Illinois D1 Hoopers: December 18 Top Performers

In the only Friday night basketball we have right now, 66 former Illinois high school basketball players were in Division I action. Of those 15 reached double digits scoring, with a trio reaching a double-double.

Some notable performances are below, as well as all box scores at the bottom in sortable tables. You can also view all Division I men from Illinois and Division I women from Illinois.

Debut Double-Double for Hawkins

Southern Miss had the first five games of its season cancelled, so juco transfer Fess Hawkins has had to wait more than three weeks to make her debut. The former Champaign Central (she played three seasons before transferring out of state) and Vincennes player did not let the chance to finally play go to waste.

In just 13 minutes, Hawkins had 10 points, 10 rebounds and a block, shooting 4-for-5 from the field. She was one of three Golden Eagles to score double figures in the 63-50 win over Nicholls State.

We’ll see if she gets even more playing time Saturday against William Carey.

Career Night for Richie

In his first season with Tulsa after seasons at NIU and Triton College, Austin Richie has found himself in the rotation for the Hurricane. He’d averaged 11 minutes over the past three games coming off the bench.

Friday was his coming out party.

Richie — who played his first three high school seasons at Marian Catholic before his senior year at Bloom — led all scorers with 19 points in an 82-55 win over Northwestern State. The 6-6 wing scored in a variety of ways, knocking down catch-and-shoot threes and pullups, and also getting to the rim.

Perhaps this performance is a launching pad for Richie into an expanded role offensively.

Two other Bloom graduates were in action for Bloom:

  • Freshman Keshawn Williams: 7 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
  • Freshman Christian Shumate: 4 points, 2 rebounds

The pair connected for a highlight play. How many times did we see this happen in 2019-20?

Cochran’s Double-Double Leads NIU

Bolingbrook grad Tyler Cochran was one of four Illinois high school players to see the court for NIU Friday in its 64-54 win over Chicago State. He had his own career night, tying a career best with 15 points and setting a new career high at 12 rebounds. It was his second double-double for NIU.

After averaging 5.5 points per game as a freshman, Cochran’s role has expanded dramatically in year two. Through three games, he’s averaging 14.3 points and 7 rebounds in nearly 30 minutes per contest.

Other notable NIU performances from Illinois high school players vs. Chicago State:

  • Darius Beane, Carbondale: 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals
  • Kaleb Thornton, Bolingbrook/Nazareth: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Whitley’s Free Throws Gives UAB Win

On Monday, Geneva graduate Margaret Whitley scored a career-high 26 points. Friday against Stetson, she led UAB in scoring with 15. Her biggest and final three points were the game-winners for the Blazers.

With one second left, down 48-46, Whitley was fouled on a three (by Phillips graduate Tippy Robertson). She went to the line and knocked down all three shots. Stetson missed a shot at the buzzer and the Blazers — who boast five players from Illinois high schools — moved to 4-1.

Chris Harris Back in a Big Way

Former Lake Forest Academy and Illinois Wolves guard Chris Harris made an immediate impact after joining SEMO in 2019-20. He led the team in scoring after two games despite coming off the bench, shooting 60 percent from the field and knocking down 5-of-7 threes. It looked like he’d settled into a great new home after stops at Missouri S&T and John A. Logan.

Right when things were going so well, he suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.

Now a redshirt junior, Harris is back in a big way. On Friday he scored 23 in a 69-67 loss to UT-Martin. Through six games he’s led the team in scoring at 16.7 points a contest.

He did an interview before the season about recovering from injury and getting a new perspective on basketball.

Other Notes

  • Jacobs graduate Cameron Krutwig had his first double-double of the season in a 75-73 loss to Richmond (14 points, 11 rebounds).
  • Sycamore graduate Kylie Feuerbach set a new career scoring high for the second-straight game. The Iowa State freshman had 17 points Friday in a win over Kansas State. She had 13 points on Tuesday against Northern Iowa and has started every game this season.

All Performances by Men from Illinois High Schools (12.18.2020)

PlayerHSCollegeResultMin.Pts.Reb.Ast.Stl.Blk.
Keshawn WilliamsBloomTulsaW: 82-55 (NWST)2074521
Austin RichieBloom / Marian CatholicTulsaW: 82-55 (NWST)23193110
Christian ShumateBloom / Plainfield EastTulsaW: 82-55 (NWST)342000
Joseph YesufuBolingbrookDrakeW: 75-57 (SD)1222100
Tyler CochranBolingbrookNorthern IllinoisW: 64-54 (NIU)341512420
Nana AkentenBolingbrookSEMOL: 67-69 (UTM)3053210
Kaleb ThorntonBolingbrook / NazarethNorthern IllinoisW: 64-54 (NIU)2263210
Marquise KennedyBrother Rice / Crete-MoneeLoyolaL: 73-75 (RICH)620000
Darius BeaneCarbondaleNorthern IllinoisW: 64-54 (NIU)29135120
Frank JakubicekCary-GroveBelmontW: 88-63 (TT)430000
Kamron ReavesCentennialFlorida A&ML: 64-74 (GT)2982200
George Conditt IVCorlissIowa StateL: 65-70 (WVU)1345001
Elijah JoinerCurieTulsaW: 82-55 (NWST)2365500
Lance JonesEvanstonSouthern IllinoisW: 62-50 (ND)2974731
Marcus GarrettHillcrestMorehead StateL: 65-69 (SIUE)300000
Cameron KrutwigJacobsLoyolaL: 73-75 (RICH)311411220
Manny PattersonKenwoodSEMOL: 67-69 (UTM)504000
Dane QuestLake ForestTennessee TechL: 49-103 (TENN)1100100
Lorenzo EdwardsLake ForestCollege of CharlestonL: 70-76 (WCU)1692110
Chris HarrisLake Forest AcademySEMOL: 67-69 (UTM)32231100
Xavier BishopLanphierMontana StateL: 54-82 (WSU)2060100
Nate FergusonLemontDrakeW: 75-57 (SD)1713000
Jordan KwiecinskiLoyola AcademyDrakeW: 75-57 (SD)100000
A.J. YoungmanManualIdahoL: 41-79 (UTAH)840010
Kenyon DulingMorgan ParkNC A&TW: 91-45 (GRBO)1971110
Tom WelchNaperville NorthLoyolaL: 73-75 (RICH)962100
Damaria FranklinNiles NorthTennessee TechL: 49-103 (TENN)2782100
Anthony D'AvanzoNotre Dame (Niles)Southern IllinoisW: 62-50 (ND)21118010
Tujautae WilliamsOrrTennessee TechL: 49-103 (TENN)1542000
SimeonSimeonLittle RockW: 78-50 (CCC)1562000
Keenon ColeStreamwoodNorthern IllinoisW: 64-54 (NIU)300000
Rafael Cruz Jr.Von SteubenWestern MichiganW: 76-61 (CMU)2274310
Coreyoun RushinWestinghouseChicago StateL: 54-64 (NIU)3688300
Lucas WilliamsonWhitney YoungLoyolaL: 73-75 (RICH)2884210
Nate ShockeyYorkNorth DakotaL: 50-62 (SIU)801010

All Performances by Women from Illinois High Schools (12.18.2020)

PlayerHSCollegeResultMin.Pts.Reb.Ast.Stl.Blk.
Chatori TylerArgoUNC-GreensboroL: 40-58 (ELON)1845000
Tsimba MalongaBenetDenverL: 61-79 (CSU)21133000
Jahari SmithBolingbrookCentral MichiganL: 70-79 (MSU)35117301
Fess HawkinsChampaign CentralSouthern MissW: 63-50 (NICH)131010001
Allie TroecklerCivic MemorialSIU EdwardsvilleL: 58-73 (EIU)37137003
Mikala HallDanvilleSIU EdwardsvilleL: 58-73 (EIU)1926100
Myriah HaywoodEdwardsvilleWestern KentuckyL: 54-71 (MERC)3054020
Margaret WhitleyGenevaUABW: 49-48 (STET)38154110
Maggie BairGlenbard SouthDrakeL: 80-101 (TEX)913000
Claire GrittHerseyDenverL: 61-79 (CSU)1275100
Isis FitchHomewood-FlossmoorBradleyW: 104-53 (QU)1162100
Imani WilliamsKankakeeEast Tennesse St.L: 64-70 U (DAV)1253120
Jordan MoserLoyola AcademyLoyolaW: 80-61 (PNW)300000
Demi BurdickMarshallUT-MartinW: 61-58 (SEMO)841000
Aannah InterranteMcHenryBradleyW: 104-53 (QU)1160100
Jordan AikensMorgan ParkSouthernL: 55-79 MISST)22103000
Kaylen EvansNazarethLoyolaW: 80-61 (PNW)602001
Sam GalanopoulosNiles WestLoyolaW: 80-61 (PNW)22114300
Kylee SchneringerNormalUABW: 49-48 (STET)1631001
Madison HackstadtOkawvilleSIU EdwardsvilleL: 58-73 (EIU)200000
Tippy RobertsonPhillipsStetsonL: 48-59 (UAB)3186120
Halle IdowuRichardsToledoW: 77-74 (DUQ)761000
Kat NolanRolling MeadowsLoyolaW: 80-61 (PNW)741010
Jada ThorpeSimeonKansas StateL: 69-91 (ISU)100000
Cymone GoodrichSouth ShoreKansas StateL: 69-91 (ISU)500100
Sara RosenfeldtSt. Charles EastUABW: 49-48 (STET)1721100
Kylie FeuerbachSycamoreIowa StateW: 91-69 (KSU)34171010
Lauren LeeTrinityUC Santa BarbaraL: 60-82 (SC)2763120
Jordyn HughesWarrenEastern IllinoisW: 73-58 (SIUE)1603010
Allie TylkaWaucondaFlorida AtlanticW: 104-73 (FM)16137100
Nikki BairdWheaton NorthBelmontW: 71-55 (AAM)1891000

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