Category Archives: Boys

Big, skilled Camden Lathos leads way forward for Conant

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Boys

By Kaleb Carter

Camden Lathos is looking to put it all together and become a complete player. As far as new Conant Cougars coach Matt Walsh is concerned, that’s something that should come sooner rather than later.

“Cam just needs game experience as much as anything, and he’s gaining that right now,” Walsh said. “He’s going to get stronger … he’s learning how to play, he’s gaining confidence and his success is not a surprise. He’s earned it because of the work he puts in behind the scenes.”

Lathos, one of four sophomores seeing significant time for the Cougars, is a 6-5 wing/forward-type who seems at ease on the perimeter and operating in space. 

“I’ve got a great coach, got great teammates surrounding me,” Lathos said. “I’ve really enjoyed the experience getting out there as a team.”

After winning 2-of-13 games in a COVID-19-shortened season earlier this year, the Cougars are off to a 2-1 start with wins over Wheaton North (42-36) and Prosser (53-47), and a loss to Glenbrook North (55-37). Wednesday against Prosser, Lathos displayed comfort on the perimeter and in the mid-range, showing off a variety of moves on his way to a game-high 16 points. The lanky Lathos said he wants to improve his defense and become more of an all-around player.

Playing a quick team like Prosser provided the Cougars an opportunity to work more on their man-to-man defense.

Conant’s Camden Lathos (14) guards Prosser’s Delfonta Sewell. (Photo: Kaleb Carter)

“It prepares us for the season, we played more of a trap/pick-up team as opposed to more of an executing team,” Lathos said. “I think it’ll really prepare us for conference.”

Lathos turned 15 in August and is still growing into his frame. Playing in the summer for Big 3 Basketball out of Glen Ellyn and Ignite, Lathos has a well-developed game already for someone of his age.

“He’s physically immature, but sky’s the limit for him,” Walsh said of Lathos. “He’s a high-character kid, he’s a hard worker, he’s just going to keep getting better and better.”

Lathos noted that he’s the only one of the four sophomores on the varsity roster who didn’t play middle school ball together: 6-1 forward Austin Potocnic, 6-0 guard Yusuf Cisse and 6-3 forward Shreyas Talluri all played together before. 

Cisse, the starting point guard, looked confident and showed off a skillset that suggests there are good things to come.

“He’s very intelligent, super hard-working kid that is super strong and explosive with great athleticism as a sophomore point guard learning how to run the team,” Walsh said. “He’s just going to get better and better. His potential is through the roof.”

The Cougars also boast returning experience, namely senior Leonard Ahmeti, who knocked down five three-pointers against Prosser. Fellow senior Michael Sheehy showed the ability to sink timely shots from distance, scoring 10 points in the game, 7 coming in the fourth quarter. 

Previously the head coach at Schaumburg from 2009-2014, Walsh expects his team — which he admits is undersized compared to many squads they’ll see — to be a hard-nose defensive-oriented squad. 

“We want to get stops, string stops together,” Walsh said. “We don’t have great size or strength right now, but rebounding is something that we’re going to stress. We’ve got to rebound the basketball better. Offensively we’ve got some guys that can handle the ball and shoot the ball.”

2021-22 Early Signing Day: Illinois Boys

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Making a decision on where to play college basketball is one of the biggest moments in a young athlete’s life.

All year long we track player commitments. These announcements are generally verbal agreements by the players to the coaches and programs they will most likely play for, but they are not binding.

During multiple windows during the year, athletes can sign official National Letters of Intent (NLI) with their programs, more formally binding athlete to program.

For basketball the Early Signing Period this year is November 10-17. The regular period runs from April 13, 2022, through May 18, 2022. 

Below is a list of all official signees during the early period.

Division I Commitments from Illinois

Commitments ordered alphabetically by high school.

Cam Kraft, Buffalo Grove

College: Xavier
Position: Shooting guard
National Rankings: 56th (Rivals); 59th (247); 61st (ESPN)
Notes: Transferred to The Skills Academy in Georgia prior to senior season

Bryce Moore, Carmel Catholic

College: Niagra
Position: Guard

Dylan Arnett, DePaul College Prep

College: UW-Milwaukee
Position: Power forward

Christian Jones, East St. Louis

College: Missouri
Position: Point guard
National Rankings: 3-star (Rivals)
Story: Fox 2: “National Signing Day: University of Missouri signs East St. Louis point guard as part of 2022 class“

Bobby Durkin, Glenbard West

College: Army
Position: Small forward

Braden Huff, Glenbard West

College: Gonzaga
Position: Power forward
National Rankings: 166th (247); 4-star (ESPN); 3-star (Rivals)
Story: The Slipper Still Fits: “Gonzaga lands forward Braden Huff“

Caden Pierce, Glenbard West

College: Princeton
Position: Shooting guard

Ryan Renfro, Glenbard West

College: West
Position: Power forward

Cooper Noard, Glenbrook South

College: Cornell
Position: Point guard

Nick Martinelli, Glenbrook South

College: Elon
Position: Forward
Story: Elon Athletics: “Men’s Basketball Announces Addition of Nick Martinelli To Signing Class“

Trey Pettigrew, Kenwood

College: Nevada
Position: Guard
National Rankings: 127th (Rivals); 141 (247)
Story: Nevada Sports Net: “Trey Pettigrew explains why playing for Nevada was the right fit for him“

Damari Wheeler-Thomas, Larkin

College: North Dakota State
Position: Point guard
Story: NDSU athletics: “NDSU Men’s Basketball Adds Four on Signing Day“

Tavari Johnson, Lyons

College: Akron
Position: Point guard

NJ Benson, Mount Vernon

College: Missouri State
Position: Power forward/center

Robbie Avila, Oak Forest

College: Indiana State
Position: Forward
National Rankings: 3-star (247)

Justin Mullins, Oak Park-River Forest

College: Denver
Position: Shooting guard

Kolby Giles, St. Ignatius

College: Air Force
Position: Wing

Ben VanderWal, Timothy Christian

College: Furman
Position: Small forward

Jalen Quinn, Tuscola

College: Loyola Chicago
Position: Point guard
National Rankings: 3-star (247)

AJ Casey, Whitney Young

College: Miami (Florida)
Position: Forward
National Rankings: 55th (Rivals); 57th (ESPN); 67th (247)

Xavier Amos, Whitney Young

College: Northern Illinois
Position: Forward

Jaden Schutt, Yorkville Christian

College: Duke
Position: Shooting guard
National Rankings: 47th (ESPN); 55th (247); 82nd (Rivals)

Stories: 

Division II Commitments from Illinois

Austin Ambrose, Batavia

College: Batavia
Position: Power forward/center

Ethan Ivan, Batavia

College: Wisconsin-Parkside
Position: Forward

Justin King, Mascoutah

College: Missouri-St. Louis
Position: Point guard

 

Patrick Robinson, Oswego East

College: Missouri-St. Louis
Position: Shooting guard

 

Q&A: Willowbrook’s Sophie Sullivan Commits to SIU-Edwardsville

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For the SIU-Edwardsville women’s program, the 2022 recruiting class is coming together with Illinois prep talent.

Its latest commit is Sophie Sullivan, a Willowbrook point guard who spent her underclassmen years Montini. As a junior she helped lead the resurgent Warriors, to a 14-2 record overall, including 6-0 in West Suburban Conference Gold play, as well as a WSC tournament title.

Sullivan, who announced her commitment on August 13, joins Edwardsville’s Macy Silvey in the recruiting class. Illinois-Basketball.com recently profiled Silvey about her decision to stay close to home.

Sullivan will lead the way this season for Willowbrook after the graduation of Taris Thornton, who is now at Eastern Illinois. Still, the Warriors will return a boatload of talent.

I interviewed Sullivan about her college decision, SIUE’s program, the upcoming high school season and much more.

Illinois-Basketball: What were the most crucial factors that went into picking your college, and how nice does it feel to have that decision out of the way when you start your senior year? 

Sullivan: I absolutely loved SIUE right when I stepped on campus. Edwardsville is a really beautiful town I would say. I feel like no one really knows it until you get there. It just gave me a feeling of home, and I knew I could end up going there. I’ve also known coach Quigley for a long time. She’s seen me play since I was a freshman at Montini. She’s such a nice person. I can’t wait to learn more from her experiences as a player and a person because we played the same position.

I-B: What appeals to you about what SIUE does on the court?

Sullivan: I really like how they play fast because I’m a point guard and I like to push the ball up the court. I feel like I can contribute a lot with my rebounding because for like a smaller guard I would say I can rebound amongst the bigger players and that’ll help get the ball up the court in transition.

I-B: With last year being an odd season, what did you get out of your junior year at Willowbrook and what are you hoping to get out of your senior season?

Sullivan: I was leading on the court, but not so much vocally because I was younger with a bunch of upperclassmen. But then as I got to Willowbrook I think I really took on a leadership role and I helped my team to the first conference championship in a long time. So that was really exciting for my team and for the girls in general. Especially for the seniors to end on a win against a really good (Lyons Township) team was really awesome.

I’m really excited for this year. Especially when I was a freshman, I always looked forward to being a senior and being able to lead all the team workouts and lead the team in general. I feel like the girls really looked up to me and the other upperclassmen on the team since there’s not really a lot of us. There’s two seniors and seven juniors and we have a pretty young team I would say.

I-B: Now that you’ve committed, what are your long-term goals on or off the court?

Sullivan: I’m going to work really hard in this offseason my senior year, and then when I get to SIUE I hope to make the biggest impact possible, whether that be what I do on the court or how I’m cheering my teammates on the bench. I’m thinking about majoring in physical therapy or as a physical education teacher. And then maybe train kids when I’m older on the side.

I-B: When the coaching staff spoke with you, was there anything about your game that they really liked or really wanted you to work on? 

Sullivan: I know coach Quigley has always loved how hard of a worker I was, and she’s seen it in me since I was younger so she knew I would be an impact on the program in that way. She was just saying how she likes to recruit great players and people, so not just on the court but how they are off the court as well.

I-B: When was the first time coach Quigley saw you play? 

Probably as a freshman at open gym when she was the coach at Lewis [University, in Romeovillle].

I-B: Anything else we should know about your commitment or the upcoming season?

For the upcoming high school season, I’m excited because hopefully we’ll have playoffs and everything, and I would love to help lead Willowbrook to the most wins as possible, and maybe regional and even sectional titles.

Expected Illinois natives on the 2021-22 SIUE roster:

  • Redshirt junior Madison Hackstadt (Okawville native, Okawville graduate)
  • Grad Student Allie Troeckler (Bethalto native, Civic Memorial graduate)
  • Sophomore Caite Knutson (Maryville native, Collinsville graduate)
  • Senior Mikala Hall (Danville native, Danville graduate)
  • Freshman Tyler Butler (Belleville native, Belleville East graduate)

Q&A: Glenbard West Forward Ryan Renfro Due to See Increased College Interest

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On one of the biggest teams in the state, Ryan Renfro is an overlooked athlete who wouldn’t be in the background at nearly any other boys basketball program in Illinois. As it is, the 6-8, 225-pound senior forward who plays in the middle of Glenbard West’s arduous 1-3-1 zone, is surrounded by some of the other more talented players in the state of Illinois.

The Hitters went 13-1 in 2021, blowing away most of their competition and beginning to receive warranted respect from Chicago-area and statewide media. They have been remarkably large for several years now, something Illinois-Basketball.com wrote about in November. And while many will understandably shower adulation upon the likes of Division-I talent Braden Huff, Caden Pierce and newcomer Bobby Durkin, Renfro is starting to put on display the type of athletic feats and on-the-floor determination that should have more colleges calling soon. 

While not possessing as much shooting or ball-handling skills necessarily as some of his teammates, Renfro possesses the traits that winning programs need in players to put them over the top. As a quarterback previously, his footwork is an aspect of his game that will steadily improve. A physically imposing post presence, Renfro can play bully ball around the rim and does so often on the offensive glass.

Governors State had offered as Renfro a spot on the team as of June 24. More offers are surely to follow.

Ryan Renfro, at center playing defense against Michele Clark. (Photo Kaleb Carter)

Illinois-Basketball.com’s Kaleb Carter spoke with Renfro following two Ridgewood Live shootout wins over Michele Clark and Maine South. 

Illinois-Basketball: What are you guys doing well this summer?

Ryan Renfro: “We may have five guys on the court, but we’re all one player. We’re all working the ball around, getting it to each other. We’ve been playing (together) since fourth grade, so we all know each other really well. I think it’s the chemistry that stands out the most. We’re always looking for the extra pass, it’s just a ton of fun.”

I-B: As an individual, do you try to have an individual identity yourself or is there anything in particular you’re trying to do when you’re on the floor?

RR: “When I’m on the floor, I’m just trying to find the small things to impact the team. I’ve got some of the greatest scorers in the state [around me], so my role, I feel like I really have to go for every offensive rebound or get helpline, maybe take a charge. But I mean, that stuff is just going to lead to scoring on my end, so I just love making the extra pass, hustling, because that’s what helps our team the most.”

I-B: You guys are playing some of the best teams you can this sumer, so how do you think you guys have responded in some of these instances and where do you still want to improve? 

RR: “We’re just hoping to come out and try and blow every team out. Nobody would expect Glenbard West to be good, so we’re just trying to make a name for ourselves. We have a big target on our back this year, so I mean, it’s just going out there, proving them wrong and just staying humble because we know we can do it ourselves.”

I-B: As you’ve got the attention for being the “big team” — what has that been like?

RR: Yeah *laughs* the big team. Oh yeah, we have a lot of teams that like to talk bad about us, say we’re overrated and stuff, but at the end of the day, we know what to do, we’ve been here many times. Height is height. We were going to be the same team no matter what, but it does help though.”

I-B: You do want to play college basketball, so what are your expectations in terms of what type of college you’d like to attend?

RR: “I like to shoot big. You shoot for the moon and land in the stars is what I say so hopefully I can end up playing mid-major basketball at the DI level. I don’t know what my options are yet, but I’m just hoping I can play at the next level…hopefully mid-major for sure.”

I-B: Are you considering JUCO then going up, etc.?

RR: “If that’s the option, that’s what it is. If prep school is the option, it is. I’m not going to quit. Basketball is the sport.”

I-B: Have you made any college visits or had anyone reach out to you?

RR: “ I have not made any visits, but I have talked with West Point (Army), North Dakota and Cleveland State reached out to me. It’s nothing final yet. I just started this recruitment process. A bunch of schools have been texting me, it’s pretty fun. Nothing yet, hopefully some more though. I’ve just got to play my game and hopefully more will come.”

(Photo: Kaleb Carter)

Westinghouse Backcourt Displays Potential at Riverside-Brookfield

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Westinghouse lost six seniors from its 2020-21 team — a significant exodus considering its younger players got far fewer reps than they would have in other years. Heading into the 2021-22 season, Joshua West and Isiah Giles are two Westinghouse guards to watch. 

West, now a senior, showed promise over the Friday games at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout. His activeness and length stood out on the defensive end. He has a good handle that helps him get to where he wants to on the floor, though he doesn’t need to dominate the ball.

“I think people should know about his versatility on the offense or defensive, and he’s a great two-way player and he gets it done on both ends of the floor,” Westinghouse head coach Rafie Fields said. “On the offensive end, he can .. put the ball in the basket however you like. He can score from the mid-range game. He can attack the basket, shoot the three. Defensively, he plays the passing lanes as well.” 

West has stepped into more of a leadership role with all the roster turnover, a role that Fields says West has handled well.

For the 6-3 West, it’s a role he feels that he is used to. 

“It’s been different, but I mean, I already felt this role from our team on JV my freshman and sophomore years,” he said. “I feel like it’s the same thing, but just at a higher level.” 

West is playing with CD Elite on the AAU circuit, which he credits for the improvement in his game. 

“It’s been giving me the exposure that I need,” West said. “It’s also been preparing me for things like this tournament. It’s been helping me find my game, you know, that’s the biggest thing: finding my game.”

Eastern Illinois and Dominican are two schools that have reached out to West. 

Alongside West in the Westinghouse backcourt is scoring guard Isaiah Giles, a junior.

“He’s just a shifty guard where you know, he’s going to give you something every game, you don’t know what it is, but he’s extremely shifty and extremely quick,” Fields said. “He’s just trying to become more of a point guard because even though his frame says point guard, he’s a true shooting guard at heart, but we’re just trying to get him back into that point guard [role].”

Giles needs to just get the repetitions at the position and gain the understanding that he needs to be on the ball more. Still, he does have a jump-shot that extends beyond the three-point line. 

Giles describes himself as, “a shooter, who has improved his playmaking ability.” 

Giles and West have impressed and are two to watch for throughout the summer and next season. 

Ridgewood Live Notebook: Tinley Park, Kenwood and Others (+Photo Gallery)​

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Keon Richardson at Ridgewood Live 2021

Ridgewood Live Notebook: Tinley Park, Kenwood and Others (+Photo Gallery)

Ridgewood hosted a live event and tournament June 25 to June 27. More than 80 boys teams from the Chicagoland participated, and many of the top players in the state were on display.

Kaleb Carter stopped by the event Friday and caught a number of games and got a chance to chat with some of the standouts.

Tinley Park's Keon Richardson Eyes the Future

Keon Richardson at Ridgewood Live 2021
Tinley Park's Keon Richardson at the Ridgewood Live event. (Photo: Kaleb Carter)

Keon Richardson said that Tinley Park is starting to put the pieces together that could lead to a successful winter season. While some of his teammates have missed action thus far in the summer period, the senior point guard and the Titans showed flashes of excellence.

“Summer been good, got a lot of competition,” Richardson. “Good up and down. The Hillcrest tournament was good.”

At Ridgewood, Richardson showed off a pass-first mindset and distinct court vision that has led to college contact from Tulsa and IUPUI. He’s due for a July 1 visit to Tulsa.

“I’m looking for a school that lets the guards be free, lets the guards coach on the floor,” Richardson said.

Kenwood's Davius Loury Does It All

Kenwood Davius Loury
Kenwood's Davius Loury (0) and JJ Taylor (1) guard a St. Charles East ball-handler. (Photo: Kaleb Carter)

Kenwood assistant coach PJ Jones said that rising junior Davis Loury, a 6-7 wing with more than a handful of Division I offers, is the Broncos’ “Mr. do-it-all.”

Quite a compliment for a program that has some of most talented players in the state of Illinois. 

“He’s kind of what makes our team go, especially (since) he’s a mismatch for most teams,” Jones said. “Some of our other guys really take up the other team’s best defender, so that usually leaves Davius with someone smaller on him … just getting him to crash the boards, post up when he’s got a little guy and shoot over top of them.”

Loury received an offer Friday from Appalachian State while at the event. He also holds offers from DePaul, Illinois, LSU, Miami (OH), Nebraska and Western Illinois.

This summer alongside his talented teammates, Loury is working on several simple aspects of his game. He emphasized his need to become a better ball-handler.

“My shot, dribbling, passing the ball, drive-and-kick and more athleticism,” Loury said. 

According to Jones, Loury’s versatility gives Kenwood more options, especially on the offensive end. 

“He’s another option to bring the ball up and run the offense through, that’s great,” Jones said. “It relieves some pressure off the other guys. For him as a player, being able to do multiple things, he played great defense today, being able to defend all five spots is something we want to see out of him.”

In addition to a flock of major Division I coaches being in attendance for 5-star recruit JJ Taylor (Class of 2023), the Broncos showcased Darrin Ames (2023) and recently returned and highly recruited Trey Pettigrew, a senior, on the floor. 

“He left Illinois when he was ranked the the No. 2 player in the state,” Jones said of Pettigrew. “With the COVID season in limbo, he moved out to Arizona. He was ranked the No. 5 player out in Arizona. With him, getting acclimated with the guys, he’s played in the same AAU program as some of the younger guys, different teams though, 16U teams, 17U teams. Getting him acclimated and letting him know that college coaches know that you can score the ball, but we want to see you facilitate a little more, personal that’s what I want to see him down.”

With rising freshmen Bryce Heard and Rob Walls contributing as well, the Broncos’ lone loss at the three-day event came to Glenbard West, a team loaded with senior, college-level talent.

Other Notable Teams and Players

  • St. Charles East’s Trent Warren (class of 2022) had a hot shooting weekend, putting up double-digits in three straight games, including 20 against Kenwood and 25 versus Fenton. He also used our photo (we see you, Trent) for his new Twitter profile avatar. 
  • Lots of coaches were in attendance, including Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, Illinois’ Brad Underwood, Wisconsin’s Greg Hard, Bradley’s Brian Wardle, UIC’s Luke Yaklich and plenty of others. Former NBA superstar Shawn Marion was even there watching Kenwood. 
  • DePaul College Prep has reloaded, and perhaps most intriguing is Dylan Arnett (2022), a 6-9 forward who walked away from the event with a Western Michigan offer. He showed himself capable of replacing some of the production lost down low from North Dakota signee Brian Matthews. 
  • Hillcrest and Tinley Park both showcased potential in the form of talented guards and springy forwards, but both will need the extra time leading up to the season to put things together. Matthew Moore (2023) and Bryce Tillery (2023) of Hillcrest showed flashes of what could make Hillcrest nearly as good as it was in 2021
  • I don’t have much to say about Glenbard West that hasn’t been said. They look like state championship material. They’re downright huge. The 1-3-1 zone they trot out covers more space than any other zone that comes to mind at the high school level. GBW did finish the event undefeated, including a close win over Kenwood. A couple spurts from senior transfer Bobby Durkin (Hinsdale South), including a deep 3-pointer and a two-handed slam in rapid succession, opened eyes. 
  • I was witness at the end of my day to a close affair between Whitney Young and Lake Forest. Asa Thomas is no joke and is dangerous from wherever and in creating. Whitney Young’s length and athleticism plus clutch plays late from D-I recruits A.J. Casey (offered by Florida Saturday), Xavier Amos (2022) and Daniel Johnson (2023) led to the win over a charged up Lake Forest squad. Casey is so smooth and improving in his all-around game. 
  • DeKalb’s Martez Jackson (2022) is a scrappy guard who defends just the way DeKalb teams have been taught to over the last handful of years by head coaches Al Biancalana and Mike Reynolds (both of whom I covered previously at the DeKalb Daily Chronicle). 
  • Simeon’s  Rubin twins, Miles and Wesley (recent transfers from Homewood-Flossmoor) have tremendous upside as incoming juniors. They are going to be ridiculous to try and stop as a tandem in the coming years.
  • Bolingbrook has some fearless guards and lots of size. Beware of coach Robert Brost’s perennially reliable bunch. 
  • The way Batavia guard Trent Tousana carries himself showcases his confidence, and I’m excited to hear how often he scores in bunches this year. 

Whitney Young 2022 Forward Xavier Amos Raises Stock at RB Shootout

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Xavier Amos Recruiting

Whitney Young 2022 forward Xavier Amos boosted his stock tremendously during the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout, with one of the top performances of the weekend in front of coaches from colleges such as Loyola, Michigan and Illinois. 

The multi-faceted 6-8 forward held one offer from Mount St. Mary’s before the event and left with three other college offers. The first offer of the weekend came from Loyola-Chicago, which he had been in contact with before the event.

“I went to a visit with them on Monday the 15th,” Amos said in an interview at the shootout. ”The campus was great. And the coach called me on the way home yesterday and told me he wants to tell me [about the offer] before I got home.” 

Amos has the size and skill to play as a modern power forward at the next level. He has a good handle and moves fluidly for a player of his size. Amos showed the ability to score down low or take his defender off the dribble. He and his teammate, AJ Casey, the top-ranked 2022 prospect in Illinois, have a good connection on high-low plays.  Defensively, Amos uses his length to protect the rim. 

Amos plays with Team Rose on the summer circuit, which has helped prepare him in terms of the competition he’s facing and getting exposure from college coaches. 

“Oh, It’s been really good, alking, getting more interesting from coaches,” Amos said. “Yeah, we are going to carry it into July. Hopefully, that goes well.” 

Amos is using the summer to fine-tune every aspect of his game. 

“Shooting, dribbling, defense, everything, he said. “I’m trying to get better at everything.” 

Before the end of the weekend, Amos received offers from Kent State and Northern Illinois. That momentum carried into the week, with offers from Indiana State and Cal State Fullerton as well.

See All Boys 2022 College Recruiting Offers

New Head Coach Sean Connor is Learning and Doing for Antioch

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Sean Connor is a man of different sides. He’s a father and husband. A math teacher. A sophomore basketball and ultimate frisbee coach. The man who runs fall basketball league.

It’s no surprise that Antioch’s new head varsity boys basketball coach knows what it takes to juggle tasks. He’s worn many hats coaching, scouting and organizing in the world of high school hoops. Still, Connor — who spent seven years at Chicago’s DePaul College prep teaching and coaching — bided his time before taking a head coaching job.

“I think I always knew I had a lot to learn,” Connor, now a Grayslake resident, said. “You look at all the different experiences I’ve had, and the more head coaches I was under the more I realized, ‘Like man, you’ve really got to make sure you understand this facet or this facet.’”

“It’s easy to say you want to be a varsity coach, but you’ve got to realize when you take on that duty, there’s more to it than just running the varsity team,” he continued.

Connor was hired Thursday, June 18, by Antioch. He was immediately thrust into the role: That same day at the Carmel Catholic Summer League he got to see his new Sequoit players in action.

Connor’s most recent coaching experience was at DePaul College Prep as the head sophomore coach, winning two Catholic League titles in six seasons. Before that he was with the sophomores at York and Geneva, and he has other experience building up youth feeder programs at programs like Marmion.

At DePaul, and when it was previously known as Gordon Tech, Connor was an assistant coach for a program in a school without much recent historical success before Tom Kleinschmidt’s arrival. 

“It was hard to rebuild the program and try to help coach Kleinschmidt achieve the vision he had and what we wanted to be,” Connor said. “That was a long process. Obviously it’s very fulfilling to see everything come to a head this past year after going downstate and having the opportunity to see the guys compete in the Chipotle Classic. But I know some people didn’t understand the amount of work that really went in over the last 8-to-10 years in rebuilding that thing, and how many times people said no and, ‘DePaul’s not good enough.’

“It’s just been a really cool experience to be part of that rebuild and have all these visions and goals the school set and a lot of them come to fulfillment,” he added.

That type of experience informed the type of attributes he wants his program at Antioch to showcase. That doesn’t mean he will remove any agency from his Sequoits players. 

Connor wants his players to take ownership of what’s to come in the process of program-building. He wants this especially for the upcoming seniors — a group who have seen three varsity coaches during their tenure after Tim Bowen’s departure after two seasons.

“I’ve always been very student-centered,” Connor said. “One of the things we’re going to do this week, and I’ve given the guys homework, is to think about what do you want Antioch basketball to be known for. Because I don’t think it’s appropriate that I come in and tell them what they should be in a community that I don’t have very strong roots in.”

A Woodstock graduate who still has family there, a more recent move to Grayslake put Connor’s family in a good position to look for new head coaching jobs. Growing up in Woodstock, Connor says he relates to what kids from Antioch experience growing up. He doesn’t doubt that will greatly influence the team they become. With an already organized feeder program — a selling point for Connor, who is already familiar with the region north of Chicago — he anticipates fitting in with the community’s existing identity. 

“(Antioch) and Woodstock are both blue collar, out on the rim of the country versus suburban area, and I really relate to a lot of the kids in the community,” Connor said. “Because I grew up in a similar situation where you have just enough and have you have to work hard to get by.”

The newly anointed head coach was looking forward to taking his team to compete at Rockford and getting to know his new players. Kobe Kriese, a threat to fill the hoop up a season ago, is now gone. 

Antioch has some seniors leaders and a large group of returning juniors. It also has talented underclassmen in sophomores like Coby Priller and Carter Webb back and the anticipated arrival of freshman Marshall Gehrke. Many moving pieces create a cloudy but enticing picture for the team’s future. 

“The seniors have been fantastic in terms of leadership, being where they need to be and starting to give input as to where they want to be,” Connor said. 

“There’s a very cool blend of experience: a lot of guys with varsity experience and then some young talent,” he continued. “We’ve got four players over 6-5, so it’ll be really cool to watch these guys grow over the summer and then really interesting to see what it looks like in November.”

While Antioch has had some recent success — the Sequoits won three consecutive regional titles between 2016 and 2018 despite three losing records — Connor things they can elevate past the traditional powers north of Chicago. 

“I think they can disrupt the status quo in Illinois basketball because nobody is always looking at Antioch as the team to come out of the north suburbs,” Connor said. “Since you know it’s North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion-Benton, Round Lake and some of these other programs have been really strong. It’ll be really cool to track us over these next few years.

Unsigned Senior Boys Looking for a College Program

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With the season completed and a boatload of talent still making moves trying to find the right college to land at, we’ve done some soliciting.

Jakub Rudnik and Kaleb Carter have been asking you to fill out a google form for seniors trying to play at the next level.

This will be an ongoing list on the site this offseason. We’ll be adding to and subtracting from it as players sign, and we hope you’ll help us keep folks informed as to the players who commit and sign with college programs. 
If you want to add to the list, fill out this form.

Update: Players who have made a college commitment since the release of this list:

  • Nathan Hall, big man, Collinsville (Briar Cliff)
  • Devon Vanderheydt, forward, Washington (Quincy)
  • Noah Reynolds, point guard, Peoria Notre Dame (Wyoming)
  • Cooper Schmid, guard, Plainfield South (North Central)
  • Nathan Thompson, wing, Effingham (Illinois College)
  • Isaiah Holden, point guard, Evanston (Missouri Southern State)
  • BJ Denton, point guard, Lindblom (Tougaloo College)
  • Joe Melton, forward, NCOE (Rend Lake)
  • Ty Lampley, wing, Belleville West (Parkland College)
  • Taijon Barry, small forward, Eisenhower (Rock Valley)
  • Gary Clay Jr., guard, Rich Township (Wabash Valley)
  • Isaiah Donnell, point guard, Richwoods (Southwestern Illinois College)
  • Gabe Metzger, guard, St. Laurence (North Central)

Updated List of Illinois Unsigned Senior Basketball Players

Unsigned Guards

Cullen Cosme: PG, Brother Rice

Senior Statistics:
  • 10.1 points
  • 5.4 rebounds
  • 3.6 assists
  • 1.3 steals

Highlights

Hudl Senior Year Highlights

Rashard Harris: PG, Kankakee

  • 6-4
Senior Statistics
  • 15.1 ppg
  • 6.2 rpg
  • 4.1 apg
  • Coach’s comments: “High IQ, big body, strong rebounder, part of two groups that went a combined 39-5.”

Highlights

Don Williams: G, HSA Southwest

Senior Statistics
  • 21 ppg
  • 12 rpg
  • 4 apg
  • Coach’s comments: “He is 6’3 and can play all positions. He’s very athletic and very coachable.”
  • Contact Romel Bryant: bryant@hsaswchicago.org    708-990-7379

Highlights

Joseph Perkins, G, HSA Southwest

Senior Statistics
  • 20 ppg
  • 5 rpg
  • 5 apg
  • Coach’s comments: “He’s only played varsity one year, but his impact is tremendous. He is 6 feet tall, very fast, and a consistent scorer. He can facilitate your offense and is very coachable. As a point guard he is leading his school to its 1st division and conference championship.” 
  • Contact Romel Bryant: bryant@hsaswchicago.org    708-990-7379

George Betevis, G, Bartlett

Senior Statistics
  • 7 ppg
  • 5.4 rpg
  • 4.3 apg
  • 1.9 spg
  • Awards: 2-time all-conference honorable mention
  • Coach’s comments: “George is an excellent defender with great energy and grit. George can score off the bounce around the basket, and is a solid 3-pt shooter. He led the team in steals and charges. Contact: jimwolfsmith@u-46.org

Brandon Bryant, G, Brother Rice

Senior Statistics

Coltin Quagliano, G, Wethersfield

Senior Statistics
  • All-State: 2019, 2018 First AP and IBCA-
  • 2,219 career points: Wethersfield leader as well as Lincoln Trail Conference leader.
  • Coach’s comments: “Program difference-maker.  He’s going to make a college team a lot better.”
  • Contact coach Jeff Parsons 309-221-5204

Highlights

Braden Finch, G, Mahomet-Seymour

Senior Statistics
  • 10 ppg
  • 3.5 rpg
  • 3.0 apg
  • 3.0 G.P.A.
  • Coach’s comments: “Braden is a strong combo guard with ability to guard multiple positions. He has great vision, shot close to 40% from 3FG range over final 10 games of ’21 season. He is very coachable, can score at all 3 levels, passes well and has great work ethic on defensive side of the ball. He is a D-III/NAIA/Ju-Co candidate.” Contact coach Ryan Bosch  (217) 649-2036   rbosch@ms.k12.il.us

Maurice Evans, G, Tinley Park

Senior Statistics
  • 15.4 ppg
  • 6.4 rpg
  • 4.5 apg
  • 2.4 spg
  • Contact coach Brown: 708-567-0549

Dwight Newsome, G, Belleville West

Senior Statistics
  • 11.1 ppg
  • 3.1 rpg
  • 1.0 apg
  • 36% from 3 (29 of 82)
  • 3.3 G.P.A
  • Awards: all-Southwestern Conference
  • Coach’s comments: “Dwight is a very good outside shooter and is very skilled offensively. 6-2 guard who stepped up for us this year He is an exceptional student as well.”
  • Contact: aschobert@bths201.org, 618-570-9380

Brennan Weller, SG, Edwardsville

Senior Statistics
  • 4.0 G.P.A.
  • 19 ppg
  • 10.1 rpg
  • Led Southwestern Conference in scoring and rebounding
  • Awards: 1st team all-SWC two years consecutively.
  • Coach’s comments: “Great scorer and teammate. Can shoot and finish at the rim. Gifted at reading screens and scoring. Very hard worker, leader, winner.” Contact: Dustin Battas dbattas@ecusg7.org

Gabe Calhoun, G, Dunlap

Senior Statistics
  • Surpassed 1,000 points
  • 4-year varsity starter
  • Led conference in scoring twice

Carson Brozenec, G, Fisher

  • Height: 6-2
  • Weight:
Senior Statistics
  • Led conference in scoring, 25 ppg

Highlights

Drew Taggert, PG,Limestone

  • Height: 5-10
Senior Statistics
  • 8.5 ppg
  • 4 rpg
  • 4 apg
  • Coach’s comments: “Drew is looking for a JUCO. He is a quick PG that can handle the rock.  Can lock down defensively and will give you everything he’s got.”
  • Contact: Tony4421@gmail.com

Highlights

Film

Jovon White, G, Perspectives Leadership Academy

Senior Statistics
  • 15 ppg
  • 13 rpg
  • 5 apg
  • 2.3 G.P.A
  • Coach’s comments: “Great rebounder, big body, move well around the floor know how to use his size to advantage. Great on the glass/scoring.”
  • Contact: Mike smith, +1 (773) 732-9775

Highlights

Jadyn Benson, G, Mount Carmel

  • Height: 6-4
Senior Statistics
  • 15 ppg
  • 9 rpg
  • 3 apg
  • 3 spg
  • 3.1 G.P.A
  • Contact (312) 509-5488

Highlights

Dorien Little, G, Holy Trinity

  • Height: 6-3
  • Weight: 180
Senior Statistics
  • 20 ppg
  • 7 rpg
  • 2 bpg
  • Shot 56% from floor, 48% from 3
  • 2.6 G.P.A
  • Coach’s comments: “Athletic guard. Above-average shooter from distance. Good slasher and finisher at the rim. Great motor and very coachable.”
  • Coach: Larry Coats (coach) 312-213-0013

Highlights

Angelo Vassilakis, PG, Lockport

  • Height: 6-0
  • Weight: 155
Senior Statistics
  • 6.9 ppg
  • 5.0 apg
  • 2.2 spg
  • 2.7 rpg
  • Coach’s comments: “College- ready strength, great on-ball defender, lives in the paint, pass-first PG.”
  • Contact: 815-871-0520, Andrew Weber, Lockport HS Assistant Coach

Highlights

Austin Kohley, G, Harvard

Senior Statistics
  • Coach’s comments: “Austin is being overlooked due to playing at a small school in a weaker conference but he is the real deal.  He is a 6’2” Guard who can play the 1, 2 or 3.  Solid ball handler who attacks the basket hard and finishes.  Good shooter who can hit the 3 though he can be streaky at times.  Good defender and his mom played college basketball so he knows the game very well.
  • Contact coach Dan Krauser (815) 519-6042 dkrauser@cusd50.org

Highlights

Film

Trenton Kyler, G, DeKalb

Senior Statistics
  • 20.4 ppg
  • 4 rpg
  • 3.0 apg
  • 53% fom 3
  • 2.8 G.P.A.
  • Awards: 2-time DuPage Valley Conference POTY. 2021 DeKalb Daily Chronicle Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
  • Coach’s comments: “He is the ultimate competitor. He is a fearless shooter and creator on the offensive end. He is willing to take the challenge of defending guards and bigs. I would 100% want him on my team.”
  • Contact Mike Reynolds: 217-260-4420 cell michael.reynolds@d428.org

Semaj Greer, G, Rich Township

  • Height: 5-9
Senior Statistics
  • 10.5 ppg
  • 4.7 rpg
  • 3.5 apg

Highlights

Donovan Johnson, G, Rich Township

Senior Statistics

Highlights

Michael Ousley, G, Lanphier

  • Height: 6-0
Senior Statistics
  • 9.9 ppg
  • 3.2 rpg
  • 1.1 apg
  • 0.9 spg
  • Honor roll, two quarters
  • Contact: (217) 502-6204

Highlights

Nick Janega, G, Glenbard East

Senior Statistics
  • 7.2 ppg
  • 38% from 3
  • 4.7 G.P.A.
  • Coaches’ comments: High ceiling, just finding himself, solid D3 player / average athlete but smart positional player, good skill-set.
  • Contact Al Biancalana: 630-388-9380

Highlights

Jayden Williams, SG, East Peoria

Senior Statistics
  • 9.6 ppg
  • 4.1 rpg
  • 1.6 apg
  • 245 Bench, 385 Squat
  • Awards: Mid-Illini second-team all-conference
  • Contact: jgrzanich@ep309.org

Highlights

Trey Selman, SG, Milledgeville

Senior Statistics
  • 27.5 ppg
  • 11 rpg
  • 2.5 apg
  • Awards: Sauk Valley boys basketball player of the year

Highlights

Unsigned Wings

Gary Johns, Wing, Westinghouse

Senior Statistics
  • 17 ppg
  • 11 rpg
  • 3 bpg
  • 3.3 G.P.A.
  • Coach’s comments: Very versatile wing that can handle the ball, knock down the 3, & protect the rim.
  • Contact coach Rafie Fields- 773-3987373

Highlights

Matas Deksnys, Wing, Lockport

  • Height: 6-7
Senior Statistics
  • 15 ppg
  • 4.3 rpg
  • 1.6 apg
  • 1 spg
  • 87.5% Free throws
  • 48 3’s (16 games), 42% from 3
  • Hit 7 3’s in one game, hit 75 3’s as junior.
  • 3.86 G.P.A.
  • Awards: SWSC all-conference, Team MVP
  • Coach’s comments: “Matt is an elite shooter who has great length at 6’7″ tall.  He has grown as a scorer off the dribble as well as a rebounder this season.  He was the focal point of every team’s defensive game plan this year and still produced at a high level.  The sky is the limit for him because he is still maturing physically and will be a very, very dangerous player when he is 20, 21, 22 years old.”
  • Contact coach Brett Hespell – 708-912-1739  bhespell@lths.org

Highlights

Eric Wade, Wing, Belleville East

Senior Statistics
  • 14.3 ppg
  • 10.3 rpg
  • 3.2 apg
  • 2.3 spg
  • 1.4 bpg
  • Coach’s comments: “Great finisher at the rim, leader mentality on and off the court, never gives up and is an amazing rebounder and scorer.”
  • Contact: (618)-3105459, Email- ericwade1324@gmail.com

Josh Garner, Wing, Limestone

  • Height: 6-0
Senior Statistics
  • 18.1 ppg
  • 7.1 rpg
  • 36% from 3
  • Coach’s comments: “Josh is looking for a JUCO. Josh can straight out score the ball, long and athletic, and loves the game.” 
  • Contact: Tony4421gmail.com

Highlights

Film

Devonta Blevins, Wing, Rich Township

Senior Statistics
  • 3.5 G.P.A
  • Coach’s comments: Explosive, athletic, and can shoot the 3 ball.
  • Contact: (708)-631-5901 

Unsigned Bigs

Willie Strickland: F, Kankakee

  • 6-5
Senior Statistics
  • 10.2 ppg
  • 6.8 rpg
  • 3.1 bpg
  • Coach’s comments: “Willie is a 6’5” forward who plays well in the paint and along the baseline. Long arms allow him to play the passing lanes well and block shots. High motor.”

Damarcies Moore, W, CICS Longwood

  • 3.5 G.P.A.

Highlights

Instagram23chinnoo

Qati Dalipi, Forward, Westmont

  • Height: 6-6
Senior Statistics
  • 20.5 ppg
  • 8.5 rpg
  • Team MVP
  • All-Conference
  • All-Area Honorable Mention
  • 2.9 GPA
  • Coach Email: cethridge@g.cusd201.org 
  • Coach Phone Number: (630)-272-3683

Highlights

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