Chicago Public League Sports Blog

Scouting Report - Trevor Gills of Harlan

 

Trevor Gills (6-1, 175lb, sr, Guard) from Harlan

I've know of Trevor Gills from his high jumping ability in track. He is my early pre-season favorite to win the CPS high jump. What a lot of people don't know is that Gills is a pretty darn good basketball player as well. I got a chance to see Gills play at the recent Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament at York High School.

I left feeling that Gills could be the best player on Harlan's basketball team.

Gills stands at about 6-1 and weighs 175lbs. He is not a small guy for guard and seems to be built solid. As for his basketball play. He plays shooting guard and point guard for Harlan.  I liked his defensive intensity. He's the type of guy that will put relentless pressure on the opposing guard bringing up the ball. His pressure alone resulted in about one or two extra forced turnovers.

I did not keep track of the points during the game that Gills played. But, I did speak to a Harlan assistant coach after the game and he told me that Gill led Harlan in scoring that day. Offensively, I did not get to see any Monster dunks by Gills, but I did get to see his quickness and leaping ability that makes him one of the city's best high jumpers. Gill can score using his ability both by driving to the basket and shooting the mid-range jumper.

Gills is part of a senior laden Harlan team that is in the Red-South conference, the toughest conference in the state with state ranked Simeon, Morgan Park, Brooks, and CVS. So Harlan's conference record may not turn out ot be the best this year. Gill is supported by a couple talented big men that includes 6-8 260lb Ronzelle Fort and 6-6 senior Dondricus Kellum.

Related
Video - Wayne Blackshear - Morgan Park
CPS basketball fan page
Hollis Hill, (guard, sr.) CVS
David Williams (forward, sr. Corliss)
Markee Williams (fr), Morgan Park
Aaron Williams (sr), CVS

Mather Shocks Lane for Luther North Title

Kenneth Murphy (5-10, jr guard)

Mather came in with a gawdy record of something like 11-1. Lane has 4 losses this year. Despite the differences in record, I fully expected Lane to beat Mather in the championship game of the Luther North Tournament. After all Lane is in the Red-North and Mather is in the less competitive Blue conference.

Instead, Mather beat Lane Tech 71-62 to take the championship of the tournament.

Luther North Tournament Final Day Results

Holy Trinity 51, Jones 50

Latin 64, Elmwood Park 48

Maine East 85, Immaculate Conception 70

Northtown 49, Guerin 38

St. Francis de Sales 76, Luther North 66
Alex Vazquez scored 19 points for St. Francis de Sales (7-6).

Consolation Championship: Taft 57, Oak Lawn 50

3rd place: Ridgewood 51, Gordon Tech 46
Pete Mroz scored a team-high 14 for Ridgewood (8-7).


Championship: Mather 71, Lane 62

As I get more details of the game I'll put it in the comments section.

Videos Now: last few seconds of Gordon Tech Lane Tech basketball game 12/29/09

more videos and coverage coming soon....

Intense

Lane Gets By Gordon Tech 58-55 in Rivalry Battle

This was my first time seeing Lane play this year. I was immediately impressed by the play of point guard Anton Adkins (jr- 5-10). This guy is one cocky player. But he can back it up with his play. In addition to the 3 or 4 3 pointers he made, he made some amazing assists and some clutch free throws.

The game between Lane Tech and Gordon Tech at the Luther North Holiday Tournament completely lived up to it's billing as Lane Tech won a see saw battle 58-55.

This game had so many story lines and was one of the most pulse pounding games I've seen in a while.

First of all, Lane Tech and Gordon Tech are only two blocks away from each other. I grew up calling Gordon Tech goats. A lot of my elementary school classmates went to Gordon, which back then was all-boys. My classmates were jealous that Lane had girls.

Then, this is probably the best team Gordon Tech has had in at least a decade. They are senior led with players like Martell Moore. Moore is a 6-0 guard and their leading scorer. Lane could not stop him all night as he led Gordon with about 25 points. Gordon is also big with players like 6-5 Danny Britt.

Martell Moore of Gordon Tech shoots a free throw.

Lane was down by 12 to Gordon Tech in this game. But with the aide of a full court doberman like defense, Lane came back to tie the game at 47 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. The 4th quarter saw the crowd intensity raise as all the players picked up their game battling for every possession. Near the end of the game, an intense Adkins silenced the Gordon Tech cheering section with his free throws. They in return got verbal back to him. A parent and some students ended up jawing with the referee. the referee kicked out a verbal parent.

At the end of the game, my throat was parched due to all the yelling and cheering I did at the game.

I'll get up some pictures and videos of this game in future posts.

Lane plays Mather Wednesday (Dec 30) for the championship.

Comeback

Down 17, Mather comes back to stun Ridgewood in Luther North Tourney Semi's

Benji Osinake (jr, 6-2, Forward) of Mather is surrounded by Ridgewood players. I was impressed by Osinake's agressiveness and toughness. After the game, I asked him:"your a street baller?" He came back and said "Yeah". He also told me he is the cousin of Mather three sport star Ameen Solebo (discus city champ).

I traveled to the North Side of Chicago to watch a Mather team that came into this game with a record of about 10-1 - with their only loss to Lincoln Park earlier this season. The stage was big- the semi-finals of the Luther North boys basketball Holiday Tournament. The first half was even as the teams played close.

But  in the second half a surprising Ridgewood team erupted to take a 17 point lead. Then Mather began to show why it was 10-1:

• Leading scorer Brandon Roby (6-2, guard), only a junior hit a couple three pointers. Roby, in my opinion is the most talented player on the team. He can hit the outside shot and drive to the ball.

Kyle Gordon (6-2, guard/forward, jr) sparked the comback with a three pointer and a big 2nd half bucket.

Mather ended up winning 73-67 over a deflated Ridgewood team that had hopes of making their first ever Luther North Tourney final. Mather, rarely goes this far as well. Mather plays north side rival Lane Tech for the championship tomorrow (Wed).

More videos, pictures, etc on this game in future posts.

Scouting Report : Aaron Williams of CVS

Aaron Williams (sr, 6-5 Forward) from CVS.

If your team finishes the season 26-6, wins a regional title, and beats Simeon as CVS did last year, the top individuals on the team get's a lot of attention. Aaron Williams, a 6-5 senior forward returns for CVS this year, looking to help his team once again.

I got a chance to see Williams play earlier this year. Williams is your solid high school forward. At 6-5 he has the height that coaches are looking for. He is a bit lanky and still needs to build his upper body if he wants to succeed at the next level. His reputation is that he is a bit of a "Tweener". That is not big enough to play power forward at the college level, and not quick enough or has enough of an outside shooting touch to be an effective small forward at the college level.

My take on Williams is that he is a versatile player at the high school level. He has enough quickness and mid range jumper ability, that you cannot put a slow center on him. At the same time if you put someone too small on him, he can use his 6-5 frame and strength to muscle you inside. I view Williams as a small Horace Grant type player. He can hit the mid-range jumper if he's open and still muscle you inside. He is also an above average rebounder and adds toughness inside.

Williams is one component of another very good CVS team. Williams has a DI college prospect in Hollis Hill on his team and point guard Robert Hurd (so) that can hlep get the ball inside to Williams.  However, unlike last year, this team won't sneak up on anyone. I have CVS to be at least a CPS quarterfinal team.

Related
Video - Wayne Blackshear - Morgan Park
CPS basketball fan page
Hollis Hill, (guard, sr. CVS)
David Williams (forward, sr. Corliss)
Markee Williams (fr), Morgan Park

Neilski's Top 10 CPS Boys Basketball Rankings - 12/28/09

1. Whitney Young - showed why they are number one in victory over #3 Simeon 62-55
2. Morgan Park - Crane gives Morgan Park their first loss in the CPS Holiday Tournament
3. Simeon - upset by Foreman in the CPS Holiday Tournament
4. North Lawndale - 1 point win over Crane in 3rd place game of CPS Holiday Tournament
5. Hyde Park - lost to Simeon 51-39 in CPS Holiday Tournament
6. Foreman - upset Simeon in CPS Holiday Tournament finals
7. Crane - ranking will be testes at the CPS Holiday Tournament at Malcolm X.
8. CVS - upset by Dekalb at Dekalb Holiday Tournament
9. Brooks - wins own tournament with victory over Prosser
10. Orr -  loses to Foreman in CPS Holiday Tournament

others - Harlan, Farragut, Lincoln Park, Von Steuben, Curie, Mather, Harper

Videos Now - Harlan vs Oswego in first round of Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament 2009

Wayne Blackshear of Morgan Park commits to Louisville

Wayne Blackshear (class of 2011) of Morgan Park.

Forward Wayne Blackshear made a commitment to play basketball for the University of Louisville. Blackshear has been a star since he set foot at Curie High School as a freshman before transferring to Morgan Park.

I've seen Blackhear play. He main strenght is his athlethicism. He plays above the rim over his high school counterparts. I can easily see him playing and even starring at the college level. Blackshear joins a Louisville team that is coached by legendary coach Rick Pittino. Pittino is known as one of the hardest working coaches and get's his players to work as hard as they possible can. I think Blackshear will work out perfectly at Louisville. A coach like Pittino will work well for the development of Blackshear.

Blackshear, improved heavily over the summer in his oputside shooting and has added that to abiility to drive to the basket. Inside he uses his supreme athleticism to get aroud players to score or get the rebound.

Holiday Tournament Predictions

Luther North Christmas Tournament

first round

Mather over Guerin
Taft over St. Francis de Sales
Ridgewood over Holy Trinity
Maine East over Latin

Immaculate Conception over Elmwood Park
Lane over Northtown
Gordon Tech over Oak Lawn
Jones over Luther North

quarterfinals

Mather over Taft
Maine East over Ridgewood

Lane Tech over Immaculate Conception
Gordon Tech over Jones

semi-finals

Maine East over Mather
Lane Tech over Gordon Tech

finals

Maine East over Lane Tech

Key game

First round game of Gordon Tech and Oak Lawn. Both of those teams are capable of winning the title. Unfortunately they meet in the first round. Gordon Tech beat Maine East earlier this season in a Thanksgiving Tournament.

Darkhorses

This is Mather's best team in years. I would not be surprised at all if Mather wins the tournament. Also watch out for Lane Tech and Immaculate Conception. Immaculate Conception knocked out Lane Tech last year. This year, both are good teams again and are likely to meet in the first round.

I have Whitney Young facing New Trier and 6-10" William of Mary Bound Fred Heldring (above) in the semi's. Whitney Young is my favorite to win it all.

Proviso West Tournament

Hillcrest over Von Steuben
Evanston over Proviso East
Foreman over Morton
Homewood-Flossmoor over Proviso West
Glenbrook North over T.F. North
Young over Hinsdale Central
New Trier over St. Joseph
St. Patrick over Fenwick

quarterfinals

Hillcrest over Evanston
Homewood- Flossmoor over Foreman
Whitney Young over Glenbrook North
New Trier over St. Partrick

semi's

Hillcrest over HF
Whitney Young over New Trier

finals

Whitney Young over Hillcrest