FORMER PUBLIC LEAGUERS

Former Illinois Assistant Paris Parham (Dunbar Alum) has joined Pat Baldwin’s staff at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Baldwin’s departure from Northwestern gave our 2021 Class a huge jolt. His son Patrick Baldwin Jr. will obviously leave the area costing the highly publicized group its No. 1 prospect. “Oh-well”-also joining P.B. staff will be Milwaukee native Terrence McGee, who spent the last 5 seasons at Southern Illinois. Well traveled lately, Assistant Emmanuel Dildy (King Alum) will head over to Valparaiso after a one year stint at Mizzou. Dildy, linking-up with New Trier Alum Matt Lottich will likely reap huge dividends in recruiting the Chicago area’s top players. The Pat Baldwin-Paris Parham tandem will be fun & immediately effective on the local scene as well. Former Wright-State Head-Coach Bill Donlon was hired at Northwestern replacing P.B. Donlon, a Glenbrook North Alum is a long-time chum of Wildcat Coach Chris Collins, also a GBN Grad.

Morgan Park’s talented combo guard Lamond Johnson has departed the South-Side school; he will head to Las Vegas where he will enroll in Trinity Prep. Johnson a punishing athlete leaves the 2019 Class where he was regarded as a Top 12-15 prospect. Nick Irvin’s Program on-the-heels, of losing Johnson, had prized sophomore Nimari Burnett leave for Fresno, California. Nimari, was listed as the No. 3 player in our talented 2020 crop. Then rumors have started to swirl that 6-8 sophomore Shon Robinson might leave for Don Houston’s Program at Hillcrest. “That’s three quality youngsters leaving the Morgan Park, that’s if Robinson departs!” Uplift’s talented 2019 Guard Markese Jacobs will likely return to the North-Side school, instead of heading out West with his brother to Phoenix. The Kansas commit with high-flying ability registers in as a Top 10 prospect in the 2019 Class. We are excited he’s staying put!

We recently caught a show Belleville West’s talented Junior E.J. Liddle had on display at the once prestigious Morris shoot-out. At six foot seven he can do a little of everything well on the hardwood. He’s such a terrific passer & scores in a variety of ways. Liddle, hoops for the St. Louis based Bradley Beal Program & suits-up with the 17-U squad. We envision the No. 2 prospect in the 2019 Class landing a spot on the McDonald All-American team in “19”. His recruiting has Missouri, Illinois, St. Louis, Iowa St., DePaul, and Kansas St. trust that he isn’t going very far.

Romeoville’s six foot seven senior Dontia Johnson has recorded some intriguing outings at UIC & DePaul camp recently. We at the Spot-Liter has listed the wiry wing as a Top 60 prospect, but his status could be much loftier. Dontia’s enormous wing span allows him to make difficult plays look easy. A versatile performer we envision one day being able to defend multiple positions. He’s raw fundamentally, but might likely be a Prep-School candidate. After such a stint he could be a rising talent down-the-road. Johnson, plays with the hoops for health program, which will play in Romeoville during the evaluation period.

Proviso East, a school with rich hoops tradition has sent numerous players to the NBA, has a budding star on the horizon in six foot three guard Quinlan Bennett. A lethal explosive scorer who thrives in the open floor. He also possesses a rapidly improving mid-range jumper. A cagey performer, who plays within his abilities, doesn’t try to do too much. He played well at the DePaul team camp. We were alerted on his talents in the spring by Bradley Assistant Coach Jimmy Foster. Bennett, is certainly a Top 12-15 prospect in our 2018 Class. American conference Valley & probably Big East schools should follow him. He hoops with Kessel Heat Group. “He’s a sleeper.” “This dude is bad,”- Dachaun Anderson a six foot five junior at Chicago Leo, we had not seen him since last fall at Dinos Pango Event. Anderson competes at a high-level as he illustrated at DePaul’s team camp recently. He’s skilled with a nice shooting touch; you can see his game evolving into a wing threat. Dachaun, supposeably has switched club teams & will hoop with Mean Streets. He’d been suiting-up with the Mac Irving Fire. He is now listed as a Top 15 prospect in the 2019 class at least on our grid. A 10, Valley, American, Conference USA, Mac, & Horizon Conferences should follow him.

Silver quick point-guard Maurice Commander has helped his stock with several stellar outings in recent events. The lefty transfer from Marist has opened my eyes & many others with his developing floor game. He demonstrated shrewd play-making ability at the Spot-Lite July Tune-Up. Played un-selfish and was deadly from mid-range. Definitely a Top 25-30 prospect in 2018 Class.