The dog ate the Good Mongrel's homework for a few months, but here's some of what is goin' on with some players we've been watching and a few who have caught our attention.
Some links to Hoosier hoop stars:
Hamilton Southeastern's Gary Harris and Pike's Marquis Teague have been having big seasons. Here's a blurb from the Indy Star that mentions a tangle between the two back court standouts as well as Warren Central's 6'6 Devin Davis from the class of 2013. Keep your eyes on this one, Purdue, Indiana, Illinois, Butler, Southern Illinois and others already are. http://blogs.indystar.com/recruitingcentral/2010/02/thursday-notes-1.html
Here's another feature on the sensational Harris who has offers from Illinois, Xavier, and IUPUI already. http://www.indystar.com/article/20100219/SPORTS0203/2190323/1361/SPORTS0615/Hamilton-SE-s-Harris-develops?GID=blZCLvwi/nen5t54w+paRPvco/+sPlwVY2B32tA4zwU%3D
And a third link from the Indy Star which has done an outstanding job covering recruiting the last six months or so. Ohio State recruit and Ft Wayne senior Deshawn Thomas has arguably been the best player in Indiana since the end of his freshman year when Eric Gordon graduated. He has a chance to break Damon Bailey's state scoring record. He has been a big name so long that I think some national guys have taken him for granted. http://www.indystar.com/article/20100113/SPORTS0615/1130352/1361/SPORTS0615/FW-Luers-Thomas-has-chance-to-pass-Bailey-for-scoring-record
Northern Indiana powers Merrillville and Valparaiso collided a few days ago with Merrillville avenging an earlier season loss to Valpo behind a big game from Jeremiah Jones. http://nwitimes.com/sports/high-school/indiana/article_133e6f91-3a2e-563d-96cc-698f55759a45.html
Illinois hoops has been heating up of late as well. Chicago city championship goes to UL recruit and 2011 star Wayne Blackshear who has had an enormous year to date. Blackshear has had several 40+ point games and hit the game winner for his Morgan Park club with 13 seconds left to beat Foreman 61-60 (photo above is from following Sun-Times YS article). http://yourseason.suntimes.com/2059786,021910-morgan-park-marshall-boys-basketball.article
The suburban championship fell to 2010 stars Duje Dukan and Glenbrook North star Alex Dragecevich. Glenbrook defeated Deerfield in this battle between smooth shooting big wings. http://yourseason.suntimes.com/boys_basketball/2059765,021910-glenbrook-north-deerfield-boys.article
Here's a recent Chicagohoops.com profile of 2011 6'8 forward Josh Piper which the Good Mongrel has raved about a time or two in the past. Yale and Ball State are two of the schools in the running for the power forward with the nice mid range jumper. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/joshpiper.html
Another fine update from Chicagohoops has Orr sophomore Jacob Williams considering Xavier, Butler, and Illinois among others. http://www.chicagohoops.com/articles1/jacobwilliams2.html
The Bluegrass State has seen an upsurge in talent for the next couple of years and many (including most of my email friends and comments on this blog) expected defending state champion Ricardo Johnson and Scott County star Ge'lawn Guyn to duel for Mr Basketball, but the Good Mongrel warned that the honor could ultimately fall to Trinity's Josh Sewell and indeed he has had the biggest season of the trio. However, don't sleep on Shelby County and UL walk-on Elisha Justice who has had an enormous season to date. http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100209/SPORTS11/2090365/1078/SPORTS11/Elisha+Justice+preparing+to+be+a+Cardinal
Brackets are set for the state tournament in the Buckeye State. http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/boysbasketball/
Don't forget to check out this article on a great win by Benedictine (Cameron Wright and Derek Jackson) over St Vincent St Mary's (Jakar Sampson). http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/-9120140584922745048/third-quarter-is-difference-as-benedictine-boys-basketball-team-defeats-st-vincent-st-mary/
Devin Oliver continues to come up big for Kalamazoo Central as this article on their victory over Muskegon Heights indicates. http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-9120141584926745044/devin-olivers-renewed-intensity-gives-kalamazoo-central-boost-in-boys-basketball-win-over-muskegon-heights/
