Metering is ON

Boys Basketball: Bartlett’s Lance Whitaker working his way back after ACL injury

May 14, 2012

Battling back from an ACL injury suffered last summer, Bartlett’s Lance Whitaker got his first big minutes at the annual Hensley Run N’ Slam last weekend, playing in the same building where he got hurt in Fort Wayne.

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Boys Basketball: Marist’s Lexus Williams picks Valparaiso

May 15, 2012

Marist guard Lexus Williams, who averaged 12.2 points and 5.2 assists a game last season, has committed to Valparaiso.

Boys Basketball: Ryan Webber ready to embark on transition to Warren

May 12, 2012

On Tuesday night, he was hired to replace arguably the most successful coach in Lake County boys basketball history. And next winter, he’ll embark on …

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Boys Basketball: Warren hires Ryan Webber as head coach

May 12, 2012

Ryan Webber was officially named Warren’s boys basketball coach Tuesday night after his hiring was approved by the Warren school board.

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Boys Basketball: Warren may name coach on Tuesday

May 12, 2012

Warren High School’s Board of Education will meet Tuesday night, and it’s believed that one of the orders of business will be naming a boys basketball coach to replace Chuck Ramsey.

Boys Basketball: Devin Foster, Jerron Wilbut lead way for West All-Stars

May 12, 2012

Downer’s South’s Jerron Wilbut scored 14 points, and Curie’s Devin Foster had 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals as the West All-Stars rallied past the South Saturday in the Chicago United Hoops Classic at the University of Chicago.

Boys Basketball: Proviso East’s Sterling Brown navigating the recruiting scene

May 12, 2012

Proviso East junior Sterling Brown hopes the success the Pirates had during the high school season will help lead to individual success and scholarship offers playing on the club circuit.

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Boys Basketball: Michael Orris commits to Kansas State

May 15, 2012

Not quite four weeks after decommitting from Illinois in the wake of Bruce Weber’s firing, Crete-Monee point guard Michael Orris signed with Weber’s new employers, Kansas State.

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Boys Basketball: Austin Angel to attend UIC as preferred walk-on

May 15, 2012

New Trier’s Austin Angel, a 6-4 senior guard, has committed to play for Illinois-Chicago and coach Howard Moore as a preferred walk-on.

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Boys Basketball: Mundelein’s Robert Knar commits to Northern Iowa

May 12, 2012

Robert Knar, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound junior guard at Mundelein, has committed to play Division I basketball at the University of Northern Iowa.

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Boys Basketball: Jabari Parker maintains focus in Minnesota

May 12, 2012

Jabari Parker averaged 16 points per game in last weekend’s Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League in Minnesota in front of fans, media and every major college basketball powerhouse in the country.

Boys Basketball: Pat McNamara takes over at Aurora Christian

May 12, 2012

Pat McNamara, who was the head coach at Marmion for five seasons from 2002-2007 and served as an assistant to Nate Drye the past three seasons at Aurora Central, was named varsity basketball coach at Aurora Christian Wednesday.

Boys Basketball: Benet, Naperville Central highlight Hoops Showdown

May 12, 2012

On Monday, the organizers of the 16th Annual National Guard High School Hoops Showdown officially released the three matchups that will take place on Jan. 26, 2013 at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. Benet will meet Naperville Central at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the second game of the evening.

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Boys basketball: Batavia coach Jim Roberts resigns

May 12, 2012

Batavia basketball coach Jim Roberts is stepping down after 27 seasons, citing family health issues. Roberts’ teams compiled a won-loss record of 455-267, a .630 winning percentage.

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Boys Basketball: Ben Widner willing to invest time into Glenbrook South improvement

May 12, 2012

Ben Widner, a 35-year-old teacher at Glenbrook South, never gave much thought to becoming a head coach until Titans’ boys basketball boss Scott Nemecek resigned last month.

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Boys Basketball: Crete-Monee’s Michael Orris visits Kansas State

May 12, 2012

One day after being released from his letter of intent to Illinois, Crete-Monee senior Michael Orris flew to Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday to make an official visit with Kansas State and ex-Fighting Illini coach Bruce Weber.

Boys Basketball: Devonte Smith paces South/Central squad at Luther Bedford Classic

May 12, 2012

Bogan’s Devonte Smith had a team-high 18 points Saturday to lead the South/Central team past the North/West 95-90 at the Public League Basketball Coaches Association Luther Bedford All-Star Classic at Young. Marshall’s Milton Doyle had 20 points in a losing effort.

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Boys Basketball: Michael Orris released from Illinois commitment

May 12, 2012

Crete-Monee senior Michael Orris requested and received a release from his letter of intent to Illinois on Friday and has begun his third search for a Division I basketball program.

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Boys Basketball: Jabari Parker named nation’s best

May 12, 2012

Simeon junior Jabari Parker was pulled out of Spanish class on Thursday by former NBA great Alonzo Mourning to learn that he had been named the 2011-12 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Parker is just the fourth junior to win the award and the first from Illinois.

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Boys Basketball: Malek Harris, Marlon Jones making names for themselves

May 12, 2012

Sandburg’s Malek Harris and Orr’s Marlon Jones were both outstanding and opened eyes this past weekend at the Swish ‘N Dish Tournament in Milwaukee. Both showed improved skills, physical maturity and vast potential as players and prospects.

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Boys Basketball: Vince Doran relieved of duties as Hinsdale South coach

May 12, 2012

Vince Doran, Hinsdale South’s boys basketball coach and director of last season’s inaugural Hinsdale South Holiday Tournament, was relieved of his duties, according to Hinsdale South athletic director Tim Feigh.

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Boys Basketball: West squad gives Gordie Kerkman a victory

May 12, 2012

Shabazz Muhammad scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the West team — coached by West Aurora’s Gordie Kerman — to a 106-102 victory over the East in Wednesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game at the United Center.

Boys Basketball: West Aurora coach Gordie Kerkman to represent Illinois at McDonald’s game

May 12, 2012

Despite not having a player in the 35th McDonald’s All-American Game for just the second time, Illinois will have a presence in the game as West Aurora coach Gordie Kerman will helm the West squad.

Boys Basketball: Scott Nemecek resigns as Glenbrook South coach

May 12, 2012

Glenbrook South and Scott Nemecek have parted ways after six seasons and an 8-20 campaign this past season. Nemecek informed the school of his intentions Monday, and Glenbrook South athletic director Steve Rockrohr confirmed the news Friday.

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Boys Basketball: Proviso East’s 1992 team had no ‘Amigos,’ but did own another title

May 12, 2012

Mark Potash: With Donnie Boyce running the show and Sherell Ford assisting on the bench, Proviso East’s unbeaten run to the Class 4A state final last week evoked memories of the Pirates’ previous championship team in 1992 — when Boyce, Ford and Michael Finley led the Pirates to an unbeaten season and stretched Proviso East’s winning streak to 57 by winning their second straight Class AA basketball title. Wait a second — that’s not right.

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Boys Basketball: Plainfield East’s Brian Bennett earns Herald-News Player of the Year

May 12, 2012

Plainfield East 6-foot-9 center Brian Bennett weighed 292 pounds shortly after his junior season ended, 233 now. He worked to get into shape, led the Bengals to an historic 27-2 record and today is recognized as the Herald-News 2011-12 Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

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Boys Basketball: Eight Simeon players suspended after shoe display

May 12, 2012

Simeon coach Robert Smith suspended eight underclassmen after his players removed their shoes and left them on the court during the Class 4A championship medal ceremony Saturday.

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Boys Basketball: Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings

May 12, 2012

Simeon completed a wire-to-wire run as the Sun-Times top-ranked boys basketball team by beating No. 2 Proviso East in the Class 4A state championship game. Check out the rest of the final top 25 here.

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Boys Basketball: Simeon holds off Proviso East for third straight 4A title

May 12, 2012

Steve Taylor scored 12 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Jabari Parker added 15 points, and Simeon rallied from a five-point, fourth quarter deficit to top Proviso East 50-48 in the Class 4A state championship game at Carver Arena in Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: Bloom falls to Auburn, finishes season in 4th

May 12, 2012

Donald Moore scored 16 points and Dejahown Freeman added nine, but it wasn’t enough as Bloom fell to Rockford Auburn 57-46 Saturday in the third-place game at Carver Arena in Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: North Chicago falls in Class 3A title game, Aaron Simpson era ends

May 12, 2012

North Chicago senior Aaron Simpson scored 26 points in his final high school game, but it wasn’t enough as the Warhawks fell to Peoria Central 72-64 Saturday in the Class 3A state final at Carver Arena in Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: Hillcrest rebounds to claim Class 3A third place

May 12, 2012

Jalen Loving, Brent Buchanan and Jayon’e Troutman scored 15 points apiece as Hillcrest opened a big lead and held on for a 72-67 win over Springfield Lanphier in the Class 3A third-place game Saturday at Carver Arena in Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: Simeon tops Bloom, advances to 4A final

May 12, 2012

Jabari Parker was just 2-for-11 from the field, but the rest of the Simeon squad picked up the slack in a 45-35 win over Bloom in a Class 4A semifinal Friday night in Peoria. The Wolverines will take on unbeaten Proviso East in Saturday’s final.

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Boys Basketball: Proviso East powers past Rockford Auburn

May 12, 2012

Sterling Brown posted a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds as unbeaten Proviso East continued its run with a 55-45 win over Rockford Auburn Friday night in the Class 4A semifinal in Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: Aaron Simpson closes it out for North Chicago vs Lanphier

May 12, 2012

Aaron Simpson overcame a poor shooting performance to score seven straight points down the stretch Friday as North Chicago rallied past Springfield Lanphier 74-67 in the Class 3A state semifinals at Peoria.

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Boys Basketball: Hillcrest falls in 3A semifinals

May 12, 2012

Hillcrest scored just 11 points in the second and third quarters and Peoria Central proved too much in a 60-50 state semifinal matchup Friday afternoon at Carver Arena.

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Boys Basketball: Class 3A/4A state preview

May 12, 2012

While there will be four good state semifinal games Friday, it appears everyone is excited for the potential Simeon-Proviso East Class 4A title game on Saturday. Check out the previews to the semifinal matchups.

Boys Basketball: Projected Class 3A/4A state starting lineups

May 12, 2012

Check out the projected starting lineups for all four Class 3A/4A state semifinals

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Boys Basketball: Downstate rules to live by

May 12, 2012

Joe Henricksen breaks down a few trends that have led to downstate success over the last few decades.

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Boys Basketball: Hillcrest hopes to overcome Peoria’s size

May 12, 2012

Hillcrest coach Don Houston insisted he’s fine now, but said Tuesday night’s 47-44 victory over DuSable in the Class 3A Joliet Central Supersectional nearly gave him a nervous breakdown. The Hawks blew a 21-point third-quarter lead and trailed by one with less than two minutes to go before pulling out the win.

Boys Basketball: Kenny Obendorf leads a solid Waubonsie Valley squad

May 12, 2012

Four years ago, in the fall of 2008, they collectively entered the halls of Waubonsie Valley High School as freshmen, seemingly ready to begin contributing to the Warriors’ strong legacy on the basketball court, which includes winning 13 regional titles and a sectional title in 1990-91.

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Boys Basketball: Class 3A/4A All-State teams loaded with talent

May 12, 2012

Boys Basketball: Simeon’s Jabari Parker heads the Class 4A All-State first team while the 3A side consists of a pair of downstaters as well as North Chicago’s Aaron Simpson, Farragut’s Rashaun Stimage and Marshall’s Milton Doyle.

Boys Basketball: All-State teams

May 12, 2012

The All-State first and second teams are broken down by class, from 4A to 1A.

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Boys Basketball: Aaron Simpson propels North Chicago past Marshall

May 12, 2012

North Chicago standout Aaron Simpson finished with 32 points to lead the Warhawks to their second straight downstate trip with a 91-81 victory over Marshall in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional Tuesday.

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Boys Basketball: Simeon 'D' the difference, downs Evanston

May 12, 2012

No. 1 Simeon used a lockdown defensive effort to roll past No. 9 Evanston 59-34 Tuesday in the Class 4A Chicago State Supersectional, sending the Wolverines back to the state tournament.

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Boys Basketball: Proviso East keeps perfect, runs past West Aurora

May 12, 2012

Proviso East continued its perfect run with a 62-51 win over West Aurora Tuesday at the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Supersectional.

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Boys Basketball: Rockford Auburn’s late surge stuns Warren

May 12, 2012

Rockford Auburn outscored No. 3 Warren 9-0 in the final 2:04 to pull out a 49-43 win over the Blue Devils Tuesday in the Class 4A Northern Illinois Supersectional.

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Boys Basketball: Hillcrest survives late DuSable push

May 12, 2012

DuSable’s Cinderella run came to an end Tuesday as Hillcrest held off the Panthers’ late charge in a 47-44 win in the Class 3A Joliet Central Supersectional.

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Boys Basketball: Bloom reaches Class 4A state semifinals

May 12, 2012

Donald Moore scored 15 points, pulled down six rebounds and dished out five assists, while Johnny Griffin added 13 points and six rebounds as Bloom eased by Edwardsville 53-41 Tuesday to claim the Class 4A Illinois State Supersectional.

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Boys Basketball: Season full of key moments

May 12, 2012

Plainfield East and Providence won regional championships while Lemont and Minooka won over the skeptics. Joliet West and Bolingbrook showed flashes of dominance while Lockport …