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Loren Tate has been covering Illinois sports and high school basketball in this state for nearly 50 years. He joined the Champaign News-Gazette in 1966. Born in nearby Monticello, hometown of former Illini basketball coach Harry Combes, he always has possessed a keen eye for basketball talent -- even though he once was one of the leading semipro baseball pitchers in the country.
Here are Loren's picks as the five best high school players he has observed:
Quentin Richardson: total player, his rebounding on offense in high school was superior. No one went to the boards harder than him.
Isiah Thomas: He was discovered as a junior when he led St. Joseph to second place in the state tournament. He had a flair that was special for his time. He captivated the audience.
Derrick Rose: the most athletic guard ever. Super athletic. He was way beyond his time. He was unstoppable going to the hoop. Physically superior to anyone else.
Cazzie Russell: big guard with a flair for passing. He dominated every game he played. He dominated the ball. He could play any position. He was so physical. He overpowered people.
George Wilson: He played over the top of everybody. He was so much bigger and more athletic than everyone else.
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It is really impossible to argue with any choices. What was interesting about the Marshall team of 60-61 (I believe) was that Jim Pitts and Don Jackson were on that team. Both ended up at Northwestern. If Bill Rohr could have convinced Wilson to go to NU, we wouldn't be talking about NU never going to the NCAA.
You have never mentioned Spin Salario. I always thought he did a good job.
HERE ARE THE FIVE ON MY RADAR!
RICKY GREEN FROM HIRSCH
TONY PARKER FROM LEO
MARCUS LIBERTY FROM KING
BEN WILSON FROM SIMEON
LEARTHUR SCOTT FROM GORDON TECH
ALL OF THESE GUYS COULD REALLY PLAY AND THEY WERE WINNERS AS WELL, I AM NOT TRYING TO COMPARE THEM TO THE FIVE GUYS FROM LOREN TATE'S COMMENTS, THEY JUST KINDA POPPED IN MY HEAD TO MENTION, AND I THANK GOD I GOT A CHANCE TO SEE THEM PLAY!
Your list is very impressive.Why not Mark Acguire from Westinghouse instead of Quentin Richardson?No Ben Wilson??Who was the first coach at John Marshall HS to win the state championship in 1958? Was it Spin Salario or Harvey H ?
I saw Learthur play when he was a freshman at St Philips HS before he transferred to Gordon Tech (St Philips closed after the 1970 school year). He could talk more stuff on the court than anyone I knew at the time. I remember the first day of practice as a junior, thinking I had a chance at some playing time. Then in comes a tremendous group of freshman that included Learthur Scott, Marshall Hill, Eddie Lowery, Donald Harris, the sensational Barney Allison, Herbert Collins, Oscar Porter, and a host of other tremendous athletes that included junior transfer Ralph Valot, an I didn't see the light of day for weeks. I was fortunate just to ba able to learn from the talent those guys displayed.
Basketball practices were a gift from heaven; we had fun every practice, but Learthur would just break everybody down while talkin about your momma, your girl, and your ugly haircut.
By the way, that freshman class:
Learthur Scott (starred at Gordon Tech and beyond)
Marshall Hill (starred at Gordon Tech)
Eddie Lowery (starred at Austin HS)
Donald Harris (starred at Holy Trinity HS)
Barney Allison (starred at Crane)
Herbert Collins (starred at Holy Trinity HS)
Oscar Porter (starred at UIC)
Junior transfer Ralph Valot (starred at Gordon Tech)