Won two gold medals with USA Basketball. Here are the 50 best Illinois basketball players of all time. March 3, 4A Sectional Finals Preview and Storylines, Scott Burgess BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (BVM) The state of Illinois has produced some high-quality girls basketball players over the years. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. Throughout his 10-year pro career, Ohl averaged 15.9 points per game, demonstrating how well his scoring ability transferred to the NBA. Boys Basketball . DePaul womens basketball star. Teams; CBS Sports; CBS SPORTS HQ; SportsLine; MaxPreps; Shop; StubHub; Follow 247Sports. With the nations original March Madness (that would be the Illinois high school basketball tournament) upon us for the 111th time, we came up with an all-time bracket featuring the best champions in state history. Castillo averaged 24.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior for Bartlesville, as his team went 9-9. He also had 139 games played at the end of his career, which he shared with Demetri McCamey as the most games played by any player in the University. 2022 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois (0) 2022 . Kerr scored 1,299 points in his three varsity seasons, averaging 18.6 points per game overall. Adan Diggs Arizona. A ranking of the 2022 Best NFL Football Players in Illinois. The 2000-01 team advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA mens basketball tournament, with each team earning a spot in the competition. Off-the-court issues plagued Richmond, including a short period of time in prison. With the 2022-23 basketball season fast approaching, here are the top 10 seniors for the upcoming season. Below are the 128 all-staters from Class 1A, Class 2A, Class 3A and Class 4A. The latest recruiting news sent to your inbox weekly. He finished his career as Rock Islands all-time leading scorer (2,159) and rebounder (773). Plus, he was a difference-maker defensively with 144 blocked shots. Williams and his colleagues made it to the Elite 8 in 2001 while still attending Illinois. From 2002 through 2006, Augustine was a member of the University of Illinois mens basketball team. A ranking of the 2004 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois . Chicagos first state champions. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Facts, Famous people, Sports, United States, The 201112 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team photo by MrMcPhoto - Wikimedia commons, 2011 12 Illinois Fighting Illini mens basketball team photo by MrMcPhoto Wikimedia commons. He managed 237 three-pointers which was a school record at the University at the time of his graduation. Based on the armys selection of Mathisen, Menke, and Smiley, Phillip and his teammates would decide not to take part in either the NCAA or NIT tournament. Also worth noting and in the same vein Cadeau's sponsorship deal with Swedish company Vitamin Drink made him the first U.S. high school player to sign an international Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) contract. how interested you are in the Fire, whose season begins Saturday against New York City FC at Soldier Field. The match will be broadcast here Link Live on https://bit.ly/3YdbZeMWarriorsRailsplittersThe Lincoln (IL) varsity basketball team has a neutral playoff ga. He had a few signature moments, including a Pontiac Holiday Tournament semifinal performance for the ages. During his senior season Okafor averaged 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds while compiling a 28-5 record and capturing a Class 4A state championship. In the early 1960s, Illinois had a physical presence in the middle thanks to Bill Burwell. A ranking of the 2001 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois. Guyton, is one of the most sought-after guards in the Class of 2024, with a dozen or more Division I offers. He wrapped up his career with eye-popping numbers, including 2,508 points and 1,004 rebounds in his four-year career. Nick Anderson Simeon Vocational Academy is where Anderson played high school basketball before moving on to play for the Fighting Illini team that won the NCAA Final Four in 1989 for three years while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Michigan, captained by NBA legend Earvin Magic Johnson, was unbeaten and ranked number one in the country at the time, but Illinois was also unbeaten at 14-0. Every year he played, Gills Illini received NCAA bids. WNBA standouts Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings and Yolanda Griffith once took the hardwood at the high school level in the state. Boxscore Men's Basketball vs Indiana January 19, 2023 7:30 pm CT. Jan 24. mbball. Leyden lists Grunwald as the only player in Illinois to be named an All-Stater four times. As a senior in 19921993, Kaufmann averaged 17.3 points per game. With the win, Illinois improved to 15-0 and was ranked second nationally, but Michigan went on to win the eventual national championship. 0.8767. Cupps was named Mr. Ohio Basketball and Ohio MaxPreps Player of the Year as a junior and is committed to playing for Indiana. 1 ranked prospect in the country in the Class of 2014 and the City/Suburban Hoops Reports top-ranked prospect in Illinois, ahead of Curies Cliff Alexander, who was top five nationally. After a somewhat-quiet offseason, the Fire are widely picked to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference and miss the playoffs again. Clearly, Illinois knows how to produce exceptional girls basketball players and the programs that have landed recruits from the state are keenly aware of this fact. While playing for the Fighting Illinis Final Four squad in 12 games as a freshman in 198889, Kaufmann averaged 4.3 points per contest. Note: All data is from the high school database on Basketball Reference. He scored 2,335 points for teams that went 94-9, including undefeated regular seasons in 1975 and. Montverde Academy (Florida) has won Geico Nationals in back-to-back years and remains No. Kameron Mercer Ohio. Maybe more than anyone on this list, Ulis lifted an entire basketball program to state relevancy. Curies Cliff Alexander screams with teammates after defeating Simeon. He also plays with a competitive edge and confidence. . In his final two years at Simeon he averaged a combined 19.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.7 blocks while going 63-4. February 24, Scott Burgess 1 draft pick in every state in the U.S. when it comes to high school boys and girls basketball. In 2004, Gill was chosen for the Illini Mens Basketball All-Century Team.. Let us look at 30 of the best high school players of all time. Post-high school career:He played just one season at Kansas, playing just 17 minutes a game and averaging 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds while also being suspended due to eligibility issues. Bottom Line: Bellevue West guard Josiah Dotzler has been one of the elite players in the midwest the last two seasons, helping lead his school to a Class A state title as a freshman, followed by back-to-back state runner-up finishes the last two seasons. Post-high school career:No player has made a bigger splash out of Illinois. Williams received First-Team All-Big Ten honours in 2004 and 2005 when he was a junior. Denali Craig Edwards, Peoria High (6-0, Sr., SG/F) 67 Amalia Dray, LaGrange Nazareth (5-8, Jr., F) 37 Claire McDougall, Washington (6-0, Sr., G) 33 Aubrey Galvan, Deerfield (5-6, Soph., PG) 31. Along the way, somebody invented the jump shot and the crossover dribble and added a three-point line. He was a member of Bill Selfs back-to-back Big Ten championship teams in 2000-01 and 2001-02. In the 19941995 and 19961997 seasons, Garris also held the team record for assists. Log in (It's worth noting that Bartlesville is coached by former Kansas State guard Clent Stewart.) Here's our list of the best high school girls basketball players in the 13 Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wisconsin. On February 6, he scored his 1,000th point against Indiana, and he finished his career with 1,178 points to place 26th all-time among Illini scorers. Players: Mugsy Bouges (NBA), Reggie Lewis (NBA), Reggie Williams (NBA), David Wingate (NBA), Gary Grahm (UNLV), Tim Dawson (Miami), Keith James (UNLV), Darryl Woods (Virginia Union), Jerry White Notable Wins: Camden (NJ), DeMatha (MD), John Caroll (MD), Flint Hill (VA), Cardinal Gibbons Head Coach: Bob Wade Cooper Zachary Indiana. Davis was an absolute unknown until the spring of his junior year. However, when factoring in the overall high school career, there were some questions in figuring out just where to place Davis on the all-decade team. Downey played college basketball at the University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team from 1960 to 1963. Video Center See top plays & highlights of the best high school sports. These qualities have allowed them to dominate their rivals and earn many honours along the way to success. From 1998 to 2002, the 63 guard played basketball for the University of Illinois. He scored 6.5 points on average in their 12 defeats. 5-11 / 165. 2022 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois (0) 2022 . Months later he was the No. The McDonalds All-American was a consensus top 25 player in the country in the Class of 2011. It's rare to find a player this young who has already crafted his reputation based on his defense and rebounding. Interested in high school basketball? Bettendorf Pleasant Valley charged West Des Moines Valley and collected a 43-28 victory at West Des Moines Valley High on Feb. 27 in Iowa girls high school basketball action . March 01, 2023 5:30 AM. Cook made use of his height to score in the post in a variety of ways and to make three-pointers when the opportunity arose. High School: Minot High School (Minot, North Dakota). And he won big, capturing four state championships and compiling 118 wins in his four-year Simeon career. He owns the Illinois team records for career points (179) and career field goals (64) in the NCAA Tournament. Ty Rodgers Thornton Township (Harvey . Polling Place: Is Patrick Kane the greatest Blackhawk ever? Choose your favorite sports and teams to follow to be able to see all of the content you want to enjoy first. Here is a look at the 10 best Illinois High School Athletic Association (IHSA) boys basketball players in the Class of 2023. Illinois Associated Press all-state girls basketball teams, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy, **-Amiah Hargrove, Christopher (6-2, Jr., F/C) 118, Alayna Kraus, Okawville (5-7, Jr., SG/PG) 113, Gracie Furlong, Galena (5-10, Soph., G) 101, Shelby Bowman, Biggsville West Central (5-6, Jr., PG) 74, Sydney Richards, Neoga (6-0, Sr., G/F) 68, Sheridan Harris, Chicago Morgan Park Academy (5-8, Sr. SF) 50, Lucy Fearday, Effingham St. Anthony (6-0, Sr., F/C) 39, Carly Foster, Gallatin County (5-9, Sr., G) 32, **-Abbey Schreacke, Quincy Notre Dame (6-0, Sr., G) 120, Xamiya Walton, Chicago Butler (5-7, Jr., G) 113, Amayah Doyle, Carterville (5-11, Jr., F) 97, Ashlyn May, Minonk Fieldcrest (5-9, Sr., PG) 63, Megan Sanaj, Chicago Latin (5-7, Sr., G) 47, Kaylee Niebrugge, Teutopolis (5-9, Sr., F) 43, Xyanna Walton, Chicago Butler (5-11, Fr., G) 37, **-Kloe Froebe, Lincoln (5-9, Jr., PG) 115, Janae Kent, Oak Forest (6-1, Sr., G/F) 91, Jordan Wood, Mundelein Carmel Catholic (6-4, Sr., F/G) 85, Grace Carstensen, LaGrange Nazareth (5-10, Sr., G) 79, Denali Craig Edwards, Peoria High (6-0, Sr., SG/F) 67, Amalia Dray, LaGrange Nazareth (5-8, Jr., F) 37, Claire McDougall, Washington (6-0, Sr., G) 33, Aubrey Galvan, Deerfield (5-6, Soph., PG) 31, *-Lexi Kerstein, Deerfield (5-6, Sr., G) 29, *-Sophia Loden, Mascoutah (5-11, Sr., F) 29, Skylar Jones, Chicago Whitney Young (6-0, Sr., SG/SF) 89, Katy Eidle, Arlington Heights Hersey (6-0, Sr., G) 88, Lenee Beaumont, Lisle Benet (6-0, Sr., PG) 87, Sophie Swanson, Barrington (5-10, Sr., G) 81, *-Shannon Dowell, O'Fallon (5-10, Sr., SG) 68, *-Alyssa Latham, Homewood-Flossmoor (6-2, Sr., F) 68, Emily Fisher, Libertyville (6-0, Sr., G) 66, Ella Todd, Palatine Fremd (6-1, Soph., G) 52, Angelina Smith, Bolingbrook (5-9, Jr., G) 45, Brooke Carlson, Batavia (5-6, Jr., PG) 29, Emory Klatt, Lincolnshire Stevenson (6-0, Jr., F) 21. Happy travels! Bradfords most notable claim to fame was his 88-game streak, which set an NCAA record for the most consecutive games with a three-point field goal, before it was surpassed on February 13, 2001. Ahmad Lathan. The Portland Trail Blazers acquired him in the NBA draft as a third-round pick. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (BVM) The high school basketball season is set to tip off, and once again, the state of Illinois features some of the top talent in the country. Darrion Baker Hillcrest (Country Club Hills, IL) Willie Darden Jr Connecticut. Here are 20 players who have had a national MVP-worthy season thus far. As a senior he led Waukegan to a third-place finish in Class 4A while averaging 20.8 points, 11.4 rebounds and nearly three assists and three blocks. High School: Jefferson Senior High School (Minneapolis). Brunsons production and numbers were off the charts. With two years of high school basketball still left to play, Freitag's stock continues to rise and he could be a Top 50 national recruit soon. Recap Men's Basketball vs Ohio State January 24, 2023 6 pm CT. Boxscore Men's Basketball Ohio State January 24, 2023 6 pm CT. Jan 28. Named the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year as a junior, the 6-11 Okafor was the Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, MVP of the McDonalds All-American Game and Mr. Basketball in Illinois as a senior. Chasson Randle of Rock Island moves quickly down the court, defended by Terrance Walker of Brooks. After a lackluster first season, the 6-foot-5 center put up 14.6 . He was selected by Illinois supporters as one of the top 20 basketball players for the Fighting Illini in the teams 100-year history. It's not hard to imagine him and Biliew tearing up Big 12 competition at the forward spots for the Cyclones in the near future. From 2001 until 2005, he was a collegiate athlete at the University of Illinois. The 2010s era of prep basketball in Illinois came to an end last spring when the Class of 2019 graduated and moved on to the college ranks. The 6-3 guard was ranked among the top 75 prospects in the country and won a gold medal with USA Basketballs U17 team. He emerged as a crucial member of the 2001 Elite Eight defence, finishing third in school history in career blocks per game with 1.4. High School: Waukee Senior High School (Waukee, Iowa). He had a season-high 12 points against Western Illinois in his first year. During his senior year state title run, the first in Rock Island history, Randle averaged 21.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists. Star: George Wilson (86 points in last four state games). "Streaming Central Wisconsin Christian vs Oakfield - WIAA High School Boys Basketball Live @ OakfieldStream On : http://4ty.me/c17fcbThanks For Watching And . Garris concluded his career with 1948 points and a 16.8-point per-game scoring average. You will now be able to customize your experience on our website. Pocket. It is universally recognizable that Illinois produces top-notch athletes, including some of the best basketball players in the nation. In Illinois mens basketball history, Thomas is the only player with at least 2,000 career points. First, you have to ignore the basketball stardom Davis has reached out of high school. What this all says is that picking an Illinois All-Decade Team wasnt easy, though the criteria is quite simple. His career field goal percentage of 61.7 per cent (534-865) is a school record and ranks fifth all-time in the Big Ten. Its a little more challenging for a potential player to be fully recognized and appreciated. Peyton Kemp Michigan . quality girls basketball players over the years. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. Polling Place: Is Patrick Kane the greatest Blackhawk ever? But his pure talent puts him on the second team. Conner spent the majority of his collegiate career playing the centre position out of position, but he more than made up for it with his amazing leaping abilities. We grouped our selections in four 16-team divisions: the top champions from the city, from the suburbs, from downstate defined as anywhere in Illinois other than the city and suburbs and the 16 best girls state champions. HONORABLE MENTION (19): Ensley Tedeschi, Benton (6-1, Sr., PG/SG) 30; Natalie Peterson, Freeburg (6-0, Sr., G/F) 18; Kaitlyn Coombes, Paris (5-4, Sr., PG) 15; Dalia Dejesus, Deer Creek-Mackinaw (5-11, Fr., F) 15; Addison Swadinsky, Deer CreekMackinaw (5-7, Sr. PG) 13; Lauren Miller, Central-Southeastern (5-10, Soph., G/F) 11; Campbell Schrank, Winnebago (5-9, Sr., G/F) 11; Sophie Bormann, Metropolis Massac County (5-9, Sr., SG) 9; Clair Hulke, Rock Island Alleman (6-0, Jr., F) 9; Mady Kibelkis, Peotone (5-8, Sr., SG) 9; Madi Schroeder, Peotone (5-11, Jr., PG/PF) 9; Blair Eftink, Quincy Notre Dame (5-8, Sr., G) 8; Grace Roland, Elmhurst Timothy Christian (6-2, Sr., C) 8; Kyla Elsbury, Sherrard (Sr., F) 6; London Walker George, Chicago DePaul Prep (5-9, Soph., F) 6; Jenna Hunter, Peotone (5-11, Sr., F) 6; Mya Janssen, Stillman Valley (6-1, Jr., F) 6; Whitney Rumbold, Tremont (5-10, Sr., F) 6; Layne Rupert, Hillsboro (5-7, Sr., G) 6. Current 2023 top girls players in the state include: Jordan Wood (Carmel) - Michigan State Katie Eidle (Hersey) - University of Michigan Lisa Thompson (Example Academy) - DePaul There were six players from the state who went on to become first-team college basketball All-Americans: Davis, Parker, Okafor, Kaminsky, Brunson and Tyler Ulis. High School: Sunrise Christian Academy (Wichita, Kansas). 6'5". High School: Link Academy (Branson, Missouri). The 19911992 NBA season was his greatest year as a professional; he played in 75 games for the Nuggets and averaged 9.3 points per game. During his college career, he started 134 of them, which is the second-highest number of games started in school history. Under the direction of head coach Bruce Weber, Frazier spent four seasons at the University of Illinois (20052009). His time with the Illini includes playing both power forward and centre, setting numerous team records, making it to the national championship game, and winning numerous honours. Bruce Douglas started at the University of Illinois for four years. High School: Centerville High School (Centerville, Ohio). Downey received the Big Ten Conference Medal of Honor in 1963 for his achievements in both academics and athletics. 1. That's the good stuff. Cook assisted in guiding the Illini to a top seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament. 1. 2022 highschool Pos Rankings State Rankings. Unfortunately, an academic scandal disrupted Curies season as Alexanders Condors lost in the regional after dominating the regular season. Bottom Line: If Gabe Cupps looks familiar or his name sounds familiar, that tracks he's the kid who went viral after he got into a 3-point shooting contest against the father of one of his AAU teammates when he was 14 years old that father being NBA superstar LeBron James. Dalen Davis Whitney Young (Chicago, IL) PG. Who do you take? Life on a third straight one-year contract with the mega-talented Astros isnt bad at all. He graduated from Illinois as the schools seventh-highest scorer ever. Clemons was the most reliable predictor for the 1992 12-12 Illini, who travelled to Bloomington, Indiana, with a 4-1 record to face Bob Knights second-ranked Hoosiers (20-4) and faced them. Post-high school career:As a sophomore at Kentucky, Ulis was the SEC Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. Thank you for submitting a news tip to BVM Sports! He now ranks 12th all-time in Illinois scoring after concluding his collegiate career as the most prolific scorer in school history. First all-black team to win state. And while, yes, individual talent obviously matters, a winning pedigree and accomplishments do come into play. For the University of Illinois, Derek averaged 10 rebounds per game while also setting records for blocked shots with 88 in a single season and 11 in a single game. The drastically different team is built around its All-Star cornerstone, and new players will match her intensity, The best Illinois high school basketball players of the decade, High school football notebook: Malik Elzy quickly catches on, Aidan Gray picks Northwestern, Illini start hot, City/Suburban Hoops Report Three-Pointer: Observations from the first live period weekend, High school football notebook: Brooks Bahr picks Michigan, Frank Covey heads to Northwestern, Ken Leonard prepares to retire, The Astros Dusty Baker 73 years young is still at it, and hes one Hall of a manager. He graduated from Illinois as the schools seventh-highest scorer ever. Tavari Johnson of Lyons Township, who was an unknown in the class just 18 months ago, has also joined Benson as a newcomer to the top 10. The high school basketball season is set to tip off, and once again, the state of Illinois features some of the top talent in the country. Robinson was revered for breaking the color barrier, but dont forget about those who followed. Not all players go on to play professionally, but they still deserve to be recognized for their contributions to basketball.With the state finals approaching, the Chicago Tribune created a 100 greatest players ever list that spans the course of Illinois' 118-year-old high school basketball history. Garris led the club in scoring and free-throw percentage for the following three seasons. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft and has played four seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets and is currently with the New Orleans Pelicans. As a senior he averaged 31.2 points and had seven games of 40-plus points. [1] [2] Throughout the state, 281 individuals were nominated and were chosen by geographic region and tournament era. Bradford played for the Fighting Illini and amassed a career total of 1,735 points, 275 assists, and 108 steals while shooting.389 from the field. Harper played at Illinois for three seasons, with his finest year coming in 19821983 where he led the team in scoring with 15.4 points per game. FB Recruiting Home; News Feed; Team Rankings; Commitments; Decommitments; Scheduled Commits; After graduating from high school, Winters was accepted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he played varsity basketball from 1982 to 1986. He also helped the USA Basketball 18U team to a gold medal. In five seasons hes averaged 15.1 points. The 195051 Fighting Illini varsity team, on which he played as a freshman, finished third in the NCAA tournament in addition to winning the Big Ten Championship. Douglas was selected for the Illinois All-Century Team in October 2004. 50 Best Illinois Basketball Players of All Time. In his senior season, he led Illinois to the NCAA Tournaments Final Eight. Rank Player Pos Ht / Wt Rating Team. Coach Ezra Hendrickson, Fire looking to prove doubters wrong, Baseball quiz: Remember what happened after Jackie, Kahleah Copper: Precious mettle for the new-look Sky. A ranking of the 2001 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois. Ames might only be 6-foot-2, but he's a nightmare on both ends of the floor, as he can fill it up on one end and is a defensive menace on the other. First all-black team to win state. A ranking of the 2001 Best NFL Basketball Players in Illinois. In 2004, he was selected for the All-Century Team at the University of Illinois. Best Version Media, LLC. Following his stellar career at UConn, Boatright has played overseas and in the NBAs G League. He produced in a big way and was the ultimate competitor. Alexander averaged 25 points, 16 rebounds and six blocks as a senior and was named the Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year. All players listed include height, year in school, position and points earned. The physically and athletically imposing Alexander became a force over the final two years of his career. In 2004, he was chosen for the Illini Mens Basketball All-Century Team. He was chosen to be a part of the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fames 2019 class. Douglas had a stellar career with Illinois, where he was a statistical leader in numerous categories. a staff of more than 50 full time recruiting reporters and evaluators that rank and compile data on the nation's elite high school recruits.More Info About; Contact Us; Advertisers . However, as a senior, he had fewer assists but higher shooting percentages. Top 100 +. Marcus averaged 11.3 points per game and was the second-highest scorer for the Illini team.