RANDOM BARRAGE

It’s a mystery to many of us how stark our Chicago area has become in terms of producing/developing high-caliber talent. We once carved out a collection of highly touted recruits yearly. Now we brandish a few high-major recruits a year. We’ve encountered some stretches where there has been quite a shortage; just viewing our 2017 & 18 Classes validates my assessment. Despite of our area drought with producing high-major talent, our kids have shown a source of resilience and toughness, especially with big play capabilities they’ve demonstrated these intangibles in recent weeks during national televised games. That day will emerge again where Chicago will be a hot-bed for developing high-major talent resembling the likes of Markelle Fultz (Washington), Josh Jackson (Kansas), Malik Monk (Kentucky), Lauri Markkanen (Arizona), Lorenzo Ball (U.C.L.A.), Dennis Smith (N.C. State). “Nothing’s wrong with a reflective prognosis.”

Player of the year honors our rolling around the corner; my ballot has a vote for two candidates and both have their squad in full contention mode for a state title. My nominees will be Bolingbrook quintessential stand-out Nana Akenten (Nebraska recruit). He has been the front man in the band for a talent-laden cast. Curies’s six foot three jump shooter Elijah Joiner (Tulsa) has been terrific; we saw Joiner put 40 on conference foe Kenwood in what was pegged as a big-time game, but instead Curie walloped the Broncos.