Jan. 24--Teyvion Kirk is taking a big-picture view.
Joliet West's point guard said he's trying not to take things too seriously because time is on his side.
The 6-foot-1 junior was talking about recruiting. His approach applies to his current team as well.
Led by Kirk and fellow junior Division I prospect Trevian Bell, the young Tigers appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, beating No. 12 Benet and coming within a second of shocking Peoria Manual in the semifinals.
The leap forward was followed by a step back, a three-game losing streak that West snapped with a 61-55 victory against a shorthanded Oswego team on Monday.
"We've been in some situations, been in some big games in Pontiac and the regular season, so it is all going to help down the stretch," Joliet West coach Nick DiForti said. "Sometimes coaches say that because it sounds like a good thing to say, but in reality it will help us down the stretch as long as they accept that and understand the situation that just happened."
DiForti's point guard has a high comprehension level, as evidenced by a straight-A transcript that has Ivy League schools looking into his development.
His crossover dribble will be a threat at whatever level or conference he chooses to play. It allowed him to get to the basket time and again against a fleet-of-foot Thornton defense Jan. 12 and affords him a north-south style that is easy to play off.
Kirk is not in extremely high demand just yet, but he'll have plenty of opportunities to showcase his game, both with his up-and-coming high school team and in the offseason.
Chicago State has offered, while Northern Colorado, NIU, Western Illinois, Wright State and UIC are the numerous schools expressing interest.
"I'm just enjoying the process but not taking it too serious," Kirk said. "I've got a lot of time to determine what college I go to, so I'm taking it slow."
On the rise: Uplift junior DeMarius Jacobs has been among the area's highest stock-risers this season.
A little-used reserve on Uplift's Class 2A championship team as a sophomore, the 6-3 Jacobs now possesses four D-I offers after receiving one from LIU-Brooklyn this week.
Jacobs also has offers from Southern Illinois, Chicago State and North Dakota, according to his AAU coach Billy Welcome of ALL IN Athletics. Welcome said Loyola recently indicated serious interest.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
