“I’ve always found it fascinating as to where our players originate from throughout our state, certain pockets of our state have had lofty traditions of producing top-notch athletes. The Land of Lincoln has pushed out some terrific talent throughout the years, we still do today but not at the clip or caliber of what we were once sprouting out at a high volume.”
• Isiah Thomas 5-11 PG St. Joseph 1979 Indiana University
“Born and raised on the Chicago West Side, had a marvelous high school career at the Westchester School. Thomas, as a junior guided St. Joe’s to the title game in 1978 where they were defeated by unbeaten Lockport team. Thomas led Indiana to an NCAA Championship in 1981 and proceeded to have an illustrious Hall of Fame career with the Detroit Pistons where he won two NBA Championships. Arguably the best player to ever come out of Chicago. He’s an NBA Hall of Famer.”
• Maurice Cheeks 6-1 PG Du Sable 1974 West Texas State
“Grew-up on the Chicago South-Side in the Robert Taylor housing projects. Little known in high school, observers recognized he was a hidden gem after his high school days. He was part of a package with All-City front court player William Dise which led the pair to West Texas State; Dise would eventually transfer to DePaul. Cheeks’ steady all-around floor game caught the attention of the Philadelphia 76ers who drafted him round 2 in 1978. He would go on to play 11 of his 15 seasons with them, he was a 4-time NBA All-Star, and a 5-time all-defensive selection. Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 2018, won a NBA Title with the 76ers in 1983.Current Assistant Coach with Chicago Bulls.”
• Mark Auguirre 6-6 F Westinghouse 1978 DePaul University
“West-side native begin his prolific high school career at Austin High where he first drew attention as a pudgy high-scorer. Transferred to Westinghouse his sophomore year, his play soared by his senior season, he was consensus national player of the year and a McDonald’s All-American selection in 1978. His Westinghouse squad lost to Isiah Thomas and St. Joe’s 63-60 in the 1978 quarterfinals. Aguirre enjoyed a stellar career at DePaul, received National All-American honors and was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the No.1 pick in 1981. Played 13 years in the NBA, 3-time All-Star won 2 Championships back-to-back with Detroit.”
• Cazzie Russell 6-5 WF Carver 1962 University of Michigan
“Altgeld Gardens finest; In 1962 he was named the Chicago Sun-Times boys’ player of the year. Cazzie led carver to second place finish in the State Tournament that year. He averaged over 30 pts a game. A three-time College All-American averaged 30.8 points per game his senior year, finished his collegiate career 2,164 points. 1966 Russell was the overall No.1 pick in the NBA draft. Spent twelve seasons in the NBA, won a Championship with the New York Knicks in 1970.”
• Terry Cummings 6-9 PF Carver 1979 DePaul University
“A bruising front-court scorer & rebounder on the high school circuit, his senior season at Carver scouts started to take notice of Terry’s overwhelming potential. He attracted the attention of DePaul’s coaching staff, he went on to achieve first team All-American status in 1982 after 3 seasons with the Blue Demons, that same year he was the second overall pick by the San Diego Clippers. Terry won NBA rookie of the year award after the 1982-83 season and would play in the 1985 and 1989 NBA All-Star games. Played in the League for 18 years, we don’t see many players in Chicago similar to him these days.”
• Ricky Green 6-0 PG Hirsch 1973 University Michigan
“A South-Side heart-throb, the speedster teamed with big-man John Robinson to lead Hirsch to a State Championship his senior year. The Huskies sped pass New Trier East 65-51, finishing the season with a 29-2 mark. Green, along with Robinson, led Michigan to the NCAA Title game in 1976 where they lost to a really good Indiana University team led by South Suburb native Quinn Buckner. Green, was named first team All-American in 1977 and was selected in the first round of the NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors. Ricky played 12 years in the League and was selected to the NBA All-Star team in 1984.”
• Eddie Johnson 6-7 F Westinghouse 1977 University Illinois
“West-Sider was instrumental in helping Westinghouse gain basketball relevance during that time, they captured the 1977 City Title. That team included NBA standout Mark Aguirre and highly touted guard Skip Dillard; they formed a potent high-scoring line-up. Johnson was already recognized as a dangerous long-distance shooter back then; he was named second team parade All-American his senior year 1977. He would go on to have a solid Collegiate career at Illinois and was drafted by the Kansas City Kings in 1981. Johnson played 17 seasons in the NBA. He accumulated 19,202 career points. In 1989 he won the NBA sixth man of the year award. Johnson is currently a color commentator for Phoenix Suns and Arizona State Men’s Basketball as well as the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.”
• Hersey Hawkins 6-4 G Westinghouse 1984 Bradley University
“West-Side native was a center/post player in high school, was little known back then but was discovered under the watchful eye of Dick Versace & the late Tony Barone. In 1988 he won NCAA player of the year, Hawkins played four seasons at Bradley, went on to capture consecutive Missouri Valley player of the year awards. He averaged 36.3 points per game leading the country in scoring his senior season. The Los Angeles Clippers selected him sixth overall in the 1988 draft, but his rights were traded to the 76ers. Hawkins played 13 seasons and was selected 1991 All-Star game. Arguably one of the best to come out of the Chicago Public League.”
• Juwan Howard 6-9 F Vocational 1991 University of Michigan
“South Side product became the first basketball player that gained national recognition from a school that notably produced football players such as, Hall of Famer Dick Butkus and Keenan Turner of the 49ers. Howard was the first team parade All American and was selected to the prestigious McDonald All-American game. At Michigan he became a pivotal fixture with the Famed Fab 5. He was a third team All American in 1994 and played in the NCAA Championship game in 1992 and 1993. Howard was drafted fifth overall in the 1994 draft by the Washington Bullets, he had an NBA playing career that spanned 18 seasons, he was selected to the NBA All Star game in 1996. Won 2 NBA Championships with Miami Heat in 2012 & 2013. Current Coach at his Alma Mater Michigan year two.
• Maurice “Bo” Ellis 6-9 F Parker 1973 Marquette University
“Outstanding high school career prepped in the nearby Hamilton Park neighborhood, was a first team parade All-American in 1993. He also performed in one of the very first Dapper Dan Classic’s in Pittsburgh. Averaged over 20 points per game his senior year at Parker High. At Marquette he played on some really talented teams and was a third team All-American his senior year while going on to win NCAA National Championship in 1977. Was selected by the Washington Bullets with the 17th pick in 1977 draft, played 3 seasons in the League with the Denver Nuggets. Bo, a Chicago favorite son coached at Marquette from 1988-1998 and then would move on to become the Head Coach at Chicago State from 1998-2003. His No.31 is retired at Marquette.”
• Derrick Rose 6-2 G Simeon 2007 University Memphis
“His athletic package in high school was amazing. He will eventually crack the top 5 or 6 to ever lace’em up from the windy city. His hoops lore isn’t complete yet, Rose is in his 12th season & still scripting his legacy. He was named the State’s Mr. Basketball and McDonald All-American in 2007. He was No.1 overall draft pick in 2008 by his hometown team Chicago Bulls, currently playing in Detroit. In 2011 at age 22 he won the League MVP, becoming the youngest player to win League MVP in history.”
• Anthony Davis 6-10 F Perspectives Charter 2011 University Kentucky
“South-side native burst on the scene before the start of his senior year at the little-known school- Perspective. His play at the Nike Peach Jam propelled him to the No.1 player in the country which landed him an invite to the McDonald All-American game. Anthony averaged 32 points, 22 rebounds, & 7 blocks his senior year. Freshmen year at Kentucky, Davis was named Naismith/Wooden player of the year, he swept all the post season awards after Kentucky won the National Championship. New Orleans Hornets selected him as the No.1 pick in 2012. Davis is still carving out his legacy, he probably will go down as the finest talent produced out of Chicago. He just won NBA Title with the Los Angeles Lakers a couple of months ago.”
• Quentin Richardson 6-5 G/F Whitney Young 1998 De Paul University
“I will always have a bias opinion of where this productive standout looms among the greatest players to come out of our state in any era. In my 45+ years of watching high school hoops, I still have not witnessed very many young cats dominate a game the way Q. Rich did. He was a monster to contain inside and would go outside and spray defenders with his sweet jumper. One memorable night at Hales Franciscan in his sophomore year at a Thanksgiving Championship game versus a South Shore team that featured high jumping senior Paul McPherson (future draft pick of the Phoenix Suns) Richardson recorded 38 points & 22 rebounds in a Whitney Young Victory, after that outing I knew this kid was on his way to something special. He was clearly named most valuable player of that Tournament. Q. Rich won a State Championship in 1998, in 4 games he scored 86 points including 32 points & 16 rebounds in a quarterfinal win against Elgin. Then he had a stellar performance at the McDonald All-American game. Freshman year at DePaul he was Conference USA player of the year, after sophomore season in 2000 he was drafted No.18 overall by the LA Clippers. Q. won the 2005 NBA three-point shootout, played 13 seasons in the NBA.”
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