Mid September 2015 Report

Mid September 2015 Report

There is a dark cloud over Chicago that is getting increasingly difficult to ignore.  As the summer comes to a close murders are up 21% in the city from last season.  The school system is mired in a monumental budget crises, there could be 1,500 staff Layoffs, while city estimates a $1.1 billion budget deficit for the next school year.  The mayor is seeking a massive property tax hike to make a $500 million pension payment due to the city’s firefighters and police.  But it’s hard to ignore the grim mayhem weekly in the city streets, violence seems to erupt regularly, “this time someone we knew oh-so close was a victim”, Bogan 2015 graduate Deionte (Tae) Harris was gunned-down Sunday morning (Sept. 20) in an ever dangerous Auburn-Gresham community in the city.  In just another senseless shooting in a neighborhood tainted by a gang war supposedly divided between two separate factions.  Harris was a current member of the Olive Harvey Community College squad.  He was a reserve point-guard on Bogan’s city championship team.  “Tae who he was affectionately known was a popular figure around the Chicago hoop scene.”  Harris’ slaying was sadly another tale of a seemingly endless violence that’s become part of our city’s backdrop.  “You know depravity has hit a new low when dismembered body parts of a toddler was recently discovered in a city park lagoon.”  Police don’t have a clue whom the child might be.  We are not happy about the dark cloud that hovers over our city.  “Tae a great kid will be missed, but never forgotten.”

Mike Deane and James Madison quietly swept through the Kankakee area and nabbed Bradley-Bourbonnais six foot nine inch forward Zach Hollywood, a top 25-30 prospect in the 2016 class, the slender face-up shooter with a smooth game has often been projected to be one of the players in a thin 2016 group that will blossom in the right-setting collegiately.  “I like when programs like James Madison, Old Dominion, Texas-El-Paso, Rice, Washington St, SMU, Central Florida, Bethune can wiz in here and identify untapped talent and sign a kid without over examining him.”  Hollywood is a perfect example.

Last week University of Illinois received some news they’d greatly been awaiting, a commitment from anyone of the 4-star point-guards they have been courting.  A missing piece in a potential potent line-up the last couple of seasons, taking nothing away from Simeon alum and current Illini guard Jaylon Tate.  Te’jon Lucas from Milwaukee Washington H.S. is listed as a 5 foot 11 playmaker.  Lucas had offers from Memphis, Old Dominion, Purdue.  Historians mention Lucas could be the first Wisconsin product to suit-up in an Illini uniform next season in 89 years.

Simeon’s highly senior guard Zach Norvell will be shelved for another three-four weeks with a leg injury.  Oregon, Georgetown, Gonzaga may be where he’s angling.