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Who are the five best Illinois high school basketball players you have seen since 1990?
My five? Kevin Garnett, Derrick Rose, Corey Maggette, Sergio McClain, Kiwane Garris.
My next five? Juwan Howard, Jon Scheyer, Quentin Richardson, Tom Kleinschmidt, Ronnie Fields.
I asked recruiting analysts Roy and Harv Schmidt of Illinois Prep Bulls-Eye, who have been observing and evaluating high school basketball players since the 1980s, to select the five best players they have seen since 1990.
It seems we agree in most cases.
The Schmidt brothers' starting five is Garnett, Rose, Richardson, Scheyer and McClain.
Their "bench" includes Kleinschmidt, Maggette, Sherrell Ford, Donnie Boyce, Melvin Ely, Antoine Walker, Matt Lottich and Shaun Livingston.
I suppose you also could make a case for Rashard Griffith, Julian Wright, Sherron Collins, Michael Finley and Eddy Curry.
We agree that Garnett must be the first choice. Some critics would opt to leave him off the list because he played only his senior year at Farragut. But I would argue that he solidified his national reputation in Chicago. His play lured Kevin McHale and other NBA scouts and made him a lottery pick.
It is difficult to leave Garnett and Rose off the all-time list of Illinois high school stars that usually is reserved for George Wilson, Cazzie Russell, Isiah Thomas and Quinn Buckner. Who would be the sixth man on that team?
Maggette was dynamic, athletic and explosive, a man among boys, like Garnett. Was there any doubt he would make an impact in the NBA? McClain was the most inspirational leader I observed in the last 50 years, with the lone exception of Buckner.
I may be overrating Garris and underrating Scheyer. Garris wasn't the 3,000-points-in-a-career scorer that Scheyer was. But he was a three-time All-Chicago Area player in the toughest conference in the state and he boasted a complete game--scoring, ball-handling, passing, defense, leadership.
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How can Dwyane Wade not be in the top 10 since 1990?
Because D.Wade wasn't nearly the established player in high school that he became at Marquette and of course in the league. This isn't to say that he didn't have a good high school career; he did, and even played for and was the centerpiece of some very good Richards teams. He's probably top ten-fifteen, but it's not the slam dunk some might think.
On another note, how about Pierre Pierce for consideration? He's fallen off the map for obvious reasons, but the kid could play. As a class A fan I saw him score 49 in a sectional final against St. Mel with three D-I kids taking turns trying to guard him. The kid was a phenomenonal scorer, probably taken a notch or two down because he played class A and didn't become all he could have because of the sexual assault conviction.
Jerry Gee has to be in the top 10!!! Don't judge him on the way he wasn't utilized at Illinois but how dominant he was at St. Martin de Porres!
Jerry Gee was a dominant force for 3 years at St. Martin Gee Porres!!!! He scored, rebounded, blocked shots against every team he played against.
Just found your site. I go back to the Hebron days. The Judsons. After that Noland Gentry-John Wessels. Govenor Vaughn-Manny Jackson. Bogie Redman-can't remember the two other players although I believe one's father was Collinsville principal. Thornridge was the best ever. Jimmy Enright's book is a treasure. Lou Boudreau was my idol. Spin Salario and George Wilson. DuSable was great. St. George was the only school to win both Football and Basketball city Championships in the same year. Is there ever a get together,with you, over coffee to sit around to talk about Illinois high school basketball? Thanks for all your suppport of Illinois High School Basketball.
John O'Connor
tim thomas was superman in high school