He also holds the record for the most minutes played (4,698) and the most games started (136) of any player in school history. Between 2002 and 2006, Brown was a student-athlete at the University of Illinois. Williams played three seasons for the Fighting Illini while a student at the University of Illinois, helping the team to numerous NCAA Tournament berths. Improved versatile player that will have to score, rebound and play big for the Mustangs on the boards. Dawson transferred to Illinois after his sophomore year and was chosen to the 1974 All-Big Ten team as well as an academic All-American. Steve Bardo photo by TonyTheTiger Wikimedia commons. 1. In his time at Illinois, Jerry Hester averaged 4.6 boards per game. One of the few big men on the guard-heavy 2005 national runners-up, Roger Powell didnt get many chances to shoot in that lineup. As a senior, Jacksons scoring fell to 11.9 points per game, despite his toughness on the court. HIGH SCHOOL CONTENT. Weatherspoon became a productive NBA reserve who averaged nine points and 4.9 rebounds a game while (mostly) coming off the bench. In 2004, he was selected for the All-Century Team at the University of Illinois. He drained 216 treys in his college career, fifth-most for an Illini player all-time. Girls' basketball player rankings: Updates, adds for 2024, 2025, 2026 While playing for Illinois, McBride led the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Final Four in 2005 and was named to the All-Big 10 honourable mention team. When he graduated, he ranked third in school history for games played with 138 and was second all-time at Illinois in terms of rebounding (909), scoring (1,279 points) at number 22, and games played 138 which put him at third. In Illinois mens basketball history, Thomas is the only player with at least 2,000 career points. The 19911992 NBA season was his greatest year as a professional; he played in 75 games for the Nuggets and averaged 9.3 points per game. Unfortunately, he was not drafted into the NBA and never got a chance to show his skills at the grandest stage. Jun 30th, 4:49 PM. Wessels averaged 8.7 boards a night, the seventh-best career mark in program history. High school basketball: The areas top 50 players, Homewood-Flossmoor phenom Dillon Head expected to be picked in first two rounds of MLB Draft, Illinois Junior Golf Association will host first events in Chicago, IMarion Stewart commits to Michigan after transferring to Kenwood, Movie gives South Sides Khalil Everage the high school experience he never had, A new name on the board: Hinsdale Central all-time leading scorer Ben Oosterbaan switches to basketball, Morgan Parks Tysean Griffin, Lyons Eddie Tuerk commit to Illinois, Did NASCAR pay enough to use Grant Park, downtown streets? Averaged 16 points and eight rebounds last year. He was chosen for the 20102011 Big Ten seasons third team AlAllBigen as a senior. From 2007 until 2011, he was a student at Illinois. June 23, 2023. We may all come from different walks of life but we have one common passion - learning through travel. From 1987 through 1989, Battle competed in collegiate sports at the University of Illinois. The Illini won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the NCAA tournament in 1983-84. drebwell / Twitter Every state has its high school basketball legends. 2021 High School Boys Basketball Player Rankings | Prep Hoops HS basketball: Here are all 128 players named all-state by the Illinois Having participated in 137 games, Augustine is tied with Dee Brown. The 63 guard, who averaged 15.9 points a game as a senior, set a school record with 116 three-pointers that season en route to a career total of 209 (sixth in school history). All rights reserved. Check out Prep Hoops 2021 National Player Rankings. Clemons made the mistake of declaring for the draft after his junior year in Champaign. Led team to 6A final last year. Illini Basketball: 10 Best Big Men in school history | Yardbarker One of the best pure shooters in the state. 0.8767. Notes: . A first-round pick of the Clippers, Norman didnt turn out to be nearly the bust that so many other L.A. first-rounders were. Williams averaged 4.3 assists (tied for sixth in school history) and 2.1 steals (third) in a career that saw him lead three consecutive Big Ten regular-season champions. Every year he played, Gills Illini received NCAA bids. Watch more top videos, highlights, and B/R original content, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. In the two years he did play before he jumped to the NBA, Liberty helped the Illini reach the 1989 Final Four, then averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds when coach Lou Henson dragooned him into a low-post role as a junior. 50: Lew Hitch: PF: 1952: Griggsville-Perry (Griggsville) 682: 51: Stan Patrick: SF: 1950: Kendall Gill, Stephen Bardo, Kenny Battle, Lowell Hamilton, and Marcus Liberty were all teammates of Andersons who went on to play in the NBA, with only Hamilton missing out on playing in the NBA. Powell was chosen as an honourable mention All-Big Ten selection during his final season by both the leagues coaches and media. 1 Marvin Bagley III, Tempe Corona del Sol, 2015 To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.comor 602-316-8827. Windmill City Weekend: 2025's On . In the fall of 1957, Wessels enrolled at the University of Illinois and started playing basketball for the freshmen squad. Based on the armys selection of Mathisen, Menke, and Smiley, Phillip and his teammates would decide not to take part in either the NCAA or NIT tournament. Windmill City Weekend Shootout Senior Standouts. Top247 247Sports Composite. Over 16 NBA seasons, he averaged 13.3 points and 5.5 assists a night while hitting 35.4 percent of his three-point tries. 1 overall pick and an NBA champion) The 63 Douglas holds the school records for assists (765) and steals (324), and as a sophomore he helped take Illinois to its first Elite Eight since 1963. From 2002 through 2005, he represented the Illinois Fighting Illini in collegiate basketball. In three seasons at Illinois, Scholz averaged 9.7 boards a night (fifth-best in school history) and 20.5 points (second). Updated 2025 Illinois Rankings. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Guards Player, team, height, year Niko Abusara, Benet, 6-4, Sr. Darrin Ames, Kenwood, 6-0, Sr. For the University of Illinois, Derek averaged 10 rebounds per game while also setting records for blocked shots with 88 in a single season and 11 in a single game. For 20 years, his 40-point outburst as a sophomore would stand as the school record. High school: Westinghouse College: University of Illinois Career highlights: 1989 NBA Sixth Man of the Year Johnson was named to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004, and went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA. He was at his best coming off the bench, becoming one of the NBAs premier instant-offense reserves and winning Sixth Man of the Year honors with the Suns in 1988-89. Behind his former teammate Deon Thomas, Garris concluded his career at Illinois as the schools second-leading scorer all-time. High school basketball: 25 of the greatest players of all time Harper went on to a terrific NBA career spent mostly with the Mavericks. A five-star tight end in football, he's a talented basketball player who get the Pioneers back to becoming a force in 6A. Ohls scoring touch translated brilliantly to the NBA, as he averaged 15.9 points a game over a 10-year pro career. His 19,202 career points still rank among the top-50 totals in NBA history. 222 34 8. In their 12 triumphs throughout the season, he scored 14.8 points on average. Tough in the paint. The 69 Griffin became a key defensive presence for the 2001 Elight Eight squad, finishing third in school history with 1.4 blocks per game for his career. When playing for the Illinois team, Mark Smith averaged more than 6.1 rebounds and four assists. Jake Lifgren, Peoria Centennial, 6-0, Sr. As good a shooter as there is in the state. 230-pound frame of Withers is an excellent college basketball player and maybe even an . Part of the intimidating front line that won the 1963 Big Ten title (the schools first in a decade), Dave Downey was a devastating weapon in the post. Hes averaged as many as 10.9 points a game for the Rockets while shooting an eye-popping .388 from beyond the arc. Whether you want to learn the history of a city, or you simply need a recommendation for your next meal, Discover Walks Team offers an ever-growing travel encyclopaedia. Moved in from Texas. A transfer from Dream City Christian, he is the younger brother of former Arizona guard Josh Green. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Over 15 seasons, he averaged 13.4 points and 1.6 steals a game, leading the league in the latter category in 1998-99. Ken Norman, standing at 6'8", was a valuable rebounder who topped out at 9.8 boards a game in his final season on campus, but his scoring was an even bigger asset to Illinois. (FREE) Blessing Nwotite, Paradise Honors, 6-3, Sr. He served as the team captain for Illinois Flyin Illini squad in 1989. He was chosen as a first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection by the coaches and the media following the 200910 regular season. A fine rebounder for a 66 SF, Jerry Hester averaged 4.6 boards a game in his Illinois career. Although SG Doug Altenberger was an outstanding defender, he earns his place on this list for his offensive performance. With the Illini, he averaged more than seven rebounds per game, and his 156 career blocks were excellent to place him fourth in the all-time at the university. Will be counted on to lead the Wolves into the playoffs. He was the 2A Defensive Player of the Year. The 66 Conner spent most of his career as an undersized center banging with the likes of UCLAs 611 Bill Walton, but he still managed to grab 8.3 rebounds a game in his career to tie for eighth in school history. Although Thoren couldnt make an NBA roster out of school, he landed in the ABA a few seasons later. Morez Johnson Thornton Township . He averaged 20.7 points per game and finished his career second in school history with a.609 field goal percentage. He went undrafted and never played in the NBA. One of the hyper-athletic wing players who gave the Flying Illini their nickname, 68 Marcus Liberty was a high-school legend who had to sit out his freshman year for academic reasons. Top boys basketball players in 2021 AIA high school season - azcentral.com Secret to . Below are the list of individual 40-plus-point performances by Illinois high school boys and girls basketball players for the 2021-22 season. Top 50 high school basketball players of all time - MaxPreps Griffin was drafted by the Nets, but the 1980s were not kind to that franchises draft picks. Old schools: Hofstra, Oregon . 100 best Illinois high school basketball players ever - Chicago Tribune He was drafted by the Wizards franchise, but played his best ball with the Sonics and (at the end of his career) the Clippers. His 17.3 points per game rank as Illinois eighth-best career average. A tremendous rebounder as a 67 forward, Nick Weatherspoon was equally devastating as a scorer. High school basketball: MaxPreps Player of the Year in all 50 states In spite of his sensational collegiate performance, Douglas was a wash out in the NBA. On February 6, he scored his 1,000th point against Indiana, and he finished his career with 1,178 points to place 26th all-time among Illini scorers. Made second-team all-region last year, should be better this season with his ability to rebounds and score. The player who displays the most hustle throughout the season is given the Kenny Battle Inspirational Award by the Illini. Now a little-used Clipper, Cook put up his best numbers off the bench with the cross-town Lakers, who burned a first-round pick on him. NAME . 89: Top 1000: Kaydon Norkus 6-1 190 R/R: RHP: Bolingbrook, IL: Southern Illinois: The 63 guard scored 1,449 points at Illinois (the 13th-best figure in program history), capping his career by averaging a school-record 27.8 points a game as a senior. A standout for Illinois 1952 Final Four team as a sophomore, Johnny Red Kerr was (at 6'9") the first overpowering big man in Illini history. To finish off a career in which he scored 1,415 points, which ranks as the 15th-best total for an Illini player all-time, he helped lead a conference title run in 1998. His career average of 8.3 rebounds per night matched him for eighth place on the schools all-time list. Greatest High School Basketball Teams of All Time 2023 California HS Girls Basketball Rankings | Prep Girls Hoops Voices, experts and personalities on the left and right side of politics because we think its vital to hear both sides of the story. Conner spent the majority of his collegiate career playing the centre position out of position, but he more than made up for it with his amazing leaping abilities. In 2004, he was chosen for the Illini Mens Basketball All-Century Team. Williams was selected as one of the 100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament in 2007, in honour of his outstanding play during that tournament. For local insights and insiders travel tips that you wont find anywhere else, search any keywords in the top right-hand toolbar on this page. He scored a school record 2,335 career points, including averaging 23 points and 6.8 assists as a . He graduated from Illinois as the schools seventh-highest scorer ever. Bon Salles 17.3 points a game are the eighth-best career average in Illinois history. 1. He broke the state record for scoring with 2,252 points an average of 37.4 points per game. Top247 247Sports Composite. Kerr scored 1,299 points in his three varsity seasons, averaging 18.6 points per game overall. Gill was nominated to the first-team All-American (UPI) and led the Big Ten in scoring as a senior. Cook played 132 games for the University of Illinois over four years, each season leading the Illini in rebounds. 12. He played a total of 44 games with four different teams, but was out of the league after two seasons. The Nets point guard already has two NBA All-Star appearances to his credit after playing a key role on Illinois 2005 national runner-up squad that tied the NCAA record with 37 wins in a season. Garrison Sherman, Scottsdale Christian, 6-6, Sr. One of the nation's top point guards in the 2023 class, he'll lead the break, defense, sacrifice his body on the floor. His time with the Illini includes playing both power forward and centre, setting numerous team records, making it to the national championship game, and winning numerous honours. The fan base, historical events, and players from Illinois are legendary. Although Chester Frazier never made much of a dent as a scorer (7.2 points a game in his best season), he more than made up for it with the rest of his game. Luther Head of the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) photo byKeith Allison Wikimedia commons. . Averaged 16.8 points last season. 7. 2022 Top Basketball Recruits in Arizona - 247Sports Will be asked to be one of the leaders on a talented team. A leader on Illinois first-ever NCAA tournament team in 1942, Andy Phillip was one of the first dominant scorers for the Illini. High School Portal; Top 50 HS Teams; 2022 Preview Content; Scout Blogs; Preseason All-Americans; Preseason Underclass All-Americans; All HS Content; . 3:35. Gill attended the University of Illinois after being named to the six-player All-Tournament team while attending Rich Central High School in Olympia Fields. Read more: 10 Famous Basketball Players who played for UNC. Versatile as he was, he didnt have any one skill that could lock down an NBA roster spot. GRB Illinois: GRB Rays Illinois. He received 529 of the . At 69, hes not an impossible long-shot to make it to the NBA at some point, but the odds arent in his favor either. On his way to making 209 three-pointers for his career, he set a school record in 2005 by making 116 of them (sixth in school history). His 40-point game as a sophomore would stand a school record for two decades. Greg Jackson was a powerhouse during his time in Illinois. Over his undergraduate career, he averaged 4.7 assists per game and led Illinois in that category in 19811982. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Guards Darrin Ames, Kenwood, 6-0, Jr. Timaris Brown, St. Patrick, 6-5, Sr. Read this article for free Print Subscriber? The interior anchor of the national runners-up in 2005, center James Augustine was an underrated scorer who made his name on the glass. From 1998 to 2002, the 63 guard played basketball for the University of Illinois. Head is playing overseas in 2011-12, but hes been an effective NBA reserve in his career to date. He went undrafted and never played in the NBA. The squad advanced to the Final Four before Michigan defeated them. Williams was voted the Most Outstanding Player of the Chicago Regional in the NCAA Tournament and was a nominee for the Wooden Award. Daylyn Martin, Phoenix Desert Vista, 6-1, Sr. With that comes a fresh look at college football's top 25 classes, thus far, in . High school basketball: The area's top 50 players His intimidating stature allowed McClain to perform explosively on the court, assisting the team in official matches. Pike Tancil, Surprise Willow Canyon, 6-2, Sr. High school . Although more offense-minded eras have eclipsed his totals in the record books, 63 Don Ohl was a first-class weapon in the Illinois backcourt. Although Kerrs senior season was the greatest of his three varsity seasons, the team would go on to have the least successful run during the same period. 1. Who are the best Illinois high school girls basketball players from the class of 2022? Demetri McCamey signals a play photo by Joshua Beckman Wikimedia commons. Who are the best Illinois high school boys basketball players from the class of 2022? In 1989, Bardo won the Big Ten defensive player of the year award. Also, Read 60 Best College Basketball Players of all tTime. Weatherspoon was chosen in 2004 for the Illini Mens Basketball All-Century Team.. A sophomore standout on Illinois 2001 Elite Eight team, Brian Cook blossomed into a big-time star as a senior. Sports coverage for locals, by locals: the Sun Devils, Suns, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Arizona High Schools, plus access to USA TODAY Sports+. Darrion Baker Hillcrest (Country Club Hills, IL) The team fell just short of reaching its first final four since 1952, falling to the University of Kentucky in a contentious game. He could wind up the best player in 3A. College football's recruiting rankings updated Thursday when 247Sports' latest Top247 released . Read on for more on Kerr, McCamey, Williams and the rest of Illinois 50 greatest hoops stars of all time. As a senior, athletic swingman Eddie Johnson (far left) led the Illini to their first NCAA tournament in 18 years. Despite being stuck in purgatory on the woeful Nets, Williams is averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 assists a game in 2011-12. Finishes above the rim and has nice touch from the outside. His best performance while wearing an Illinois uniform was on December 30, 1972, when the Illini faced off against the top-ranked Bruins of UCLA in the Sugar Bowl Classic in New Orleans. Thorens teams at Illinois won 51 of 74 games and the 1963 championship when he was a player there. Brigg Wolfe, Mesa Mountain View, 6-3, Jr. The quick-handed point guard was even more impressive on D, where his 178 career steals rank sixth in program history. . Undrafted out of school, Davis is currently playing in the Ukraine. He made 57 3s in 18 games last year, and 84 3s as a sophomore. A jack-of-all-trades 66 forward, Mark Smith averaged as many as 6.1 rebounds and four assists a game in an Illini uniform. He now ranks 12th all-time in Illinois scoring after concluding his collegiate career as the most prolific scorer in school history. High major talent. For 37 years, until the 2005-06 season, Weatherspoon's 1,431 points at Canton McKinley High School stood as the Bulldog scoring record. Gets to the rim. Discover Walks contributors speak from all corners of the world - from Prague to Bangkok, Barcelona to Nairobi. One of the best performances by an Illinois player was his 35 points against Michigan State in January 1974. Readers on GoErie.com have selected Sharon's Derek Douglas as the District 10 Male Breakout Basketball Player of the Year. During his playing career, Dawson averaged 32.5 points per game as a senior. Mar 24, 2022, 10:00am. He didnt have elite shooting range, but Donnie Freeman could get to the rim with the best. Under the direction of head coach Bruce Weber, Frazier spent four seasons at the University of Illinois (20052009). Caleb Shaw, Chandler Valley Christian, 6-5, Sr. He played four undistinguished seasons in the league, topping out at 6.1 points a game in his second year (split between Phoenix and Denver). He did get a brief call-up with the Jazz, playing three games in a Utah uniform in 2006-07. Tisdale blocked 176 shots in his Illinois career, one shy of Deon Thomas school record. ESPN Basketball Recruiting - Player Rankings - ESPN He attended Illinois between 1993 and 1998. Corey Wood, American Leadership Ironwood, 6-7, Jr. One of the best players in 3A, he can play guard. "The best Illinois high school player I ever saw was probably MIKE ROBINSON from Peoria Richwoods. In 1957, Bon Salle received All-American recognition as a senior and was chosen by the NBAs Syracuse Nationals in the 1957 draft. He played just eight games as a Kings rookie, the sum total of his career in the league. He did not achieve much success in the NBA after being picked 19th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 1987 NBA draft. Cook assisted in guiding the Illini to a top seed in the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Sneaky athletic. Tisdale is an Illinois native who spent 20072011 as a student at the University of Illinois. Here are the 50 best Illinois basketball players of all time. Though he became a third-round pick of the Blazers, he never played in the NBA. The Fighting Illini were led by junior Gill to 1989 Final Four, where they fell to Michigan on a last-second shot. His career total of 484 assists ranks seventh in school history given to him being a lethal defender. HIGH SCHOOL CONTENT. Cook made use of his height to score in the post in a variety of ways and to make three-pointers when the opportunity arose. High school basketball: The area's top 50 players This season's players to watch. Nick Weatherspoon. The agile Cook has never done enough rebounding to merit more than a bench role in the NBA, but hes still hanging on in that capacity after eight-plus seasons. Compiled by our staff with input from high school, club and college coaches from across the state. Secret to . He graduated as Illinois all-time leading scorer (hes now 20th on that list), and his career average of 11 rebounds a game is the third-best for an Illini player all-time. 610 center Efrem Winters did everything a top-notch pivot man is supposed to do. Top 50 Illinois high school basketball players ever - Chicago Tribune He averaged 17 points per game while playing for Illinois. Weatherspoon, who was a member of the NBA All-Rookie Team in 1974, played in the NBA for a total of seven seasons with the San Diego Clippers, the Chicago Bulls, the Seattle SuperSonics, and the Washington Bullets. Gill was nominated to the first-team All-American (UPI) and led the Big Ten in scoring as a senior. By Paul Johnson. Winters ranks in Illinois all-time top 10 in points (1,487), rebounds (853) and blocks (103). Cory Bradford didnt bring a lot to the table besides his shooting stroke, but what a shooter he was. His career field goal percentage of 61.7 per cent (534-865) is a school record and ranks fifth all-time in the Big Ten. 2022 Illinois High School Boys Basketball Player Rankings - Prep Hoops In seven scoreless innings against Miles Mikolas, Sox hitters managed just four singles on 95 pitches in an eventual 3-0 loss. Dalen Davis Whitney Young (Chicago, IL) PG. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association in 2019. He led the league in assists three straight seasons with the Stags and Warriors on his way to the Hall of Fame. In the early 1960s, Illinois had a physical presence in the middle thanks to Bill Burwell. A great inside-outside game, changes the game with his ability to defend and get out and run. 4. Expect a breakout season. Signed with Northern Arizona. He played for the Illini, who finished second in the country and tied an NCAA record with 37 victories. He can play point guard or forward, versatile, fast, dynamic. The 2021-22 Arizona Interscholastic Association high school boys basketball season is littered with talent. Register Here In This Stream Bill Self sought out Williams to join the University of Illinois basketball team for the NCAA 20022003 season. The 2000-01 team advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA mens basketball tournament, with each team earning a spot in the competition. The highlight of his career was the 196061 campaign when Wessels was honoured as an All-American honourable mention on an Illinois squad that concluded the regular season with a 915 overall record, enough for seventh place in the Big Ten. Dazzling guard whose speed and defensive abilities set him apart. By Paul Johnson. Altenberger played for Illinois from 1982 to 1987. Cook graduated from Illinois as the third-highest scorer in school history with 1,748 total points, averaging 13.2 points per game. With 853 rebounds at Illinois (since surpassed and now in third place), Winters concluded his collegiate career as the schools all-time rebounding leader and third-best scorer. At the NBA level, Kerr s scoring slowed down but he was still a dominant rebounder. 2024 Top Basketball Recruits in Illinois. Nearly two decades before the famed Flying Illini, Nick Conner (left in picture) earned a reputation as one of the most extraordinary leapers in Illinois history. Years later, he signed with the expansion Chicago Packers (now the Wizards), but played in just three games during his NBA career. Team's top player, he can move from guard to forward and score from every level. Son of head coach Ben Isai. The 62 point guard was a fearsome defender, and his career total of 484 assists is seventh-best in program history. After graduating from high school, Winters was accepted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he played varsity basketball from 1982 to 1986. The squad finished the year with a coachs rank of 16, winning the Kentucky Invitational Tournament during the season. Happy travels! Mason Knollmiller, Gilbert Highland, 6-2, Sr. Rank Player Pos Ht / Wt Rating Team. Bouncing in and out of Illinois starting lineup, James Griffins biggest asset was his physical presence. Oakland Fort, Phoenix Sunnyslope, 5-11, Sr. Here are college football's eight best-available players in the transfer portal. Had a breakout summer. Chicago Park District boss defends agreement, Chicago police are investigating if cops had improper sexual contact with immigrants, including allegedly impregnated teen, Dear Abby: Woman doesnt know our father is also her father, Reactions to Northwestern hazing allegations heat up as Pat Fitzgerald remains suspended, Dozens of immigrants moved from police station where officers are being investigated for alleged sexual misconduct, Marina Mabrey doesnt care what anyone thinks, NBA reveals long-awaited plans for in-season tournament that starts in November, White Sox slugger Luis Robert Jr. preparing for Home Run Derby, House music fans celebrate the Chicago-born genre at the Chosen Few picnic, White Sox bats go silent against Cardinals subpar pitching.