Boys basketball: April 2009 Archives

--Joe Henricksen has an interesting blog post up on the Illinois Warriors, an elite AAU program that helped Naperville Central's Drew Crawford gain national exposure. Neuqua Valley forward Dwayne Evans currently plays for the Warriors.

--We didn't get a chance to link to this last week: Mike O'Toole, the former head coach at Joliet Catholic, will return to Neuqua as an assistant to Todd Sutton. A spot opened up on Sutton's staff with Bob Vozza's move to Metea Valley.

For some time now, Joe Henricksen has given Drew Crawford the benefit of the doubt. In a final installment for the City/Suburban Hoops Report, Henricksen ranks the state's top college prospects in the class of 2009, slotting the Naperville Central senior third.

Northwestern coach Bill Carmody has said that he thinks Evanston will be a good place for a guard to be over the next few years - the Wildcats have already recruited the interior players. Assistant Tavaras Hardy, who was instrumental in signing Crawford, told us: "We want to recruit kids that have a chance to make an immediate impact."

The departure of senior guard Craig Moore will open up a spot in the starting five next season, and Henricksen wasn't subtle in his prediction:

3. Drew Crawford, 6-5, 2G, Naperville (Central) ... There weren't enough people who were able to see just how good Crawford was during his high school career. Look for Crawford to start from day one at Northwestern and truly blossom in college.

UPDATE: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/sports/highschools/1536455,6_2_NA21_BHOOPS_S1.article

Benet senior center Joe Meyerhoff has signed with Utah Valley University, an independent Division I basketball program that will begin play in the Great West Conference next season.

The 6-foot-8-inch Meyerhoff averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for the Redwings last season.

Marcus Jordan - Michael's kid - has made a verbal commitment to Central Florida.

Warren senior guard Brandon Paul edged out fellow Illinois recruit Jereme Richmond of Waukegan to win the 2009 Mr. Basketball of Illinois award.

Naperville Central senior swingman Drew Crawford received 20 first-place votes in ballots submitted by the state's coaches and media members. The Northwestern signee finished third in the voting with 137 points, behind Paul (337) and Richmond (321).

How would you have voted?

--In searching for Mark Lindo's replacement, Naperville North has finished interviewing internal candidates and is in the process of reviewing external resumes for the varsity head coaching job. According to an ad posted on the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Web site, the school anticipates teaching openings in driver's and physical education.

--Forgot to mention this earlier, but Waubonsie Valley assistant Matt Walpole will be joining Bob Vozza's staff at Metea Valley.

--Wes Koral, a Joliet Catholic sophomore from Naperville, was named all-area honorable mention by The Herald News after averaging 10.1 points in 15 varsity games.