Famed St. Joseph Coach Gene Pingatore passed away last week at the age 83 just days after coaching his squad at the Riverside-Brookfield shoot-out (June 21st-23rd). The legendary coach/father figure was to embark on his 51st season. Pingatore, the state’s all-time winningest coach with a record of 1,035-383, added two state championships to his illustrious 50-year career. “I will always cherish some of the moments I shared with coach, particularly the first time I met him in March 1992, the excitement & enthusiasm I had will never be forgotten. He is and always will be remembered as a very special man.
Our area lost two legendary figures in one week, Tony Barone, a hardnose tough Chicago native who carved out a stellar career as a high-school & college coach before arriving with the Memphis Grizzlies for 11 years including as an Assistant Coach and Interim Head-Coach. Barone was often recognized as a jolly Italian man who was well respected and highly regarded throughout College and pro-basketball world. “While in College at SIU, I became quite familiar with Coach Barone when he was Assistant at Bradley (1982-83) working for his good pal Dick Versace. I remember those fashionable red plaid pants he wore then.” Coach will be missed.
Chicago Bogan just came off an exhilarating week where they captured the Riverside-Brookfield Summer League on Monday. Capped that with an impressive 61-49 victory over Joliet West in the title game of the Morris shoot-out on Thursday (6/27/19), then on Sunday knocked-off three out of State champs from Nebraska, Florida, and Missouri to win the Chicagoland Summer Showcase in Rockford, IL with a 71-55 victory over St. Louis Vashon. Junior point-guard Darrion Jones tallied 27 points and senior 6-8 forward Tremear Fraley recorded 17 markers to go with a double-digit figure in rebounds. Jones has begun to come into his own as terror at both ends of the floor. His game has started to resemble the likes of former Public League standouts Tim Hardaway, Ronald Minter, Stephon Butler, just to name a few. D.J. has bursted on the scene this summer with his recent play as a high-major recruit, with true leadership ability. He is now considered a top 10-12 ranked player in a talented 2021 Class.
Cary Grove’s un-heralded forward Frank Jakubicek decided swiftly where he wanted to attend College. The six-foot eight rising prospect announced his plans to attending Belmont, a Program reportedly liked from the very beginning of the recruiting process. Kudos to him.
It was gleeful to see some new coaches at helm taking over some Programs that needed to be ignited with new energy at those respective schools. Steve Parham will provide a new beginning at Chicago Julian, while Dana Morgan has taken over at Alton H.S. down in the metro east area of Southern Illinois. Durrell Robinson will head home to Danville, leaving Pontiac where his stay was brief.
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