Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Ted Haydon Classic Results/Analysis

Freeman Fulwiley (so) of Harlan won the 2009 outdoor CPS frosh-soph 100 meter dash.He was the fastest Harlan runner in the 55 meter dash at the Ted Haydon Classic.

I added the Ted Haydon Classic results to the CPSRunner Fan Track and Field results page

2008-09 CPS Indoor Leaderboard

Here are some of my thoughts on the results:

• Freeman Fulwiley (so), of Harlan was seeded at 6.45 for the 55 meter dash, but ran a 6.86 in the Prelims. Fulwiley will be counted on heavily this year for Harlan in sprints. He ran Harlan's fastest time in the 55 meter dash beating out teammates Brandan Presley, Tashaun Johnson, Joseph Wright, Welton Crayton, and more.
• Brandan Presley (jr) of Harlan won the 55 meter hurdlesin 7.86. That is already better than his indoor best time last year of 8.03.
• Distance runners Omar Tall and Joseph Laseter of Kenwood ran. Tall came in 2nd in the 800 with a time of 2:13.81. Laseter was third with a time of 2:19.65. They also ran a 4:59 and a 5:01 in the 1 mile run. Too early to make any statements.
• Jonathon Gardner (sr) of Whitney Young leaped 21 feet in the long jump. That is already better than his 2009 season indoor best of 20-10". He also leaped 45-1 in the triple jump.
  

Videos Now - Prosser vs New Trier boys basketball - 1st ten minutes of game 12/19/2009

CPS in the news..... 12/20/09

* Whitney Young beat Simeon 62-55 in an epic #1 vs #2 battle in boys basketball. Both teams looked good. Both well coached, and both are loaded from top to down with D1 talent. Sun-Times story

* Lane Tech's wrestling team looked good by scoring 102 points and finishing in 7th place out of 17 teams at the Rus Erb Tournament at Glenbrook South. Lane had wins from Matt Finnegan (125lbs) and Max Schneider (145lbs). Schneider has gotten most of the attention for Lane, but Finnegan is on a complete roll as well. His victory at this meet filled with suburban opponents has made me believe he is for real. Finnegan upset #12 state ranked Jose Jimenez of Grant 3-2 in the semi's and Jeff Flannagan of Sycamore 9-3 in the finals. Also, Lane winning over Buffalo Grove, Cary-Grove, Evanston, Glenbrook South, Glenbrook North, and Loyola was also impressive. results

Who's Going To Replace Eric Nelson?

Early CPS Boys High Jump Preview

Trevor Gills (sr) of Harlan looks to be one of the early favorites as the city's top high jumper.

Eric Nelson of Northside had been the dominant CPS high jumper the last couple years. He won the last two city championships in the high jump in comfortable fashion. But now that Nelson has graduated, who could be the CPS face in the high jump?

Top CPS High Jump Returnees 

6-2 Trevor Gills (sr) - Harlan
6-0 Nigel Jolly (sr) - Morgan Park
6-0 Cameron Allen (sr) - Whitney Young
6-0 Stephen Devroe (jr) - Whitney Young
5-10 Mark Brand (jr) - Lane Tech
5-10 Brock Massie (sr) - Kenwood
5-8 Hiram Moss (sr) - North Lawndale
5-8 Montrell Hallom (jr) - Crane Tech
5-8 Daniel McCurty (sr) - Manley
5-8 Brandon Peyton (sr) - Prosser
5-8 Desmond Henderson (jr) - Morgan Park
5-8 Tarik Simkins (sr) - Kenwood

Top Dogs

The high jump seems open this year, now that Eric Nelson has graduated. If there is a front runner in the group it could be Trevor Gills (sr) of Harlan. Gills who also plays on Harlan's basketball team leaped on the scene last year when he finished 2nd to Nelson in the CPS Indoor championship. Gills will play a key role in Harlan's state meet team. Harlan is in class 2A and last year a leap of only 6-3 was good enough for all-state honors. If Gills improves on his leaping this year he could give valuable points to Harlan.

Another city high jump challenger will be Nigel Jolly (sr) of Morgan Park. Jolly's best events are the long jump (state champ, sophomore year) and triple jump (state runner up plast year) but Jolly can also high jump. He leaped 6-0 to finish 2nd behind Nelson at last year's. Coach Lexie Spurlock likes to have Jolly participate in multiple events and he will be a contender if not the favorite in every jump event that he particpates in at city.

Then there is Whitney Young's long jump pair of Cameron Allen (sr) and Stephen Devroe (jr). Both leaped 6-0 last year. They return and are early challegers for the title.

Lane Tech junior Mark Brand came into the CPS championship last year as a favorite to score after leaping a  5-10 in the regular season. But he failed to start and did not score at the city meet.

Kenwood is always good in field events. Their top two returners in the high jump will be Brock Massie (sr) and Tarik Simkins (sr). Massie leaped 5-8 last year.

Other jumpers to look out for include Eddie Seda (sr) of Mather, Mac Melto(so) of Northside Prep, and Morgan Park's Dareil Crowder (so) and Desmond Henderson (jr).

Seda is a star on Mather's basketball team and will likely be Mather's top high jumper. Mac Melto got his feet wet last year as a freshman and particpated in the frosh-sop level at city. There he finished 4th in the long jump, 6th in the 200, and 3rd in the 400. It looks like Northside has the makings of another Eric Nelson type athlete.

Finally you have Dariel Crowder (so) and Desmond Henderson (jr). The pair finished 1-2 for Morgan Park in the high jump at the frosh-soph level.

4x100 preview

long jump preview

Scouting Report: Markee Williams, freshman point guard, Morgan Park

Markee Williams (5-10, 165lbs, point guard)

I got a chance to watch Markee Williams - much talked about freshman point guard from Morgan Park. After seeing him play, I left feeling that he is the real deal.

First of all, let's see if he passes what I call the eye test. My first impression of him was that he was solidly built. He's got the muscular upper body and is very well developed for a high school freshman. He must eat very well as well because he has low body fat. At 5-10 he is one of the shorter guys on the court. Even at the high school level 5-10 usually makes a guy one of the shortest guys on the court. But remember he is only a freshman and is still growing.

As far as his skills. Williams has a lot of that.

His first step is dangerous. I saw him go by players and drive to the basket several times after one step. He is extremely quick. But what makes him dangerous is his smart decision making. He turns the ball over very infrequently and has Nash like ability to dish the ball off for an assist. He seems to have that fined tuned ability to know when to pass the ball and when to shoot the ball.

Williams fits well in a Morgan Park team that is blessed with one of the state's top players in Wayne Blackshear. The rest of their players know their role in the team. Williams has the role of bringing the ball up the court, driving the ball to the basket and scoring when necessary and pass to open players when appropriate. His ability to score makes it dangerous to focus only on Blackshear. Becuase if you give attention only to Blackshear, Williams will make you pay.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Williams and Morgan Park basketball.

CPSfan.com, basketball fan page

Brandan Presley's the Man of 2009

Brandan Presley (jr) of Harlan has been voted in as CPS male player of the year.(facebook photo)

Harlan's Brandan Presley has been voted in by you the CPS fans as CPSfan.com calendar year 2009 player of the year.

I know it is not a perfect system.

At the same time, you can't deny the accomplishments of Brandan Presley.

Here are just some of the comments written in by CPS fans:

"...all state in 110 high hurdles, 4x100, 4x200, star football player. No one comes close to Brandon."
- Harlan man

"Presley from Harlan was all state in 3 events. More than Chris Kyles or Monica.Presley more than any one else deserves POY."
- Presley #1

"Why Brandan Presley? In Track and Field Presley was the only sophomore last year in the entire state to gain All-state status in 3 events. He was also the only CPS athlete to gain All-state status in 3 events. Presley won sectionals in 3 events last year and just missed qualifying in the Discus throw by a few inches. He also led Harlan in 4 events last season to the school's first CPS Frosh/Soph Outdoor title in 37 years, including the 4x800, 4x400, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles. He is the first athlete in CPS championship history to run a leg on a 4x800 and then win the 110 hurdles. Presley also caught 13 touchdown passes, had 722 yards receiving, and had 7 interceptions in leading Harlan to its second consecutive playoff appearance and its first CPS playoff win in school history."
- Why Brandan Presley?

brandon pressley is the only candidate on the list who earned all-state recognition 3 times last year and did so as only a sophomore. how many people do you know in track who can run every event from the hurdles to the 800 and also place 3rd in the discus at sectionals? how many city teams came close to running 3:22 for the 4x400?
 - Presley = only 3 time all-stater

Presley is mainly known for his 3 all-state finishes, but he also caught 13 touchdown passes and had 7 interceptions for a state qualifying Harlan football team.

Mason Fuller - Urban Prep's first big time football prospect

Mason Fuller (class of 2011) college football prospect from Urban Prep (Facebook photo).

Urban Prep has not been around too long. In fact, the south side charter school has only had a football varsity team for two years and this past football season was the first season the school has even had seniors.

One up and coming player is Mason Fuller (jr- class of 2011). Fuller is a 6-3, 290lb lineman that plays both offensive and defensive lines. According to Urban Prep coach Anthony Griffin: "Mason is a big strong interior defensive lineman. He has very good pass rush capabilities. He also is pretty good versus the run. He needs to continue to improve on his knowledge of the game and being even more aggressive with his hands."

As a result of his football abilities, Fuller is beginning to get looked at by college scouts. According to Allen Trieu from Scout.com:

"Fuller does not have any scholarship offers just yet, but Griffin says Illinois, South Carolina and Kansas have shown interest."

He was listed on the outstanding performanace list at Schuman's National Undercity combine in 2009.

Fuller still has a long ways to go. He would probably benefit by going to more off season football combines.

I'll try to get more of take on Fuller by asking about him from his Urban Prep teammates and keeping up on he he performs at football combines. As I get it I'll give an update in the comments section or on a separate post.

Fuller in his football gear (Scout.com photo)

IHSA considering changes to cross country regional format

Teams like UIC College Prep (above) made it to sectionals this year, but if the IHSA alters the regional format, borderline sectional schools like UIC will have to work a lot harder to get in.

According to a DyeStat IL message board posting:

IHSA Cross-Country Advisory Board Minutes

---

The advisory committee met on Tuesday, December 1, and it appears the only moderately controversial issue discussed was the following:

1. There were no Proposed Changes to the Current Terms and Conditions. However a motion was passed to have Ron McGraw review options to possibly reconfigure the Regional structure. The committee feels that since the implementation of the three class system, the number of teams assigned to each regional results in most teams and individuals automatically advancing on to the sectional meets. It was suggested that the number of regional meets may need to be reduced (increasing the number of teams in each) so that the regional meets actually serve as a qualifying meet as they were originally intended to be. Options will be prepared and submitted to thecommittee for their review when they reconvene after the 2010 season.

It short, what they are looking to do is reduce the number of regional meets but increase the teams in each regional. What this will do, in theory, is make each regional more competitive to make it more of a qualifying meet. There were some regionals this year where there were only 5,6,or 7 complete teams. So it was relatively easy to qualify for sectionals. For example, the Riverside Brookfield boys class AA regional had only 5 complete teams participating in it. The last two complete teams Little Village and North Lawndale, got a free pass to sectionals just by having 5 guys. If they change the regional format, LIttle Village and North Lawndale would have to work at it more to advance to sectionals.

Early Look

The CPS will be well represented at the 57th Annual Haydon Holiday Classic this Saturday hosted by the University of Chicago Track Club.

Meet Schedule

Participant Report

CPS athletes to look out for:

Nigel Jolly (Morgan Park)
Tashaun Johnson (Harlan)
Rayvaugn Hines (Urban Prep)
Jonathon Gardner (Whitney Young)
Matthew Funches (Kenwood)
Brock Massie (Kenwood)
Melvin Johnson (Harlan)
Freeman Fulwiley (Harlan)
Isreal Durley (Urban Prep)
Vincent Perkins (Harlan)
Aaron Ingram (Harlan)
Dominique Crutcher (Harlan)
Victor Terrazas (Lane Tech)
Omar Tall (Kenwood)
Joseph Laseter (Kenwood)
Brandon Presley (Harlan)

Monica by a Pinkie

Monica Pinkus (sr) of Northside Prep wins the CPSfan.com, female player of the year.

Final votes are in. Monica Pinkus, senior from Northside Prep has been awarded the female Player of the Year Award.

Here are just some comments from fans:

"MONICA!!!!!"

"Pinkus is ranked nationally and her time of 1:05.62 in the 100 Breaststroke would have won several state titles in the past 30 years. Her time also just missed qualifying for junior nationals."

"It's all about breaking barriers.Swimming is king in the North Shore (Lake Forest, Highland Park, Evanston, New Trier, etc), Northwest suburbs (Barrington, Stevenson, etc), and posh western suburbs (Hinsdales, Napervilles, etc).When someone form out of those areas even get close to a state medal, it is news.

In the case of Pinkus, she medaled in one even t and came close to another.She did something (medal), that only one other girl in the whole history of girls swimming has done form the CPS has done. For that alone she deserves some credit."

"7th place at state is pretty badass in my opinion for a cps athlete in whatever the sport may be."

Monica Pinkus all the way!!! She is one of the most committed, free spirited, and inspiring athletes I've ever come across. She definitely deserves this title! - Pink fan

....you cannot deny the intensity of the sport or the accomplishments of Ms. Pinkus. For a CPS athlete, it is extremely hard to qualify for state PRELIMINARIES in swimming, something Ms. Pinkus has done two years in a row. Not only did she qualify for preliminaries twice, she participated in the FINALS and swam the fourth fastest time in the state, but due to the IHSA rules, received 7th. This is a huge accomplishment for a CPS athlete, and it really put CPS on the radar for IHSA women's swimming.- BE NICE

In addition to her 7th place finish (and 4th fastest time) at the state meet this year, she placed 13th last year. Monica also won the city championship in the 100 breast for the past 3 years, placing second her freshman year to a senior teammate. She has won the city championship in the 50 freestyle multiple times, and has been part of numerous championship and record setting relays in CPS swimming. - seriously

Monica Pinkus became only the second CPS girls to medal in the girls state swimming meet.