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First impressions can be misleading and downright confounding. Like a first date, first chapter, first course, first bite, first pitch or first down.
That's how I felt after watching Simeon's basketball team dismantle Gary (Ind.) Lew Wallace last Thursday night on ESPN.
One game doesn't make a season or a reputation. But I have to admit that I was blown away by Simeon's performance. Honestly, it brought back memories of Thornridge 1972, the best team in state history.
I have to bite my tongue when I say that. I've never put another team in Thornridge's class, not even Quincy 1981 or Collinsville 1961 or Marshall 1958 or Simeon 2007 or Lyons 1953 or Evanston 1968 or Peoria Manual 1997 or Whitney Young 1998.
Is Coach Robert Smith's current squad that good?
Well, is Simeon is the No. 13 team in the nation, as one survey reports, I want to see the teams that are rated ahead of them. Maybe the Spurs and the Lakers. This Simeon team--the one I saw the other night--is better than the Derrick Rose/Tim Flowers team for one very good reason.
As Thornridge coach Ron Ferguson noted about his unbeaten 1972 powerhouse, the one that didn't allow any one of 33 opponents to come within 14 points, every member of the starting lineup could handle the ball under pressure, even 6-7 center Boyd Batts, who was every bit as athletic at teammates Quinn Buckner and Greg Rose. This Simeon team has that rare attribute.
Led by top-rated junior Steve Taylor and highly touted sophomores Jabari Parker and Kendrick Nunn, the Wolverines have athleticism, depth, speed and defense. Despite their abundance of youth, they are unselfish, execute with drill-like precision and are fundamentally sound. They get up and down the floor in rapid-fire fashion.
Experience? Many of them played on last year's state championship team. Complacency? Smith keeps everyone on their toes and their heads into the game by playing two lineups, like two lines in a hockey game, keeping everyone fresh and focused on the game.
Simeon could be tested at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Peoria Manual might be the best team outside of the Chicago area. And this could be the best Peoria Manual team since the 1990s of Sergio McClain, Marcus Griffin and Frank Williams. Warren, Waukegan and unbeaten Curie also are in the field.
The thing that strikes me about this Simeon team is, despite the celebrity of Parker, Taylor and Nunn, there doesn't seem to be a dominant player on the floor, certainly no one who has the ability to singlehandedly carry a team like Derrick Rose. But there are so many gifted and talented players on the roster, all of whom make contributions to the team's success. Smith's envious job is to keep everybody involved and happy.
Thornridge 1972 was a different team. The starting lineup rarely left the floor while the outcome of the game was in doubt. Buckner, Batts and Rose were the stars but point guard Mike Bonczyk earned All-State recognition for his playmaking skills and Ernie Dunn was an unsung hero. Their all-for-one and one-for-all teamwork on offense and in applying the Falcons' intimidating and suffocating zone press was straight out of an instruction manual.
This Simeon team is different, too. Most great teams were led by one or two dominant players--Jim Brewer, Bob Lackey and Farrel Jones, Rose and Flowers, Ted Caiazza, Ron Bontemps and Johnny Orr, Brian Sloan, Owen Brown and Marcus Washington, George Wilson and M.C. Thompson, Jim Ard and LaMarr Thomas, Bruce Douglas and Michael Payne, Bogie Redmon and Fred Riddle, Marcus Liberty and Levertis Robinson, Rashard Griffith and Thomas Hamilton--but the signature attribute of Smith's 2010-11 squad is quality depth.
Taylor is the top-rated player in the class of 2012, which is below average by virtually every recruiting analyst's standards, certainly not as good as 2011 and 2103 and not even to be mentioned in the same breath as the gold standards of 1979 and 1998.
Parker is the top-rated player in the class of 2013 in the Chicago area and one of the top five in the class nationally. The son of former Farragut, Texas A&M and NBA star Sonny Parker, he continues to develop into an all-around performer. Nunn, a superb three-point shooter, is making a national reputation for himself.
Smith, a disciple of the late Simeon coach Bob Hambric, has held tight to his mentor's strict disciplinary rules on and off the court while giving his players more freedom on the floor. They really seem to be enjoying themselves. They don't seem to be feeling the pressure of their lofty ranking and expectations.
I questioned Rose's ability as a junior, to the point where I didn't believe he was one of the top five players in the nation as others had anointed him. But he proved as a senior that he was every bit the No. 1 player in the NBA draft that he became. And I had to make room for him--move over Quinn Buckner--alongside George Wilson, Cazzie Russell, Isiah Thomas and Kevin Garnett as one of the top five players I have ever seen.
It is too early to determine if Jabari Parker will be good enough to earn a spot with Rose and that elite company. But the current Simeon team? In a class with Thornridge 1972? Let's wait to see if the Wolverines are as good in March as they were the other day at Chicago State.
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Peoria Manual isn't even the best team in Peoria, Peoria Notre Dame beat them and are undefeated. ND also beat O''fallon and Peoria High. Also to all you Chicagoans, get ready for Rock Island in 3A they are loaded, and play Morgan park at the end of the year. You may see them play again at state.
I saw that game and two things stood out to me. The first being that Simeon played a zone defense the whole game. My original thinking was, Smith has recruited the best talent money can buy and yet refuses to come out and play. I would've liked to see them play man-to-man. I can judge how good a team really is by their attention to detail playing man defense.
Secondly, I was blown away with how underprepared Lew Wallace was. They did not know how to attack a basic 2-1-2 zone defense. Chances are they would have lost anyway because Simeon simply has more talent but it would've liked to see how the game would've shaped up if Simeon would've come out and played, so to speak.
And on another note, is it me or did Anthony Davis look horrible in the preceding game? The poor kid isn't being coached at all!! He is running around shooting all kinds of bad shots from the perimeter that he doesn't have the ability to make consistently and it makes him look bad on the floor. Defensively, all he wants to do is block shots, so he is out of position a good majority of the time. Simply put, this wasn't a good showing for a kid ranked that high. If he is the number 2 player in the country, based upon what I saw that night, then high school basketball is way worse than I thought.
And let me say this as well, when it is all said and done if Simeon is as good or better than the '72 Thornridge team, it won't be for the same reason. I'm sure that Thornridge's team wasn't built with Nike money and trinkets. That may not mattter to some but it does to me, the game has been sold to the highest bidder. It's not the same as when coaches had to make the best of the kids that lived in the district and came to tryouts.
The good teams today are made in the spring and summer. Certain kids get to compete and train nationally using Nike, Adidas or Reebok monies/trinkets. And the schools with the best and most lucrative relationships with the the gym shoe companies routinely field the most talented teams because of their abillity to recruit.
I've said this before and I'll say it again; how good of a coach would Smith or Slaughter or Irvin be if they coached at say, Gage Park? Again, it is legalized cheating in my mind and it stinks to high heaven, in my humble opinion.
Darnell,
I agree with you. One thing to add, or ask...
How many classes were there in 72? Oh, that's right - Thornridge beat the best, not just the best in their 'class'.
Unfortunately, SMith, Slaughter and Irvin will keep winning because the IHSA will not take teh necessary steps to stop them (ie. rule changes, enforce rules, ban these teams from FUTURE state tourneys). Even better, make separate tourneys.
They could create two public tourneys (small and large school), have one tournament for CPS and one for other non-bounded schools. All four champions would meet for a 'best of the best' tournament at the end.
Nope, won't happen though.
Phil K:
I guess I'm the likely one (as always) to address you and your constant crucifixion of the Public League and IHSA administrators. First of all the IHSA and CPS have to have something to penalize these teams for. Maybe you don't understand, but for example C. Davis had an obligation to crack down on Phillips last week once he discovered the ineligible player. It's the same with IHSA as they investigate the complaint about Whitney Young from outside the CPS district about the practice and other issues. IHSA will penalize Young if they find something illegal. I think Marty Hickman has the guts and I know C. Davis has the Kahunas to penalize anyone in violation of the rules as he has done consistently during his tenure. Phil K, remember you have to have a violation before you can penalize someone. It can't just be Phil K's opinion. Winning is not a violation. Sometimes individuals like you don't know what you don't know.
Taylor Bell,
I bet this team could not beat the Simeon Class AA 1984 State Champion best out of 3,5, or 7.
By the way, Sammy why did you not take up my buddy PeteRock on his offer to make a donation to your charity if you'd just tell us more about your expertise and show your name and credentials?
Anyway, I'm with Darnell, these teams now days are all hype and no bite.
David Slaughter
By the way, everyone knows that Nike has CPS administrators on the payroll and/ or free gear payola list anyway.
Watch the CPS playoffs closely, you'll see Calvin "Bojangles" Davis and the rest of his underlings dancing to the praise of the Nike Regional Barn Master dance with their "fat cat" smiles and giggles of getting over.
The CPS Sports Administration is probably one of the- if not "the"- most corrupt public school sports operation in the country. If Taylor wanted to, he could find a lot of dirt, just ask Davis to show exactly what CPS gets in return for pushing the Nike Brand.
David Slaughter
You guys sound like a bunch of guys that are jealous of the modern athlete and teams, talk about Simeon, talk about how they have built a program, I am sure that other team's have shoe contracts, but I don't see them downstate every year, give credit where credit is due, stop crying over spilled milk, that school on 82nd and Vincennes is still on top, remember when one of their player's was murdered, do you guys remember that incident, do you see the negative elements that are close to this school, and you guys want to cry over shoes, and sponsors, give me a break, either say something good or don't say anything at all!
I heard a statistic the other day that shook me a bit, I have raised 5 boys, it said that one out of every three black boys by the age of 21 will have gone to jail, well none of mine have gone, and I know other men that have done a good job at raising their's as well, what Simeon is doing should be applauded not put in a negative light!
To Robert Smith and his staff, keep up the good work, and have a Merry Christmas!
Sounds like a bunch of guys who want to be coaches, I don't think some of you know, how much time and effort it takes to win on a consistent basis, either say something positive or take your negativity to the woodshed!
Phil Smith Jr., let me say, and I've said this before, you have an uncanny ability for missing the point. I am all for giving credit where it is due but at the same time, I believe in keeping things in it's proper perspective. No one can dispute what Simeon has accomplished on the basketball court under Robert Smith. However, I am saying they SHOULD win and go down state and compete for state championships every year. He has an ability to do what most public league coaches cannot do. Recruit. He can, and apparently does, influence kids to come to Simeon for it's 'basketball program', i.e. Jabari Parker. The coaches at Phillips or Dunbar or DuSable do not have the resources, Nike money/trinkets (free nationwide travel and professional training) that Simeon does. Consequently, they can't put the same kind of talent on the floor that Simeon can. And clearly that matters in competition.
For example, let's talk about academic achievement and not basketball for a moment. How does Simeon stack up against Payton? If you look at their state report cards, there is no comparison, in fact, it is a slaughter. So if there were state finals in academics every year Payton would compete for the title. Every year. Is it because their teachers are so much better than Simeon's? Maybe, maybe not. Or does Payton get to hand-pick EVERY kid that walks through its doors based solely upon his or her academic achievement?? Not to mention that CPS also provides them with the best academic resources. The same principle applies here hand-picking students (recruiting) and having the best resources (gym shoe monies) gives Payton the very same advantages in academic competitions that Simeon enjoys athletically.
All that I am saying is let's keep this in perspective Simeon wins because it has a competitive advantage against most of its opponents. Therefore they SHOULD win.
It is useless to keep saying I don't see your point, I see your point, and it hits like a point on the head of the pen, cheer for positivity, cheer for coaches that work their behinds off to have good programs, it is a shame that Anthony Longstreet no longer coaches, he has 3 players in the league, stop comparing schools, when the CPS, got away from neighborhood schools, the genie got out of the bottle, stop dropping test scores from schools, where alot of us don't even live!
Walter Payton School wasn't built for people of color, yea I said it, how many blacks attend that school, it is a College Prep School, so you see the writing on the wall, now you have charter schools or counterfeit schools, finally Simeon wins because they are more prepared for battle and their coach knows what he is doing!
That State Report card won't get you in Sam's Club!
darnell:
Your points are well taken. The selective enrollment school example is a good one. You always make sound statements. I would just say to you that each school has the opportunity to build a program as Simeon has, but of course some schools are more attractive than others. The nike adoption comes with winning. Recruitment for athletics alone is not allowed. No one has turned Robert Smith in yet to my knowledge.
People like David and Pete have no clue. Their statements are based on jealousy, envy, and misery. The sports staff knows haters come with the territory. Everyone in the know is aware that CPS has no contract with nike. Nike's relationship to the games is through METV, not CPS. Nike adopts winning schools, not CPS staff. CPS Sports wear is not nike made. That staff has their own special uniforms for sport events and why shouldn't they? You expose the fact that you are uninformed when you make these statements. Do some research.
By thw way, Phil Smith Jr. is right about positivity and acknowledging success as a result of hard work at the craft of coaching.
All who know about recruiting violations should report them and see that they are addressed.
Darnell:
You have some very compelling thoughts and views on the subject matter regarding the inequality of resources made available to some CPS schools, but; to the detriment of others- in regards to sports and academics.
The infrastructure of the "shoe game" is built upon: illusions, gratuity and influence.
Back in the 80's, the "Big Wigs" at Nike wanted sole access to those whom had the power, i.e. coaches and street agents who lived in the hood and had some "past heroics" to which gave them instant credibility and forced the young, talented and impressionable to trust in the illusion that they- and only they, had clout to "take them places".
Nike also needed a "horse whisper" to "control" these inner-city minions while at the same time caressing their egos with free trips to all star games, $ 500 a week all-star camp coaching gigs and all the free shoes, warm ups, hats, bags, etc.
Now, its just an expected accepted part of the game, off the court.
Today, Simeon, as well as a few other CPS schools, enjoy the benefits established and "earned" by Bob Hambric with the help of hundreds of young players that traveled many miles from all parts of the city to be a part of a program that he built from ground up.
The rules were "very" different back then, too...
Personally, I choose to temper my selection or declaration of whom were or were not the best at their craft- coaching. But, I often wonder how successful some today's coaches of the recent era would fair against the likes of: Herb Brown, Luther Bedford, Charles Redmond or Frank Hood if they could not recruit players from other parts of the city, and could only use the "cookie fund raisers" to get their programs into top tournaments.
There's a thought...
Darnell and Phil K, I hear and appreciate your different points of view, but; I can't help to wonder if the playing field was authentically "leveled" via innovative ideas and powered by more thoughtful CPS administrative leadership in sports and academics, how many more great stories of success would be enjoyed by students from the CPS.
But, then again... That wouldn't exactly be "The Chicago Way", would it?
Curtis K. Jackson Sr
Phil Smith Jr., according to its state report card, the enrollment at Payton College Prep for the 2009-10 school year was 33.7 percent White, 27.2 percent Black, 23.9 percent Hispanic and 14.9 percent Asian. By my count, that is 66 percent people of color. To answer your question.
Fortunately, those families don't feel the same way you do about achievement and attending selective enrollment schools. Maybe you should do some research on the concept of containment versus confinement as it pertains to specifically african-americans in this country. You might find it enlightening.
Wouldn't be nice if all CPS schools reflected the same report card, had the same kind of campuses, the same students, the same neighborhoods, the same books, the same labs, the same swimming pools, the same level playing field in every classroom from K thru 12, but that isn't happening, so take your report card and your demographics, and put it with your unwanted Christmas gifts, until neighborhood schools are restored, and straight A students earn more than athletes, then I will holler back, D.Rose is earning 6.1 million dollars this year, not what job pays that, tell me that one, Darnell, stop hating on successful athletic programs in the city, what these coaches are doing is nothing short of a miracle!
And that is the truth, ruth!
P.S. I am for achieving, but I love seeing the NBA draft when I see young men becoming millionaires, just like football, and baseball as well, remember athletics are extension of the classroom, ask the guys in the suburbs, and ask the coaches at Simeon, they all feel that way!
Starting point guard at UCLA, is from Simeon, and they have a guard at Dayton, and they have the best point guard in the NBA, whats his name, D. Rose!
Wake up and smell what your are shoveling!
Hey Phil, don't get pissed at me because you don't know the facts and yet to chose to speak first. This discussion is not for you. You think we are talking about basketball here. We are We are not talking about wins, losses, who's starting here and what Derrick Rose's salary is. We are talking about life here and basketball is the venue. And unfortunately, you can't make that distinction.
I could respond to your rant but, clearly, there is no point. Phil, I am not hating on anyone, in fact, I believe I am showing love. Love for the growing number of black boys that are being mis-lead and mis-educated at the expense of learning what it means to be productive citizens in this society. But I don't expect for you to understand that. This conceptually is lost on you and I respect that enough to leave it alone. Your points are well taken though.
For the rest I want to share a story that speaks to this phenomena of the star athlete and the culture surrounding it. A close friend of mine works in law enforcement and moonlights as a bodyguard for some of these young guys. He recently worked for one the Bulls and escorted him to party at a trendy restaurant/bar on the north side. In my estimation, I think some of these guys do not know the difference between a music video and real life. They literally buy Cristal champagne by the case. At the end of the night, his bar tab was $35,000! And we wonder how these guys end up broke.
You never fail to amaze me, I am a ranter, what are you?
You are privy to information that you shouldn't know, but you know, and you squeal it to the public!
You do know that D. Rose has a foundation, and he also has an AAU program, the negative will never outweigh the positive, be happy for our successful youth, there is no need to dwell on cases of booze someone bought!
I am glad I am not your friend because I could not share info with you, you would tell it all, learn to keep what others tell you, and keep it to yourself!
Keep blogging, you will get it right one of these days, the heading of this column was about how good Simeon really is, and you have taken this to Mars and Saturn, stay on Earth, you will learn more from the youth than you will ever know, and me as well!
Remember the glass is half full, you see it as half empty!
Your attitude will determine your altitude!
Keep the faith, and stay on point!
Simeon is going to Pontiac, that is the school not the prison!
"Simeon is going to Pontiac, that is the school not the prison!"
If they are anything like the kids on the D-Rose Simeon teams, some of them might end up at the 'other' Pontiac! Hey-ooo.
Just kidding.
By the way, the glass is neither half full or half empty. The liquid is just in a container that should be half the size. then it would be a full glass.
Way off topic, but you set me up and I couldn't resist the two jokes.
Merry Christmas!
Phii, tuck your emotions, we were having a discussion here. To that end, let me clarify something in hopes that maybe you'll get the point. The story that I shared was not confidential information, I was illustrating a point that you - of course - missed yet again.
But for your edification nothing I said was shared in confidence, in fact, these young guys WANT you to know that they spend large amounts of money living their lifestyle. They brag about 'buying the bar' as they refer to it and they'll usually tell you how much they spent doing it. Just like they'll tell you the cost of their cars, jewelry, clothes etc. However, as you can see, I chose not to mention anyone's name, that wasn't the point. Not that you would've gotten it.
I am done with this matter but let me close by saying this; quit accusing others of being haters because they aren't 50 year-old groupies fawning over young athletes like you do.
Merry Christmas to Taylor, and to all of you bloggers. Even though we rarely agree, I hope Santa is kind to all of you. Even you Phil K. You've been bad, but maybe Santa will give you something anyway.
Peace and Good Will to all.
Mr.Bell you have been the man in Chicago Basketball since MOSES parted the RED SEA. If you over look our 89-90 King Jaguar team im going to have to ask that you step down and pass the crown. You know that we ruled.We were number one in the nation and won it all. Speaking of my jaguars,you need to write a article on the best Chicago Highschool Basketball program of all time. I wanna see were you head is now since you come of age. If you dont say King or Simeon im going to take you to the doctor myself. You cant get around Kings Jamie Brandon,Marcus Liberty,Rashard Griffth,Thomas Hamilton, Leon Smith,Marcus Catchings,Micheal Hermon,Imari Sawyer,Efrem Winters Lervitis Robinson. Simeons Derrick Rose,Deon Thomas,CodyButler,Ben Wilson,Nick Anderson,JabriParker and so on. Please,Please,Please stop acting like u didnt catch hand pains by writing about us jaguars in 1990. You the man show me lets see it in black and white,start writing. Yo Boy Chinny West Hoops Consultant (901)351-8825
If King's 1990 team was best of all, why did coach Landon Cox say that his 1986 team was best of all? In later years, he hedged, of course, bowing to complaints from his 1990 and 1993 teams, but originally he maintained that his 1986 team was best of all. Taylor Bell
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