MBB: College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

Titan Q · May 03, 2020, 03:49:32 PM

Logan Francis - All East Texas 1st Team.

https://tylerpaper.com/news/local/all-east-texas-boys-basketball-lapoynors-isaac-jackson-takes-top-honor-john-tylers-ashad-walker/article_83019f2a-8c98-11ea-bc1a-d7a379bd4e39.html

AndOne · May 03, 2020, 04:40:15 PM

Quote from: Gregory Sager on May 03, 2020, 11:17:09 AM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 03, 2020, 09:05:02 AM
Quote from: Titan Q on May 03, 2020, 09:01:14 AM
- Garrett Horner, 6-5 SF (Carthage)

Is Garrett Horner related to North Park's Marc Horner ('92)?

Garrett Horner is Marc's son, and former NPU president David Horner's grandson. (His mom is former North Park All-CCIW volleyball player Chris McCarrell Horner; his paternal grandmother was former NPU professor Sue Horner, a woman I admired greatly whom I'm very sorry to say died of brain cancer just a few weeks ago.) Those of us who have followed North Park athletics for the past three decades know that it's extremely strange to see a Horner choose to play basketball for a Djurickovic, since I seriously doubt that the Horner and Djurickovic clans have been exchanging Christmas cards over the past 26 years. But Garrett's older sister Haley is a star outside hitter for the Lady Reds women's volleyball team -- she is probably the best returning player in the CCIW going into the 2020 season -- and I suspect that his big sister's presence there played a large role in Garrett's decision to choose Carthage.

I figured that if Garrett Horner would choose any CCIW school other than NPU it'd be Wheaton, whose campus is within walking distance of his house. It's where his former teammate Jacob Schauer plays, and where he also has several family connections in terms of alumni on both sides of his family, including his maternal grandfather (the late Dave McCarrell, who for decades was a fixture at Wheaton basketball games) and his two paternal great-aunts (David Horner's sisters). Just about everybody with McCarrell blood has chosen Wheaton over the years (including some of Wheaton's best female athletes over the past decade), aside from Garrett's Lady Red sister, his mom, his cousin Trent Kucera, and, of course, his great-uncle Dan, the head coach of North Park's first three national championship teams (and Bosko's mentor; this is a very complicated family saga).

The NPU coaching staff recruited Garrett Horner pretty heavily, hoping that he'd follow his cousin Trent's lead and choose to play for Tom Slyder. Losing this particular recruiting battle was a blow to the Vikings program; it's one thing to see the sons of such NPC Bosko acolytes as Fred Kruse, Dan Mulkerin, and Mike Barach choose to play for their dads' former coach, but I did not expect at all to see Marc Horner's kid follow in the footsteps of Brad Kruse, Sean Johnson, and Luke Barach. This syndrome of the sons and daughters of North Park men's basketball alumni choosing to play for Carthage or North Central (where former Vikings basketball players Jeff Pearson and Jim Foley currently have daughters on the Cardinals women's basketball team) rather than Dad's alma mater isn't something that I particularly enjoy talking about, which is why I hadn't said anything about Garrett Horner's choice up until now. The whole thing grates on me. I think that several of their parents were disappointed as well that their kids didn't choose NPU, although it's obvious that some of the dads really wanted their sons to play for Bosko.

I don't fault anybody, though. The bottom line is that kids go to school wherever they want to go to school, and all that good parents can do is give them their blessing and support them.

My understanding is that Wheaton was not either of Horner's final two choices.

Titan Q · May 03, 2020, 04:55:07 PM

Quote from: AndOne on May 03, 2020, 04:40:15 PM
My understanding is that Wheaton was not either of Horner's final two choices.

For what it is worth, I heard North Central was in his final two.

AndOne · May 03, 2020, 05:06:57 PM

That's what we were told. But, alas, he went for the cheese. 🧀
Also floating through the air was the suggestion that his mother used to babysit for Stevie D. 🤔

Titan Q · May 03, 2020, 06:10:54 PM

North Park...

https://twitter.com/jalen_boyd12/status/1257062796560343040?s=20

* Jalen Boyd, 6-4 G (D3 Loras; St. Joseph HS)

Boyd was a sophomore at D3 Loras this past season. He played 12 games before, I believe, leaving the program. Averaged 3.3 ppg in 7.4 minutes.

https://duhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jalen-boyd/7374

Titan Q · May 03, 2020, 06:19:12 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on May 03, 2020, 06:10:54 PM
North Park...

https://twitter.com/jalen_boyd12/status/1257062796560343040?s=20

* Jalen Boyd, 6-4 G (D3 Loras; St. Joseph HS)

Boyd was a sophomore at D3 Loras this past season. He played 12 games before, I believe, leaving the program. Averaged 3.3 ppg in 7.4 minutes.

https://duhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jalen-boyd/7374

He has a twin brother who was also a sophomore this past year at Loras. 6-6/215 Jordan started and averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.0 rpg. If I recall a couple years ago, Jordan was a big-time recruit for Loras. (Jalen may have been too...but I remember Jordan's name more.)

Jordan left after 13 games last year. He is not committed anywhere yet. One would assume he is also heading to NPU maybe? I just heard from a D3 coach who feels like Jordan picking NPU would really be a big deal for the Vikings.

https://duhawks.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/jordan-boyd/7377

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OvYSUgUukw

Titan Q · May 03, 2020, 06:26:34 PM

AndOne · May 03, 2020, 11:44:34 PM

Quote from: Titan Q on May 03, 2020, 06:26:34 PM
CCIW commits I am aware of...

North Central

* Will Jones, 5-9 PG (Monroe Central HS, IN)
https://www.hudl.com/profile/10491050/Will-Jones

* Luke Lehnen, 6-0 PG/SG (Chatham Glenwood HS)
https://www.hudl.com/profile/8702974/Luke-Lehnen

Will Jones —> 13.0 PPG

Luke Lehnen —> 15.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 86 three pointers this year—265 career 3 pointers.

Gregory Sager · May 04, 2020, 10:40:02 AM

Quote from: AndOne on May 03, 2020, 04:40:15 PM
My understanding is that Wheaton was not either of Horner's final two choices.

I know that it wasn't. I wasn't implying that it was.

Quote from: AndOne on May 03, 2020, 05:06:57 PM
That's what we were told. But, alas, he went for the cheese. 🧀
Also floating through the air was the suggestion that his mother used to babysit for Stevie D. 🤔

The dates work out. Steve would've been two years old when Kris McCarrell Horner graduated from North Park.

Quote from: Titan Q on May 03, 2020, 06:19:12 PMJordan left after 13 games last year. He is not committed anywhere yet. One would assume he is also heading to NPU maybe? I just heard from a D3 coach who feels like Jordan picking NPU would really be a big deal for the Vikings.

File under D for "Duh."

Titan Q · May 04, 2020, 12:51:37 PM

Tagen Pearson
I'm blessed and excited to say that I am going to continue pursuing my academic and athletic goals over the next 4 years at Elmhurst College! #committed #bluejays

* Tagen Pearson, 6-3 PG/SG (Nazareth Academy) 17.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.0 apg
https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8771308/5e785f29e985870d2cbe60b6

Got a note today on this one: "He will be a very, very good D3 player - should have gotten more D2 attention. Augustana, Nebraska Wesleyan, Loras, Aurora all at some point were heavily involved."

Sounds like a biggie for the Bluejays.

Titan Q · May 04, 2020, 01:00:30 PM

nescac1 · May 05, 2020, 05:59:23 PM

One to add from New England for Wheaton:

https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/in-the-news/unsigned-senior-spotlight-luke-bitters

Titan Q · May 05, 2020, 06:45:40 PM

Quote from: nescac1 on May 05, 2020, 05:59:23 PM
One to add from New England for Wheaton:

https://newenglandrecruitingreport.com/in-the-news/unsigned-senior-spotlight-luke-bitters

Thanks!

Titan Q · May 05, 2020, 06:46:37 PM

Titan Q · May 05, 2020, 08:05:44 PM

@TJ_DA In a major announcement at @Augustana_IL, @Augustana_Hoops announced his retirement as men's basketball coach. School to open position and hopefully hire this summer.
---
@MattRandazzo Augustana's Grey Giovanine is retiring. Press conference now - full coverage at 10 on WQAD.
433-150 (214-88 in cciw)
Won 10 CCIW titles including record 5 straight times
All time winningest coach at Augie
National coach of year in '15 '17 '19

Grey Giovanine has announced his retirement from Augustana.

I kept hearing this rumor the last few months but didn't think it could be true. Wow.