Good neighbor policy makes Rappaport a center of attention

It's been said that good fences make good neighbors.

Josh Rappaport might argue that his neighborhood is a bit different.

He says that he's got great neighbors because they've got good driveways for basketball. And, on top of that, they let him play basketball on their hoops whenever he wants.

"We don't have a good driveway for basketball. It's too slanty," Rappaport said of his own property. "So I just go across the street to play in my neighbors' driveways.

"Especially if it's nice, I'll be out there for hours."

Even when the neighbors aren't home?

"Yep," Rappaport said. "I'd rather be out there playing with someone, but if no one is around, I'll just go out there and shoot by myself."

So, mi hoop-a es su hoop-a in Rappaport's neighborhood?

He says yes, that the neighbors have always been extremely welcoming and generous.

Of course, the neighbors also have somewhat of a vested interest in seeing Rappaport practice long and hard on the hoops in their driveways so that he can better his game.

The Murphy and Brocious families have sons - Matt and Steve, respectively - who play basketball with Rappaport at Grayslake Central. It stands to reason that a well-trained Rappaport likely means a much better experience on the hardwood for their sons.

The 6-foot-4 Rappaport, a bruising, offensive-minded center and relentless rebounder who also has a soft shooting touch and range from 3-point land, is the ringleader of a Grayslake Central team that has been one of the hottest teams in Lake County this season.

After having lost three of their first four games, the Rams have won 15 of their last 17 and 10 straight. They'll all but wrap up their second Fox Valley Fox Division title in three years if they defeat league rival Johnsburg tonight for the second time this season.

In Grayslake Central's 65-59 victory over Johnsburg on Jan. 20, Rappaport rolled up a team-high 19 points and 8 rebounds. He's averaging 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game on the season.

"Josh is really the center of that team because he can do so many things and he can beat you in so many different ways," said Grayslake North coach Todd Grunloh, who first saw Rappaport play as an eighth grader and has become all too familiar with his game over the years. "This kid is the epitome of someone who just made himself into a really good basketball player. I've heard about how you can drive by where he lives and see him outside playing basketball in the driveway, like every single day.

"A lot of the way he is as a player today is just him wanting to be good."

Rappaport wasn't always as good as he wanted to be.

He was promoted to the varsity as a sophomore two years ago, and his eyes were opened wide to the lack of playing time.

"I played about five minutes per game that year," Rappaport said. "It was a lot of watching and I had never really sat before.

"It was frustrating. I remember during the games, all I would think about was ways I could get myself into the game. I decided that I really needed to work harder. I loved playing basketball (out in the driveway) but I knew I needed to do more in the weight room and things like that."

So Rappaport got serious. He hired a personal trainer and started working his body hard.

"I did more in that off-season than I had ever done before. I lifted, I played AAU all year long, not just in the spring. I did a complete 180."

Rappaport came back the next fall bigger, stronger and with an even better skills set.

His evolution couldn't have been timed any better.

In November, just a few games into the 2008-09 season, teammate Andrew Sipes, a three-year varsity starter and the Rams' go-to player, went down with a season-ending knee injury. Suddenly, the Rams needed a leader.

Rappaport seamlessly filled that spot, averaging 14 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season as a junior.

It's been a steep learning curve for him ever since.

"I think one of the biggest things that has happened for Josh is that the game has slowed down for him a lot," Grayslake Central coach Brian Moe said. "When he was a sophomore, he was going 100 miles an hour. But now, he's gotten so much more confident and he's worked on his conditioning and his strength. He just has a better idea of what's going on around him and he's able to play at a speed that is comfortable for him."

But Rappaport will have to adjust again next year.

He's hoping to play basketball in college and he's looking hard at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wis. It's one of the best Division III programs in the country.

Mike Brumm, who was Grayslake Central's point guard last season, is now playing at St. Norbert.

"I visited Brumm in the fall and I really liked it," Rappaport said. "They've been sending me a lot of stuff and I think they're up to No. 9 in the country right now. I think I could play a role there.

"I would prefer to do what I'm doing now and mostly attack inside, but, at my size, I'll also probably have to shoot outside more. I'm going to have to keep working on my outside shot."

The neighborhood hoops beckon yet again.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com