When the state’s top sophomore came to town Friday night, Hillcrest’s Julius Rollins was ready.
Tinley Park’s AJ Casey — a consensus top-20 national prospect — got his points, finishing with 19. But he had to work hard for them, and Hillcrest shut down the rest of the Titans en route to a 78-42 South Suburban Blue victory in Country Club Hills.
“As soon as I saw them on the schedule, I started preparing mentally for it,” said Rollins, a 6-6 junior handed the assignment of guarding the 6-8 Casey. “He’s one of the better kids in the state, and I just want to get my name out there more and prove I can play with the best.”
Hillcrest coach Don Houston believes Rollins did that.
“I do like the way Julius worked,” Houston said. “AJ got to the basket a few times, and we’re challenging our guys not to let that happen.
“The few times [Casey] did get to the basket — if I don’t hold him accountable for those, he’s not going to become a better player. [Rollins] did a great job on him tonight, but I know he could have done better.”
On the other end of the court, Hillcrest (13-7, 7-1) was taking advantage of Tinley’s decision to play zone defense.
That made for some wide-open looks for the Hawks, who didn’t waste them.
“I like to see people in a zone because we have kids who are not afraid to shoot the ball,” Houston said.
One of those kids is Mar’Keise Irving, a junior football prospect with nine Big Ten offers. He made four three-pointers and finished with a game-high 21 points.
“When teams go zone, they give me enough time to get set and get my open looks,” Irving said.
When he gets those looks, Irving launches old-school set shots.
“I don’t jump,” he said. “That’s how I always shot the ball. People ask why I don’t jump; I just tell them I feel comfortable not jumping.”
Kenton Wright, another junior guard, added 20 points for Hillcrest and Rollins scored 12.
Wright also liked to see Tinley (15-8, 5-4) come out in a zone.
“Basically, our whole starting five can shoot the ball,” Wright said. “And we can still attack, get a few midrange shots, dump it off on the block to my guys, get it out to my shooters.”
Having Irving back at full strength — he missed time earlier recovering from a football injury — is just what the Hawks needed.
“I was a little bit down on myself when I got hurt,” he said. “I wasn’t doing [anything] for the team. I had to pick myself up. I started working out, getting back to myself.”
Now Irving has picked up the Hawks.
“He’s back, and he’s starting to take over the role of a leader,” Houston said. “He’s been a leader on the football team. He’s starting to carry that over [to basketball].”
