NOTEWORTHY

Our state’s top two players Ayo Dosunmu out of Morgan Park and Simeon’s Talen Horton-Tucker has slimmed their list of schools significantly. Ayo has Illinois and Wake Forest down to the wire. Horton-Tucker, fresh-off a recruiting visit to Iowa State this past weekend and has a remaining short list comprised of Georgia Tech, Illinois, Ohio State, St. Louis, and Xavier. It’s un-likely the pair would land in Illini Country together; in fact, Dosunmu might be a safe bet for Champaign.

One of our area’s best kept secrets looms with former Dunbar H.S. stand-out and current St. Louis U. Assistant Will Bailey. He went about his craft quietly with 13 years under his belt, and stops at University Alabama-Birmingham, Chicago State, where he spent a year under Chicago legend Bo Ellis, one year at Maine, and 6 seasons at LaSalle, now enters year two with Travis Ford at SLU. Will, clearly has carved out an exceptional career in coaching, while rising from the south-side Fuller Park neighborhood. Will has made little fanfare in his pursuit of Simeon’s highly sought Horton-Tucker, in which St. Louis stands to be the dark horse out of the six schools still present. Bailey’s rise through the coaching ranks definitely didn’t catch many of us by surprise. A former Illinois Warrior and one of my all-time favorites was always prepared and equipped with a calming presence. He has the necessary make-up to have a long successful career in the business.

Northern Illinois scored a coup when they received a huge commitment from Justin Lee a 6’8” wing forward out of Collins Hill High-School in Atlanta, GA. Lee, suited-up with the Georgia stars summer program had notable offers from Memphis, James Madison, LaSalle, and North Florida. Mark Montgomery and his staff continue to add the necessary parts to his program where he can compete for a MAC conference title year and year out. We envision the Huskies with a NCAA Tournament berth nearing.

Out-side of Chicago State’s lengthy track record of recruiting Chicago Public athletes. Present Loyola-Chicago Coach Porter Moser has sustained a splendid mark with recruiting Public League stand-outs. He currently has on his roster Dante Ingram (Simeon) slated to be a 1st or 2nd team pre-season All-Conference pick. Freshman Lucas Williamson who hails from Whitney Young will be counted on this season to play significant minutes. Moser, just graduated Marshall H.S. star Milton Doyle in May, now Doyle has landed a spot in the NBA’s developmental casting called, The G League. During Moser’s Illinois State Days he recruited Osiris Eldridge a 6’3” guard from Phillips H.S. While at St. Louis U. Porter had the luxury of plucking away under-rated guard Mike McCall from Foreman H.S. Those are certainly some worthy credits Moser can always refer to whenever he encounters a PL talent he needs for his program. Kudos to him?