Ilinois HS Hoops Tournament

MadBird

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I've remained a dedicated fan of the Illinois HS basketball tournament long after I moved away. But somehow I missed what has happened this year - there is some change to the way the tournament is being "scheduled" - it starts on a Satuday night, not on Monday/Tuesday? Can anyone explain to me what's up this year? All classes end up at Champaign the same weekend? What . . . . ?
 

Dmills

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No idea what's up with all of that. It is strange that they all end the same weekend. Now that you mentioned it, I just looked at the bracket and saw that if you lose in the state semi finals you have to play later that night in the 3rd place game... BRUTAL.

I am really excited to get out to some games this year as I have not seen much high school basketball since moving down to Bloomington a couple of years ago. A lot of good opportunities to see guys we are recruiting in big games.

In 1A, ISU is hosting the super sectional between the winners of the Streator and Watseka sectionals on Monday (3/7).

In 2A, St. Joseph-Ogden (Ty Pence) potentially plays Tolono Unity on Friday (2/25) in the regional championship at Tolono. Winning that game would set up a very tough matchup against likely El Paso Gridley on Wednesday (3/2) at Clifton central with a potential sectional championship game following on Friday (3/4).

In 3A, Metamora (Ethan Kizer) potentially plays Washington in the regional championship on Friday (2/25), at Peoria Richwoods. These teams had great matchups in the regular season. Metamora has won 11 in a row since losing to Washington and they split the season series in games decided by 4 and 5 points. If they continue to advance, they will play in the Bradley sectional on Tuesday (3/1) and Friday (3/4).

In 4A, Moline (Brock Harding) would play at Minooka in the regional championship on Friday (2/25). The winner of that game would potentially face the winner of Normal Community (Zach Cleveland) and Bradley Bourbonnais (Owen Freeman) who also play on Friday (2/25) at Normal Community. This would set up a matchup in Pekin on Tuesday (3/1) for the sectional semifinals with the sectional championship coming on Friday (3/4) in Collinsville. The winner of this sectional would play in the ISU super sectional on Monday (3/7).

Hoping a few of these local teams and others with guys we are recruiting can make a run and I can see them all in a nice, long weekend in Champaign March 10-12.
 

Dmills

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Trey Redd at Normal Community seems like a very good player. Haven't seen him in person, but he has some nice highlights. 5'11" guard who I hope gets a walk on opportunity at ISU (I doubt it happens). Had 21 points in regional championship tonight. I think he is the second best player on a really good NCHS team. Should be a really good match up at point guard on Tuesday in Pekin vs Brock Harding and Moline.
 

Adunk33

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Trey Redd at Normal Community seems like a very good player. Haven't seen him in person, but he has some nice highlights. 5'11" guard who I hope gets a walk on opportunity at ISU (I doubt it happens). Had 21 points in regional championship tonight. I think he is the second best player on a really good NCHS team. Should be a really good match up at point guard on Tuesday in Pekin vs Brock Harding and Moline.
I coached against Trey Redd when he was in 8th grade. I knew he was gonna be good high school player. That kid was so quick to get to the bucket and kept you honest because he could hit from NBA range if you sagged off.

In fact, I knew that whole class was going to do something great. Cleveland was also in that class along with NCHS starting guard, Crofton Perry. Normal West forward and ISU football commit, Max Ziebarth is in that class too.

The 7th grade Kingsley team that year went to state and are several of them are juniors on the NCHS team. They’ve played a lot of basketball together over the years and are going to make a deep run in the state tournament, if not win the whole thing.
 

Dmills

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I coached against Trey Redd when he was in 8th grade. I knew he was gonna be good high school player. That kid was so quick to get to the bucket and kept you honest because he could hit from NBA range if you sagged off.

In fact, I knew that whole class was going to do something great. Cleveland was also in that class along with NCHS starting guard, Crofton Perry. Normal West forward and ISU football commit, Max Ziebarth is in that class too.

The 7th grade Kingsley team that year went to state and are several of them are juniors on the NCHS team. They’ve played a lot of basketball together over the years and are going to make a deep run in the state tournament, if not win the whole thing.
Looks like Trey just picked up an offer from Maryville University in St. Louis (D2). Good for him.
 

Bird Friend

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Putyrski started following Redd in January. So I know there was at least some interest, but I also was fairly confident that it wouldn't matter since the staff was probably going to be let go.
 

Adunk33

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Putyrski started following Redd in January. So I know there was at least some interest, but I also was fairly confident that it wouldn't matter since the staff was probably going to be let go.
He's probably undersized for a D1 guard. He and Perry both could have success at D2/D3. Perry is a kid that does all of the things that don't show up on the stat sheet. Great defender, make hustle plays, high bbiq. He'd never be the reason a team lost the game.
 

SgtHulka

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Go Orphans.
I Want More GIF
 

Dmills

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Players to watch this weekend as Coach Pedon looks to recruit Illinois harder:

Jaylen Drane (Simeon) 6'1" PG - Class of 2022, holds offers from NIU, Nebraska, Chicago St., Radford, Siena, Western Illinois, and Milwaukee.

Dalen Davis (Whitney Young) 5'11" PG - Class of 2023, holds offers from Illinois, Kansas, Stanford, South Carolina, Nebraska, Western Illinois, and DePaul.

Daniel Johnson (Whitney Young) 6'6" SF - Class of 2023, holds offers from Toledo, Akron, and NIU.

Mekhi Cooper (Bolingbrook) 5'10" PG - Class of 2023, holds offers from Chicago State and Howard.

Richard Barron (Ignatius College Prep) 6'5" - Class of 2023, holds offers from SIU, Loyola, George Mason, Milwaukee, Kent State, and DePaul.

Ethan Kizer (Metamora) 6'6" - Class of 2023, holds offer from Bradley and (maybe) ISU.

Miles Rubin (Simeon) 6'8" - Class of 2023, holds offers from Pacific, SIU, Akron, WIU, and NIU.

Of course, Coach Pedon will most likely not be able to attend (unless he takes a trip if Ohio State loses on Thursday or Friday), but maybe we will have a future assistant there (you never know).
 

RedbirdSoxFan

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Players to watch this weekend as Coach Pedon looks to recruit Illinois harder:

Jaylen Drane (Simeon) 6'1" PG - Class of 2022, holds offers from NIU, Nebraska, Chicago St., Radford, Siena, Western Illinois, and Milwaukee.

Dalen Davis (Whitney Young) 5'11" PG - Class of 2023, holds offers from Illinois, Kansas, Stanford, South Carolina, Nebraska, Western Illinois, and DePaul.

Daniel Johnson (Whitney Young) 6'6" SF - Class of 2023, holds offers from Toledo, Akron, and NIU.

Mekhi Cooper (Bolingbrook) 5'10" PG - Class of 2023, holds offers from Chicago State and Howard.

Richard Barron (Ignatius College Prep) 6'5" - Class of 2023, holds offers from SIU, Loyola, George Mason, Milwaukee, Kent State, and DePaul.

Ethan Kizer (Metamora) 6'6" - Class of 2023, holds offer from Bradley and (maybe) ISU.

Miles Rubin (Simeon) 6'8" - Class of 2023, holds offers from Pacific, SIU, Akron, WIU, and NIU.

Of course, Coach Pedon will most likely not be able to attend (unless he takes a trip if Ohio State loses on Thursday or Friday), but maybe we will have a future assistant there (you never know).
Would have been nice to have Coach Pedon available to be at the State Farm Center to get started on recruiting them.
Does anyone know if any of our staff is still available to recruit until Coach Pedon announces his new staff? Maybe Coach already has his mind set on keeping a couple of the current staff and they will be at the State Farm Center.
 

Dmills

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OSU and Coach Pedon were knocked out of the B1G tournament tonight. According to Benson's tweet, it doesn't sound like he will be on campus until after OSU is eliminated from the NCAA tournament, so I highly doubt he will be in Champaign. He will have some time to recruit in whatever form that will take or hire an assistant.
 

Adunk33

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Coach took in one of the biggest upsets in IHSA history this afternoon with Ethan Kizer's Metamora Redbirds taking down powerhouse Chicago-Simeon.
 

Dmills

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Coach took in one of the biggest upsets in IHSA history this afternoon with Ethan Kizer's Metamora Redbirds taking down powerhouse Chicago-Simeon.
Was an incredible game. I am planning on being down there to see the 3A and 4A championship tomorrow. Metamora played with composure and seem well coached. Very impressed with them stepping up to the challenge.
 

bombay

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Is Simeon down this year or is Metamora that good? I'm aware of Kizer. What kind of record do they have?
 

Dmills

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Is Simeon down this year or is Metamora that good? I'm aware of Kizer. What kind of record do they have?
I'm not an expert, but I believe Simeon was #1 in 3A and #3 or 4 overall in IL which is very impressive.

Metamora has been a very strong team as of late. Their record is up to 30-6, but they've won 18 in a row. Have a good core of solid players, but no ridiculous star power. Schroeder, Tucker, Swanson and Kizer I would consider the Big 4. Kizer is the only one with a D1 offer-a player I really like, but is by no means a super star that will carry a team to the championship in 3A.

Simeon is 28-7 now after losing 2 games this weekend. They had not lost to a team in 3A (their losses are to out of state teams or top ranked teams in 4A-Chicago Curie, Glenbard West, Glenbrook South). Metamora beating Simeon was seen as one of the bigger upsets in State Finals history from what I've been hearing.
 
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bombay

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I'm not an expert, but I believe Simeon was #1 in 3A and #3 or 4 overall in IL which is very impressive.

Metamora has been a very strong team as of late. Their record is up to 30-6, but they've won 18 in a row. Have a good core of solid players, but no ridiculous star power. Schroeder, Tucker, Swanson and Kizer I would consider the Big 4. Kizer is the only one with a D1 offer-a player I really like, but is by no means a super star that will carry a team to the championship in 3A.

Simeon is 28-7 now after losing 2 games this weekend. They have not lost to a team in 3A (their losses are to out of state teams or top ranked teams in 4A-Chicago Curie, Glenbard West, Glenbrook South). Metamora beating Simeon was seen as one of the bigger upsets in State Finals history from what I've been hearing.

Thank you. I appreciate the detailed information.
 
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