By Joe Henricksen

I opened my Time magazine this week to find yet another article on the hot topic in basketball recruiting:

courting eighth-graders. East Aurora's Ryan Boatright was the featured athlete in the story, with

two full-page pictures of the 138-pound 14-year-old in this national magazine. When the Boatright-to-

USC commitment was announced last June, more than two months prior to even taking a high

school class, I looked at it as a sign of the times. Heck, it wasn't that bad, Arizona offered

Matt Carlino of Scottsdale, Ariz. two years ago when he was just in 7th grade.

We'll start with whose at fault. I suppose it's the fault of the media and the countless number of basketball talent

evaluators--some real, some self-proclaimed--that continues to feed this frenzy of overhyping young players at an

early age. I could blame the college coaches, who have picked up on the trend of offering junior high kids

scholarships. Or how about the AAU coaches who roll out their young, teen-aged prodigies like runway models in

New York and Paris, looking to be noticed? The parents probably need to take a little of the blame as well. The point

is, it's difficult to blame the kids with so many adults feeding them nonsense, non-binding promises and all the glory

typically reserved for a professional athlete.

College coaches are feeling more and more pressure to find, attract and secure early commitments for fear of

losing them when they could have had them early on in the recruiting game. Prospects are feeling the weight on

their shoulders of securing a scholarship as early as possible, hoping it eases some of the pressure they would

certainly face as the recruiting race heats up to a feverish pitch down the road. You know, under the

circumstances of the current culture of college basketball and recruiting, I get it. I don't necessarily like it, but I do

understand it and can sympathize with both sides. It is what it is: high stakes (coaches being fired, players being

overlooked), big money (coach's salary/player's scholarship) and high-dose pressure.

But what I find so disturbing, especially in this case, is the mindset that develops due to the early commitment,

media coverage and all the fanfare and hype that comes with it. What I hate to see are the quotes I read in the

Time article, where Boatright states the following: "The plan is to go for a year, then go to the NBA. The

sooner I can take care of my family, the better."

As I said, I had no problem with the verbal commitment from Boatright if that's truly what he and his family felt was

the right thing to do at that time. After all, it's a verbal commitment that either side--the player or college coach--can

basically back out of, although the last thing a college coach wants to get into the habit of is breaking his word on a

verbal commitment. That trend can kill a coach's credibility quicker than anything.

I have sat down and spoken with Boatright and his dad, even featuring the player and his early commitment in the

summer issue of the City/Suburban Hoops Report. All things considered, they have a pretty good grasp

on things, are likeable and open-minded. I am pulling for him as I know the pressure that will follow in the next four

years. But that aforementioned quote---the dream of a one-and-done college career and taking care of the family---

that's the mindset that develops. When the scholarship is offered, the commitment is made---all at the tender age of

15, 14 and even 13 years old---the next goal is often beyond reality. And that's when you start to worry.

To subscribe to the City/Suburban Hoops Report publication, call (630)-408-6709 or e-mail hoopsreport@yahoo.com. The first issue of the year is due out in late November.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 12:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

The record is within reach. Legendary coach Dick Van Scyoc is the all-time leader in coaching
victories in Illinois high school basketball history with 826 wins. St. Joseph's Gene Pingatore and
Rockford Boylan's Steve Goers are both closing in, with Pingatore sitting at 793 wins and Goers
at 790.

Between the two coaching icons they've been on the bench for more than 2,000 games, and amazingly winning a
combined 1,583 of them. I had the chance to speak at length with both of them recently and, as I always do,
thoroughly enjoyed the conversation. What they've done in coaching over the last 30-plus years is a list of endless
accomplishments. But when you talk to the two of them it's just a pleasure to listen and discuss Illinois prep basketball. Pingatore and Goers have a passion for Illinois high school hoops and love talking about it. They are
genuine in their care for prep basketball in this state and their own players. Thus, it becomes endless conversation
when going back decade by decade and talking about the great players, teams, coaches, games and countless
memories.

Year after year the question of just how long the two of them will coach is brought up. And while I believe they are
both truly sincere when saying it's not about the wins or the record that keeps them going, it's human nature to
think about becoming the all-time leader in the profession you are in. Think about that for a moment. I also continue
to hear the same passion, the same tone, the same excitement in their voices that I hear year after year. Thus, I
don't think they will be leaving the game anytime in the very near future as long as their health allows them to
continue coaching.

When that time does finally come, when the two of them step down from coaching, I for one will miss them in the
coaching ranks. These are the type of coaches and the type of conversations I will miss. The number of "basketball
lifers" out there are dwindling for many different reasons. What I have also found is that many of the younger
coaches out there don't share the same passion or respect for Illinois high school basketball as many of the
veteran coaches I have gotten to know over the years. So every year a coach steps down, whether it be a
Roy Condotti, a Tom Cappel, a Chuck Beuscher, or a
Bob Hambric, a piece of Illinois prep basketball is lost and doesn't seem like it's being replaced at
an equal rate.

Don't get me wrong, there are still some up-and-coming coaches out there that live it and breath it, coaches that will
be around for many years to come. But when it comes time to discuss the history, to re-live the memories, the great
veteran coaches of today can't be replaced.

To subscribe to the City/Suburban Hoops Report call (630)-408-6709 or e-mail hoopsreport@yahoo.com. The first issue is due out in late November.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 08:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

The whole concept of high-profile transfers in the Illinois prep basketball world began several years ago. This year

is no exception, with an abundance of high-profile transfers that will play a major impact on the season ahead.

Jereme Richmond's arrival at Waukegan and Marcus

Jordan's move from Loyola Academy to Whitney Young are about as

high profile as you will find. But there have been plenty of others.

The move of talented big man Stan Simpson from Leo to

Simeon instantly puts the Wolverines back in the state title picture again this winter. And

Cully Payne's transfer from Burlington Central to

Schaumburg is another move that will play a major impact in the Mid-Suburban League. But the

lesser-known transfers, the ones no one talks about, will have some significance as well--just with less fanfare

and to a lesser degree in some cases.

While it didn't register as much noise as the aforementioned transfers, junior Terrance Johnson

transfer to St. Rita from Seton Academy could have a huge impact on the

Chicago Catholic League race. The Hoops Report has always felt Johnson is a bit underrated in the Chicago area,

yet that is changing quickly. Both Baylor and Western Michigan have extended

offers to the point guard, while California and Missouri State are coming to

Chicago in coming weeks to check in on Johnson. With Johnson, one of the top 20 juniors in the state, on board and

returning players Roshawn Russell and Kendall Hayes returning, coach

Rob Sarmiento could have the Mustangs contending in the Catholic League. Russell is being

recruited heavily by Detroit.

There is so much to be positive about at Crete-Monee these days, with the opening of a beautiful

new school with great facilities and the arrival of coach Rocky Hill last year to the basketball

program. Hill, who brought instant name-recognition and credibility to the program, managed to win 13 games last

season after Crete-Monee won just two games the prior season. This season he welcomes back his leading

scorer, 6-3 Keeshaun Morrow, and point guard Tony Powell. But Hill will also

get a big lift from transfer Brett Ociepka, the son of veteran high school coach Bill

Ociepka. Brett Ociepka, who is just a junior, averaged 17 points a game last season at Beecher.

And Glenbard East, fresh off the best three-year run in school history, hopes to get a lift from a

couple of transfers. Danzell Walker, a 6-4 sophomore who played varsity last year for

Addison Trail as a freshman, will provided some much-needed size for Glenbard East. Add

Proviso West transfer Chris Sanders, a 6-2 junior, and some more building

blocks have been added for the next couple of years for the Rams.

To subscribe to the City/Suburban Hoops Report call (630)-408-6709 or e-mail at hoopsreport@yahoo.com. The first issue is due out in late November.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 07:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

Who will be the next assistant coach for Bruce Weber at Illinois? The best hire

in high school basketball this past offseason was? Who landed the best high school job? Who will have the

toughest new job? Who has the best chance to win? The Hoops Report provides a rundown of all these coaching

topics in this latest blog entry.

ILLINOIS WILL HIRE? There are dozens and dozens--no, make that hundreds--of coaching

friends, associates, media members, alums, donors, administrators and anyone and everyone that has just the right

coach for Bruce Weber to hire at Illinois. Without question the name Jerrance

Howard has been at the top of the list. The Peoria native and former Illini would be a fine choice--in place

of current coach Wayne McClain. But the hiring of Howard would likely only infuriate city

coaches more as he would not be considered a "Chicago guy." In the end, just another slap in the face to the

Chicago coaching brotherhood.

After looking at all the possibilities, the guy I would go after hard if I'm Weber is former Morgan Park

and current Illinois State assistant coach Paris Parham. He's smart,

articulate, well connected, very respected in the city among both Public League coaches and AAU coaches,

impossible not to like, is a Chicago guy and brings years of college coaching experience from previous stops as an

assistant coach.

With that being said, however, I honestly don't think Parham would--or should--take the job. He would have to think

long and hard about it simply because it's Illinois vs. Illinois State; Big Ten vs. Missouri Valley, but in the end the

negatives may outweigh the positives. Right now he's positioned himself in the whole Bill Self/BIlly Gillispie

coaching tree via Tim Jankovich, the current ISU coach. That's not a bad place to be,

especially with the way things are looking at ISU right now and in the future. And imagine the pressure this poor

next coach is going to have on his shoulders when he arrives? Don't think for a minute that didn't weigh on

Tracy Webster's mind.

BEST PREP BASKETBALL HIRE? A no-brainer here as former Thornwood

coach Bob Curran, who is full of class, discipline and past success, takes over at

Lincoln-Way North. Curran won't have anywhere near the talent at his disposal as he did at

Thornwood, but this is the guy you want to put your trust in when starting up and running a basketball program.

TOUGHEST JOB? Of all the new hires this past offseason, you have to feel for first-year coach

Brendan Lyons at Addison Trail. It's been several years since Addison Trail

was even competitive. In the last five years this program is 5-99 overall. Ouch!

NEW COACH WITH BEST CHANCE TO WIN? Steve Messer is a veteran coach

having coached previously at Elk Grove Village. Messer, though, takes over for Don Rowley at

Hersey this winter and should be a Mid-Suburban League favorite with the return of 6-9 Dayton-bound

Luke Fabrizius and the arrival of sophomore shooter Ben Brust. That is

something to build around immediately.

NEW COACH WITH THE MOST PRESSURE? Ron Ashlaw takes over a

Waukegan program that has had its share of internal turmoil in recent years and is welcoming the

state's best college prospect, sophomore transfer Jereme Richmond. The league is loaded with

perennial powers New Trier and Evanston at the top and expectations will be high.

NEW COACH WITH THE BEST JOB? When Bob Curran left

Thornwood to go to Lincoln-Way North, the T-Bird coaching job became the

biggest and best of the coaching vacancies this offseason. Enter Marcus Alderson. He inherits a

job that is blessed with tradition, talent and a terrific athletic director to work for in Gary Lagesse.

To subscribe the City/Suburban Hoops Report publication e-mail the Hoops Report at

hoopsreport@yahoo.com or call (630)-408-6709.

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 10:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

Wow! Can there be any more recruiting drama out of Champaign? The latest, however, is absurd, bordering crazy.

There are two certainties that come with the recent move of assistant coach Tracy Webster

from Illinois to Kentucky.

First, no matter what anyone says or how the situation is spun, the loss of Webster is a huge hit for the Illini

program. A little more on that in a minute. But the notion that Webster was all along working for Kentucky, playing

the role of a double secret recruiting agent and sabotaging Illini basketball recruiting efforts is ludicrous. That is the

rumor making the rounds, along with others. This is more about an opportunity presenting itself and, quite possibly,

frustration finally setting in. Why would Webster even entertain those thoughts? As I said, absolutely ridiculous.

There are those out there that believe the loss of Webster is no big deal, that the Illini weren't able to secure top-

notch talent on Webster's watch anyway. But look at it this way. The smooth, well-connected assistant coach that

gets in on top talent early is the starting pitcher. They put in the innings, do a lot of the leg work, help put the school

in position to succeed recruiting wise. The head coach? Of course, he's the closer, who comes in to finish things

off in the ninth inning. Now imagine being the all-star caliber starting pitcher--in this case the assistant coach--and

the closer imploding in the ninth and losing all the recruits you've put so much effort into. In the end, it hurts the

assistant coach's reputation as well, along with future aspirations. And it gets frustrating.

In the City/Suburban Hoops Report's previous blog, the topic of putting together a terrific coaching staff was

addressed. It doesn't matter what level you're at--low Division I, mid-major or the highest level--putting together the

best possible staff is critical. Bill Self did it at Illinois and at Kansas. And now Kentucky coach

Billy Gillispie, who is on the fast track to coaching superstardom after coaching for several years

under Self, is doing the same. Adding Webster is a brilliant move. Kentucky is not that far in distance from Chicago.

Gillispie already has ties to the state after being an assistant coach at Illinois, and now with Webster on board

expect Chicago to be a feeding frenzy for both Kentucky and Kansas as it pertains to recruiting. Throw

John Calipari of Memphis and Kelvin Sampson of

Indiana into the mix of recruiting the state of Illinois and never before have there been so many

major players in the coaching ranks hovering around Illinois gyms.

Illinois now has lost it's one influential figure in the Chicago area. It doesn't matter if the results haven't been what

Illinois or its fans have hoped and wished for with Webster on staff. Tracy Webster was not the recruiting problem

at Illinois. All you have to do is ask the countless number of coaches and players that have been recruited by

Illinois and see what they have to say about it. Again, Webster was not the problem. Webster was the

one city and suburban coaches and AAU coaches looked to first, connected with, respected and had a

relationship with. Webster was the one "in on" so many of the 2010 stars in the state. Now what does this say to

all those coaches and players out there? Make no mistake about it, the loss of Webster is a big blow to

Bruce Weber and Illinois, no matter what the results have been. Will Weber be able to land the

sexy-named assistant to a program that is quickly being perceived as a sinking ship?

Posted by Joe Henricksen at 08:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

By Joe Henricksen

While Southern Illinois has been--and remains--the premier mid-major program in the country, another state school

is making its mark and is set to rebuild a proud basketball tradition. Thanks to a heavy focus on recruiting prep talent

in Illinois and a new head coach in Tim Jankovich who has pumped new life into the program,

Illinois State is on a fast track to becoming a player again in the Missouri Valley in the very near future.

First, Jankovich assembled about as perfect of a coaching staff as one could right out of the gate. Jankovich, the

former assistant to Bill Self at Kansas, wanted to put a focus on recruiting locally. He went and

got the highly respected Paris Parham from Morgan Park, who also has plenty of college

coaching experience. The Parham hiring instantly gave ISU credibility in the Chicago Public League. There aren't

many coaches who know the state better than Rob Judson, the former Northern Illinois head

coach and assistant at Illinois and Bradley. Add assistant coach Anthony Beane, who is well

connected in St. Louis, and Jankovich put key pieces together before even landing a single recruit.

Now Jankovich is adding personnel. First it was Decatur Eisenhower big man Jeremy

Robinson. It's not easy landing a 6-8 athlete in the Missouri Valley. With size at such a premium, an athlete

with the size Robinson has, typically lands higher. If Robinson comes back fully from a knee injury he suffered

early this summer, he's the type of prospect MVC rivals would drool to have. Then there is Keyon

Smith, the underrated point guard from Chicago Simeon. The Hoops Report has stated

numerous times that Smith just may be the most underappreciated senior prospect in the state. Again, like Robinson,

Smith brings something to the table that is rare to find. It's difficult to find a player who combines a defensive

tenacity to go along with unlimited scoring ability. Smith will get after you on one end and then showcase his terrific

shooting and scoring ability on the other.

Throw in the r