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