This is also a talented group of players produced in the Burbs. Some of these guys played in an era where our State was loaded with talent/players. Those were very special times.
• Quinn Buckner 6-3 PG Thornbridge 1972 Indiana University
“The National player of the year his senior season, led the Falcons to back-to-back State Titles in 1971 (31-1) and 1972 (33-0) arguably one of the finest teams in the state history. Buckner recorded 28 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists in the state final against Quincy 104-69. The 2-sport star won a national title at Indiana in 1976 and was the seventh overall draft pick by Milwaukee the same year. Won a title with Boston in 1984. Remains the talk of the South Suburbs.”
• Kendall Gill 6-5 G Rich Central 1986 University Illinois
“An exhilarating athlete which he displayed during the 1986 State Tournament Final in a 47-40 defeat to King featuring Marcus Liberty and Levertis Robinson. At Illinois Gill was a key member of the flyin’ Illini team that made it to the final in 1989. Chosen fifth overall in the 1990 NBA draft by Charlotte Hornets. Played 15 years in the League. Current television analyst for the Chicago Bulls.”
• Craig Hodges 6-2 G Rich East 1978 Long Beach State
“Legendary status in Park Forest averaged about 25pts a night his senior season, had a good high school career that took him out West to Long Beach State, that’s where he caught the attention of NBA scouts. Hodges was drafted in the 3rd round by the San Diego Clippers. Spent 10 years in the NBA, including two NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls. He won three consecutive three-point contests during All-Star weekend 1990, 1991, and 1992. Coached at Chicago State for several years.”
• Lloyd Batts 6-5 G Thornton 1970 University Cincinnati
“A highly decorated scorer throughout his career, built quite a reputation on the playgrounds in the South Suburbs. He averaged 29 points as a junior and 35 his senior year. Lloyd was a 2-time All-Stater and was named Sun Times player of the year as a senior in 1970. He left Thornton as the all-time leading scorer with over 1,600 points. While at Cincinnati Batts tallied 1,585 career points, was drafted in fourth round by the Kansas-Omaha Kings and the ABA Kentucky Colonels also in the 4th round. Played in the ABA for few years before heading over to play nine seasons in Europe.”
• Rod Higgins 6-7 F Thornton 1978 Fresno State University
“After standout high school career which sort of went un-noticed along city boarders. Rod like Craig Hodges took his game to the West Coast where he blossomed into a star. Higgins was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bulls, he played 13 seasons in the League averaging 9 points and 3.6 rebounds. After his playing days, he served as an Assistant Coach with Golden State until 2000. He re-joined the Warriors in 2004 working in the front office, in 2007 he was hired as the General Manger for the Charlotte Hornets.”
• Eddy Curry 6-10 C Thornwood 2001 Chicago Bulls
“The big fella was man-child in junior high towering over opponents at 6-6. He racked up 32 points and 12 rebounds and went 12 of 14 from the field in the State Final where his Thornwood team was upset by Schaumburg in 2001. That game was often remembered as the biggest upset in state history. Curry amassed 2,118 points, was Mr. Basketball in Illinois and a McDonald All American. He was taken fourth overall in the 2001 draft by the Chicago Bulls, he was selected straight out of high school.”
• Melvin Ely 6-10 C Thornton 1997 Fresno State University
“As a sixth-seventh grader, he was a gangly fella. By the end of his 8th grade year you could see a blossoming six-foot five cager shaping to become one of the best shot-blockers & finishers in the area. To this day we still haven’t seen any big guys swat shots like he did. Ely was a 2-time WAC player of the year at Fresno, played for legendary Coach Jerry Tarkanian. After a stellar Collegiate career, Ely was selected twelfth overall by the LA Clippers in 2002 draft. In the 2006-07 season he was an NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs. Played in the NBA 9 seasons.”
• Jim Ard 6-8 PF Thornton 1966 University Cincinnati
“Was a standout at the South Suburb School that was vastly becoming recognized for producing professional athletes in that era. His senior year he led Thornton to a State Title and was named to the All-State team. Ard was heavily recruited, reportedly over a hundred Colleges offered scholarships. He opted to attend Cincinnati where he became a three-year starter and was named MVC first team honors all three years. His senior season averaged 19.2 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. Dynamite shot-blocker had 10 in one game. Ard, was selected sixth overall in 1970 by Seattle Super Sonics, also the same year he was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in the ABA, where he played 3 seasons. Won an NBA Championship with Boston in 1975. He had an eight-year professional career.”
• Julian Wright 6-8 F Homewood-Flossmoor 2005 University Kansas
“Developed into an electrifying prospect by his junior season where his H.F. squad dropped a State Title game to Peoria Central led by Shaun Livingston in 2004. In 2005 his senior year he was ranked as one of the nations top 10 players and some of us will never forget the performance he put on in South-Bend at the McDonald All-American game, he was breath taking at times. Wright’s freshman season at Kansas averaged 8.5 points per game and was named to the All-Big 12 Tournament team and All-Big 12 freshman team. Sophomore season he was named third team All-American, decided to turn pro, was drafted 13th overall by New Orleans in 2007. Wright is currently playing in Europe and has been since 2012. Played 4 years in the NBA which stuns a lot of us observers.”
• Audie Matthews 6-5 G/F Bloom 1974 University Illinois
“Finished his 3-year varsity career as one of Bloom’s all-time greats as well as one of the finest players to suit-up for the Illini. Audie was a two-time All-Stater, led his team downstate 3 consecutive seasons before moving on to Illinois where he was named the team’s most valuable player his last 2 seasons. He averaged 12.1 points his senior year for his career 11.0. Scored 1,210 points in his College career. Audie started 84 consecutive games for the Illini. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 6th round of the NBA draft.
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