Cowan leading theway for DePaul Prep
No. 1
Perry Cowan is hot. The 6- 4 junior at DePaul Prep is averaging 18.5 points, but he has gone on a scoring binge lately for a team that sports a sparkling 18- 4 record.
Cowan scored 28 points in a victory Friday against St. Joseph and followed it up with 27 more in a victory Saturday against Evanston at the When Sides Collide Shootout. In his last five games, Cowan is averaging 21.8 points.
His shooting has improved markedly — Cowan is making 43 percent from three- point range — while he still fills the stat sheet, averaging six rebounds, nearly three assists and two steals.
The versatility and production Cowan brings stand out, but what makes him so invaluable is that he’s a player who defends and doesn’t take any plays off. He’s already a three- year veteran whom teammates feed off.
Cowan, who is among the top prospects in the Class of 2019 in Illinois, makes DePaul Prep a favorite to win a sectional title in March as the Rams make the jump from Class 2A to Class 3A.
No. 2
Morgan Park sophomore Adam Miller is the best young talent in Chicago, but he’s also the best college prospect in the state, regardless of class.
Miller has terrific size and build for a guard, shoots at a high level and really can pass. As an elite shooter with size and poise, Miller is a projectable high- major prospect. He already has received scholarship offers from Illinois, Kansas, UCLA, Oklahoma State and Wake Forest, and that list only will grow.
The transfer from Peoria Manual had his Chicago signature moment with 32 points, including an eyeopening nine three- pointers, in a victory Saturday against Fenwick.
No. 3
Andrew might not be on many radars, but the Thunderbolts are on top of the Southwest Suburban Red, a league that features perennial threats Thornton and Thornwood.
Since coach Dave Wilson took over in 2014, Andrew’s victory total has increased each season, improving from four in 2014- 15 to eight in 2015- 16 to 14 last season. Now Andrew has won nine of its last 11 games and heads into the stretch run with a 12- 6 record.
More important, the Thunderbolts have a shot at attaining goals the program is not accustomed to reaching.
Andrew has won only one conference championship in its history and only two regional titles. While the Thunderbolts hope to hold off Thornton and Thornwood, they have positioned themselves to be a threat in the Romeoville Sectional as a top- eight seed.
There are no big names or Division I players. There is very little size and a lack of overall athleticism. But offensive discipline and execution, along with senior guards Evan Yerkes and Troy Murphy, drive this team.
Murphy ( 16.6 points) and Yerkes ( 13.7) have provided consistent scoring and are deadly from threepoint range. Yerkes has made 60 three- pointers and Murphy 44. Murphy also is shooting an impressive 45 percent frombehind the arc.