Surely, we all can agree that Waukegan High is holding the boys basketball hammer for 2009-2010.
In The Locker Room, we like Mundelein, led by Iowa-bound Ben Brust, to be the primary challenger.
But other than the Mustangs, is Waukegan going to be a runaway train in terms of Lake County hoops or will some other school be good enough to challenge them come tourney time?
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Tonight, the Grayslake High Board of Education reportedly is going to consider naming a permanent varsity boys basketball coach for next season. Brian Moe, who coached the Rams last year after former coach Tim Bowen got fired, served as interim coach last winter.
Since elections reshaped the school board, it is possible that there is strong sentiment to bring back Bowen, a very successful coach in terms of wins and losses who was dumped by the former board for reasons not connected to winning and losing games.
So, who will it be: Bowen or Moe?
This does remind of the situation at Waukegan High when Al Rogers was named interim coach after Brian Colbert departed a few years back. After Rogers' season, the job was posted and likeable Al applied for the job. As did Colbert.
Neither of them, of course, was hired. Ron Ashlaw was.
But it was conceivable that Colbert COULD have been brought back, so the idea of bringing back Bowen is not beyond the realm of realism.
The irony, of course, is that Bowen served last year as assistant coach for Waukegan High's team that nearly won the IHSA Class 4A state title. Meanwhile, Moe became the first coach in Grayslake (Central) history to coach a team to victory in a sectional game.
This one has a too-close-to-call feel to it.
What do you think?
One of the things you notice right away during the spring sports season is how few of the area's top prep boys basketball players also play baseball or track or tennis or lacrosse.
One notable exception is Vernon Hills High senior Riaz Hoveydai. During the winter, he was the best players on a decent Cougar boys hoops squad.
This spring, he played No. 1 doubles for his school's tennis team and actually reached the finals of the North Suburban Conference tournament at No. 1 doubles. It was the first time a Cougar singles player or doubles team played for an NSC title in the school's nine-year history.
Are there any other all-county boys hoopsters playing successfully on the school field this spring?
Am reminded of what happened at Z-B High this year. Little did we know that Rodney Clinkscales' loss from the 2008 team to graduation would leave such a big hole in the lineup. It seemed like shuffling pieces, with Zelle Smith moving to guard, Quintrell Love moving to small forward and the big Worthington kid taking over for Antonio Stewart at power forward. And that would leave Z-B poised to win it all in 2009.
Didn't happen.
Think about that when you start penciling in Waukegan to win the 2010 state championship.
Colin Nickerson did a lot of things for the Bulldogs besides score. He was the team's best defensive player and always played the role of lockdown corner against the opponent's high scorer. He also could rebound, lead the break, and hit from behind the arc as well as drive to the basket. That is a huge hole Waukegan will have to fill. One player isn't going to be able to wear Colin's shoes, and when you start asking other players to do more, it takes away from what they currently do well.
In other words, it's OK to plan that state-championship parade down Washington St. in Waukegan for next March, just don't pay for the parade permit just yet.
Well, anything is possible.
I mean, who would have ever thought that our area would have prep basketball teams post near-miss second-place finishes in back-to-back years in the IHSA playdowns.
That said, there is way too much upside for 'Zelle to leave Zion-Benton.
For starters, when he gets to Ohio State, he's going to have to play guard and handle the ball A LOT.
At Z-B next year, he will be THE MAN in the backcourt. Worthington & Williams are back as front-liners but there is not an estatiblshed guard in the lot. Learning to develop as a ball-handling guard is 'Zelle's first objective for next year. That won't happen at Waukegan.
Second, he doesn't have to go to Waukegan even if his dad "moves" there. The IHSA allows players who have gone to a school for three years to attend that same school as a senior even if the family lives in another town. So, a "move" by the family won't force Zelle out of Z-B.
Finally, what is the upside to transfering to Waukegan. The chance to play in a state-championship game? He's already done that. Besides, if he goes to Waukegan, how many minuttes later do you think another starter from this year's Waukegan team will take before announcing he's transfering OUT of Waukegan.
The Peoria Civic Center may be the perfect place for the IHSA state hoops tourney ... if you live in Peoria.
But for Chicago-type people like us, it is almost impossible to get to. It's just a long, long, long drive.
Do you think the tourney for the big schools should be moved? And, if so, should it go to Rosemont, the Sears Centrre in Hoffman Estates, Rockford?
Or should Gurnee build a 10,000-seat arena and take over the tourney itself?
Having watched our Warhawks get drubbed in back-to-back years in the Round of 8 super-sectional at the Sears Centre, it's obvious that two things are needed to take North Chicago's boys basketball team to the next level:
Two quality transfers.
One of the two has to be a 6-6 post player who can block shots and rebound.
The other has to be a Quon Conner-type, who played two years at NC but is now starring for Waukegan High.
Without two additions like that, NC is destined to go 23-7 next year and again get whacked at the Sears Centre.
If Waukegan was awarded a point for every tattoo on every player who competed last weekend in Peoria in the IHSA state basketball tournament, we would have the first-place trophy in our school right now instead of the second-place one.
Seems like every player has multple tattoos, and these are high-school kids.
What gives?
Is it because of all the tattoos that the NBA players have?
Actually thought we played well, except for shooting the ball.
Went home last March feeling we were capable of winning and am going home tonight feeling the exact same way.
Good news is that nobody in the Purple/Gold has to shoulder the blame. We played well enough to win and the five guys we used all played effectively.
Special kudos to sophomore Aaron Johnson who was incredibly effective.
Again, we played well enough to win, jus tlike Z-B last March
Cannot believe it didn't happen for us.
It's starting to feel Cub-like.
Friday night the Waukegan Bulldogs trounced Dundee-Crown to advance to the IHSA Class 4A finals. Today, Saturday, the Bulldogs play against Chicago Young. Tonight's game will air on Channel 50 live at about 8:15 p.m. If you have the Comcast cable TV system, the game will be shown on Channel 8. Join us in the Locker Room and chat with us live starting at 8:15 p.m. as the Bulldogs try to make history.
