North Chicago’s Simpson makes AP all-state
North Chicago’s boys basketball team proved Tuesday it is more than just junior Aaron Simpson.
The 6-foot guard scored only 4 points in the first 22 minutes and 15 seconds of the Warhawks’ 78-66 victory over Crane in the Hoffman Estates Class 3A supersectional. Simpson finished with 12 points on 2-for-6 shooting.
But Simpson’s value to North Chicago and statewide stature were recognized by a panel of media members Wednesday. Simpson was voted second-team all-state in Class 3A by The Associated Press.
Simpson is averaging 22.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4 assists a game and has hit 65 3-pointers this season.
North Chicago coach Gerald Coleman said Simpson’s willingness to defer to his teammates Tuesday — with Maurice Gordon, Jaylen Linson and Marzhon Bryant all scoring 16 points apiece — spoke volumes about his star.
“People don’t understand that Aaron would prefer to get assists and rebounds,” Coleman said of the only junior to make the first or second teams in 3A and 4A. “He gets a bigger kick out of passing the basketball around. He’s happier to score 4 points than to score 20 points.”
The Class 4A first team included four Division I recruits in East Aurora’s Ryan Boatright (Connecticut), Whitney Young’s Sam Thompson (Ohio State), St. Ignatius’ Nnanna Egwu (Illinois) and DeLaSalle’s Mike Shaw (Illinois). Simeon sophomore Jabari Parker is regarded as one of the country’s top players in his class.
The 4A second team is Benet’s Frank Kaminsky (Wisconsin) and David Sobolewski (Northwestern), Mt. Carmel’s Tracy Abrams (Illinois), Crete-Monee’s Jamee Crockett (DePaul) and O’Fallon’s Roosevelt Jones (Butler).
The 3A first team is Morgan Park’s Wayne Blackshear (Louisville), Rock Island’s Chasson Randle (Stanford), Orr’s Mycheal Henry (Illinois), Perspectives’ Anthony Davis (Kentucky) and Peoria Notre Dame’s Max Bielfeldt. Bielfeldt has been getting Division I interest that includes Illinois.
Joining Simpson on the second team were Bartonville Limestone’s Donivine Stewart (Bradley), Rich South’s Macari Brooks (DePaul), Brooks’ George Marshall (Wisconsin) and Lincoln’s Jordan Nelson.
Players receiving 4A honorable mention included Johnny Hill and Zach Miller (Glenbard East), Zach Monaghan (Fremd), Ryan Sawvell (Mundelein), Nick Hofman (Jacobs), Kory Brown (Elgin), Quinton Chievous (Notre Dame), Will Sullivan (York), Abdel Nader (Niles North), Akeem Springs (Waukegan) and Brian Madson (McHenry).
Players receiving 3A honorable mention included Luke Johnson (Wheaton Academy), DaVaris Daniels (Vernon Hills), Mike Dombrowski (Johnsburg), Jake Everly (Marian Central Catholic) and Mike Sutter (Woodstock).
Daily Herald Sports Writer Marty Maciaszek compiles the boys basketball all-state teams for The Associated Press.