High school basketball in Chicago
A collection of stories about basketball in and around Chicago
Should the Land of Lincoln be renamed the Land of Basketball?
By Lux DeMoss
It's no secret that Illinois is one of the best basketball states, so let’s break down the stats and best players to come from the Land of Lincoln.
Some notable players include Isiah Thomas, Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose, Andre Iguodala, Dwyane Wade, Shaun Livingston and Shawn Marion.
Combined, these players have 14 NBA champions and 41 All-Star selections. The stats don’t lie. It’s rare to see so many phenomenal players in one place and this list is just scratching the surface.
High schools such as Simeon, Peoria, Whitney Young, Rolling Meadows, and more are helping Illinois dominate the game. Schools producing several D-I stars and NBA players make you wonder, is it the coaches, the talent, the program, the players' hard work, or is it a mix of everything?
WNBA stars hail from Illinois, as well as some top 2023 prospects. WNBA greats from Illinois include Candace Parker, Yolanda Griffith and Tamika Catchings.
DePaul’s very own Aneesah Morrow played for Carmel and has been incredible so far. Current 2023 top girls players in the state include:
Jordan Wood (Carmel) - Michigan State
Katie Eidle (Hersey) - University of Michigan
Lisa Thompson (Example Academy) - DePaul
Janae Kent (Oak Forest) - Louisiana State
Jasmine Brown (Example Academy)
Illinois has produced the most current D-I men’s players of any state, according to the NCAA, with 215. The city of Chicago is responsible for 87 of them. Bleacher Report analyzed ESPN’s Top 100 list to create a list of states that produce the most college players. Illinois came in fourth, and Bleacher Report wrote, “In the last four years, no city in America can match Chicago for the quality of prospects the city is producing.”
Chicago High School Basketball “Legends” and Where are They Now?
By Gandhi Cruz
When you talk about Chicago basketball, you think of some of the most exciting players that you will ever see in a high school arena. It is so good that it brings all of Chicago together in one stadium to watch the best high school teams in the area.
The last high school basketball game I attended, although it didn’t have any local Chicago high schools involved, was at Wintrust Arena. Sierra Canyon from California took on Glenbard West. Although there was no Chicago-based basketball team or superstar playing, you could feel that that was the same environment and everyone in Chicago treated the home team as if it was their own.
There have been many legends to come out of Chicago high school basketball teams. Many had bright futures ahead of them and they were able to accomplish many amazing things. Then there are many who looked like the next big thing but weren’t able to translate their skill in high school to the next level.
Let’s take a look at some names that came through the Chicago high school basketball scene and where they are now.
DERRICK ROSE
Starting with one of the most popular names in Chicago basketball, and arguably one of the best high school basketball players of all time. Derrick Rose. Rose came from Simeon Career Academy where he was the starting point guard. He was a joy to watch as fans sold out high school arenas just to watch him play. In his senior year, he averaged 25.2 points, 9.1 assists, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 steals.
He led Simeon to consecutive state titles and was ranked the fifth best prospect in the country by Sports Illustrated. He was named Illinois’ Mr. Basketball, and a McDonald’s All-American, among other accolades.
Rose went on to play one year at the University of Memphis, where he led them to the NCAA championship game. He was drafted by his hometown Chicago Bulls with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He won the 2009 NBA rookie of the year award and in 2011, won the NBA MVP, becoming the youngest to win it.
Nowadays, Rose, 34, plays for the New York Knicks. He doesn't contribute much right now, averaging only 12.9 minutes a game through January, but he has evolved into a veteran mentor role. He will always be remembered fondly for his exploits with the Bulls.
JABARI PARKER
Jabari Parker is a name that is loved in the Chicago basketball scene, but he has one of the biggest “What if?” narratives of all time. He was expected to become one of the greats, a Chicago legend and one of the best players in the NBA.
In high school, Parker was advertised as “the best high school basketball player since LeBron James.” He led Simeon Career Academy to four state titles and 118 wins over his four years there. He averaged 19.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 2.7 blocks as a senior. As a junior, he was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year. He was Illinois’ first two-time Mr. Basketball winner.
He went to Duke for college and was a first team All-American as a freshman in his only season there. He was drafted No. 2 overall in 2014 by the Milwaukee Bucks.
He had so much potential to be an amazing player, but an ACL injury in his rookie season ended his season early. As he recovered, he started to find his form back in the 2015-16 season. Coming off the bench that year he averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Then Parker tore his ACL again. After that, the Bucks decided to let him go and he hasn't been the same since.
Now, Parker is a free agent. He was signed by the Celtics in 2021 but was waived by them before the 2022 playoffs.
JAHLIL OKAFOR
Jahlil Okafor was known to be one of the most exciting and dominant big men in Illinois history. Okafor played for Whitney M. Young Magnet High School where he led them to a 4A State Championship in his senior season. He averaged 24.1 points and 11.3 rebounds in that season and was the No. 1 ranked prospect in the country in the Class of 2014.
He won awards like, Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, Morgan Wootten National Player of the Year, MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game and Mr. Basketball in Illinois. He was thought to be the next big thing in both college and in the NBA. But just like many of his counter parts on this list, it didn’t turn out that way.
After high school, Okafor went on to play at Duke University where he earned a unanimous first-team All-American spot as a freshman and led the Blue Devils to the 2015 national championship. Finishing his freshman season, he declared for the 2015 NBA Draft where he was selected the No. 3 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers.
Okafor averaged 17.5 points, 7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in 53 games as a rookie, but after that year he started to play less and less because his playing style was too “old” for the modern NBA game. At 26 years old, Okafor is no longer in the NBA, but he continues to play basketball for the Mexico City Capitanes in the NBA G League.
CLIFF ALEXANDER
The Curie Metropolitan High School star was known as one of the most explosive, entertaining, and physical players Chicago had seen in a long time. Cliff Alexander was competing with Okafor for who the best high school player was in Chicago. He was a top five prospect in the country and averaged 25 points, 16 rebounds and 6 blocks as a senior.
Alexander was set to have a big future ahead of him as he looked to be the next NBA superstar, some even said better than Okafor. After graduating from high school, Alexander went on to play at the University of Kansas, which was a shock because many thought that he would for sure choose to go on to play at the University of Illinois.
His own family knew he was destined for greatness. At his signing day, his family was already counting down the months before their boy was a superstar and a millionaire. At Kansas, he played just 17 minutes a game until his freshman season was cut short due to a suspension. This forced Cliff Alexander to just prepare himself in order to hopefully get drafted that year.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go his way. He went undrafted but got signed by the Portland Trail Blazers, where he only played eight games. His dreams were cut short, and everyone always labeled him as a “what could’ve been” guy from Chicago. He now plays in the Lebanese Basketball League for Sagesse Club.
ANTHONY DAVIS
Out of everyone on this list, you could say that Anthony Davis is the most successful. That would be considered a hot take for many Rose fans, but it’s true. The Perspectives Charter High School alum didn’t have the attention that the others had in high school. Anthony was completely unknown until he had a big growth spurt during his junior year. A couple of months later he was then considered the No. 1 player in the country and was a major prospect going into college.
With his high school not being the greatest at basketball, he was still able to dominate as he put up 32 points, 22 rebounds and seven blocks. After high school, Anthony Davis attended the University of Kentucky and was the National Player of the Year while leading the team to a national championship as a freshman. This season led him to be the No. 1 pick in the 2012 draft by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Davis, in 2019, was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers where he won an NBA championship, alongside LeBron James in 2020. This season he is averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 25 games, while dealing with injuries.
Honorable Mentions:
● Evan Turner
● Ayo Dosunmu
● Talen Horton-Tucker
● Kendrick Nunn
Suburban Life: Pack the Place secures a great win. Seniors capture the glory but not the season.
By Agustin Alamo
The crowd at Morton was getting hyped, the band was playing in the background, and two rival teams were facing each other. It felt like one of the biggest high-school basketball games in the western suburbs.
On Jan. 13, the Morton Mustangs hosted the Addison Trail Blazers in a West Suburban Gold League matchup. They called it “Pack the Place.”
Coming into this game, Morton was 2-3 in their conference after suffering a 52-43 loss to Downers Grove South. In its last game, Addison suffered another embarrassing 69-20 blowout at the hands of Proviso East.
Once the game started, I felt the intensity. As Morton applied pressure on defense they took an 11-point lead in the first quarter. Throughout the first half, Morton kept making huge plays, including a dunk by senior forward Victor Garrett. They kept their strategy, putting up some smart shots.
At halftime, the score was 44-21. I asked myself: How is Morton creating these great plays, especially on defense? How can Addison come back from this? Can it survive another embarrassing loss?
In the second half, the Blazers managed to keep it close, but it wasn’t enough as Morton won 67-42.
That’s how it is in sports. One team needs a win and one team needs a loss. Even though this was an important conference game, there was a main reason why this game was special.
Not only was Pack the Place memorable but it was also senior night, the time of year when all players come together for a remarkable moment to celebrate them and their commitment to the team.
Two Morton seniors played a fantastic game. Victor Garrett led Morton with 21 points and Adrian Anderson added 16.
“It was a big atmosphere,” Anderson said. “All the seniors were excited to play. We were just ready to go out there and get a win. A big win.”
Rob Smith records 500th win as Simeon beats Brooks 82-36
By Adit Jaganathan
Simeon High School coach Robert Smith won his 500th game as the Wolverines beat Brooks High School 82-36 on Tuesday, Jan. 24. The coach was surrounded by his former players, as they came down to the court to give him his much-deserved flowers. But even though the night was about celebrating his achievements, Smith was the calmest person in the gym.
“Just the last piece of my puzzle,” said Smith, speaking after his milestone victory. “When I started this, my goal was to have the most city championships and the most state championships, and I accomplished those goals a couple years ago. And then the 500 (wins) was the last piece of the puzzle.”
However, Smith wasn’t celebrating yet, as his aim is to still win the city and state championships this season. Simeon currently has a 20-1 record, is at the top of the CPS high school basketball rankings and is, according to MaxPreps, the No. 5 in the nation.
The legendary coach announced that last May that this would be his final season. He has won seven Chicago Public League championships and six state titles since taking over the Wolverines in 2004.
“I kind of got the feel for retirement this summer. I didn’t spend much time with the team. I was driving my kids to practices and traveling around to watch their games,” said Smith, before the start of 2022-23 season.
During his storied career, Smith has coached NBA players like Derrick Rose, Jabari Parker, Kendrick Nunn and Talen Horton-Tucker, among others. The Wolverines have never had a losing season under Smith, who now has a 500-93 record. He also coached the team to four consecutive state titles between 2009-13, making Simeon the high school with the most wins in Illinois.
His best team had to be his 2013 roster, which is also widely considered to be the best Illinois high school team of all time. Led by Parker and Nunn, this was the year that the Wolverines won their fourth title in a row, with 118 wins over the four-year span. The team went 30-3 that season, losing only one in-state game.
Chicago basketball will be losing a monumental figure at the end of this season, but here’s to hoping coach Smith will be able to raise the trophy one last time before finally calling it a day.
Simeon Career Academy Basketball
By Ethan Conners
Chicago eats, drinks, sleeps basketball. Even before Michael Jordan and the Bulls brought global audiences into the world of Chicago basketball, the Windy City been a foreground for producing elite ball players.
The city’s playgrounds and local courts provide hope for a way out of some of the city’s most crime-stricken neighborhoods, where rap and basketball often are a young boy’s dream and passion. Be like Mike.
A major force in producing many of the city’s basketball heroes is located in the Chatham neighborhood in the South Side of Chicago. It’s where the youngest-ever Most Valuable Player in NBA history, Derrick Rose, made a name for himself in an iconic high-school basketball program. Simeon Career Academy, or simply understood as Simeon, is a powerhouse in Chicago high school basketball.
In 1949, Simeon was founded by the original name of Westcott Vocational High School. Not until 1964 did the school come to be known as Simeon. In the ensuing decades in the district, it’s acquired a legacy as a powerhouse in Chicago Public School athletics. Notably, it has been distinguished basketball program for which its reputation came to be revered.
For four years straight the Simeon Wolverines girls’ basketball team win the Class AA and regional championships from the 2004-2007 seasons. Additionally, the boys’ team four-peated in the class AA championship from the 2010-2013 seasons, equaling the record for the longest Illinois state championship run. Along the way the Wolverines won the IHSA Class AA boys’ basketball state championships three times in the ’83-’84 season and back-to-back titles from ’05-’06 and ’06-’07 under Derrick Rose. Their hereditary success runs deep in the Wolverine blood.
Simeon’s basketball program has seen ten former players go on to play professional hoops. Of course, one of them went on to become an NBA MVP. Former Wolverine ,Derrick Rose’s skyrocketing career was sidelined dramatically due to repeated injury problems. Notably, this isn’t Simeon’s only tragic what-if story in the world of basketball.
Derrick Rose was the last Simeon Wolverine to wear the number 25 jersey. A number dedicated to a Simeon icon and victim of Chicago’s frequent gun violence.
The number 25 was worn by Benjamin “Benji” Wilson, who was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the nation. An electric player on the court, comparisons to Magic Johnson were spurred up after leading his team to an Illinois AA state championship in the ’83-’84 season. Ahead of his senior year in 1984, it seemed like great things were in store for the South Side native.
On the day before his senior year season opener, Benji was shot near the school grounds by students from a nearby high school. Wilson passed away the next morning.
The school and city of Chicago was rocked by the murder of such a young talent. The Chicago Mayor spoke to the school in the ensuing days and completed a brand-new gymnasium named after Wilson in 1987. The basketball program commemorated their star by appointing the number 25 to Simeon’s best player until the number was retired. Derrick Rose was the last player to take on Wilson’s number, and since then have the Wolverines continued Benji’s legacy.
Simeon currently sits in second place in the Chicago Public – Red South Conference with a 20-2 overall record for the season.
Family Ties: The Christie Brothers carving their own path in Illinois Basketball
By Julian Rodriguez
Even before entering Rolling Meadows High School, Max Christie and Cameron Christie were highly touted in basketball because they were part of the well-renowned travel basketball program, the Illinois Wolves.
In the 2017-18 season, during Max’s freshman year, the basketball program of Rolling Meadows High School was ranked 218 in Illinois. In the current 2022-23 season, during Cameron’s senior year, Rolling Meadows is ranked No. 5 in Illinois.
The astronomic rise in rankings was helped immensely by the Christie brothers. Max averaged 24 points and 10.1 rebounds in his four years at Rolling Meadows. With Cameron, now a senior, he averaged 22 points and four rebounds in his junior year.
“It’s been great,” Rolling Meadows head coach Kevin Katovich said. “They [the Christie brothers] are great kids, and we’re lucky to have them.”
Last season Rolling Meadows won the 4A regional championship, breaking a 21-year drought. Months later, Max was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft, after a solid season at Michigan State. The 19-year-old guard averages 15 minutes per game off the bench for the Lakers.
In the beginning of this school year, Cameron announced that he’d committed to the University of Minnesota.
Cameron has been a varsity basketball player for all four years of high school, which has helped him in preparation for his move to the University of Minnesota.
“I think I have grown to be more confident (since his first year in varsity),” he said. “I have also mainly improved with gaining strength as well as my athleticism.”
As it is his final season of varsity basketball, Cameron has plenty left to showcase with Rolling Meadows High School: and not just individually.
“I don’t care about personal accolades, points or rebounds,” he said. “I just want to show that we can win (games).”
In the 32-team tournament, Jack Tosh Holiday Classic, this past December, Cameron averaged 26.4 points and 7.4 rebounds.
Who is the next NBA All-Star from Chicago's AAU Scene?
By Sheffield Peterson
Chicago is a highly sought-after destination for young, aspiring basketball players, but why?
Thanks to its renowned AAU Basketball programs, players can develop their game within programs that are credited with producing some of the brightest young talents in basketball.
Over the last 10-15 years, two programs in particular, Meanstreets EYBL and Mac Irvin Fire, have stood out for their exceptional ability to produce top-level college-ready NBA prospects.
Over the years, Meanstreets EYBL has produced many notable players, including Derrick Rose, Anthony Davis, and Eric Gordon (who is actually from Indianapolis), all of whom played in the NBA. The program has also seen many players move on to play at top NCAA Division I programs. This season, Meanstreets EYBL looked to build off their impressive season last year. After going 25-14 against top-tier competition, they have found themselves ranked as one of the top 25 AAU teams in the country.
But Mac Irvin Fire has started to pull away as the top AAU program in Chicago and is considered one of the top programs in the country. Mac Irvin Fire has been producing top-tier talent for years. Some of the program's most well-known alumni include Jordan Poole (who is from Milwaukee), Jabari Parker, and Ayo Dosunmu.
Although Meanstreets EYBL is ranked higher by The Circuit: 17U, it is clear Mac Irvin Fire has better individual prospects. Two of the top five players of all positions from the 2023 class in Illinois played together for Mac Irvin Fire during last season: JJ Taylor and Dai Dai Ames.
JJ Taylor is a 6-foot-7 small forward with a diverse skill set.
In 2021, Taylor was asked by Scott Burgess of MaxPreps, "What are the biggest areas of improvement to your game?"
"My shot," he said. "I improved my shot a lot. I've been working on my post moves lately, but they're trying to apply some of that slowly."
Taylor is a senior at San Ysidro High School in San Diego. In the fall of 2021, he transferred from Kenwood Academy to play at Kanye West's Donda Academy in California but transferred again to San Ysidro a year later after West's charter school fell apart.
Taylor is ranked as the third-best prospect of all positions from the 2023 class within Illinois. ESPN ranks him as a 4-star recruit with an overall grade of 84. During the 2022 season with Mac Irvin Fire, Taylor averaged 14.7 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 assists.
He plays like a stretch small forward as he possesses a combination of both raw small forward skills as well as the ability to shoot the ball from long range. His athletic ability is clear. He is seen posterizing opponents every other game. His good size combined with quickness gives him an advantage over most guards, as well as big men that switch on to him.
Although receiving offers from major programs like Duke, Gonzaga, and Kentucky, JJ has committed to playing college basketball at Memphis.
Meanwhile, his former teammate Ames, a 6-foot-2 guard, stuck around at Kenwood Academy, and he has it looking like a potential state champion.
According to ESPN, he's ranked second among Illinois basketball players actually playing in the state. During the summer season with Mac Irvin Fire, Ames led the team in scoring, averaging 18.5 points per game.
Although Taylor is ranked higher, Ames seems to have a more polished and complete game right now. He possesses a combination of both point guard and shooting guard skills. Although only 6-foot-2, Ames can be seen dunking on opponents' heads every game. His ability to handle the ball, initiate the offense, and score from the perimeter cannot go unnoticed.
Ames' high school team, Kenwood Academy, recently played in the highly competitive Proviso West Holiday Tournament and he scored a tournament-record 65 points in a 122-47 win over Southland Prep.
As well, Ames recently played DJ Wagner on Depaul's University Campus a few days ago. Wagner is the number one ranked prospect of all positions in the class of 2023 by ESPN. The arena was packed with fans who were eager to watch two of the best prospects in the country compete. Despite Wagner scoring 26 points and leading his Camden high school team to a 68-54 victory over Kenwood Academy, Aimes emerged as the top scorer and out-dueled Wagner. Ames dropped 27 points, including 15 in the first quarter, and showcased he could compete with the best.
Ames has signed to play at Kansas State. He has been battling with Chicago's best young prospects for many years, and I'm eager to see him continue to put his skills to the test against some of the best players in the country.
So, between Taylor and Ames, who will be the better player in college, and maybe the pros?
Both players bring unique strengths to the table, and it's a luxury to have the option to choose between them. However, if I had to pick, I would lean toward Taylor because of his potential. Despite Ames being more polished, Taylor has the height and raw skills to develop into an elite player with the right guidance. If Taylor buys into college basketball at Memphis, don't be surprised when he is playing like the next NBA All-Star out of Chicago's AAU basketball scene.