Orris transfers from Palatine to Crete-Monee

Michael Orris, who was a Daily Herald All-Area boys basketball point guard as a Palatine sophomore, has transferred to Crete-Monee in the far south suburbs.

Palatine coach Eric Millstone said Orris' parents are going to work for a church in Flossmoor in the south suburbs. The 6-foot Orris, who is considered by some recruiting analysts to be a Division I prospect, also was a varsity starter as a freshman.

Orris averaged 9.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game last season for the Pirates.

"We're losing our best player," Millstone said. "But we have a bunch of kids who will run through a brick wall for you.

"I told our kids, 'He's leaving and there are opportunities for you guys to step up and get some playing time.' It will be fun to see what happens and we'll do everything by committee."

Orris will play at Crete-Monee for Matt Ryndak, who was promoted in June from an assistant coaching position. Ryndak was also a head coach at Johnsburg for a year, was an assistant at Leyden and has been an AAU coach.

Ryndak replaced Rocky Hill, who led Crete-Monee to its first conference title in 25 years last season but was not rehired after his dean's job was eliminated by a reduction in force.

Hill had been at Crete-Monee for four years and coached the mid-1990s Thornton teams with Antwaan Randle El and Tai Streets that finished second twice and third once in Class AA to the four-peat title dynasty of Peoria Manual.