Naperville Central senior swingman and Northwestern signee Drew Crawford is scheduled to be part of the Chicago High School Classic, an all-star game that will take place Friday night at Niles North.
Marshall's Darius Smith - Crawford's AAU teammate who just verbally committed to Connecticut - is also expected at the event. Other players to watch that night include Illinois recruits Joe Bertrand (Sterling) and Brandon Paul (Warren).
Benet will hold an offensive skills camp for boys in grades 5-8 on three consecutive Sundays beginning April 19. This summer the school will also host a series of basketball camps for boys and girls entering grades 2-9. For more information, visit www.benet.org or call varsity boys basketball coach Gene Heidkamp at 630-719-2824.
Danny Crawford's first NBA season was 1985-86, and he will turn 56 in November. Retirement is an open question, and the referee takes it a year at a time now, working about 75 games per season plus the playoffs. That's the standard union contract.
With his son Drew about to leave Naperville Central to play at Northwestern, Danny is trying to make arrangements that will fill his schedule and strike a balance.
"I'm hoping that the NBA's gonna work with me," Danny said. "I know I'm asking a lot but (looking) at the Big Ten schedule, if Northwestern's playing Michigan or Michigan State, give me a game in Detroit."
There's probably a good compromise somewhere in that plan, but Drew's uncle Gene, a Big Ten official, won't have that flexibility. Gene was told he can't work any Northwestern games until Drew leaves Evanston.
--Drew Crawford has received all-state recognition from yet another organization. The Naperville Central senior was part of a 15-player all-state first team from Classes 3A and 4A, as selected by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
--The rest of the team, as provided by the Chicago Sun-Times, includes: Cully Payne (Schaumburg); Jack Cooley (Glenbrook South); David Brown (Hononegah); Chasson Randle (Rock Island); James Kinney (Centennial); Darius Smith (Marshall); Jonathan Mills (North Lawndale); Derek Needham (De La Salle); Brandon Paul (Warren); Jereme Richmond (Waukegan); Matt Vogrich (Lake Forest); Lenzelle Smith (Zion-Benton); and Reggie Smith (Thornton).
--Neuqua Valley (31-2) and Central (27-3) finish the season ranked No. 17 and No. 18 in the Sun-Times poll.
Naperville Central senior swingman Drew Crawford was named second-team Class 4A all-state by a panel of Illinois media members. Neuqua Valley junior forward Dwayne Evans received honorable mention.
The first team included: Waukegan junior forward Jereme Richmond; Warren senior guard Brandon Paul; Lake Forest senior guard Matt Vogrich; Zion-Benton junior guard Lenzelle Smith; and Glenbrook South senior center Jack Cooley.
Neuqua Valley's dream season ended Tuesday night. As Erik Jacobsen writes, Dundee-Crown coach Lance Huber was left with tears in his eyes after a 64-59 victory. Scott Powers took a look at Jeff Beck, the guard who didn't care about Neuqua's reputation and led everyone with 29 points at the NIU Super-Sectional.
The drought continues after Neuqua Valley's 64-59 loss to Dundee-Crown on Tuesday night at the Class 4A NIU Super-Sectional.
According to IHSA records, the city's last program to reach state was the 1914-15 Naperville High School team, which went 16-2 under R.L. Beister. The modern game is of course completely different - this season the Wildcats had played 18 games by the middle of January, but they aren't guaranteed two more in Peoria.
Forward Derek Raridon said he didn't think Neuqua overlooked a Dundee-Crown team that was hammered by Waubonsie Valley last month: "I thought we were all well-prepared." And Neuqua coach Todd Sutton dismissed the idea that there was a letdown after an electrifying win over Naperville Central last week at the Oswego East Sectional final.
But there were some weird elements on St. Patrick's Day. The final score credited the Wildcats with 59 points, but several reporters had them with 60. (A Rahjan Muhammad free throw in the second half was in question.) You figured that the Chargers (24-5) would have to play well early to have a chance, but they turned the ball over five times within the game's first four minutes.
Throughout a 31-2 season, Neuqua had relied on its depth, but that would be tested as Dwayne Evans picked his second foul 30 seconds into the second quarter. Kareem Amedu did the same at the 6:02 mark. Both are 6-5 juniors who combined to average 25.8 points and 14.4 rebounds per game entering Tuesday.
The Evans who torched Central for 30 points and 17 rebounds in the sectional final was held to four points in the first half before scoring 14 in the second and then fouling out. Senior point guard Nolan Brown, the director of two sectional title teams, also fouled out with 4:30 remaining in the game, as Neuqua was trying to make a comeback.
It's still too early for the Neuqua players to place this year in perspective, but it would be a safe bet to put the Wildcats down for another 20-plus-win season with Evans, Amedu and Muhammad returning.
As reported earlier, Neuqua Valley forward Derek Raridon was voted the Upstate Eight Conference's player of the year. Here is the rest of the UEC list:
Ryan Boatright, East Aurora sophomore guard +
Tramell Weathersby, East Aurora junior forward
Marc Little, Bartlett senior guard +*
Luke Labedzki, Bartlett junior guard +
Tom Roth, Elgin senior guard Dwayne Evans, Neuqua Valley junior forward +
Kareem Amedu, Neuqua Valley junior forward
Alex Sanchez, South Elgin senior guard
Kevin Senechalle, St. Charles East senior center +
Nick Neari, St. Charles North senior guard +
Jon DeMoss, St. Charles North senior guard +
Tem Esikiel, Streamwood senior guard +* Jelani Johnson, Waubonsie Valley senior forward +
+Unanimous choice
*All-conference in 2007-08 season
After Tuesday night's semifinal win over Plainfield North, Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton was asked for a preference in the Class 4A Oswego East Sectional final - Naperville Central or Bolingbrook?
"I'm gonna be a fan (Wednesday) night and it's gonna be fun to watch. Let them play - I'm gonna kick the feet up, eat some popcorn," Sutton said. "Too much stress for me - I can't handle that. (Those) two teams could be in the championship game."
It was unclear whether Sutton put his feet up on the courtside tables Wednesday night, but he was spotted by another reporter sitting on press row with assistant Bob Vozza, scouting Central's 68-61 victory.
Central coach Pete Kramer was planning to watch Neuqua film - maybe on Wednesday night when he returned from Oswego, but certainly Thursday.
"It's gonna be an unbelievable game. They're a very good team," Kramer said. "They got a little bit of everything, so we need to figure out a way to stop the two big guys inside. We'll battle."
So which team do you like in this rivalry game Friday night - No. 1 Neuqua (30-1) or No. 2 Central (27-2)?
Derek Raridon had a big night Tuesday at the Oswego East Sectional, as the 6-foot-6-inch Neuqua Valley forward exploded for 25 points to key a 69-49 victory over Plainfield North. Raridon is a coach's son, but sometimes that's a euphemism for "not athletic." Make no mistake, Raridon can play - the senior was the Upstate Eight Conference player of the year.
For background on this basketball family, be sure to check out Matt Bailey'spiece, which details the father-son/coach-player relationship between Todd and Mitch Raridon at North Central College.
"It gets emotional when you see your kid come in as a freshman, those four years go by so quick," Todd said. "I always told my (players) that, but until you experience it with your own son, you don't quite realize just how fast it is."
It will start all over again next season, when Derek goes to play for his father at North Central.
Joe Henricksen, who runs the City/Suburban Hoops Report, breaks down the Naperville Central-Bolingbrook matchup, which he calls one of the five best sectional semifinal games. Henricksen writes:
"Drew Crawford continues to make a strong case for Hoops Report Player of the Year. Bolingbrook, though, is one team that has the size and athletes to throw at Crawford. What is unique about Naperville Central is each player knows their role and accepts it. The Redhawks, who have received consistent production from the perimeter from Dave Mallett (10 ppg), keep the game close and put the game in Crawford's hands in the fourth quarter. However, Central is the only team in the Oswego East sectional semifinals who has not even played a team ranked in the Top 25 this season. Bolingbrook is awfully balanced and should be able to use their length and athleticism to extend out to Central's perimeter shooters and make things difficult for the Redhawks."
One Benet player wondered about Central's schedule, and pointed out how the Redhawks needed a late push in December to earn a one-point victory over Notre Dame, which finished third in the East Suburban Catholic Conference and lost five league games.
Central isn't the team now that it was then. And now's not the time to worry about signature victories. With Crawford, Central feels like it can play with anyone.
There are no surprise teams left in the Oswego East Sectional. The brackets more or less played out true to form, and each program should feel like it has a good chance to make a run to Peoria.
Neuqua Valley holds steady at No. 8 in the Chicago Sun-Times rankings, while Naperville Central rises to No. 18 after an impressive victory over West Aurora. Bolingbrook and Plainfield North entered the list after winning regional titles. Here's what the rest of the week looks like:
CLASS 4A OSWEGO EAST SECTIONAL
Tuesday
No. 1 Neuqua Valley (29-1) vs. No. 5 Plainfield North (26-4), 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
No. 2 Naperville Central (26-2) vs. No. 3 Bolingbrook (20-6), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.
Naperville Central celebrated a regional title on its home floor Friday night with a 71-60 victory over No. 7 West Aurora.
Senior swingman Drew Crawford finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds as the No. 2 Redhawks beat West Aurora (20-8) for the third time this season.
Junior center Matt Neufeld added 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Central (26-2) into the Oswego East Sectional semifinal, where on Wednesday it will meet No. 3 Bolingbrook.
Naperville Central 71, West Aurora 60
WA 16 12 16 16 - 60
NC 16 16 10 29 - 71 West Aurora (20-8)
Cocroft 7 2-3 17, Hughes 0 2-2 2, Blackmond 2 1-2 6, Carey 3 0-0 7, Starks 2 3-5 7, Vaughn 3 0-0 9, Graham 2 4-4 10, Wyeth 1 0-0 2. Totals: 20 12-16 60. Naperville Central (26-2)
Crawford 9 6-7 28, Linne 1 2-2 4, Mallett 4 3-3 13, Ondik 0 2-2 2, Neufeld 9 5-7 23, Pomeroy 0 1-3 1. Totals: 23 19-24 71. 3-pointers: West Aurora 8 - Vaughn 3, Graham 2, Cocroft, Blackmond, Carey. Naperville Central 6 - Crawford 4, Mallett 2. Rebounds: West Aurora 16 (Carey 4), Naperville Central 33 (Crawford 14). Turnovers: West Aurora 8, Naperville Central 10. Fouled out: Naperville Central - Ondik.
Across the past two seasons, that's been a favorite throwaway line from Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer (as in his team is much more than that). But it seems like people are finally catching on to Drew Crawford, who was named to the Chicago Sun-Times all-area team. This week Comcast SportsNet also ran a feature on Crawford and his father Danny, the veteran NBA official. It'll be interesting to see how this story grows if Central can keep advancing in the Class 4A tournament.
After a 14-0 run through the DuPage Valley Conference, Drew Crawford and Pete Kramer were recognized as its player and coach of the year. Here's the complete list:
All-Conference
Drew Crawford, Naperville Central*
Dave Mallett, Naperville Central*
Danny Ondik, Naperville Central
Paul Sanders, Glenbard East*
Zach Miller, Glenbard East*
Jack Merrithey, Glenbard East
James Fleming, Glenbard North*
Reilly O'Toole, Wheaton Warrenville South
Tyler Griffith, West Chicago
Danny Grimley, Naperville North
Markus Cocroft, West Aurora*
Juwan Starks, West Aurora*
Special Mention
Dan Hohenstein, Wheaton Warrenville South
Chad Driscoll, West Chicago
James O'Shaughnessy, Naperville North
Zach Dungee, Wheaton North
Honorable Mention
Nick Linne, Naperville Central
Matt Neufeld, Naperville Central
Reggie Davis, Glenbard North
Derek Babb, Wheaton Warrenville South
Will Dolatowski, Wheaton Warrenville South
Chris Bradley, Wheaton North
Lee Skinner, Glenbard East
Unlike the majority of his players, Naperville Central coach Pete Kramer didn't rock the mohawk look during Tuesday night's 77-53 regional semifinal victory over No. 14 Willowbrook. But his day of reckoning is approaching.
"I owe them already. I told them if we went 14-0 (in the DuPage Valley Conference), I'd shave my head, so it's coming. Probably not (until) the end of the season," Kramer said. "I don't want to embarrass these guys."
At which point Drew Crawford reminded Kramer of the exact terms of the wager: "And a beard."
--No. 14 Willowbrook (12-16) never led on Tuesday in Naperville but it was into the game and played hard the entire night. The Warriors were physical on Crawford - Central took 34 free throws - and though nothing major happened you wondered if it was about to escalate. Someone loses his temper, shoves a player and who knows what could happen. That would be the last thing the No. 2 Redhawks (25-2) need heading into Friday's regional final against No. 7 West Aurora or No. 10 Wheaton Warrenville South.
"They just beat the hell out of Drew. I just compliment Drew on how composed he kept, cause I would've lost it," Kramer said. "That's why I took him out a couple times, just to get him out of there. (When) he's tired, you never know, (and) they're kind of tired, (someone could) turn an ankle."
--As Central's gym was clearing out, several people were asking for this final score: Neuqua Valley 59, Benet 57 (OT). The Neuqua-Central showdown is still a possibility.
BATAVIA - Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton, assistant Bob Vozza and several of their players scouted Benet's 55-54 victory over Naperville North on Monday night in Batavia. The group will return Tuesday to face the No. 17 Redwings (12-14). Michael O'Brien says 27-1 Neuqua, the No. 1 seed in the Oswego East Sectional, has a clear path to Peoria and uncovers this nugget: Class 4A has no defending champion, while 3A has three - Richards, North Lawndale and Marshall.
--Neuqua's opponent was still unknown until Matt Hasse's long 3-pointer missed at the buzzer. After Benet's Joe Meyerhoff hit one of two free throws with 3.8 seconds remaining, No. 16 North (12-15) moved the ball to halfcourt and called timeout.
The Huskies ran a triple screen along the baseline designed for senior guard Danny Grimley (10 points), with Hasse (8 points, 10 rebounds) picking and then popping back toward the foul line. The 6-foot-9-inch center wound up farther away from the basket.
"(Hasse) certainly can make that shot but (Benet) didn't bite too much on the switch and he was well covered, so give them credit for a good defensive set right there," North coach Mark Lindo said afterward. "It's hard to be incredibly creative with 1.7 seconds to go, (but) we knew they'd take away our first option. They did, and they took away the second option, but we feel real good about Matt Hasse, (who's) a very high-percentage shooter from that spot on the floor."
--Hasse is one of several Huskies expected back next season, and with Joe McNicholas (6-6), James O'Shaughnessy (6-5) and Matt LaCosse (6-5) they should have a decent core. Monday's loss snapped a five-game winning streak. "There's an awful lot of talented young men with (a) chance to dream big," Lindo said.
--North enjoyed a significant size advantage and a 30-21 rebounding margin but couldn't convert that into enough points. "We just got them with our perimeter quickness and our guard play," said Meyerhoff, the 6-8 Benet center.
--In the past six days, Benet has won two rematch games. First-year coach Gene Heidkamp said it revealed something about its players, but it also has to be a reflection on the Benet staff.
"Our last two games were against teams (Notre Dame and North) that beat us convincingly the first time we played them, and (we) come back and win both games, so I think that says something about our kids, especially at the end of the year, when a lot of teams are ready to go home," Heidkamp said. "To be honest, we had to close the game out. We felt we had a seven-to-nine-point lead pretty much throughout - midway through the third quarter through the last minute of the game. To (North's) credit, they never quit. They made some big plays and we let them back in by not making free throws. ... I'm happy with it."
Benet sophomore point guard Dave Sobolewski, who finished second in the league in scoring, was selected to the all-East Suburban Catholic Conference team.
St. Patrick guard Bryant Smith was voted player of the year, while Gene Pingatore of St. Joseph was named coach of the year.
Sobolewski was the only Redwing to make the team. For the complete list, click here.
Brad Engel is the longest-tenured member of The Sun sports staff and has won several national and state awards in his coverage of preps as well as the Chicago Bears, Chicago Fire and general sports.
Paul LaTour
Paul LaTour has been honored with national awards in each of the last three years and currently serves as The Sun's sports enterprise writer in addition to his duties covering high school and college sports.
Patrick Mooney
Patrick Mooney covered politics, prep sports and professional baseball for several print and online media outlets before joining The Sun in August 2007. He concentrates on prep sports, writing features, profiles and breaking recruiting news.
