Suburban Sprawl has NFL predraft news and coaching hires
There was a ton of buzz about the Caleb Williams visit with the Bears this week, along with disagreement about which suburban restaurant they dined at.
But Williams wasn’t the only pre-draft visitor. Crystal Lake South grad Trevor Keegan, who started at guard for all three of Michigan’s Big Ten championship and playoff teams, also stopped by Halas Hall this week, according to this Instagram post.
In other pre-draft news, this video went hyper viral last week. It’s Mercer DB Tavion McCarthy with an impressive vertical jump. McCarthy is a 2019 Warren grad.
Here are a couple more videos. The NBA pre-draft camp has had people jump 44 inches, but anything over 40 can be considered elite. Also McCarthy does a standing vertical here, as opposed to the max vertical where you get a step before takeoff.
Coaching changes
A couple of area basketball coaches are heading home. One is Brandon Bailey, who reportedly is joining Chris Holtmann’s staff at DePaul.
Bailey is the Mount Prospect native who attended St. Patrick High School and played for his father, Mike. Bailey went to DePaul and worked as a student manager for women’s coach Doug Bruno and eventually landed a job as coach of the Maine Red Claws in the G-League. He later spent a couple seasons as a Boston Celtics assistant and last year worked with Holtmann at Ohio State.
Another coach with a new job is Carmel grad Kevin Devitt, who landed as an assistant for new UIC coach Rob Ehsan. Devitt is another former DePaul student who worked his way up the coaching ranks and has been an assistant at Roosevelt, UAB, Wright State and Niagara.
Meanwhile, DePaul officially announced the addition of former SIU head coach and Downers Grove South grad Bryan Mullins to Holtmann’s staff.
Shaken and stirred
Prairie Ridge grad Nick Martini has been one of the best hitters in MLB for the Reds. Through Wednesday’s action, he was hitting .333 with 2 home runs and 9 RBI, plus a 1.153 OPS.
Miller from McHenry
Good to see some enterprise reporting going on. According to McHenry High School, Jack Harris from the LA Times stopped by to get the scoop on Bobby Miller, who pitches against the Cubs on Friday.
Getting off the line
Dolan J. Trump is a pro-Knicks parody account, but he’s got a point about Stevenson’s Jalen Brunson getting just six free throws in his 61-point game against San Antonio.
DGS to D2 title
Minnesota State won a thriller in the Division II championship game against Nova Southeastern (Fla.) last week. Here’s the winning basket.
Downers Grove South grad Justin Eagins was Minnesota State’s second-leading scorer in the game with 17 points. Eagins transferred this season after spending four years at Wayne State in Nebraska.
Here he is posing with a fan and the trophy.
College commits
Marmion wrestler Jack Lesher committed to Virginia.
Warren center Alex Daniels pledged to Division II Wisconsin-Parkside.
Conant grad Devon Ellis announced a transfer to Valparaiso. The 6-6 sophomore guard averaged 11.6 points last season for Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Not a commit, but an offer worth mentioning is Downers Grove North QB Owen Lansu getting some interest from Northwestern.
Spring standouts
Fremd’s Emma Odle broke her own school record in the 3000 steeplechase for Augustana and was named CCIW women’s track athlete of the week.
Hersey’s Max Svienty achieved weekly honors from the CCIW after posting the fastest D3 time of 2024 in the 10,000 meters at the Stanford Invitational.
AAU season
Last weekend, there was a Junior EYBL qualifying tournament in Bridgeview. So it was kids who aren’t yet in high school, but high-level competition. In this post, former Bulls guard Jamal Crawford shows he’s just like the rest of us, coaching his kids.
Chris Paul Jr. was another participant.
Looking ahead
Never too early to start thinking about next basketball season. Lake Park announced a new boys event, the DuKane-Mid-Suburban League challenge.
Last column standing
If anyone needs a last look at the remnants of Ryan Field, here it is.