Pantagraph story about B-N offers

TBS_20

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i dont know but by the time they start college its likely 2 of them will be at least 6'10'. We cant let two 6'10' local kids get away
 

Adunk33

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The '24 class has the most talent in recent memory. It's been a long time since there's been 4 D1 players coming out of the intercity.

As mentioned in the article, last year's NCHS team was senior-lead by Trey Redd (Maryville), Zach Cleveland (Liberty), Famious French (Independence), Crofton Perry, and Tyler Dwinal. All these kids played together for a long time and ate most of the minutes. NCHS was a lot of fun last year, they were the definition of TEAM. This year will be the chance for the '24 class to lead the way. The '23 class has some talent, but not like the '24. Webber, Cleveland and Roman should all be day 1 starters this year.

I only saw Central Catholic play a couple times last year before the turn of the new year and he didn't jump out. But, that was very early in the season. So, he's had all spring and summer to continue to develop and I look forward to seeing them this year.

If you have the time/desire and are local, I highly recommend attending the State Farm Holiday Classic the next few years. It's the week between xmas and new years. It's a big tournament that has large school (NCHS) and small school (cchs) divisions. There will be a lot of players actively being recruited by ISU. I've gone for quite a few years and it was rare to see any of the old staff at the games.

Here's just a few players being recruited that will likely be in town for the tournament:
'23
Committed: Ty Pence - St. Joe Ogden
Offered: Ethan Kizer - Metamora
Committed Elsewhere: Macaleab Rich- E. St. Louis

'24
Offered: Cole Certa - CCHS
Offered: Jaheem Webber - NCHS
Offered: Noah Cleveland - NCHS
Offered: Braylon Roman - NCHS
Offered: Calvin Robins - Chicago Kenwood
 

DannyCooksey

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Bird Friend

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The '24 class has the most talent in recent memory. It's been a long time since there's been 4 D1 players coming out of the intercity.

As mentioned in the article, last year's NCHS team was senior-lead by Trey Redd (Maryville), Zach Cleveland (Liberty), Famious French (Independence), Crofton Perry, and Tyler Dwinal. All these kids played together for a long time and ate most of the minutes. NCHS was a lot of fun last year, they were the definition of TEAM. This year will be the chance for the '24 class to lead the way. The '23 class has some talent, but not like the '24. Webber, Cleveland and Roman should all be day 1 starters this year.

I only saw Central Catholic play a couple times last year before the turn of the new year and he didn't jump out. But, that was very early in the season. So, he's had all spring and summer to continue to develop and I look forward to seeing them this year.

If you have the time/desire and are local, I highly recommend attending the State Farm Holiday Classic the next few years. It's the week between xmas and new years. It's a big tournament that has large school (NCHS) and small school (cchs) divisions. There will be a lot of players actively being recruited by ISU. I've gone for quite a few years and it was rare to see any of the old staff at the games.

Here's just a few players being recruited that will likely be in town for the tournament:
'23
Committed: Ty Pence - St. Joe Ogden
Offered: Ethan Kizer - Metamora
Committed Elsewhere: Macaleab Rich- E. St. Louis

'24
Offered: Cole Certa - CCHS
Offered: Jaheem Webber - NCHS
Offered: Noah Cleveland - NCHS
Offered: Braylon Roman - NCHS
Offered: Calvin Robins - Chicago Kenwood
The closest I can remember is class of 1976. Randy Smithson (ISU), Joe Galvin(ISU), and John Mann (GA Tech) all went D1, Lance Jones went to EIU, but had an offer from Weber St come to him after he told EIU he was coming there. Smithson, Mann, and Jones were at NCHS; Galvin was at BHS.
 

radik

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This is awesome
My son played basketball with Jaheem, soccer with Certa, and I have seen 3 of the 4 play multiple times. Jaheem was dunking as an eighth grader at Bloomington, big kid, raw athlete, and needed to work on his footwork and being more than “bigger and stronger” than everyone. He has worked hard and made a lot of those jumps. He could be really solid with another two years of development.

Certa can shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot. He works hard on his game, has gotten better every year, is smart, and could be a great Zeisloft or Skipp comparison type player.

Cleveland is big and for sure has the pedigree. I have always felt like he hasn’t yet scratched the surface of his potential, looking forward to seeing where he goes now that he steps out of the shadows and is surrounded with multiple players with serious talent.

All in all, would love to get any of these kids. These aren’t just your typical central illinois type kids.

And there is another one (in my opinion) who is supppppper solid at Bloomington and I would love to see us offer in Craig Newsome (aka “Nico”). That kid had D1 written on him in junior high. Soooo talented and smooth, great body control. I have not seen him play in the last year, but I hear he has kept the same path going.

Some solid kids around here in Blo No right now.
 

WSpringsBird

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My son played basketball with Jaheem, soccer with Certa, and I have seen 3 of the 4 play multiple times. Jaheem was dunking as an eighth grader at Bloomington, big kid, raw athlete, and needed to work on his footwork and being more than “bigger and stronger” than everyone. He has worked hard and made a lot of those jumps. He could be really solid with another two years of development.

Certa can shoot and shoot and shoot and shoot. He works hard on his game, has gotten better every year, is smart, and could be a great Zeisloft or Skipp comparison type player.

Cleveland is big and for sure has the pedigree. I have always felt like he hasn’t yet scratched the surface of his potential, looking forward to seeing where he goes now that he steps out of the shadows and is surrounded with multiple players with serious talent.

All in all, would love to get any of these kids. These aren’t just your typical central illinois type kids.

And there is another one (in my opinion) who is supppppper solid at Bloomington and I would love to see us offer in Craig Newsome (aka “Nico”). That kid had D1 written on him in junior high. Soooo talented and smooth, great body control. I have not seen him play in the last year, but I hear he has kept the same path going.

Some solid kids around here in Blo No right now.
Really interesting. Thanks for the insight!
 

leeno33

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The '24 class has the most talent in recent memory. It's been a long time since there's been 4 D1 players coming out of the intercity.
Not all in the same class, but the mid 2000's was a pretty good period for intercity basketball.

Bloomington: Dodie Dunson, Brandon Holtz, Justin Bocot, D'Mitri Riggs, Lonnie Lawerence (D2)
CC: Aaron Garriot (started D1), Brandon Dunson

I don't remember who all was on the other teams during that timespan. This is just who I can think of off the top of my head. I know there were also some D1 football players during that period who were also good basketball players.
 

The Beak

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I think this foursome was in the same class in the late 1980s: Ron Curry at BHS (Arizona, Marquette), Barry Johnson at U-High (EIU), Dan Cox and Todd Kagel at NCHS (ISU).
 

Negril03

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Well I have a little bit of insight here as my son is a Jaheem Webber. Been watching these kids play for a long time and this is the most talented group of kids from the Twin Cities in years! Saw Cole put up 47 against Kingsley who featured Braylon, Jaheem and Noah back in eighth grade, Kingsley pulled off the win! Noah, Cole and Jaheem all played for the Illinois Wolves in the under armor association circuit. They all had special years this spring and summer. Braylon played for mid pro academy and was one of the best point guards on the NY2LA circuit. Also let’s not forget about Nico Newsom from Bloomington who is definitely a D1 caliber player. He played for the Mac Irving Fire this past spring and summer . Been amazing watching these kids since they were babies! Pedon has been awesome so far, he really really wants these kids and he’s going to really push them to stay home!
 

Adunk33

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Well I have a little bit of insight here as my son is a Jaheem Webber. Been watching these kids play for a long time and this is the most talented group of kids from the Twin Cities in years! Saw Cole put up 47 against Kingsley who featured Braylon, Jaheem and Noah back in eighth grade, Kingsley pulled off the win! Noah, Cole and Jaheem all played for the Illinois Wolves in the under armor association circuit. They all had special years this spring and summer. Braylon played for mid pro academy and was one of the best point guards on the NY2LA circuit. Also let’s not forget about Nico Newsom from Bloomington who is definitely a D1 caliber player. He played for the Mac Irving Fire this past spring and summer . Been amazing watching these kids since they were babies! Pedon has been awesome so far, he really really wants these kids and he’s going to really push them to stay home!
Really interesting insight! Thanks for sharing! I was an assistant coach on the 8th grade Kingsley team when these guys were in 6th grade. You could see talent from talent early on from the ones on the squad. The 7th grade team went to State that year (class of '23).
 
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