The two Chicago Public League heavyweights, Simeon and Young, will both have high-profile matchups Tuesday night facing teams boasting a wave of young talent. Simeon will host Kenwood, while Young will travel to St. Rita.
After thrashing Bowen, Clemente, Morgan Park and Perspectives, Kenwood and first-year coach Mike Irvin are set for their first big test. After scoring 86 or more points in each of the four lopsided wins with an average victory margin of 38 points a game, Simeon is clearly a step up. And that’s probably an understatement.
The state’s top sophomore, JJ Taylor, has put up monster numbers, scoring 41, 33, 38 and 37 points in Kenwood’s four lopsided wins. Those types of scoring totals will be much more difficult to come by against Simeon.
Young and AJ Casey, the state’s No. 1 ranked junior prospect, rolled past two quality south suburban programs last week. The Dolphins hammered Homewood-Flossmoor 66-42 and beat Thornton 67-51.
St. Rita, led by senior Christian Henry and the best freshmen group in the state, can use this matchup with the No. 3 ranked Dolphins as a true measuring stick in this short, abbreviated season.
Talented team, limited schedule
Hillcrest has never dodged any of the heavy hitters in putting together its non-conference schedule. Last season coach Don Houston’s team played Homewood-Flossmoor twice, Bloom, Curie, Bloomington, Simeon, Evanston and Joliet West.
This year he returned five starters from a team that won 23 games and a regional championship and was prepared to give emerging junior Kamryn Thomas a bigger role.
If there is a team itching to be tested but simply doesn’t have a chance to show its full worth this season, it’s Hillcrest. The school district is only allowing the Hawks to play South Suburban Conference foes this season.
After a bit of a topsy-turvy season a year ago, the very experienced and talented Hawks were set to impress this season. They are off to a 7-0 start, albeit against a schedule that won’t include one ranked team.
Senior Julius Rollins, a Kent State recruit, looked terrific last week in a win over Robbie Avila and Oak Forest. The 6-6 forward recently returned from a hamstring injury and was dominating, even showcasing a cleaner and more confident perimeter jumper while pouring in 26 points and knocking down four three-pointers.
With Rollins, the 6-7 Thomas, 6-6 Jakobi Heady and 6-5 Hamahrie Bowers, Hillcrest is as big and long as any team in the Chicago area. Plus, Mar’Keise Irving, the high-level football player headed to play at Minnesota, is a four-year varsity player in the backcourt.
This talented and senior-dominated Hillcrest team not being able to showcase itself against other elite teams is yet another covid basketball season fallout.
Waubonsie Valley coach steps down
When Jason Mead took over the Waubonsie Valley program in 2016, the Warriors were fresh off a 5-22 season.
In what was a complete overhaul of a dilapidated program, Mead went 8-19 his first season and improved to 13-18 in year two. Now, after going 27-5 in each of the past two seasons and off to a 7-2 start this season, Mead is stepping down as head coach at the end of the season.
Mead, who led Waubonsie Valley to its first regional title in 11 years in 2019, cited “personal reasons” for his departure. Mead said he was in need of a “break from the grind for success and winning.” It’s a fine line many coaches deal with and sometimes struggle with during the competitive thralls of a season and maintaining a program.
“It’s time to refocus and recalibrate personally,” he said.
In a short time, Mead’s impact was felt and an identity was formed. His teams impressed with their discipline at both ends of the floor.
In addition to the regional title, Waubonsie Valley won back-to-back Thanksgiving Tournament championships and captured the Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs in 2019 when the Warriors began the season with eye-opening 16-1 start.
