LaTulip blossoms as Prospect thumps Proviso E.
If opposing teams haven't heard much about Prospect junior Joe LaTulip yet, it's likely that they're about to soon.
The 5-foot-9 point guard hit 3 of 6 shots from 3-point range and scored a season-high 19 points on Friday afternoon as the Knights defeated Proviso East 78-46 at St. Charles East's Thanksgiving tournament.
Prospect (2-1) plays at 6 p.m. Saturday in the tournament's third-place game.
"Tonight was, hands down, Joe Tatulip's coming out party," Knights coach John Camardella said. "I challenged him so hard before the game - I said, 'This is the type of pressure that really determines what type of point guard you are.' "
LaTulip, who averaged 12 points as Prospect split two tournament games with St. Joseph and St. Charles East, hit a 3-pointer in the opening minutes of the second quarter that sparked a 20-6 run to end the first half.
LaTulip is making 40 percent (8-of-20) from long range this season.
"I'm a lot more comfortable and a lot more confident," said Latulip, who made 8 of 13 field goals. "With all the juniors coming up, we all have so much chemistry, which makes it so much easier for me and all my teammates."
The seniors were pretty good, too, as the Knights built a 30-point lead after three quarters. Jason Leblebijian scored a season-best 17 points and hit 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, while Kevin Reed had 3 blocks and posted his third consecutive double-double with 19 points and a season-high 15 rebounds.
Jack Redding had 8 points and 7 rebounds, and Nsenzi Salasini added 6 points and 5 boards as Prospect outrebounded the Pirates 48-23. Proviso East (1-2) had averaged 21 offensive rebounds in its first two tournament games.
"If we can continue controlling the boards in our future games, we feel really good about our chances," said Camardella, whose team has outrebounded its three opponents by an average of 13.3.
Prospect tied its season high with seven 3-pointers (7 of 17) and shot a season-best 54.0 percent (34 of 63) from the field.
Junior Brenton Little scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-17 shooting for Proviso East.