Stars stay during migration
Scholarships play big role in keeping state’s best, despite delayed season
More than 40 high school basketball players have transferred out of the state since it became clear that Illinois wasn’t going to play its regularly scheduled winter basketball season.
A dozen or more of the players were on track to become Division I college basketball players. It’s unlikely that most ( or any) will ever return to play in the state. That’s a tremendous loss to the state’s high school basketball scene.
It’s notable that none of the state’s top seniors or juniors has left. Seniors Max Christie ( Rolling Meadows), Bryce Hopkins ( Fenwick) and Ahamad Bynum ( Simeon) are still here, as well as Young junior AJ Casey.
Simeon coach Robert Smith said he told his players in the summer that he would understand if any of them wanted to leave and play a year or more at another school. They all stayed. Seniors Ahamad Bynum ( DePaul) and Isaiah Barnes ( Michigan) already had their college scholarships settled, which is a big factor for many.
“I’m lucky and fortunate enough that I didn’t have to worry about COVID impacting my recruitment,” Christie said. “Unfortunately for some other people still looking for scholarships, it has thrown a wrench in their systems.”
Christie, a Michigan State recruit, and other players who stayed have dived into training and workouts at full speed.
“Even if we can’t play basketball games, I’m finding ways to get better and still finding ways to actually play,” Christie said. “Unfortunately, it isn’t in a team setting.”
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo recently recovered from a bout with COVID- 19.
“It was definitely a shock when he got it,” Christie said. “It just shows how strong the virus is and how seriously you have to take it. I called him to make sure he was OK.”
Izzo showed up on his own birthday to watch Christie play last season. The senior
said that move weighed heavily in his decision to pick MSU.
“I thought that was pretty crazy,” Christie said. “It meant a lot that he came to see me on his birthday. It was huge. A big indicator that he was really invested in me. It was definitely one of the reasons I decided to go there.”
Those huge recruiting moments are unlikely to happen in Illinois this winter.
Latest commitments
Two players have managed to make college decisions lately. Hillcrest forward Julius Rollins committed to Kent State, and Thornton’s Brandon Hall signed with East Tennessee State.
Rollins is part of a loaded group of seniors at Hillcrest who will be/ would have been serious contenders for the Class 3A state championship this season. Hall is a tremendous
athlete and was one of the key spark plugs during Thornton’s great run last season.
Drought leads to draft shutout
Things were very quiet locally at the NBA Draft. There wasn’t a player from Illinois selected. That has happened just once before in the last 20 years. All those years without a McDonald’s All- American are starting to have an effect at the professional level.