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