Mountain Hawks may have came away with a recruiting steal. Bayer recently committed to Lehigh, giving the Patriot League program its second Illinois Class of 2006 recruit.

Glenbrook North point guard Matt Shamis also recently committed to the school.

“I think he went to a program where he will be very successful,” said Weinstein of Bayer. “Lehigh’s excited. They know they got a kid who slipped to them. If Paul’s healthy this summer, they probably don’t get him.

“He knows how to play. He’s very effective. He’s very smart.”

Bayer was hampered by a leg and ankle injury since the spring. It allowed him little time on the court with Moline or the Rising Stars this summer.

Before the injury, Iowa, Wyoming and a number of other big-name programs were interested in Bayer. With his size (6-foot-5) and ability to drain the ball from deep, schools liked what they saw.

“In today’s game, you’re always looking for a kid to do that,” Weinstein said.

Bayer averaged about 18 points and four rebounds for Moline last season. – Scott Powers

RANDLE READY TO SHINE IN CALI

Sunday October 9, 2005 - A year ago, Hales Franciscan senior Jerome Randle wasn’t known on a national scale.

Now, he is.

He announced on Sunday that he had committed to the University of California.

What’s changed?

Randle says nothing.

“Honestly, I don’t think my game has changed,” he said. “I just don’t think they took the time to look at a 5-8 guard. They’ll look at 6-5 guys who names are already out there.

“A lot of people just overlook guards my size. Everyone is college is tall. Six-foot-three and up, it’s like the average. For someone to really look at me and see me and know I can play, I take my hat off to them and really appreciate it. I really don’t think they’re making a bad move giving me a scholarship. I’m going to do my thing.”

Randle’s thing consists of being one of the quickest point guards in the country. If Nesquik ever wanted to replace its bunny, Randle would be a good choice to represent the brand. His crossover is quick. His fastbreaks are quick. His passes are quick. He can also light up the scoreboard quick as he showed this past summer.

In July, he had 44-point and 11-asssist performance in a double-overtime win over the New York Gauchos and a 32-point game in a double-overtime loss to the Illinois Warriors at the 17-and-under Super Showcase in Orlando.

A week later, he led Ferrari to the 17-and-under National AAU Tournament championship. In the title game, he hit a floater in the lane with three seconds left to defeat the Chicago Jaguars, 65-64. From then on, his recruitment skyrocketed.

He had been hearing from a number of mid-majors, but with his month of July the big-time schools came after him.

It’s what he had expected all along.

“I was not satisfied with the mid-major schools that were recruiting me,” Randle said. “I was like, ‘I know I’m better than that. Why aren’t the big schools recruiting me?’ They finally came.”

Randle chose California because it’s where he felt he could face the highest level of competition. He also liked the fact the Pac-10 is considered a guards conference. He wants to follow in the line of Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Mike Bibby and the rest of the conference’s former point guard greats. “It’s my time to shine,” said Randle, who chose the Bears over Tulsa.

Before he gets to shine in Cali, Randle is looking to take care of business this winter in Chicago as he and Hales Franciscan look to win their third Class A title in four years.

Randle likes his chances with his best friend Darien McKinstry in the backcourt.

“We are the best backcourt in the state,” Randle said. “Jerome Randle, Darien McKinstry, no question. Actions will speak louder than words. You will see.”

For the record, Randle also wants everyone to know he doesn’t want to be in Class A.

“I was praying we would be in Class A,” he said. “When I hear we were four people short, man, I was like, ‘We can go bring four people off the streets and bring them to the school.’

“I think could be one of the best Class A teams ever.”

Randle averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 assists last year for the state-champion Spartans. - Scott Powers

EASTERN LANDS INSIDE-OUTSIDE THREAT IN JUSTIN BROCK

Wednesday October 5, 2005 - Talent and winning that’s what Eastern Illinois has shown it’s interested in.

Shortly after securing a commitment from Leo’s Kijuane Leach, a member of the 2003-2004 Class A state championship team, EIU received a verbal from Justin Brock, the top player from last year’s state-qualifying Liberty team.

Brock, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 17.1 points and 12.2 rebounds as a junior for the Eagles. In Peoria, he scored 27 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked 2 shots in a loss to eventual runner-up, Winnebago.

“The campus was nice,” Brock said. “The coaches were great. The players were cool. They showed me where I would fit in the system and I liked it. In a couple years, they’ll have a good team.”

Brock is tough around the basket. He knows his way around the paint and has no problem with putting his body on someone.

Aside from that, he’s also improved his perimeter game and dribbling making him a double-threat for any defense.

“I can go inside and outside now,” Brock said. “When teams play zones against us, I can go outside and it’ll make it a lot more difficult on them. I’m a big guy, but I’ll go outside.”

Brock is now ready to focus on getting Liberty back to state. Although the Eagles lost a number of seniors, they’re JV team went 30-1.

More importantly, Brock is bigger and better.

Good luck stopping him. – Scott Poewrs

UPDATE: COLLINS' RECRUITMENT HEATING UP

Tuesday October 4, 2005 - Ill. Hoops’ Chikosi Walker recently ventured over to Crane High School to check up on Sherron Collins and his recruitment. This is what he came away with.

No one player in the entire country can stop Crane point guard Sherron Collins one-on-one, but a trio of colleges hope to slow him down and get him to commit to their program.

Collins, the top uncommitted point guard in the country, is taking a patient approach to his recruiting. His opponents only wish he was so patient with them.

His recruitment right now is down to a three-school race between Iowa, Illinois and Kansas ... Iowa being the dark horse.

Illinois is the home favorite with Collins having relationships with both Luther Head and Dee Brown. Bruce Weber has told Collins he wants him to be the replacement for Dee Brown and feels he can duplicate Brown’s success for the Illini.

There is no question that securing a commitment from Collins has to be a priority for Bruce Weber. If not it would mark the fourth straight season the Illini couldn’t keep their top player home and the third straight during the Weber era. Shannon Brown (2003), Shaun Livington (2004), Julian Wright (2005) and Jon Scheyer (2006) have all opted to go elsewhere.

The dark horse, Iowa, has been recruiting Sherron the longest.

“Iowa has been around since Day One”, said Crane coach Anthony Longstreet.

Collins visited the Iowa City campus unofficially during the summer of 2004. In addition, Iowa coach Steve Alford and assistants were spotted at several Crane games last season. The Hawkeyes are one major recruit away from being a contender in the Big Ten. Collins could be the key.

Kansas is pursuing him the hardest with a “won’t take no for an answer” mentality.

“Kansas is definitely outworking everyone else,” Longstreet said.

Kansas coach Bill Self has been in Chicago to see Collins every week since school has started. One week he was at a football game, the next an in-home visit and the following week he was at Crane.

Self’s pitch has included telling Collins that Illinois is a great program, but Kansas is that much better. In fact, that’s the reason he left Illinois to take the Kansas job. Self feels Collins should do the same. Self has told the star PG that last year’s record-setting Illinois team was recruited by himself. What impresses Collins most about the Jayhawks is the tradition and the freshman class currently on campus, which includes four prep All-Americans. Self has also told Collins that he is the missing piece to a national title at Kansas.

Apparently, it was enough to convince Collins to visit Lawrence on Oct. 14 for Midnight Madness.

Can it all end the night October 14? Stay tuned.

Note: Collins took the ACT on Sept. 24 and is waiting on the results. If he fails to qualify, he is scheduled to take the test again later this month. - Chikosi Walker

HARD WORK LEADS TO LEHIGH COMMITMENT FOR SHAMIS

Tuesday October 4, 2005 - Hard work has always been the name of Matt Shamis’ game.

It’s what earned him a key role in Glenbrook North’s state championship run last season. It’s what convinced Full Package coach Matt Ryndak that Shamis was the guy he wanted to lead his team. It’ll also be what GBN coach Dave Weber will look to when he starts Shamis at point guard this upcoming high school season.

And now, it’s what’s earned Shamis a spot on the roster of a Division I program. On Sunday afternoon, Shamis, a 5-foot-11 point guard, committed to the Patriot League’s Lehigh University.

“Lehigh likes kids who A) have a good work, B) who are excellent students and citizens,” Ryndak said. “Matt has that and a tremendous amount of ability. He’s going to provide court leadership and he’s going to elevate the work ethic of everyone around him. You put him around kids for one session and it’s going to rub off.”

Shamis has never been one to shy away from hard work. Doing laundry is a must anytime he returns from a workout.

“It’s always been my strongest suit,” said Shamis, who was Glenbrook North’s backup point guard last season. “My work ethic has always been real high. It’s just because of my love for the game. I have such a love for it. There’s no better feeling that getting on the floor. It’s like home.”

Home will be Bethlehem, Pa. for Shamis for the next four or five years.

The Mountain Hawks finished 14-15 last year in Taylor’s fourth season as coach. In his short tenure at the school, he has won the conference’s Coach of the Year award twice and won one conference championship.

Taylor will lost two point guards two graduation after the 2005-2006 season . Shamis is one of two recruits Taylor has brought in to fill the void.

“They graduate two senior point guard and me and another point guard from Oregon will have a lot of opportunity to play,” Shamis said. “I’ll have to work hard and not take a day off. It’ll about how bad I want it and how hard I want to get it.”

Knowing Shamis, that won’t be a problem. Note: Shamis was featured in Ill. Hoops' issue No. 23 as Someone You Should Know. - Scott Powers

WEST VIRGINIA FEELS RIGHT TO BAWINKEL

Monday October 3, 2005 - Ever since his recruitment began, Devan Bawinkel had wondered when he would know that he had found the right school.

On a trip to Michigan State, Bawinkel asked Spartans freshman Maurice Joseph how he figured it. Joseph told him, Michigan State just felt right.

When Bawinkel was at Illinois, Wisconsin, DePaul, Georgetown and every other school he visited, he never felt anything like that. Each school had something going for it, but there wasn’t a special feeling that told him it was home.

That was until he stepped on to West Virginia’s campus in Morgantown, W.Va.

On Monday, he followed his gut. Bawinkel, a 6-foot-5 guard from Winnebago, announced he had committed to play basketball next season for the Mountaineers.

“It was exactly the feeling I had at West Virginia,” Bawinkel said. “It was just the right fit. The players, the coaches, the campus, it all just felt right. I was unsure at the other schools. I had questions. At West Virginia, I felt this was the place where I wanted to go. It felt like the right fit.”

Bawinkel opted for West Virginia over DePaul and Georgetown, two schools with urban campuses and without football teams. The fact the Mountaineers are based in a college town and have a football team were to their advantage with Bawinkel. He liked the school’s atmosphere on and off the sporting fields.

What all three schools did have going for them was being in the Big East Conference.

“I think the Big East is the best conference,” Bawinkel said. “You can argue the ACC, but the Big East has the most talented teams from the top to the bottom. I couldn’t have gone wrong with any of the three.”

It had looked like Bawinkel could be headed DePaul, especially when the Blue Demons received a commitment from his Illinois Wolves AAU teammate and friend Will Walker in September.

Walker’s commitment certainly had an impact on Bawinkel’s thought process.

“First, when I heard Will was going to DePaul, I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to go to there,’” Bawinkel said. “Him and I know each so well on the court. I also like what Coach (Jerry) Wainwright is doing at DePaul and the program. But the best decision for me was to go to West Virginia.”

Bawinkel adds to an already stellar recruiting class for the Mountaineers. They received a commitment last week from New Jersey swingman Desean Butler, who also chose West Virginia over DePaul.

Like Butler, Bawinkel is a versatile player who can play the 1, 2 or the 3. He’s deadly from the outside – he sank 45 3-pointers last year -- and can drive inside and score. He can also give the Mountaineers another ballhandler when the defensive pressure is turned up.

Wolves coach Troy Johnson thinks Bawinkel will be a perfect fit for West Virginia coach John Beilein’s system. It’s a system that propelled the Mountaineers to the Elite 8 last year of the NCAA Tournament.

“Their thing at West Virginia is they want the 2s, 3s and 4s to pretty much be interchangeable,” Johnson said. “They have a lot of long, lanky guys who can shoot. Not only shoot it, but handle it. That’s one of the things Devan’s been underappreciated for in the state of Illinois. He can handle the basketball.”

Bawinkel likes to think he can add a lot to the emerging program.

“I think what I give West Virginia is a combo guard that can backup the point guard if needed,” he said. “They get a shooter. If I get an open shot, I’ve going to shoot it. They’re going to get a great teammate and a hard worker. Hopefully, I can get them some wins, too.”

Winnebago knows Bawinkel can do a little bit of everything and produce wins. He’s been doing it for the Indians for the past few years.

As a sophomore, he averaged a team-leading 14.3 points and helped them finish second in Class A. Last year after losing some keys players to graduation, Winnebago still returned to the state championship, only to lose to Hales Franciscan. Bawinkel averaged 20.5 points and 8.1 rebounds for Winnebago.

Now with the decision behind him, Bawinkel has returned his focus to dominating northwest Illinois and getting Winnebago back to Peoria for the third straight year. He knows there’s going to be pressure on him to do it, but he’s ready to burden that.

“I love it,” said Bawinkel of being a sort of celebrity in town. “You kind of carry yourself in a different way. You carry yourself in a proud way. You’re always in the town’s eye and want to make them proud.

“Me going to a Division I school is definitely a big thing out here. There hasn’t been one in awhile. Hopefully, this shows the kids in the community if I can do it, they can do it.”

Note: Bawinkel will be writing a diary for Ill. Hoops this season. His next one will appear in the October issue. It issue be released near the end of the month to subscribers. - Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS FEATURING JOEVAN CATRON RELEASED

Friday September 30, 2005 - Thornton senior and Oregon recruit Joevan Catron is featured in this month’s Ill. Hoops’ issue. The issue also includes diaries by Bolingbrook’s Will Walker and Bloomington’s Justin Bocot, profiles of Hubbard’s Aaron Johnson and Downers Grove South’s Elliot Engelmann and a Q&A with former Pinckneyville star and current Southern Illinois assistant coach Shane Hawkins.

The issue is only available to Ill. Hoops subscribers. If you don’t have one, get one now for less than a $1 an issue. A year's subscription to the e-magazine costs only $20. For the price, you get more than 20 new issues over the next year along with access to all of our past issues. Click on “SUBSCRIBE” to find out more.

BUTLER LANDS ANOTHER WOLVES STAR

Sunday September 11, 2005 - Willie Veasley was already leaning toward Butler University, but a phone call from former Freeport basketball star Jamal Meeks didn't hurt.

Meeks, who lives in the Indianapolis area, talked up the city, its sport teams and Butler's program, for which he used to be an assistant coach.

He also mentioned to Veasley that if he ever needed anything, whether it be a haircut to whatever, he was only a phone call away.

That phone conversation happened on Friday. On Saturday, before Veasley left Butler after a three-day stay, the 6-foot-3 Freeport senior verbally committed to be a Bulldog next season.

”It was nice,” said Veasley, who spent his 18th birthday in Indianapolis on Thursday. “I met all the players and they welcomed me. I can't wait to play at Hinkle Fieldhouse. I can't wait to see all those seats filled. It's going to be great.

”Me and my dad were talking about it. I'm used to watching Butler and Wisconsin-Milwaukee on TV. Now I'm going to be part of that playing in the Horizon League.”

The decision came down to Butler and Southern Illinois. He visited Carbondale two weeks ago and had a good trip, but he just felt more comfortable at Butler with its staff and its players.

Among the weekend activities, Veasley went bowling with his future teammates. He shot in the 130s, but was happier to beat Butler assistant coach LaVall Jordan’s team.

”Their players welcomed me,” said Veasley of Butler. “The guys at Butler were sitting there and talking with me. It was like the first time I met with the Illinois Wolves (AAU team). As soon as we met, we were talking and clicking right away.”

The fact that Veasley is fitting in so well with the Butler players is no surprise to Troy Johnson, his coach on the AAU 17-and-under Illinois Wolves.

”He fits the mold of a Butler player,” Johnson said. “They may not get as many glamorous recruits as Southern Illinois, but they get hard-nosed kids. Veasley fits that mold.

”What he adds to Butler is he has a major upside. He could be the newcomer of the year next year. He’s the type of player who can be a two- or three-time conference MVP.” Veasley will be joined at Butler with one of his AAU teammates and friends. Elliot Engelmann, a 6-foot-7 forward from Downers Grove South, committed to Butler on Thursday.

With Engelmann and a few other top recruits, Veasley likes where the program is headed. He has no doubt the Bulldogs will be back in the NCAA tournament. Their last visit was in 2003.

”They had a couple of down seasons the past few years, but I could see them doing good things the next couple of years,” Veasley said. “I told coach Jordan and everyone in the beginning, it doesn't matter how far the school is away, where the school is or how big the school is, as long as we're going to win.

”I feel with the people they got, with me, Elliot and the other recruits, I feel with all of us together we're going to win.”

Veasley also liked that he has a good shot of playing major minutes as a freshman at Butler. It wasn't certain that would happen at SIU.

As a junior, Veasley averaged 15.5 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Pretzels.

TAKE ANOTHER WOLVES STAR OFF THE BOARD: ENGELMANN COMMITS

Thursday September 8, 2005 - The Illinois Wolves 17-and-under squad accomplished a great deal as a team this summer.

Now, the individuals are getting their due.

On Thursday evening, Elliot Engelmann announced his collegiate decision, making him the second Wolves player to commit this week (Will Walker chose DePaul on Monday). Engelmann, a 6-foot-7 forward from Downers Grove South, orally committed to Coach Todd Lickliter and Butler University.

“It’s always an exciting time,” Wolves coach Troy Johnson said. “So far, so good.”

Engelmann emerged as one of the state’s top players during the high school season with the Mustangs. With Bryan Mullins leading the team, Engelmann became the necessary sidekick for Downers South to succeed. Throughout the year, he provided his team with a consistent jumper, solid interior defense and rebounding.

He averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds while helping Downers South to third place at the state tournament. In the team’s final game, he had a team-high 21 points and five rebounds.

Engelmann continued to have such performances with the Wolves over the AAU season. Johnson wasn’t surprised by Engelmann’s numbers, but how he became key to the team’s success late in games. “As much as we had Will Walker, Devan Bawinkel and Will Veasely, I found myself calling more plays for Elliot than I thought I would,” Johnson said. “Late in games, we’d just call his number. He hit a lot of shots this summer.”

It was a drastic improvement from what Johnson had seen the previous summer. From one year to the next, Engelmann became a better shooter and a tougher player. He was a threat from long distance and was no longer afraid to bang with the big boys on the national circuit.

“Quite honestly, I think it was do-or-die time,” Johnson said. “I talked to him numerous times, ‘If you want to be Division I player, this is what college coaches are looking for.’ He bought into that.”

Butler is a team known to allow its big men shoot the ball. Johnson believes Engelmann will fit right in and be a tough match-up for opposing defenses to figure out.

“Coach Lickliter is a good guy and I watched their practice and it seemed like I'd be a good fit with their offense, their players and their staff,” Engelmann said. “They allow their big guys to do a lot of pick and rolls and either roll to the basket or flare out to the wing for a jumper. That's something I already do and it looked like a good fit.”

Engelmann’s commitment could lead to more good news for Butler. Fellow Wolves forward Willie Veasley is currently visiting the Indianapolis-based school and said last Sunday that Butler was his leader.

“I tried to call him yesterday and get a sense of what he was thinking,” Engelmann said. “We’ve been talking every day. We’ve always said if one of us goes to Butler, it would make the option that much better for the other. Having the chemistry and knowing what each other can do and when to look for it would help right off the bat.”

According to Johnson, Devan Bawinkel and Carliss Henderson are two others Wolves who are close to making a decision. Bawinkel is down to DePaul, West Virginia, Georgetown and Michigan State. Henderson is looking at Western Michigan and Weber State. - Scott Powers

BACK TO SCHOOL BATTLE GROUNDS APPROACHING (DATES CHANGED)

Tuesday September 6, 2005 - Terry Head and the Illinois Heat will present the Back to School Battle Grounds from Oct. 1-2 at Triton Community College in River Grove.

The two-day tournament will feature a varsity (juniors and seniors) and sophomore (sophomores and freshmen) division. Most of the state's top AAU teams are expected to be in attendance along with a number of Web sites and scouting services. There will be an all-tournament team and MVP awarded afterward.

Interested teams should contact Terry Head by phone at 312-501-7287 or by e-mail at coachthead@aol.com or Carlos Enriquez at 773-410-0132 or los702@hotmail.com. The fee is $250 per team.

BIG EAST MOVE HELPS WALKER DECIDE ON DEPAUL

Monday September 5, 2005 - Bolingbrook’s Will Walker would have probably snubbed DePaul a year ago.

It’s one thing to be a basketball player in Conference USA and a whole other to be in the Big East. The Blue Demons’ move to the latter ended up sealing the deal on Walker’s commitment to DePaul on Monday.

“It probably would have been different,” said Walker of DePaul’s conference switch. “I want to play against the best competition and that’s in the Big East and the ACC. I got a chance to stay home and play in the Big East. That was a big factor.”

Walker had known his heart was with DePaul for the past month and even told first-year Blue Demons coach Jerry Wainwright two weeks ago he was ready to commit. Being Wainwright’s first major recruit, Walker was asked to wait until the commitment could be played up, which include a visit over the weekend to the Lincoln Park campus and an announcement of his college choice on CLTV on Monday night.

It wasn’t easy for Walker to keep quiet.

“It was hard because everyone was asking me where I was going,” Walker said. “It’s takes a lot of stress off me. It makes everything more easy now.”

Basketball has been something that’s come easy to Walker for some time. The 6-foot-1 senior guard is one of the state’s smoothest when it comes to passing, scoring, rebounding and defending.

Don’t forget about clutch. Walker was the one who hit back-to-back buzzer beaters at the East Aurora Christmas tournament to lead Bolingbrook to wins.

He averaged about 20 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals as a junior. Illinois Wolves 17-and-under coach Troy Johnson expects Walker to provide the Blue Demons more of the same.

“The main thing they’re getting is a top 100 player in the country who’s going to be a big part of their resurgence to national prominence, which comes in a good time with their move to the Big East,” Johnson said. “I think Will Walker is going to be whatever DePaul needs him to be especially with his shooting ability and demeanor; he never gets rattled. They’re going to need that in the Big East.”

The Big East will also put Walker on more national television. He hopes schools such as Illinois who didn’t offer him a scholarship will take notice of how well he does.

“They didn’t want to get involved so they’ll see why they should have in the next couple of years,” Walker said. “That’s their loss. A lot of people doubt what I can do. They’re going to see. Playing in the Big East you get a lot of TV time, they’re going to see.”

Walker’s commitment could lead to more good things for DePaul. Walker’s AAU teammate Devan Bawinkel, a 6-4 guard from Winnebago, has said he’s more likely to attend DePaul if Walker was there. Bawinkel is currently down to the Blue Demons, West Virginia and Georgetown. -- Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES AUGUST ISSUE

Tuesday August 30, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently released its August issue. Nashville's Lucas O'Rear, one of the state's top Class A players, is featured in this month's issue. The e-magazine also includes stories on Hales Franciscan's Jerome Randle, Harlem Globetrotters owner Mannie Jackson, Niles West's Victor Colon, Marshall's Patrick Beverley and more.

The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. It's less than $1 an issue. Now as a subscriber, you also have access to all of Ill. Hoops past issues. That's nearly 50 issues for $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more info.

TROY JOHNSON LEAVES WOLVES FOR RISING STARS

Tuesday August 30, 2005 - Many have claimed to be inspired by Kanye West.

You can now include Troy Johnson in that company. When Johnson decided on Monday to leave the Illinois Wolves to take a position with the Rising Stars and Joy of the Game, it was an interview with Kanye West on MTV that helped Johnson out.

“Kanye was talking about how it was difficult to leave Jay-Z and Damon Dash,” said Johnson of West’s departure of Roc-A-Fella Records. “He admired and respected them, but it was a situation where it was he had to leave to grow. It was time for me to grow.”

For the past three years, Johnson has been coach with Mike Mullins as part of the Illinois Wolves. Together, Johnson and Mullins, developed the Wolves into an elite national AAU squad. They won a number of championships and many of their players have gone on to high-major basketball programs.

It’s a time Johnson will remember fondly. Unlike his departure with the Illinois Warriors four years ago, Johnson isn’t leaving because of differences with another individual. Johnson stressed he’s leaving the Wolves and Mullins with a handshake.

“Mike has been very, very understanding through the whole process,” Johnson said. “The separation from the Illinois Wolves is on good terms. Here it was a great, great run. It’s tough. We’re well known and respected nationally. One of the things that made this decision tough was the Illinois Wolves are right there with the national names. I want to be the New York Guachos or the Atlanta Celtics. I want to have that well known name and get that national respect.

“The big thing was this was just an opportunity to grow and be a part of the business aspect as being the director of AAU basketball for the Rising Stars.”

Johnson saw that opportunity as well as the rise of the Rising Stars. With a new state-of-the-art facility, emerging young players, a solid tradition and more resources than he had with the Wolves, the Rising Stars had a lot to offer Johnson.

Johnson believes it’s just the start of something special.

“It’s a situation where I truly believe it’s going to be established relatively soon as the premier AAU program in the state of Illinois,” Johnson said. “(Joy of the Game CEO) Mike Weinstein’s at a pinnacle with the Rising Stars right now. He trusts my basketball visions and we share a lot of the same visions. With the combining of our resources and players and with the 16-and-under landscape of Illinois being so wide open, we hope to be in a situation where have the top players wanting to play with the Rising Stars.”

Johnson will bring his Reebok affiliation over with him to the Rising Stars. It doesn’t mean Jeffery or Marcus Jordan will be donning Reebok, though.

“You won’t see the Jordan boys in Iversons,” Johnson said. “I’m fine with that. Reebok guys are fine with that. You won’t see the Jordan boys at abcd camp.”

Johnson does plan to coach the Illinois Wolves 17-and-under team a final time at this weekend’s PEP Fall Classic at Riverside-Brookfield.

PEP FALL CLASSIC INCLUDES MOST OF STATE'S TOP AAU TEAMS

Wednesday August 24, 2005 - This year's Project Education Plus (PEP) Classic is expected to include most of the state's top AAU teams. The teams that have confirmed attendance are the Warriors, Wolves, Mixers, Demons, Fire, Hawks, Team Illinois, Heat, Knights and Ft. Sooy.

The tournament will be held at Riverside-Brookfield High School on Sept. 3-4. It will run from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more info, contact Vince Carter at 312-520-0905. The event is presented by ChicagoHoops.com.

SINGLETARY TRANSFERS TO FLORIDA PREP SCHOOL

Tuesday August 23, 2005 - Chris Singletary started the summer by saying he was transferring to a high school in Georgia.

He spent the summer playing for the Illinois Fire and Farragut and attending school in Chicago. Few people believe he was going to Georgia and/or leaving Chicago.

Those people had the first part right.

Singletary did not transfer to Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga. He did leave Chicago, though, to enroll in Florida Preparatory School in Port Charlotte, Fla.

According to Singletary and Matt Ramker, Florida Prep’s director of basketball operations, Singletary is enrolled at the school, which begins classes next week. Singletary is living in a house with three others students, two from Puerto Rico and another from Africa. While his roommates’ English can be a little scary, Singletary is excited about getting away from Chicago and making a fresh start.

“They speak a little English,” said Singletary from Florida. “You should hear them say some of the English words and sing Jay Z.

“It seems scary being away, but at the same time I know it’s going to be a learning experience. I’m going to learn from it and it’s going to be fun. I just needed a new start. I feel like getting away from Chicago will be a new start for me and a better chance to succeed. It’s kind of quiet here. I’ll be focused on my books and keep my mind off other things.”

Singletary was just off reaching a qualifying score on his last ACT and hopes to obtain it with the help of his teachers at Florida Prep. Ramker believes the small school of 100 students will be perfect for Singletary.

“We have one teacher for every 10 students,” Ramker said. “We are a good place to focus. We’re a small town, not much to do. Chris will be able to focus and just play basketball. This is an opportunity for him to get a second lease on life. He has no choice but to go to school and play basketball.”

Leaving Chicago shouldn’t hurt Singletary’s recruitment. Florida Prep finished second in the state last year in Florida’s 1A division and expects to be a contender again this season. Singletary will team up with 6-foot-10 Hamady N’diaye, who is considered one of the best centers in the country.

Singletary is currently receiving interest from by Fresno State, Iowa State, Memphis, Purdue and USC.

According to Ramker, he was contacted by Singletary and his family about transferring to Florida Prep, then met him at the Adidas Superstar Camp in July.

Singletary, a 6-foot-3 point guard, averaged 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Admirals last season and was a key to their state tournament appearance in 2004.

“The toughest part about it was leaving my family, my mom, my dad and my brother,” Singletary said. “It was real tough saying goodbye. I won’t be home for a while.

“I just sat down, prayed and asked God to show me the way. I thought this was something I needed to do for myself to help me in the long run.” – Scott Powers

JOY OF THE GAME STARTING FALL LEAGUE

Monday August 22, 2005 - Joy of the Game will begin its High School Exposure League on Sept. 11 and run through late October at its new state of the art sports center in Deerfield. The league will range from 7th graders to high school seniors. It is presented by ChicagoHoops.com, which will provide player evaluations.

Joy of the Game will also be holding a 2nd-6th grade boys and girls league beginning in September.

For more information about joining either league or Joy of the Game, check out www.joyofthegame.com or call 847-498-6646.

MICHIGAN STATE RETURNS TO BAWINKEL'S RECRUITING PICTURE

Wednesday August 17, 2005 - Winnebago senior Devan Bawinkel had narrowed his list down to three schools – DePaul, Georgetown and West Virginia. That part was done.

He then moved on to planning visits to check out each campus and meet with the basketball coaches and players. He was in the works of finalizing that when the phone rang on Tuesday.

All of a sudden one of the tougher decisions he’s had to make in life became harder. V It was Michigan State coach Tom Izzo.

The Spartans had shown interest in Bawinkel, a 6-foot-5 guard, earlier in the recruiting process. He had even made an unofficial visit to the campus and Izzo had visited him at Winnebago. But Bawinkel hadn’t heard from any of Michigan State’s coaches in a while. He assumed they were no longer interested and counted them out of the picture.

Then, this.

Izzo said he hadn’t called because he was gone on vacation. He also mentioned with Michigan State losing Ramar Smith, a top prep player from Michigan, to the University of Connecticut, the Spartans’ recruiting situation had changed. Izzo let Bawinkel know he was still interested in recruiting him and invited Bawinkel out for an official visit.

The re-addition of Michigan State puts Bawinkel in a tough situation. DePaul, Georgetown and West Virginia have been after him the whole time. On the other hand, it is Michigan State, a constant NCAA Tournament contender, and a school he enjoyed on his visit.

“They’re definitely a winning program with a winning history,” said Bawinkel, who averaged 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists as a junior. “I loved the campus. I loved the coaches. I loved everything.”

Bawinkel expects to be in contact with the Spartans in the upcoming weeks to see if they’re truly interested in offering a scholarship like the other three schools.

For now, he’s going ahead with his other visits. On Saturday, he and his parents will unofficially visit DePaul. On September 17, he will travel to West Virginia for an official visit. Sometime soon, he also plans to make an official visit to Georgetown.

Coincidentally, all three of the schools compete in the Big East Conference. It wasn’t set up that way, but Bawinkel does hold a high regard for the conference.

“To me, the Big East is the best conference in the nation,” he said. “They’re loaded. I think it’s better than the ACC. My friends argue that.”

One person who could affect Bawinkel’s decision is his Illinois Wolves’ AAU teammate Will Walker. The Bolingbrook senior guard has trimmed his list to DePaul and Michigan. Bawinkel and Walker roomed together on a number of their national AAU trips and have developed a solid chemistry on the floor.

“If he were to go to DePaul, it would have a big impact on me going there,” Bawinkel said. “It’s always fun to play with him. On the court, we always know where the other is.”

Whatever school Bawinkel picks, he’d like to commit before the high school season begins in November. He’d like for the decision to be out of the way, so he and the Indians can concentrate on making their third consecutive state tournament appearance. The past two seasons Winnebago lost in the championship.

With Bawinkel and Wes Reinke returning and after a successful summer, which included winning Northern Illinois’ team camp, Winnebago is expected to be among the top Class A teams in the state again.

“I don’t see anyone in the area beating us,” Bawinkel said. “Going into the season, I think we have good shot of making it to state again.” -- Scott Powers

EPPINGER, FISHER EXPELLED FROM JEFFERSON

Thursday August 11, 2005 - Robert Eppinger and Branden Fisher, two of the state's top players in the Class of 2006, were expelled from Rockford Jefferson High School due to a fight during last school year.
Emily Tropp, a reporter for the Rockford Register Star, wrote about what happened at length in Thursday's paper. Go to www.rrstar.com to get the full story.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES JULY ISSUE FEATURING GARRETT CALLAHAN

Friday July 29, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently released its 20-page plus July issue. The issue features Seneca senior Garrett Callahan, one of the state's top guards. The issue also includes features on the Rising Stars' academic group, DePaul recruit Cully Payne, Q&As with former King and Illini star Marcus Liberty and Bloomington's Justin Bocot, a column on the NBA-age requirement by Jordan Wilson, Taylor Bell's favorite high school memory, photos from the Nike All-America Camp and more.

The issue is only available to Ill. Hoops' subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, only costs $20. Issues are sent to subscribers' e-mail weekly during the high school season and monthly during the off-season. To get you or someone you know a subscription to Ill. Hoops, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can pay through credit card or send payment to our address.

Don't miss out on another issue of Ill. Hoops, Illinois' source for in-depth coverage of the state's high school basketball scene.

What others are saying about Ill. Hoops:
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Illinois Wolves coach Troy Johnson: "Ill. Hoops is the most comprehensive news magazine covering Illinois high school basketball. It's the only place to go to find in-depth interviews, timely updates and great color photos. Plus, the opportunity to gain insight about both the well-known and obscure players make this publication like no other out there."

Josh Tabb, former Carbondale standout: "If you're a high school basketball fan, Ill. Hoops is for you. Ill. Hoops gives you the hottest in Illinois hoops."

COLLINS NOT MISSING, JUST NOT PLAYING IN NATIONAL EVENTS

Monday July 25, 2005 - As of late, the basketball community has been playing its version of Where’s Waldo? with Sherron Collins.

Since wowing scouts and coaches at Nike Camp in early July, the senior point guard has not been found on the AAU circuit. His dazzling dribbles weren’t at the Nike Peach Jam. His Chicago swagger can’t be found in Orlando where the Illinois Warriors are this week.

Actually, Collins won’t be located at any more AAU events this summer, according to Crane coach Anthony Longstreet.

“He won’t be anywhere,” Longstreet said. “He’ll be back in Chicago. He’s in summer school. If anyone wants to see him, they can see him going to school and coming back home.”

“That was the game plan -- go to Nike. We’re a Nike school, so we support the Nike stuff. As for Peach Jam, we got some signals crossed up. His flight got mixed up and the next day he decided to stay and get up on school.”

Collins will be playing for Crane on Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. at Garfield Park’s Golden Dome on Chicago’s West Side. Crane meets Manley for the league championship.

As for recruiting, Longstreet said Collins will begin the process of determining a school once the summer ends. – Scott Powers

EPPINGER STILL MAY TRANSFER TO CHICAGO SCHOOL

Friday July 22, 2005 - All summer throughout the high school basketball scene there’s been rumor that Rockford Jefferson star Robert Eppinger could be transferring to a Chicago-area school.

Crane High School, the home of point guard Sherron Collins, has been the school most thrown around for the senior.

When reached this week for comment, Eppinger, though still enrolled at Jefferson, didn’t rule out that from still happening.

“It was a possibility I might move to Chicago,” said Eppinger, a 6-8, 225-pound forward. “It still might be a possibility. We still don’t have a coach at Jefferson.”

Shortly after last season, Mike Winters left Rockford after four years as head coach of Jefferson to take the varsity opening at Rock Falls. Winters compiled an 83-33 record and last season led the J-Hawks to their first state tournament appearance since 1980. He was well respected by Eppinger.

Whether Eppinger returns to Jefferson mostly depends on who the school hires as the new coach. If Eppinger had his way, assistant coach Gordy Kasper would be his man.

“He’s a good coach,” Eppinger said. “We’d pretty much run a similar type of offense. Of any coach, I’d take him. If we do the things, get the right coach, we can contend again, get back down to state again. You got to have a good coach to get down there.”

As for possible Chicago schools, Eppinger mentioned Crane and St. Joseph. Collins has tried to bring him to Crane while AAU teammate Jonathan Peoples has been selling him on St. Joe’s.

Eppinger has already discussed the option with his family.

“They’re up for it if I want to do it,” Eppinger said. “They’re willing to work with me and do it. It is a big move for me from Rockford to Chicago.”

Where he’ll commit to college is another move on Eppinger’s mind this month. Since returning from Adidas’ Superstar camp and Showtime tournament last week, his phone has been constantly ringing.

He currently lists Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota, Seton Hall, Dayton, Utah and Wyoming as his possible choices. According to Eppinger, he has been offered by Long Beach St., Purdue, Seton Hall, Wyoming and Illinois State.

He doesn’t have a timetable for his decision.

Since last season, Eppinger has lost about 25 pounds and worked hard to prove he can play the small forward in college. Staying motivated hasn’t been a problem.

“If you want to get to the next level, you have to be ready for it,” Eppinger said. “You have to whatever you can.”

As a junior, Eppinger averaged 17.6 points and 10.7 rebounds. -- Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS OFFERS JUNE ISSUE FOR FREE

Tuesday July 5, 2005 - For a special one-time offer, Ill. Hoops has made available its June issue featuring Sherron Collins to all readers. If you click on "NEWSLETTERS" and proceed to click on "DOWNLOAD" underneath the current issue, the e-mag can be obtained. Ill. Hoops is published in a PDF file.
If you like what you see, you may be interested in an entire year's subscription to Ill. Hoops. A subscription to Ill. Hoops comes out to more than 25 issues a year for less than a $1 an issue. The e-magazine arrives to your e-mail weekly during the high school season and monthly during the off-season.
Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you or someone you know can start receiving Ill. Hoops for only $20 a year.

CARLWELL COMMITS TO ILLINOIS

Tuesday June 21, 2005 - Brian Carlwell and his teammates had just got a 15-minute “chatting” to from Proviso East coach David Chatman in the lobby after losing badly at the University of Illinois’ team camp on Monday afternoon.

Carlwell, a 6-foot-10 senior, walked toward the gym doors as a few reporters followed him. Carlwell was asked whether he was going to commit. He said he was. He decided he would attend Illinois.

“My visit last week was real good,” said Carlwell, who averaged a double-double in rebounds and points as a junior. “I felt comfortable with the coaching staff and I just wanted to get this thing over with.”

He got to the door and opened it. He was asked if he could wait another minute for a few more questions. He closed the door and stood up against the wall.

“Have you told them yet,” he was asked.

“That’s where I was going right now,” Carlwell said.

The reporters let him on his way.

Carlwell opened the doors again, talked momentarily to Illinois assistant coach Wayne McClain and walked to the other end of the court toward Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Weber was watching Glenbrook North, his brother Dave Weber’s team, play against Crane. Carlwell interrupted Weber and gave him the news.

With Dee Brown, a former Proviso East star, announcing he would return for his senior season, it made for a great day for Weber and his program.

Carlwell chose Illinois over Michigan State and Florida State. -- Scott Powers


* An in-depth Q&A with Carlwell will be featured in the upcoming issue of Ill. Hoops, which will be released on Thursday. The issue will only be available to e-mail subscribers. A year’s subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. For more information, click on “SUBSCRIBE.”

COLLINS' RECRUITING WILL HAVE TO WAIT

Monday June 13, 2005 - Crane basketball coach Anthony Longstreet receives a phone call almost every day from a college interested in recruiting point guard Sherron Collins.

Longstreet tells each one the same thing, "Right now, you guys have to be patient, wait until the fall."

Since Glenbrook North's Jon Scheyer committed to Duke last month, Collins has become the state's biggest name on the national recruiting trail. And like Scheyer, Collins' recruitment is expected to take on a life of its own, especially because there will be local interest with Illinois again involved.

Longstreet understands Collins' recruiting will develop into a circus. The two have agreed to wait until the fall to open that tent, though.

They have another priority at this point -- improving Collins' grades and getting him qualified academically to attend college.

''One of the reasons he doesn't play every week in these AAU tournaments is so that happens,'' Longstreet said. "He will qualify. That's basically my purpose to push off the recruiting process until after the summer.

"He needs to work on being a good student, his study habits. Once that's over with, we'll work on the recruiting stuff. After the summer, we'll sit down and look at the situation."

Illinois and Iowa will be given hard looks when the process begins. Iowa coach Steve Alford and Illinois coach Bruce Weber showed interest in Collins before his stock skyrocketed at April's Boo Williams' AAU tournament in Virginia.

According to Longstreet, Illinois and Iowa offered scholarships to Collins early on.

"Iowa and Illinois did a lot of work before the spring recruiting process opened up," Longstreet said. "We will stay true to our word and give Illinois and Iowa their visits. They busted their butts. They did their work. Right now, those two guys are in there and we'll add on from there."

Collins has allowed Longstreet full control of his recruiting. When contacted by coaches or media, Collins refers them to Longstreet.

Longstreet acknowledges that his total control has led to allegations that he has kept certain schools out of Collins' recruitment and has looked out for his own interests. Longstreet has heard it all before.

"People have always questioned what I've done,'' Longstreet said. "If you coach in the Chicago Public League and have been maligned as much I've been maligned, the stuff now is a piece of cake. I've become immune to it.

"The biggest thing I want is the best university for Sherron Collins. I want him to be in the best situation. I don't want what's best for coach Longstreet. I don't want what's best for the AAU coach.

"I hope I don't sound arrogant, but when you put in the time with Sherron through heartache and pain, I want him to get everything that's coming to him. If I'm a bad guy for that, I'll have to live with that the rest of my life." -- Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES SUMMER PREVIEW

Wednesday May 18, 2005 - Ill. Hoops released its summer-preview issue on May 18. The issue features the Illinois Wolves' trio of Devan Bawinkel, Willie Veasley and Will Walker. It also includes Derrick Rose's first-ever interview, Jon Scheyer's committment, profiles of Jon Rice and Matt Shamis, a feature on AAU basketball, Chris Singletary's possible transfer, a diary by Bawinkel and more.
The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Issues are published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the off-season. To find how you can get yourself or someone you know a subscriptin, click on "SUBSCRIBE".

SCHEYER FOLLOWS HEART TO DUKE

Tuesday May 17, 2005 - Two weeks ago, Jon Scheyer put a halt to his recruitment.

He quit answering his phone. He didn’t talk to coaches, the media, scouting services, his friends or even his family about his college decision. It had become so overwhelming he decided to take a step away from everything and a take a breath.

He took the time to remember who the decision would affect the most.

When he sat down in Glenbrook North’s library on Tuesday afternoon and announced he chose Duke over Illinois, Scheyer knew that’s what he really wanted.

“I took a week off and looked at the big picture,” said Scheyer, a 6-foot-6 junior guard. “I thought about what was best for me in the long run and it was Duke.”

Scheyer followed his heart, but the tradition of the Blue Devils and Coach Mike Krzyzewski spoke to him as well. Coach K’s three national championships, 10 Final Fours, 19 All-American selections and 12 National Coach of the Year awards were impossible to ignore.

As a youngster, Scheyer first imagined playing for the Blue Devils. In his basement, he used to replay with his parents Christian Laettner’s buzzer-beating shot over Kentucky in 1992.

“My dad was Grant Hill in-bounding the ball and I was Christian Laettner,” Scheyer said. “My mom, she was Kentucky.

“You can ask any of my friends, I love history and I love tradition. What better place to go to than Duke? I think Coach K has been through every situation in the world. To be taught from a coach like him is pretty amazing.”

Telling Duke, “Yes,” was easy. Telling Illinois, “No,” was not.

Making the situation even harder was Glenbrook North coach Dave Weber is the brother of Illinois coach Bruce Weber.

The situation was even more unique with Duke assistant coach Chris Collins being a Glenbrook North graduate.

“Coach K actually mentioned it, you can’t find a situation where you have a college team on the rise like Illinois, the relationship with the brother and Chris Collins’ tie to his old school,” said Jim Scheyer, Jon’s dad.

Scheyer told Dave Weber his decision on Monday night. Dave did not tell his brother, allowing Scheyer to do so on Tuesday morning.

Dave was unable to attend Tuesday’s press conference because of a prior family obligation. He did not answer his cell phone for anyone on Monday and just began picking it up on Tuesday evening. “I was disappointed,” Dave said. “I wanted him to go to Illinois. I said that from the start and I told him that. That was disappointing because I felt he would fit in best there and it’s where he had the best opportunity to play right away. We run the same stuff and he would have been a real easy fit.

“He had to choose whatever school was best for him. Everybody makes a big deal of me being the brother of the coach at Illinois. He had to do what was best for him. In the long run, that’s what he did.”

Sean Wallis, his best friend, also happened to be an Illinois fan.

“I’m a diehard Illini fan and my whole family is,” said Wallis, who teamed with Scheyer to lead the Spartans to the 2004-2005 Class AA state title. “Would I be excited if he went to Illinois? Sure, but I wanted him to do what was best for himself.”

What it came down to wasn’t Scheyer disliking Illinois; he just liked Duke more.

“I went back and forth throughout this entire thing,” Scheyer said. “I don’t think there’s anything that Illinois didn’t do. … Illinois is on the rise. They’re going to be doing great the next couple of years. I think it’s a little silly thinking I was the savior. I don’t think one person is the savior at any place.”

Illinois’ failure to get a commitment from Scheyer may be perceived by some as Bruce Weber’s inability to recruit, but Illinois Prep Bulls-eye scout Roy Schmidt doesn’t agree.

“Anyone who rips Bruce Weber because of this is out of their minds,” Schmidt said. “I thought Bruce Weber did everything he could do. It’s hard to beat Coach K.”

Illinois’ attention is now expected to turn to Crane junior point guard Sherron Collins, who happens to play with Scheyer on the Illinois Warriors AAU team.

Scheyer averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a junior. He was named Ill. Hoops Class AA Player of the Year.

Scheyer's press conference was attended by seven television stations and two radio stations. -- By Scott Powers

SINGLETARY PLANS TO LEAVE FARRAGUT TO PLAY AT GEORGIA SCHOOL

Wednesday May 11, 2005 - Every time Chris Singletary steps on a court in Chicago he doesn’t feel people are there to watch him play basketball.

He can score with the city’s best. He can pass with the city’s best. He doesn’t think people care, though. He feels they want to see how he reacts to being fouled hard or being trash talked to.

“Will he go off again?” Singletary believes they wonder.

Honestly, he’s sick of it. He doesn’t care anymore. Most of his decisions in life have been made with others taken into account.

For once, he’s going to think about himself.

After finishing up his junior year at Farragut next month, Singletary plans on moving to Marietta, Ga. and enrolling at Wheeler High School. Wheeler won the 2004-2005 Georgia Class AAAAA state championship and has captured three titles in the past four years.

“It’s like a fresh start,” said Singletary, who is considered by scouts to be one of the state’s top 10 juniors. “I’ve been sacrificing for other people for a long time. I have to do what I have to do and be selfish for a minute.”

Few talent evaluators have anything negative to say about Singletary’s ability. He averaged 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds this year. As a sophomore, he averaged 14 points, six rebounds and five assists while helping the Admirals downstate.

At 6-foot-3 and with a strong frame as a point guard, Singletary has drawn plenty of college looks. He has received offers from Purdue, Miami and Rutgers, according to him. His personal favorite is Oklahoma State because of Chicago-native Tony Allen who played there.

What have brought him negative publicity have been his emotions. After being involved in a fight and a few ejections last summer, Singletary’s temper came into question.

It’s something he feels he’s learned to control, but is still put under a microscope each time he walks on to a court.

“When I play I don’t think people watch me as far as if I can lock someone up on ‘D or score,” Singletary said. “They want to see my reactions, my attitude. What am I going to do if something happens?

“For those who feel I’m a head case or a problem, they have another thing coming. When I leave and come back, it’s going to be crazy. You see the top players and the things they can do and I can do the same. What people think about me has nothing to do with basketball talent. I’ve played against those top players. It’s all about politics.”

Singletary drew attention to himself again this season for something other than his skills when he sat out a few of Farragut’s games, which was reportedly his own choice. Singletary said he needed to step away from basketball for a little while.

Singletary understands the move to Georgia will also be questioned.

“People are going to have their opinions about me no matter what,” Singletary said. “If you do one bad thing, they hold it against you the rest of your life. I could do 10 good things and they’d still talk about that one bad thing. It’s come to a point where I don’t care no more. I’m leaving Chicago to get a new start.

“It’s just a better environment. I feel like I’ll be able to enjoy myself better than I do here. There’s less distractions. There’s no one on the street corners. I stay busy when I’m out there. I’m working out two or three times a day. This gives me the best chance to get to the next level.”

Singletary came across Wheeler High School in March when he visiting his Worldwide Renegades coach Desmond Eastmond during Farragut’s spring break. A few thousand fans packed the gym and Singletary fell love in with the atmosphere and the team’s playing style.

Eastmond does admit nothing’s set in stone with Singletary moving to Georgia. He does believe, though, it’s the best move for Singletary.

“Not that Chicago’s a bad place, but it’s not for everyone,” Eastmond said. “You don’t realize your potential until you leave home. For him to be in a different environment would be good.

“For Chris Singletary with the reputation he has in Chicago, it’s not going to get any better in Chicago no matter how good he is. What he has to do is be taken out of his element and out of his comfort zone.”

Farragut coach Wolf Nelson heard the same sort of rumors last season that Singletary was transferring. Until it actually happens, Nelson said he wouldn’t concern himself with it.

Aside from Nelson, Singletary’s departure would especially affect his close friend Cory Hughes. Hughes came over to Farragut from Prosser last year to play with Singletary. Hughes was ruled ineligible last season because of the transfer. He looked forward to teaming up with Singletary next season, but understands the situation.

“It’ll be kind of shaky to me because I came over to play with him, but I feel whatever move is best for him he has to take it,” Hughes said. “I understand that. When you’re struggling, you got to do what’s best for you.” -- By Scott Powers

ILL. HOOPS PHOTO GALLERY UPDATED

Monday April 25, 2005 - With the high school season ending and Ill. Hoops starting its second volume of e-mag issues, we've updated our photo gallery with recent pictures. We hope to do a better job of having the area updated more often. Some of the new pictures include ones taken at the state tournament, the Roundball Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game.
Click on "PHOTOS" to check them out.

COACK K TO SPEAK AT CHICAGO BENEFIT

Tuesday April 19, 2005 - Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will be speaking at a benefit for the Lawrence Hall Youth Services on Wednesday, May 4 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel Chicago on 200 N. Columbus.
Krzyzewski is one of the college game's most successful coaches. He's won three national championships, appeared in 10 Final Fours, been named National Coach of the Year 12 times and awarded NABC's Coach of the Decade for the 1990s. At the benefit, he will be speaking about life, basketball and bringing out the best in every child.
Lawrence Hall treats, educates and provides a home for at-risk children in Chicago. The children include those who have been abused, neglected and abandoned. Lawrence Hall was founded in 1865 and is one of Chicago's oldest child welfare agencies.
For more information about the benefit and tickets, call 312-456-2497.

ILL. HOOPS EXCLUSIVE: DERRICK ROSE'S FIRST-EVER INTERVIEW

Thursday April 14, 2005 - Newspapers, magazines, ESPN.
The spotlight.
Crowds so large that his games are forced to be played in college gyms.
The hype.
The autographs.
The NBA scouts.
Simeon’s Derrick Rose wants it all. He’d like to be the next LeBron James of high school basketball.
“They say no one could even come and see him play in his high school,” said Rose in his first-ever interview. “They had to play at a college university. That’s what I’m trying to get up to. I just want to get up to the hype like LeBron James.”
Rose is on his way of following the path of his role model. His varsity debut this past season was one of the most anticipated in Chicago high school basketball history. Fans packed Curie gym for his first game hours in advance.
It was Rose’s first taste of it all.
He liked it.
“Against Thornwood, all those people came to see me play,” Rose said. “That was crazy. It was just like LeBron.”
Like James, the 6-foot-3 Rose hasn’t disappointed his followers. As a sophomore, he was named to nearly everyone’s first or second all-state team. He averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals while leading the Wolverines to the Public League championship contest and St. Xavier Sectional title game.
Much like James, Rose has the all-around game that has some scouts talking about the NBA already. He can jump out of the gym. He’s unselfish. He defends. He rebounds well. He can handle the ball.
Of all Rose’s gifts, his older brother and MeanStreets Express AAU coach Reggie Rose has always been impressed with his basketball smarts.
“We knew Derrick’s knowledge of the game was extraordinary compared to a lot of kids,” said Reggie, who played basketball at Chicago’s Hubbard High School and the University of Idaho. “He was able to pick up on stuff real quick. There’s a lot of things he does that you really can’t teach kids. Some people call it God’s gift or a freak of nature. That’s just something he has. Something like that, I really can’t say where got that from.”
Where Rose got his combination of shooting, dribbling and jumping from is something he and Reggie can trace. In Reggie’s playing days, he was a shooter. Rose’s other brother, Allan, was a leaper. His oldest brother, Dwayne, was a dribbler.
“One of them could shoot,” Rose said. “One of them could dribble. And one of them could jump. It just seems like I got all of their games into one.”
Rose plans on concentrating on his jumper and ballhandling skills throughout the AAU season. It’s the two areas he feels he needs to work on to get to the next level.
For now, he’s still figuring the next level to be college. As for the NBA?
“That’s the goal, but I’m not thinking about it,” Rose said. “I’m thinking about college." Rose describes himself as shy. Others always call him humble and unselfish. When asked about the Express, he said he hoped scouts would come and see his teammates, so they could earn college scholarships. As for being humble, Rose hates cockiness.
“I don’t like to brag or anything,” Rose said. “That’s how you know you’re getting big-headed. I don’t like when players do it. I just try to play my way. … I’m just trying to be a kid. There’s a lot of times I don’t feel like I’m a kid. My brother told me I just got to mature faster. That’s what I’m trying to do.
“I think I’m just like every other player up in here. I’m just trying to work hard to get to the next level. That’s all I’m trying to do.”
That and trying to be the next LeBron. -- By Scott Powers


Want to know more about Derrick Rose? Click on newsletters and check out issue No. 2, one of our free downloadable issues. It features a cover story on Rose.
Also, don't miss our AAU season preview issue that will be released in early May. It is only available to subscribers. To find out how to get yourself or someone you know a year's e-mag subscription to Ill. Hoops click on "SUBSCRIBE". A year's subscription, which comes to more than 20 issues, costs only $20.

SCHEYER NOT DOWN TO 2 SCHOOLS, 3 STILL REMAIN

Tuesday April 12, 2005 - Jon Scheyer couldn’t believe his eyes or his ears when he learned of reports he had cut his college basketball decision down to two schools.
While at the Bulls game on Monday night, he heard Comcast SportsNet Chicago report only Illinois and Duke remained. He read it in the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday. Recruiting sites also published he had eliminated Arizona and Wisconsin.
Scheyer was confused. He had dropped Wisconsin, but Arizona, Illinois and Duke were left. The only explanation had to be the interview he had with Mike North on WSCR-AM 670 on Monday morning.
“I don’t know how it happened,” said Scheyer, who averaged 25.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.1 rebounds this year. “I don’t know why it happened. Pretty much he said I was knocking it down to two and joking around. He was teasing me. I guess listeners picked it up wrong.
“If you were listening, I don’t think you could have thought it had come down two.”
Arizona’s basketball staff received a number of calls once the news hit. The Wildcats didn’t know what was going on. Arizona assistant coach Josh Pastner called Scheyer.
“We explained it to them,” Scheyer said. “They were so understanding. I felt bad for them. They handled it really well.”
Since Scheyer led Glenbrook North to the Class AA state title in March, his recruitment has taken on a life of its own. High school fans, college fans, the media and more are constantly asking the all-state junior where he’s headed.
Most players find the college recruiting process stressful, but Scheyer’s is somewhat more unique -- Scheyer’s high school coach, David Weber, is the brother of Illinois coach Bruce Weber and Duke assistant coach Chris Collins is a graduate of Glenbrook North.
“It’s going to be the hardest call of my life to tell one of these schools, ‘No,’” Scheyer said. “How can Chris Collins not get a player from his own school? I love Coach Weber so much. I love the Illinois program. It’s a real unique situation I’m in. It’s stressful and overwhelming at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I feel pretty fortunate to be in the position I’m in.
“In the long run, I have to do what’s best for myself. It’s easier said than done. It’s hard for me, but I can’t worry about other schools being upset.”
Scheyer told Wisconsin on Friday of his decision. He felt he would fit better in the other three systems. As for the final cut, Scheyer hopes to make it during the spring, but won’t rush it.
”The sooner the better,” Scheyer said. “But if it takes until the last day, it takes that long then. I would love to get it over with.” -- By Scott Powers

MATCHUPS ANNOUNCED FOR CITY-SUBURBAN SHOWDOWN,
HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS SHOWDOWN

Thursday April 7, 2005 - The Integrity Group announced its McDonald’s City-Suburban Showdown doubleheader will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2006. The tentative site is Northwestern's Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, where it was held the first nine years.
In Game 1 (6:15 p.m.), it will be a battle of defending state champions from Indiana and Illinois as Indianapolis' Lawrence North takes on Glenbrook North. The Wildcats are the two-time defending Indiana Class 4A state champions (Class 4A). They will return several key players including 7-foot center Greg Oden, the top-ranked player in the nation. The Spartans, who just won their first Illinois state title in school history, will return three starters including 6-6 Jon Scheyer, Illinos top junior.
Game 2 (8 p.m.) features two teams, Gurnee Warren and Maywood Proviso East, that figure to be among the top teams in Illinois next season. The Blue Devils, the defending North Suburban Conference champions, will return their entire starting unit and will be led by 6-2 Marcus Lewis. The Pirates, the West Suburban Conference champs, will return two key starters. Six-foot-11 Brian Carlwell is one of the most improved players in the country.
Tickets are priced at $12 for Adults and $9 for Students (18 and under) and will be available at the three Illinois schools. Additional ticket outlets will be announced later in the year. All seats are reserved.
The Integrity Group also announced the teams for its 9th Annual High School Hoops Showdown, which will again be held at the NIU Convocation Center in DeKalb. The date is Saturday, January 14, 2006. In Game 1 (6:15 p.m.), Winnebago will meet. Rock Falls. Game 2 (p.m.) features two perennial state powers with Westchester St Joseph taking on Rockford-Boylan.
For more information on either event, you can call The Integrity Group at 630-369-6533 or e-mail them at info@integritygrp.com.

ILLINOIS WOLVES CHALLENGE STILL HAS SPOTS OPEN

Thursday April 7, 2005 - The Reebok Illinois Wolves Hoops Challenge still has a few spots for 15-,16- and 17-and-under teams. The Challenge is from May 6-8. For more details, contact Troy Johnson at 630-803-9402.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FINAL A & AA ISSUES, PLAYERS OF THE YEAR , ALL-STATE 1ST TEAMS

Wednesday April 6, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently released it final Class A and AA high school season issues. Together, they're packed with over 30 pages of player profiles, all-state teams and photos from the entire season.
In the Class A issue, Nate Minnoy is featured as Ill. Hoops Player of the Year. Devan Bawinke, Garrett Callahan, Kevin Lisch and Mike Robinson join Minnoy on the first team.
In the AA issue, Jon Scheyer was named Ill. Hoops Player of the Year. Tony Freeman, Jerel McNeal, DeAndre Thomas and Julian Wright accompany Scheyer on the AA all-state first team.
The issue is only available to subscribers. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out you can get yourself or someone you know a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, for only $20.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES CLASS A AND AA ALL-STATE 2ND TEAMS

Tuesday April 5, 2005 -
Class A All-State 2nd Team
Shawn Emerich, Quincy Notre Dame, Sr.
Mark Gillingham, Carrollton, Sr.
Ray Kissing, Crab Orchard, Sr.
Sean Knox, North Green, Sr.
Derek Sloan, Galatia, Sr.

Class AA All-State 2nd Team
Maurice Acker, Hillcrest, Sr.
Manual Cass, Carbondale, Jr.
Sherron Collins, Crane, Jr.
Bobby Frasor, Brother Rice, Sr.
Derrick Rose, Simeon, Soph.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES CLASS A AND AA ALL-STATE 3RD TEAMS

Sunday April 3, 2005 -
Class A All-State 3rd Team
Ryan Burks, (Manito) Midwest Central, Sr.
Chas McFarland, Lovington, Sr.
Lucas O'Rear, Nashville, Sr.
David Phillips, (Chicago) Hope, Sr.
Lance Young, (Rock Island) Alleman, Sr.

Class AA All-State 3rd Team
Joevan Catron, (Harvey) Thornton, Jr.
Dodie Dunson, Bloomington, Sr.
Brandon Ewing, (Chicago) Julian, Sr.
Bryan Mullins, Downers Grove South, Sr.
Jamar Smith, (Peoria) Richwoods, Sr.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES CLASS A AND AA ALL-STATE 4TH TEAMS

Thursday March 31, 2005 -
Class A All-State 4th Team
Jeremiah Box, Rockford Christian Life, Sr.
Justin Brock, Liberty, Jr.
Ray Detmer, Breese Central, Sr.
Jeff Robinson, Lisle, Sr.
Felix Thurman, St. Anne, Sr.

Class AA All-State 4th Team
Robert Eppinger, Rockford Jefferson, Jr.
Sead Odzic, Niles West, Sr.
Jeremy Pargo, Robeson, Sr.
Phillip Perry, Proviso East, Sr.
Chris Singletary, Farragut, Jr.

CHICAGO, NEW YORK ROSTERS ANNOUNCED FOR OLD SPICE RED ZONE ALL-STAR SHOOTOUT

Thursday March 31, 2005 - Paragon Marketing Group announces that Old Spice Red Zone has become the title sponsor of the Chicago vs. New York high school basketball all-star game, the Old Spice Red Zone All-Star Shootout.
The Old Spice Red Zone All-Star Shootout is now entering its seventh year and is considered one of the top high school basketball all-star games in the country. The game features top senior high school basketball players from Chicago competing against their counterparts from New York. The series is tied 3-3 after New York's 106-103 victory in 2004 when University of Pittsburgh guard Keith Benjamin hit a last second three pointer to secure the victory.
This year's game will take place on Saturday, April 16, 2005 at the DePaul University Athletic Center in Chicago, Illinois. Tip-off is at 12:30 p.m. (CST). The game will be televised live on WLS-TV Chicago and WABC-TV New York at 12:30 p.m. (CST). This year's announce team will feature Jim Rose (play-by-play), Dave Kaplan (color analyst) and Lou Canellis (sideline reporter).
The game has featured a number of athletes who have gone on to great accomplishments at the collegiate and professional levels, including Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat), Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers), Steven Hunter (Phoenix Suns), Luis Flores (Golden State Warriors), Luther Head (Illinois), Roger Powell (Illinois), Will Bynum (Georgia Tech), Daryl Hill (St. John's), James Augustine (Illinois), Chris Taft (Pittsburgh) and Alando Tucker (Wisconsin).
"The Shootout has grown to be the most exciting all-star game in the country due to the natural rivalry between Chicago and New York," said TJ Cohen, Paragon Marketing Group. "The athletes selected to compete in the Old Spice Red Zone All-Star Shootout play for the name that is represented on the front of their jersey rather than the name on their back."
"Old Spice is excited to be a part of this year's All-Star Shootout. High school basketball is a great venue for Old Spice and the high performance of these athletes typifies the standard we seek to achieve for our consumers," says Carl Stealey, Old Spice Brand Manager.
Rosters for the 2005 Old Spice Red Zone All-Star Shootout, including the player's high school and college commitments are as follows:
TEAM CHICAGO
Brandon Ewing - Julian (Wyoming)
Tony Freeman - St. Joseph's (Iowa)
Clarence Holloway - Harlan (Louisville)
Tyrone Kent - Crane
Jerel McNeal - Hillcrest (Marquette)
Nate Minnoy - Hales Fransiscan (Purdue)
Jeremy Pargo - Robeson (Gonzaga)
Mickey Perry - Proviso East (Wisconsin)
Sead Odzic - Niles West (Southern California)
DeAndre Thomas - Westinghouse
Jarvis Walker - Rich Central
Marquis Young - Austin (Mississippi)
TEAM NEW YORK
Devon Austin - White Plains (Manhattan)
Tyrell Biggs - Don Bosco Prep (Pittsburgh)
Joe Bova - CBA Albany (Columbia)
Doug Elwell - Msgn. Farrell (Wagner)
Greg Johnson - Holderness School
Chris Lowe - Mt. Vernon
Chris Martin - Christ the King
Kyle McAlarney - Moore Catholic (Notre Dame)
Geoff McDermott - New Rochelle
Kahiem Seawright - Uniondale (Rhode Island)
James Tchana - Our Savior (Fresno State)
Team Chicago will be coached by Loren Jackson (Julian) and Quitman Dillard (Westinghouse).
Team New York will be coached by Bob Cimmino (Mt. Vernon) and Tim Leary (St. Francis Prep).
Ticket's cost $10.00 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster at 312-559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com and at the DePaul Athletic Center Box Office (Game Day Only).

ILL. HOOPS NEWEST ISSUE FILLED WITH CLASS AA STATE COVERAGE

Tuesday March 22, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently published its Class AA state issue. With more than 25 pages, the e-mag is filled with stories and pictures from the weekend that was in Peoria. The issue includes stories about state champion Glenbrook North, Downers Grove South's Bryan Mullins, Brother Rice's Crusader Crazies, Crane's Tyrone Kent, GBN's Sean Wallis, Rockford Jefferson's guards, the top juniors at state, a diary by Downers South's Elliot Engelmman and many, many photos.
The issue is only available to subscribers. To see how you can get yourself or someone you know a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, for only $20, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more info. Ill. Hoops is published weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason.

ILL. HOOPS' CURRENT ISSUE OFFERS COMPLETE CLASS A COVERAGE

Monday March 14, 2005 - From features to diaries to photos to more, Ill. Hoops' current issue is packed with coverage from the Class A state tournament. There are stories about Hales Franciscan, Liberty, Mike Robinson, Devan Bawinkel, Jerome Randle, Garrett Callahan and more. There is also a Q&A with former Illinois player Aaron Spears and a diary by Brother Rice's Bobby Frasor.
The issue is only available to e-mail subscribers. To see how you can get yourself or someone you know a year's subcription, which comes out to more than 20 issues for only $20, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more info. Be sure to not miss out on our Class A coverage as well our upcoming AA issue.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES MARCH 7TH ISSUE; DON'T MISS OUR FREE ONES

Monday March 7, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently released its March 7th issue, which features USC-bound Sead Odzic. The issue also includes a shout out from Jamar Smith, a profile of Simeon senior Tim Green, a story on how one fan will go to any length to get into the state tournament, recaps from Class A and AA postseason games, photos and more.
The current issue of the e-magazine is only available to subscribers.
If you haven't seen Ill. Hoops, be sure to click on "NEWSLETTERS" and check out our free issues (No. 1, 2, 11 and 15). If you like what you see, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops, more than 20 issues, for only $20. Ill. Hoops is released weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Don't miss out on another issue of Ill. Hoops.

CITY CHAMPS WESTINGHOUSE FEATURED IN FEB. 28 ISSUE

Monday February 28, 2005 - Ill. Hoops recently released its Feb. 28 issue. The issue features Westinghouse, which won its second straight Chicago Public League championship. The issues also includes a profile of Class AA Mount Zion, Stockton's Kyle Korth, Crab Orchard's Ray Kissing, a column about the Suburban Prairie Conference realignments, a recap from Class A regional action and the final week of the AA regular season, photos and more.
The e-magazine is only available to subscribers. If you don't have a subscription, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops, more than 20 issues, for only $20. Ill. Hoops is released weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Don't miss out on another issue of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FEB. 21 ISSUE

Monday February 21, 2005 - Ill. Hoops released its Feb. 21 issue on Monday. The issue features Class A's Lovington and its star seniors Chas McFarland and Chase Reedy. The issue also includes a profile on Rock Falls, point and counterpoint columns about basketball fashion, Foreman's upset win over Farragut, Class A & AA polls and more.
The e-magazine is only available to subscribers. If you don't have a subscription, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops, more than 20 issues, for only $20. Ill. Hoops is released weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Don't miss out on another issue of Ill. Hoops.

ILL. HOOPS CATCHES ILLINI FEVER, OFFERS FREE JAMAR SMITH ISSUE

Tuesday February 15, 2005 - In support of the No. 1 team in the nation and in appreciation of its fans, Ill. Hoops is offering the Feb. 14th issue featuring Illini-recruit Jamar Smith for free download. It's a must-read for any fan. Click on "NEWSLETTERS" to download the issue.
Ill. Hoops supports all in-state programs and is proud whenever any of them succeeds. We would like to wish the Illini and rest of the state's programs continued success as March approaches. Illinois not only has the top high school teams, but it also now has the top college talent.
This is a one-time offer. Be sure not to miss out on any future issues. Ill. Hoops will continue to profile in-state Illini recruits and the state's top high school players, teams and coaches. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how to get yourself or someone you know a subscription.

ILLINI RECRUIT JAMAR SMITH FEATURED IN FEB. 14 ISSUE

Monday February 14, 2005 - Peoria Richwoods senior and University of Illinois recruit Jamar Smith is featured in the Feb. 14th issue of Ill. Hoops. It is a must-read for any Illinois fan. The issue also includes coverage from St. Joe's and Seneca's first losses, a profile on Normal University High's Delano Robinson, a Q&A with Phoenix Suns center Steven Hunter, the week in review, photos and more.
The e-mag is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. You can find out more information by clicking on "SUBSCRIBE."

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES FEB. 7 ISSUE

Monday February 7, 2005 - `Ill. Hoops recently released its Feb. 7th issue. The issue is again packed with coverage of the entire's basketball scene. Class A's top team Hales Franciscan is featured on the cover. The issue also includes a profile on Galatia's Derek Sloan, a diary by Farragut's Chris Singletary, a team profile of Class A-ranked Quincy Notre Dame, plenty of game coverage and photos and more.
The e-magazine is only available to subscribers. If you don't have a subscription, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can get a year's worth of Ill. Hoops, more than 20 issues, for only $20. Ill. Hoops is released weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Don't miss out on another issue of Ill. Hoops.

Upcoming City-Suburban Showdown full of tests

Monday February 7, 2005 - The 10th Annual City-Suburban Showdown will feature undefeated St. Joseph against Brother Rice and Glenbrook North versus Milwaukee-Vincent on Saturday, Feb. 12, at UIC. The first game begins at 6:15 p.m. and the second will follow at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the schools, the UIC Ticket Office or by contacting Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or calling 312-559-1212.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES JAN. 31 ISSUE

Monday January 31, 2005 - Ill. Hoops released its Jan. 31 issue on Monday. The issue includes a cover story about Carbondale taking down Westinghouse, a profile of undefeated Class A Seneca, a diary by Brother Rice's Bobby Frasor, a column by Jordan Wilson, a recap of all the teams in the Class A & AA polls, coverage from Simeon-Julian, Quincy Notre Dame-Normal University High, Brother Rice-Marist, photos and more.
The issue is only available to e-mail subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, only costs $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more information on how to get yourself or someone you know a subscription to Illinois' top high school basketball e-magazine.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES JAN. 24 ISSUE

Monday January 24, 2005 - Thornton's brief stay at the No. 1 spot in the country is featured in this week's issue of Ill. Hoops, which was released on Jan. 24. Other stories include a profile on Lake Zurich's Mike Kolze, Class A & AA polls, the week in review, a column about "Coach Carter", photos and more.
The issue is available only to e-mail subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, only costs $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more information on how to get yourself or someone you know a subscription to Illinois' top high school basketball e-magazine.

ILL. HOOPS OFFERS FREE ISSUE

Tuesday January 18, 2005 - For a one-time deal, Ill. Hoops has made its Jan. 18 issue available to everyone. Check out the hottest Illinois high school basketball e-magazine for free by going to "NEWSLETTERS", then clicking on the Jan. 18th's download icon. With more than 20 pages, the issue is full of in-depth coverage you can't get anywhere else. The issue appears in a PDF file.
If you like what you see, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to discover how you can purchase a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, for only $20. Ill. Hoops is released weekly during the high school season and monthly during the offseason.
This week's issue includes a cover story on Julian's Brandon Ewing, a Q&A with former Illini star Jarrod Gee, a profile on Morton's Pete Smidt, a diary by Hales Franciscan's Nate Minnoy, Class A and AA polls, photos and plenty of coverage from the previous week's action.
Here's what people are saying about Ill. Hoops:
"Scott Powers is a refreshing new face in the high school hoops scene, and his Ill. Hoops magazine has its finger on the pulse of basketball in Illinois." -- Bob Sakamoto, Chicago Tribune
"There are a lot of recruiting Web sites on the Internet but Scott Powers offers a unique concept -- stories about the best high school basketball players in Illinois, who they are, what makes them tick, personality profiles that reach beyond the repetition of revealing which colleges a prospect is considering today." -- Taylor Bell, author of "Sweet Charlie, Dike, Cazzie, and Bobby Joe -- High School Basketball in Illinois"
"It was really well-written. It was better than any other newsletter than I've seen before." -- Bobby Frasor, Brother Rice senior guard and North Carolina recruit

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING DREAM CLASSIC, 45 TEAMS, 3 DAYS

Tuesday January 11, 2005 - The Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Classic will feature 45 teams in three days at Whitney Young High School in Chicago this weekend.
The schedule is full of boys and girls teams from around the state and throughout the country. Nearly all of the Chicago Public League's top boys teams will be accounted for at the Classic. Games are played throughout Saturday, Sunday and Monday. For more information and the complete schedule, check out www.mlkclassic.org.
"Three years ago I organized the Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Classic," said Marshall girls basketball coach Dorothy Gators, the tournament organzier. "The purpose of this event was to honor Dr. King through wholesome competition. Far too many of our young people are not aware of the impact that Dr. Kings’ life and death had on the world."

HIGH SCHOOL HOOPS SHOWDOWN SET FOR SATURDAY

Tuesday January 11, 2005 - The 8th Annual "High School Hoops Showdown" will be held on Saturday evening at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center.
Game 1 will feature Rockford Jefferson against Rochelle at 6:15 p.m. The Jefferson J-Hawks are led by 6-foot-8 Robert Eppinger, one of the state's top juniors, and 6-9 Pat Nelson, a Ball State recruit. The Rochelle Hubs returned all five starters from last year's team and bring an exciting "run 'n gun" style to the floor. Rochelle senior Matt Rogers is well-known for his scoring ability.
In the second game, which beings at 8 p.m., Homewood-Flossmoor will take on West Aurora. The two teams met last year in the Class AA state semifinals. (H-F won 58-46.) The Vikings are led by Kansas-signee Julian Wright, one of the nation's most versatile players. West Aurora lost its big names from last year, but junior T.J. Marion has been a do-it-all player for the Blackhawks this season.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students (18 and under). Tickets will available at the participating, the Convocation Center Box Office (815-752-6800) and at TicketMaster (312-559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com/Illinois). All seats are reserved and sold on a first come, first served basis, so call early for best selection.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES JAN. 10 ISSUE

Monday January 10, 2005 - Ill. Hoops sent out its Jan. 10th issue. The issue features a cover story on St. Joseph senior Tony Freeman. An Iowa recruit and the son of Tony Freeman Sr., one of St. Joe's greatest players, Freeman has lived up to the all of the expectations under legendary coach Gene Pingatore. St. Joe's is undefeated and one of top 5 teams in the state.
The issue also includes a diary by Will Walker, a Q&A with Hillcrest's Jerel McNeal, photos and coverage from Althoff at Carbondale, Glenbrook North at Glenbrook South, Julian at Simeon and more.
The issue is only available to e-mail subscribers. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to discover how you can start receiving Ill. Hoops. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs $20.

DOWNLOAD BOBBY FRASOR & DERRICK ROSE ISSUES FOR FREE

Thursday January 6, 2005 - New to Ill. Hoops? Check out the first two issues of Ill. Hoops e-magazine for free. Read in-depth features about North Carolina-bound Bobby Frasor and super-sophomore Derrick Rose, diaries by Will Walker, Josh Tabb and Nate Minnoy, Q&As with Mark Aguirre and Angel Santiago, plenty of action photos and a lot more.
Click on "NEWSLETTERS", scroll down to the first two issues and download them for free. If you like what you see, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to see how you can get yourself or someone you know a year's subscription, more than 20 issues, for only $20. It comes out to less than a dollar issue. Issues are sent weekly to your e-mail address during the high school season and monthly during the offseason. Issues are sent in PDFs.

ACTION-PACKED WEEKEND OF HOOPS

Wednesday January 5, 2005 - Beginning Friday aftertoon, Illinois' high school basketball scene will loaded with games that are must-sees.
On Friday afternon, Julian travels to Simeon for a clash in the Public League Red-South. With the likes of these two, Harlan and Morgan Park, it's easily one of the toughest conferences in the state. Julian is coming off a second-place finish at the Proviso West tournament. Simeon took second at Pontiac's tourney. Aside from overall talent, it'll be the first high-school meeting of stud sophomores Derrick Rose (Simeon) and Mac Koshwal (Julian).
On Friday evening, St. Joe's travels to Marist. The Chargers are undefeated and are playing their first game since winning Proviso West. Senior Tony Freeman, who will be featured in next week's Ill. Hooops' e-mag, has been killing lately. Marist picked up its first loss of the season over the holiday break, but it is very dangerous with juniors Jeremy Nash and Mitchell Bouie leading the way.
Friday also includes Belleville Althoff at Carbondale. Kevin Lisch is coming off a season-high 38-point peformance for Althoff. Carbondale's only loss came to an out-of-state team. Manual Cass has been a force inside for the Terriers.
The other interesting match-up Friday comes from Peoria where Richwoods travels to Central. Richwoods is led by Jamar Smith, who is starting to play consistently again after a few injuries. Central lost a lot from last year's state-champion team, but can play defense with the best of them.
On Saturday, the Chicago area will get a chance to see two of the top juniors on television. Crane and its junior point guard Sherron Collins travels to meet Farragut and its star point guard Chris Singletary at 4 p.m. Crane recently lost to Simeon in the Chicago Public League Holiday Tournament. Farragut has been struggling, but this could be a good game to get it going again.
In the evening, Glenbrook North visits Glenbrook South. There aren't many better rivalries than this one. Expect this to be another good one. Both teams are among the best in the state.

ILL. HOOP'S NEWEST ISSUE FILLED WITH TOURNAMENT COVERAGE

Monday January 3, 2005 - Ill. Hoops traveled the state the past two weeks checking out some of the best holiday tournaments in the nation. The current issue includes a roundup from nearly every tournament, Proviso West tourney memories, diaries by Jamar Smith and Chris Singletary, a profile on Westinghouse's Joe Ballard and plenty of tournament photos.
The e-mag is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can get yourself or someone you know a subscription.

WILL WALKER DOES IT AGAIN

Thursday December 30, 2004 - For the second consecutive night, Bolingbrook junior guard Will Walker sank a last-second shot to lift his team to victory.
On Tuesday at the East Aurora tourney, he hit a fadeaway from just inside the three-point line at the buzzer to beat Prosser. Nearly 24 hours later, Walker connected on a jumper from the left elbow with five seconds remaining to knock off Wisconsin's Nicolet.
Ill. Hoops caught up with Walker on his cell phone just after he crushed the hearts of an opponent for the second evening in a row.
"Ever since I was little, I've been hitting those shots," Walker said. "I'm used to it now."
Used to enough for it not to be fun anymore?
"I'm not that used to it," he said. "It's still so sweet."
Bolingbrook takes on East Aurora tonight in the championship game.
So we wonder, could he do it again?
"If I need to, it's 100 percent going in," Walker said. "I'll be there for my teammates."
Walker had 30 in Tuesday's win and 21 the previous night.
He is considered one of the state's top juniors and has yet to decide on a college.
He writes a diary regulary for Ill. Hoops' e-magazine. Look for Walker in an upcoming issue.
Issues are only available to subscribers. Click on "Subscribe" to see how you can get yourself or someone you know a year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, for only $20.

WHERE THE TOP PLAYERS ARE PLAYING THIS WEEK

Sunday December 26, 2004 - Belleville’s Althoff’s Kevin Lisch (Saint Louis University): Collinsville tourney
Bloomington’s Dodie Dunson and Brandon Holz (both ISU), Justin Bocot (top soph): Pontiac
Bolingbrook’s Will Walker (top 10 junior): East Aurora
Brother Rice’s Bobby Frasor (North Carolina): York
Carbondale’s Josh Tabb (SIU), Manual Cass (top 20 junior): Carbondale
Civic Memorial’s Stephen Jones, Dustin Maguire (top juniors): Freeburg
Downers Grove South’s Bryan Mullins (SIU), Elliot Englemann (top junior): York
Freeport's Willie Veasley (top junior): Pekin
Glenbrook North’s Jon Scheyer (top 10 junior): Proviso West
Hales Franciscan’s Nate Minnoy (Purdue): Rich South’s Big Dipper
Harlan's Clarence Holloway (Louisville): Proviso West
Hillcrest’s Jerel McNeal (Marquette), Maurice Acker (Ball State) : Proviso West
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Julian Wright (Kansas): Proviso West
Julian’s Brandon Ewing (Wyoming), Mac Koshwal (top 10 soph): Proviso West
Marist’s Jeremy Nash (top jr.): Centralia
Moline’s Paul Bayer (top junior): Pekin
Neuqua Valley's Mike Rose (top senior): Lemont
Niles West’s Sead Odzic (USC): Pontiac
Rich Central's Jarvis Walker (Ole Miss)
Richwoods’ Jamar Smith (Illinois): Pekin
Proviso East’s Mickey Perry (Wisconsin), Jeremiah Wise (Indiana St.), Brian Carlwell (top 10 junior): Proviso West
Rockford Jefferson’s Rob Eppinger (top junior), Pat Nelson (Ball St.) Bloomington
Simeon’s Derrick Rose (top 10 soph), Tim Flowers (top soph): Pontiac
St. Joseph’s Tony Freeman (Iowa), Jonathan Peoples (top junior), Demetri McCamey (top soph): Proviso West
Thornton’s Joevan Catron (top 10 junior), Donnell Lyons (Laramie CC): Big Dipper
Von Steuben's Angel Santiago (top senior): Proviso West Westinghouse’s DeAndre Thomas (uncommitted top senior): Pekin
Winnebago’s Devan Bawinkel (top 10 junior): Marengo

LISCH FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Monday December 20, 2004 - Belleville Althoff's Kevin Lisch, a Saint Louis University recruit, is the cover story of the Dec. 20th issue. Lisch may be one of the most underrated players in the state. He never really got involved in the AAU scene, so few outside of his area truly understand how good he is. He's considered an old-school type of player and receives only praise from people who know him on and off the court.
The issue also includes a Q&A with Seton Hall freshman Justin Cerasoli, a diary by Brother Rice's Bobby Frasor, a profile of Civic Memorial's Stephen Jones, a Coachers corner with Moline's Frank Dexter, the week in review, a recap of Hillcrest vs. Homewood-Flossmoor, info on where to find the best players during the holiday tournaments and more.
The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Click on "Subscribe" to find out how you can start receiving Ill. Hoops, Illinois' top high school basketball e-magazine.

NEW PHOTOS ADDED TO GALLERY

Tuesday December 14, 2004 - Ill. Hoops has added new pics to the photo gallery and will continue to do so throughout the rest of the season. Please check back on a regular basis to see what incredible play Ill. Hoops caught on camera.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES DEC. 13TH ISSUE

Monday December 13, 2004 - Carbondale's Josh Tabb is featured on this week's cover of Ill. Hoops. He and the Terriers along with everyone else at the KMOX Shootout is included in the current issue. The issue also includes a diary by Jeremy Pargo, a profile on Oak Lawn Richards' Cordelro Yelder, Ill. Hops, "The week in review", a "Coaches corner" by Brother Rice's Pat Richardson, a "Players corner", a "Buzzer beater" and more. The issue is only available to subscribers. If you don't have an e-mail subscription, click on "Subscribe" to find out how you can get one. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20.

PROVISO EAST'S MICKEY PERRY FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE

Monday December 6, 2004 - Proviso East senior Mickey Perry tells how he followed in Dee and Shannon Brown's footsteps in the current issue of Ill. Hoops, which was released today. The issue also includes coverage from Derrick Rose's first game, an interview with Moline's Paul Bayer, a shout out from Carbondale's Josh Tabb, a story about Thornton's Brandon Dagans, "The week in review", a Buzzer Beater and more.
The issue is only available to subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Find out how you can subscribe to Ill. Hoops, an e-mag, by clicking on "SUBSCRIBE".

BLOOMINGTON DUO FEATURED IN NEW ISSUE OF ILL. HOOPS

Monday November 29, 2004 - Ill. Hoops released it newest issue today. Bloomington seniors Dodie Dunson and Brandon Holtz are featured on this week's cover. The issue also includes diaries by Will Walker and Nate Minnoy, an interview with Chris Head, reaction to the NBA brawl, photos and more.
The issue is only available to e-mail subscribers. A year's subscription, which comes out to more than 20 issues, costs only $20. Click on "Subscribe" to find out how you can subscribe.
Ill. Hoops' next issue will be released next Monday. Here's what people are saying about Ill. Hoops: "Scott Powers is a refreshing new face in the high school hoops scene, and his Ill. Hoops magazine has its finger on the pulse of basketball in the Chicago area." -- Bob Sakamoto, Chicago Tribune
"There are a lot of recruiting Web sites on the Internet but Scott Powers offers a unique concept -- stories about the best high school basketball players in Illinois, who they are, what makes them tick, personality profiles that reach beyond the repetition of revealing which colleges a prospect is considering today." -- Taylor Bell, author of "Sweet Charlie, Dike, Cazzie, and Bobby Joe -- High School Basketball in Illinois"
"It was really well-written. It was better than any other newsletter thatn I've seen before." -- Bobby Frasor, Brother Rice senior guard and North Carolina recruit

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES SEASON PREVIEW ISSUE

Sunday November 21, 2004 - Ill. Hoops released its season preview issue today. The issue includes 32 pages of coverage, including in-depth profiles on the top 25 teams in the state, preseason all-state teams, player diaries by Bobby Frasor and Chris Singletary, a Q&A with Jon Scheyer, college coaches' comments on their recruits, action photos and more. You won't find a more in-depth Illinois high school basketball preview anywhere.
The issue will only be sent to subscribers' e-mails. If you don't have a subscription, click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out how you can receive a 1-year subscription for only $20. With more than 20 issues released a year, it comes out to less than a $1 an issue. You don't want to miss the season preview.
Please note, Ill. Hoops is a magazine-style E-MAIL newsletter that arrives in a PDF file. Ill. Hoops cannot be sent through the mail.

ILL. HOOPS TO START SEASON AT BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD TIP-OFF

Friday November 19, 2004 - Rich Central, Julian, Farragut, Hales Franciscan, Westinghouse, Crane, Harlan and Von Steuben. The state brackets won't allow them all in, but here are eight teams who all have the potential to make it downstate.
On Monday, all eight will be competing in the BlueCross BlueShild Tip-Off Classic. Ill. Hoops, like most basketball fans in the Chicago area, will be starting its season off at the Classic.
On Monday, the games at Julian High School will be Julian vs. Rich Central at 4:15 p.m. and Farragut vs. Hales Franciscan at 6 p.m. The losers play each other at 8 p.m. At Westinghouse on Monday, Westinghouse faces Crane at 4 p.m. and Harlan goes up against Von Steuben at 5:45 p.m. The losers play at 7:45 p.m.
Two games will be held at each site on Tuesday. Games will be at 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. On Thursday at St. Xavier University's Shannon Center, the consolation championship will be held at 7 p.m. and the championship will follow at 8:30 p.m.
For those who missed it, Ill. Hoops was out at Rich Central, Thornton and Proviso East this week. You can check out the photos in the gallery.
Ill. Hoops preview issue will be sent to subscribers e-mails on Monday. It's the most in-depth Illinois preview you'll find. It's over 30 pages. You won't want to miss it.

THORNTON OUT TO PROVE EVERYONE RIGHT

Tuesday November 16, 2004 - Thornton coach Troy Jackson is aware of where others believe his team stands. He told his players Tuesday afternoon about how they're considered a top 5 in the Chicago area and a top 10 or even possibly a top 5 in the entire state.
Then, he let them know that he didn't care about that. He reminded them that the Wildcats haven't won or even played a game yet. They've proved nothing.
While that is true, Ill. Hoops was at Thornton on Tuesday and observed a team that has all the potential in the world. It's just a matter of time before the Wildcats prove it. (see pics in the photo gallery)
With Thornton, it's hard to start with one person. The Wildcats possess a lot of talent and experience.
Senior 6-foot-5 forward Donnell Lyons showed off his nearly 40-inch vertical during Tuesday's practice. Unfortunately for a few teammates, they were posterized by him.
Junior power forward Joevan Catron should give any defense fits in the post this season. He has strong post moves and a nice touch around the basket. He is also an intimidator on the defensive end.
At the guard position, Brandon Dagans and Brandon Long, a transfer from Rich Central, are among the state's elite.
From the look of things, Thornton has plenty of depth as well. The Wildcats look to be definite contender this year.
Check out Ill. Hoops preview issue for a more in-depth look at Thornton and the rest of the best in the state. The preview issue is available only to subscribers and will be sent out electronically on Nov. 22.

NEW SEASON, A FRESH START FOR PROVISO EAST

Monday November 15, 2004 - Proviso East took its bumps last year.
With a new coach hired just before the season, only one returning starter and plenty of inexperience, it was a long season for the Pirates. There were more downs than ups. There was also the death of a Proviso East player that affected the team.
Now that the new season has arrived, the Pirates have erased all that happened last season. They're focused on looking ahead and staying positive.
And there's much to be postive about at Proviso East as Ill. Hoops witnessed on Monday. (check out pics in the photo gallery)
The Pirates are even talking about a state championship as they return nearly all of their main contributors from last season.
Phillip Perry keys that list. Perry, a 6-2 senior guard, can score on anyone in any way. He will also be looked upon for leadership this season. He recently signed with Wisconsin.
His backcourt partner is too shabby himself. Senior Jeremiah Wise is another combo guard who can give defenses fits. He's headed to Indiana State.
At the forward position, the Pirates return seniors Marcus Scott and Chris Fuqua. Both are very athletic and will provide additional leadership.
Six-foot-10 junior Brian Carlwell will fill the middle. Carlwell had drastically improved since his freshman season and continues to learn something new about the game every day. Proviso East coach David Chatman believes Carlwell can be one of the nation's top players by the time he graduates.
The Pirates possess speed, size, athleticism, experience and leadership. The only concern Chatman has is staying healty. Other than that, he's pretty confident his team can return Proviso East to glory.
"This year we're going to be a lot of fun to watch," Chatman said.
For a more in-depth look at Proviso East, check out Ill. Hoops preview issue, which comes out on Nov. 22. It will only be sent to subscribers’ e-mails.

GLENBROOK NORTH SEARCHING FOR FINISHING TOUCH

Saturday November 13, 2004 - Glenbrook North collapsed at end of last season. The Spartans played at the top of their game in January and February, but when March came around they had nothing left and fell in the sectional semis.
GBN coach David Weber has mulled over what happened ever since then. He has determined that with four starters returning, his players gaining that experience of last season and himself being a year wiser, the Spartans just won’t let that happen again.
Ill. Hoops was at Glenbrook North’s afternoon practice on Saturday to check out just how good the Spartans can be.
Oh yeah, for those who think GBN’s a one-man show, you’re wrong.
Six-foot-six junior Jon Scheyer is a special player. He can do a lot of things. He can score. He can pass. He can defend. While he’ll again be the team’s go-to weapon, Scheyer will not have to carry the load by himself.
“The only time he sat last year was when it was a blowout,” Weber said. “He’s a great player. It’s tough to take him out of the game. I think we can spread it around a little more than last year.”
The Spartans return starting point guard senior 6-1 Sean Wallis, 6-5 senior Matt Gold and 6-6 junior Zach Kelley. With Scheyer, Gold, Kelley, 6-5 junior Jon Radtke and senior 6-5 forward Malick Valliani, the Spartans possess a lot of size. Backup point guard Matt Shamis can also be brought in to GBA a three-guard lineup.
If the Spartans can battle through the long season, they could be a definite contender for state.
“We want to be strong in March,” Weber said. “I think we were at our best in January and February. Two years ago, we were playing our best basketball at the end of the season and we finished third in the state.”
GBN looks to put those kind of finishes touches on this season as well. For a more in-depth look at Glenbrook North check out Ill. Hoops preview issue, which comes out on Nov. 22. It will only be sent to subscribers’ e-mails.
Ill. Hoops plans to be at Proviso East on Monday.

HALES FRANCISCAN FOCUSED ON WINNING ANOTHER STATE

Friday November 12, 2004 - Hales Franciscan senior Mike Robinson doesn't doubt his team could have defeated Leo to win last year's Class A state championship. Unfortunately for him and teammates, Hales was banned from the postseason due to IHSA violations.
With that ban now lifted, Robinson and his crew are out to prove again that they are the Class A's best team. Ill. Hoops was at Hales Franciscan on Thursday to see if that was a realistic goal.
It is. (see pics in the photo gallery)
First and foremost, Hales Franciscan returns senior Nate Minnoy, one of the state's best players. Minnoy is a tough matchup for any team. He's quick enough to beat a big man, but also too big for a little man to guard in the post. He signed with Purdue on Thursday.
Hales also returns senior Mike Robinson and junior Jerome Randle in the backcourt. According to Minnoy, they don't get much better than those two. Robinson is known for his lockdown defense and Randle has the speed and dribbling ability to break anyone off.
In years past, Minnoy was relied upon to do all the dirty work inside, but with 6-8 Jeff Wilson and 6-8 Austin Chapital this year that won't be the case. Wilson is an intimidating shot blocker and Chapital is a slasher.
"We just got to win state this year," Robinson said. "We knew we should have last year. Now we have to go out and prove to people that Leo isn't better than us."
For a more in-depth story on Hales Franciscan and the rest of state's best check out Ill. Hoops preview issue on Nov. 22. It will only be sent to subscribers' e-mails.
Ill. Hoops plans to be out at Glenbrook North on Saturday.

NOTHING NORMAL AT HILLCREST

Thursday November 11, 2004 - Thurday's practice at Hillcrest wasn't your ordinary one.
For one, practice began at 10 a.m. with school being closed because it was Veterans Day. Players arrived in the morning yawning with basketballs instead of books. Secondly, the media was already swarming the gym when the Hawks arrived. More than one publication was waiting to conduct interviews and take photos.
Being the favorite to win state, Hillcrest doesn't hold normal practice nor does it possess normal talent. Ill. Hoops was on site to witness that skill first hand on Thursday morning. (see pics in the photo gallery)
All conversations about Hillcrest begin with senior guards Maurice Acker and Jerel McNeal. They’re arguably the best backcourt in the state. Acker, a 5-8 point guard, has signed with Ball State, and McNeal, a 6-2 shooting guard, is headed to Marquette.
“Me and Jerel, I feel as though we’re the best backcourt in the state,” Acker said. “We have great chemistry together. We’ve been playing together since like fifth grade. When I’m on the court I know where Jerel is most of the time and when Jerel is on the court he knows where I am most of the time.”
McNeal is known for his strong explosive drives and his defense. Coach Tom Cappel has described Acker as the purest point guard he’s ever had.
Outside of the backcourt, Hillcrest returns James Smith and Reggie Bossie, who both played significant minutes last season. Newcomers Ryan Owens, a transfer from Marian Catholic, John Edwards and Julian Scott should also provide Hillcrest with depth.
It was this group that went 46-0 this summer and has everyone talking about the possibilities of winning the school’s first state.
The one major concern Hillcrest does have is size. Owens, who is 6-foot-3, is Hillcrest’s tallest player, but is another guard.
For a more in-depth look at Hillcrest check out Ill. Hoops preview issue, which will come out on Nov. 22. It will be sent to subscribers’ e-mails only.
Ill. Hoops plans to be at Hales Franciscan on Friday.

BLOOMINGTON SMILING WHILE AIMING FOR STATE

Wednesday November 10, 2004 - At most schools around the state at this point of the year, it’s probably hard for kids to remember that basketball is supposed to be fun. With the all the yelling, running and constant coaching interruptions after each mistake, there’s not much time to enjoy the game.
One would expect that’d definitely be the story at Bloomington, where the Raiders have a realistic shot at making their first state trip since 1975. With Ill. Hoops on site Wednesday, the Raiders proved to be serious about their goal, but not to the point where they couldn’t have a laugh or two or even three.
Bloomington coach Ron Rose is the type of person who could tell you that you were dying, but it wouldn’t sound so bad. Rose speaks loud, but with a calm voice.
He constantly stopped practice Wednesday to correct errors, but he did it in a way that truly was constructive. He showed his players how to do it the right way, but never blamed them or criticized them. The players listened intently and got it right the next time.
Rose also created an atmosphere where it was all right to smile and enjoy practice. For example, after sophomore Justin Bocot delivered a weak screen, Rose halted practice. He showed Bocot how to correctly do it, then as the play was about to resume, Rose told him, "You have to be tough if you’re going to have a tattoo," referring to Bocot’s tattoo on his arm. Bocot couldn’t help but laugh.
As for skill, Bloomington’s full of that as well. The Raiders possess one of the state’s best backcourts in seniors Dodie Dunson and Brandon Holtz. Both have committed to Illinois State. Dunson sat out of practice Wednesday with tendinitis and is expected to return Saturday.
Returnees Brent Holtz, Lonnie Lawrence and Wesley Ware should be key contributors. Ware is currently out with an arm injury. Sophomores Brandon Dunson and Bocot are exceptionally athletic and should be key role players this season.
“I want to really make it downstate,” Brandon Holtz said. “Even though we’re short, maybe 6-3, 6-4 is our tallest guy on the team, size helps, but it really doesn’t hurt us. We’ve been playing without size since eighth grade.” To read more about Bloomington and other state contenders, be sure to check out Ill. Hoops preview issue, which will arrive in subscribers' e-mail boxes on Nov. 22. The issue will feature an in-depth profile on seniors Dunson and Holtz. Ill. Hoops will be out at Hillcrest's practice on Thursday.

TWO OF CHICAGO'S BEST GET READY FOR THE SEASON

Wednesday November 10, 2004 - Ill. Hoops traveled to Westinghouse, then Julian on Tuesday to check out two of the best Chicago Public League teams this season.
See the photo gallery for pics from both practices.
On the West Side, Westinghouse looks to have one of its deepest teams in a number of years. Coach Quitman Dillard said he feels like he has 15 players who are good enough to play any game. Of those 15, senior big-man DeAndre Thomas (6-7, 285) is expected to have the most impact. Thomas was a major contributor last season, but this season has an even larger role with the graduation of Jamarcus Ellis. Dillard has told Thomas he needs him to pull down 10-15 rebounds a game.
Point guard Corey Caston could be one of the biggest surprises this season out of the city. With names like Jeremy Pargo, Chris Singletary, Sherron Collins floating around in Chicago, Caston has been overlooked. Dillard is positive once the season starts that will no longer be the case. With Ill. Hoops present, Caston was knocking down three after three after three. He also showed an ability to drive to the cup and find the open man.
Joe Ballard, a transfer from Proviso West, will be the third key to this team. Ballard, like Caston, has been overlooked, according to Dillard. Ballard is an athletic swingman, who can put the ball on the float and crossover anybody with the best of them.
After a few hours at Westinghouse, Ill. Hoops traveled to the South Side during rush hour on the Dan Ryan to check out Julian.
Much has been said about this year's Julian team and it appears to be all true. The Jaguars possess one of the deepest, biggest, quickest and most athletic teams in the state.
When Ill. Hoops arrived, coach Loren Jackson had his players working on fastbreak drills. From one end to the other, Julian's players either knocked down jumpers or put down dunks with authority. It was scary how much talent was running on the floor.
Senior Brandon Ewing, a Wyoming recruit, is expected to be the one who brings this team together. Ewing can handle the rock, pass the ball and drain the three. He also adds a bit of flash to the game and can be entertaining.
Sophomore Nayal Koshwal, better known as “Mack”, made the headlines this week by telling the Chicago Sun-Times he was interested in going straight to the pros from high school. Koshwal is an athletic 6-8 forward who is a monster around the basket. While he may not be ready for the League just yet, he is ready to be a force in Chicago this season.
Six-foot-five DeAngelo McIntosh, 6-9 Desmond Hendrix and 6-9 Thijin Moses give the Jaguars plenty of size and skill. DaShaun Williams, Jeremiah Kelly and Trey Blue expect to give Julian depth at the guard position.
Ill. Hoops plans to be out at Bloomington’s practice on Wednesday and Hillcrest and Farragut on Thursday. Be sure to check in for reports.
For more in-depth coverage of each team, check out Ill. Hoops season preview issue, which comes out Nov. 22. It will be available to subscribers only.

SCHEYER ELIMINATES 3, DONE TALKING ABOUT IT

Tuesday November 9, 2004 - Everyone – coaches, players, media and fans – wants to talk about where Jon Scheyer could be headed to play college basketball.
Duke fans want him. Illinois fans want him. Pretty much everyone in the nation wants the 6-foot-5 athletic junior guard from Glenbrook North. The message boards are filled with Scheyer comments.
Scheyer’s fine with everyone talking about him. He just wants all those people to know he’s personally done talking about college until the high school season is over. He has one goal – getting downstate – and he wants to focus on that.
But before he got down to business this week, he did eliminate three schools from his list. Scheyer decided he wasn’t interested in North Carolina, Notre Dame and UCLA. He is still considering Arizona, California-Berkeley, Duke, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan State and Wisconsin.
“I’m just going to worry about the high school season,” said Scheyer on Monday evening. “I’m not going to make my decision during the year and not going to talk about it. When it’s over with, maybe I’ll make my decision. I just want to enjoy the high school season.”
Be sure to check out the Q&A with Jon Scheyer in Ill. Hoops' next issue, which will be released on Nov. 22.

THE SEASON JOURNEY BEGINS

Monday November 8, 2004 - Practice at Glenbrook North was scheduled to start at 3:15 p.m. Junior guard Jon Scheyer couldn’t wait that long. He was dressed and ready in the gym at 2:30 p.m.
“There’s so much anticipation put into the season,” Scheyer said. “It was good to finally get started.”
Throughout the state, coaches, players and fans shared the feeling. Like every year, the talk of this season started with the end of last season. With Monday marking the first day of practice, teams were able to finally stop talking and start playing.
While most kids awake wishing for more sleep, Proviso East senior guard Phillip Perry got up Monday wanting to play basketball. For he and his teammates, this season is expected to be a special one.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the air,” said Perry, who will sign his letter of intent to Wisconsin on Wednesday. “It was a fun feeling even waking up this morning and getting it going. Everybody’s hungry, myself included. We got a lot of goals, of course, one of them is getting downstate.
“Everything’s going to be cool. Everything’s going to be really good.”
Ill. Hoops was out at St. Joseph’s first day of practice where Gene Pingatore began his 36th year as head coach. (See the photo gallery)
Some may wonder if Pingatore is the same coach as when he started. You can take it from me, while he may have lost a physical step (he’s the first to admit he’s older), he hasn’t lost a mental one. He taught how to deny the pass. He taught how to properly set a screen. He stressed fundamentals. He emphasized hard play and defense. He corrected mistakes. He yelled at players when they walked. He made sure they know that while, on paper they appear as one of the state favorites, they haven’t won anything yet.
He even went as far as comparing them to the Chicago Cubs.
“I’m laughing, but that’s what happened with the Cubs,” Pingatore said. “They had no chemistry this season. Even though you got a lot of kids back, you have to develop a chemistry. You can have all the talent in the world, but if it never comes together...”
Some have questioned whether Brother Rice can be the team it was last year since the Crusaders lost guards Tim Harrigan and Dave Telander to graduation. Senior point guard Bobby Frasor isn’t too worried.
He and his teammates began the season with two practices on Monday because they had the day off. Coach Pat Richardson worked his players for 2 ½ hours in the morning and two more hours in the afternoon.
“Every year people say that,” said Frasor about doubting Brother Rice. “Coach Richardson’s system works. We win at Rice. We’ve done it and we’ll continue to do it. People don’t think highly of you, and then you start winning all of your games and people start noticing.” Teams around the state have taken obvious notice of Bloomington. With one of the state’s best backcourts in seniors Dodie Dunson and Brandon Holtz, the Raiders are another team with high expectations.
For Holtz, those expectations include a trip to state, and he feels like Bloomington has the ingredients to make that work.
“We have a lot of depth,” said Holtz, who will sign along with Dunson commitments to Illinois State on Wednesday. “We only lost two seniors from last year. We have everyone coming back pretty much. … I really want to make it down to state.”
On Monday, that journey began.

CHECK OUT ILL. HOOPS FOR ALL YOUR PRACTICE COVERAGE

Monday November 8, 2004 - Can you hear the faint sound of basketballs swishing through nets and gym shoes squeaking on hardwood? If you don't, you will Monday. The beginning of the high school basketball season begins then with the first day of practice. Ill. Hoops will be out at a number of schools around the state in the next two weeks preparing for its season preview, which comes out Nov. 22. Ill. Hoops will be also updating the site daily with notes and photos as teams prepare for the upcoming season. Be sure to check out it.

PHOTO GALLERY UP AND RUNNING

Monday November 8, 2004 - Ill. Hoops has begun to post photos in its gallery. Check them out. There's definitely a few you won't want to miss.

ILL. HOOPS RELEASES ITS BIGGEST ISSUE

Monday November 8, 2004 - Ill. Hoops released issue #3 on Oct. 25 to its subscribers. With more than 20 pages of in-depth stories, player diaries, Q&As and action photos, it was Ill. Hoops' biggest issue yet. It's packed.
The issue includes an in-depth cover story on Julian Wright, a feature about Rockford Jefferson's giants Robert Eppinger and Pat Nelson, player diaries by Jeremy Pargo and Jamar Smith, Q&As with Sherron Collins and Hillcrest coach Tom Cappel, a "Catching up with" University of Illinois guard Dee Brown, a players only section where some of the state's best rank the state's best, some wicked pics of Illinois' top dunkers and for a Buzzer Beater, Ill. Hoops explains why it doesn't currently have rankings.
The issue is only available to subscribers, so don't miss out. Sign up for a year's subscription which is more than 20 issues for only $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to find out more information.

Check out issues #1 and #2 ... Don't miss out on #3

Monday November 8, 2004 - Ill. Hoops has released its second complimentary issue, which includes a cover story on Derrick Rose, diaries from Bobby Frasor and Josh Tabb, Q&A with Angel Santiago, a feature on the Mullins family, nasty dunk photos and lots more. You can download this issue along with issue #1 by clicking on "NEWSLETTERS". This will be the FINAL issue available to non-subscribers. Don't miss out on receiving issue #3 cover story Julian Wright which comes out on Oct. 25 or any future Ill. Hoops issues. Get yourself or someone you know a year's subscription, more than 20 issues sent directly to your e-mail address, for only $20. Click on "SUBSCRIBE" to get more info.

Contact Us

Editor & Publisher: Scott Powers
Mail: P.O. Box 31603, Chicago, IL, 60631-0603
Fax: 847-265-9103 Phone: 312-519-1230
Email: scottpowers@illhoops.com