IHSA Tournament games

[Da Coach]

The second semifinal in 4A is Chicago Whitney Young vs. Evanston.

Evanston has a 6'2" junior guard Lance Jones who averages 15 ppg and has a few midmajor offers, including Illinois State. He's another quick, athletic guard, who looks to dribble-drive and doesn't shoot threes-

http://verbalcommits.com/players/lance-jones

Whitney Young's top player is Javon Freeman who is committed to Valparaiso. He is a 6'3" senior guard who looks pretty good so far. He averages 19.6 ppg, but also takes only rare threes, and gets his points mostly in the lane and on breaks.

I am not aware there is anyone in this game that Bradley might be interested in.


BTW, Whitney Young is the defending Class 4A Champion, but from what I saw of Belleville West, I think they are the best team in this tournament.

[Big Mike]

Freeman is really good, Valpo got a good one!

[Da Coach]

Whitney Young junior guard Myles Baker is looking good, too. He already has an offer from St. Louis U.
Whitney Young seems to play a bit out of control, but now suddenly it's working for them. They fell well behind Evanston, but now it's Evanston 41 Whitney Young 38 to start the 4th quarter.

[Big Mike]

Evanston freshman Peters can really shot the 3!

[Da Coach]

Yes, Peters looks good for a freshman. And although he isn't real tall (listed at 6') that is not bad for a freshman and he has a strong build. When I was a freshman, I was 4'10" and about 90 pounds.

[pfcmsh]

Cool Moment

I just saw a very cool moment in the 4th quarter of the IHSA class 3A consolation game between North Chicago and Marion Catholic. One of the Marion kids hit the floor and a North Chicago kid tried to help him up, but had the wrong angle so the assist wasn't working. A second North Chicago kid rushed in, grabbed the downed players other hand and both of the North Chicago kids brought him up. Class act. My hat is off to the coach and the kids.

[tornado]

I just saw a very cool moment in the 4th quarter of the IHSA class 3A consolation game between North Chicago and Marion Catholic. One of the Marion kids hit the floor and a North Chicago kid tried to help him up, but had the wrong angle so the assist wasn't working. A second North Chicago kid rushed in, grabbed the downed players other hand and both of the North Chicago kids brought him up. Class act. My hat is off to the coach and the kids.

nice - we have way too much super-ego taunting and disrespect of opponents

[Da Coach]

In the Class 3A championship game between Springfield Southeast and Chicago Morgan Park, Morgan Park leads 35-27 at halftime.
Unsigned Morgan park senior Cam Burrell is looking good again. He has 8 points, 6 rebounds, is very active on the floor. Illinois commit Ayo Dosunmu has 14 points for Morgan Park, and Anthony Fairlee has 12 & 6 for Springfield SE.


In the 3rd place game- Chicago Heights Marian Catholic beat North Chicago 58-48

[basketball nut]

Is anyone else watching any of the IHSA class 3A and 4A games?

Belleville West is playing Elgin Larkin right now. Belleville West's E.J. Liddell is really a nice player. But he is just too good to end up at Bradley. But he is a strong, big kid (listed a 6'7", maybe not quite that big but probably still growing), and a very smart player. He will have many high-major offers before he's done.


In the 3A games this afternoon, the best player was Morgan Park's Ayo Dosunmu, but he is already committed to Illinois. Bradley has reportedly been in recruiting contact with a couple of his Morgan Park teammates- Tamell Pearson and Cam Burrell.
I was not very impressed with Pearson, though he is listed at 6'9" (not that tall) and 230 lbs (nowhere near that heavy). IMO, he needs a prep year or a juco to get stronger and develop his skills. I think Nick Irvin (head coach at Morgan Park and for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program) does a great job of over-hyping and adding height and weight to his kids' bios.

But Cam Burrell reminded me a lot of Donte Thomas when he came out of high school. Burrell is thin, about 6'5" or 6'6", but athletic, and almost always got the ball in the basket if they got it to him. But he is limited to scoring within a foot or two of the basket, and is not a shooter. But I could see him becoming a good mid-major player if he develops his game. I haven't heard that Bradley is recruiting him. His only offer was Chicago State, but now they have fired their coach. He should have more offers.

The only other D1 prospect I was impressed with (other than former Peoria Manual guard Adam Miller of Morgan Park) was Anthony Fairlee of Springfield Southeast. He's a super athletic 6'3" kid who is just a junior. He also doesn't have much of an outside game, but can do everything else. If he develops an outside shot, he'd be a high-major recruit.

In the first Class 4A semifinal tonight, Belleville West leads Elgin Larkin 35-26 at half-

https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/BoysBasketball/StateSeriesInformationResults.aspx?url=/data/scores/bkb4.htm

Here were this afternoon's 3A semifinal scores-

https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivities/BoysBasketball/StateSeriesInformationResults.aspx?url=/data/scores/bkb3.htm

Box scores-
3A- https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivitie.../bkb/3box1.htm

4A- https://www.ihsa.org/SportsActivitie.../bkb/4box1.htm

Heard from some reliable sources that we are recruiting the big man from West. I would agree that he will get some nice offers but as I watched
he reminded me of Childs. In saying that I was referring to his inside game which looked fantastic. The big question will be if he develops an outside shot otherwise he will be much better suited for mid-major colleges.

[Chico]

In the Class 3A championship game between Springfield Southeast and Chicago Morgan Park, Morgan Park leads 35-27 at halftime.
Unsigned Morgan park senior Cam Burrell is looking good again. He has 8 points, 6 rebounds, is very active on the floor. Illinois commit Ayo Dosunmu has 14 points for Morgan Park, and Anthony Fairlee has 12 & 6 for Springfield SE.


In the 3rd place game- Chicago Heights Marian Catholic beat North Chicago 58-48

Watched some of the 3A championship game. Quit watching after seeing too much shoving, pushing and thug ball.

[Big Mike]

Wow....one of the best finishes I've seen....congrats West!

[Da Coach]

Terriffic game. Belleville West wins in OT.
Belleville West 60 Whitney Young 56

[wily coyote]

Heard from some reliable sources that we are recruiting the big man from West. I would agree that he will get some nice offers but as I watched
he reminded me of Childs. In saying that I was referring to his inside game which looked fantastic. The big question will be if he develops an outside shot otherwise he will be much better suited for mid-major colleges.

Basketball nut if your talking about E J Liddell trust me he'll not be going to a mid-major. I predict he will be 1st or 2nd in the Mr. Basketball voting. I had the opportunity to talk to him Thur night at the banquet and he already has numerous offers including Illinois and Kansas St. Very nice young man and a Cub fan to boot.

[Da Coach]

I am guessing Ayo Dosunmu will get the Mr. Basketball, mainly because he is a senior and had more hype throughout the year. But I like Liddell better, and he might have impressed enough late to swing the vote to him.
But I don't see Liddell going to Missouri. So far, I can't find anyone reporting that Missouri is recruiting him.

[tornado]

surprised Cam Burrell gets so little press...he looks like a solid midmajor guy along the likes of a Donte Thomas or a Phil Fayne