Suburban Sprawl follows the path from Libertyville to G-League finals
With March Madness complete, the nation can give its full focus to the G-League finals, which feature the Maine Celtics against the Oklahoma City Blue.
That means Libertyville grad Drew Peterson, a Celtics two-way player, is one of the participants. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds in Maine’s Game 1 victory on Tuesday. The Celtics can clinch the best-of-three series by winning Thursday’s Game 2.
It was party time in Portland when Maine beat the Long Island Nets for the Eastern Conference championship. Peterson (No. 13) averaged 16.1 points and 7.3 rebounds during the regular season. He finished his college career at USC.
Invisible sun
Before dropping 45 points on the Bulls, Jalen Brunson produced this piece of social media comedy with Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.
A brighter future
Washington Wizards forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., who grew up in Evanston before moving to Milwaukee for high school, is getting more playing time late this season.
Chip off old block
Remember when Derrick Rose’s son P.J. became a meme after joining his dad for some playoff podium time? Now P.J. is hooping in Memphis.
Bears check local talent
According to this report, the Bears took a look at Willowbrook grad Scott Tumilty this week. He was a three-year starting QB at St. Francis in Joliet, though his last season was cut short after five games.
Matt Bowen, the Glenbard West grad and football coach at IC Catholic, mentioned North Central WR DeAngelo Hardy (Lakes) in this ESPN draft preview...
Coaching hire
Larkin grad Corry Irvin was named the coach at Chicago State. She won three high school state titles as coach of Whitney Young.
European football
Former North Central running back Ethan Greenfield (Lakes) landed an overseas job with the Helsinki Roosters, who start their season in May. Greenfield won the Gagliardi Trophy as the best player in Division III in 2022.
Willowbrook grad Carter Ferguson went on a European tour with AFW Elite to Italy and Switzerland.
Soccer returns to Wrigley
Some of us old-timers remember when the Chicago Sting used to play home games at Wrigley Field. The Red Stars will bring back the tradition with a game at Wrigley on June 8
Cougars to Cicadas
Since we’re closing in on another independent minor-league baseball season, the Kane County Cougars announced a timely uniform theme...
Spring hoops tip-off
AAU basketball season is getting underway and here’s one to keep an eye on: Warren’s Jaxson Davis and Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson were both named first-team all-state as freshmen this winter. Now they’re playing together with MeanStreets.
Rolling Meadows senior-to-be Ian Miletic put up some highlights for Illinois Wolves last weekend. Some great players got their start in that Homestead High School field house in Wisconsin.
Bartlett freshman Joey Cwik got a shoutout from RecruitLook.
Swing and a haircut
Not sure what’s going on here with Prospect grad Kyle Odeshoo, but according to Harper College, he went 3-for-3 with 4 RBI on this day against Kennedy-King.
Coaching milestones
Grayslake Central baseball coach Troy Whalen reached 500 wins this week.
Meanwhile, Bill Angelo of Elgin Community College reached the 800-win mark.
Spring standouts
Glenbard East’s Lindsey Novak was named CCIW track athlete of the week after winning the 400 meters at the Chicagoland Championships. She’s also part of a nationally ranked 400-meter relay team.
The Michigan Daily wrote a feature story on softball pitcher Lauren Derkowski from York.
Former Mundelein OF Daniel Pacella is hitting .354 with 6 home runs for Illinois State this spring...
College commits
York QB Sean Winton accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Northwestern. He originally committed to Dayton.
Glenbrook North LB/TE Raj Selvaraj is headed to Illinois Wesleyan.
Grayslake Central’s Jayden Hall to College of Lake County for basketball.
New coaches
Some new coach hires came across the timeline. Mike Brown will take over the storied Fremd boys basketball program from Bob Widlowski.
Conant announced Greg Grana (a Palatine grad) as its new boys basketball coach.
Mundelein announced Johnny Cowhey as its new football coach.
Catch the Fever
Finally, here’s a sign of the times. The Indiana Fever, which is expected to draft Iowa’s Caitlyn Clark with the No. 1 pick in Monday’s WNBA Draft, will have a large number of national TV games this summer.