Not just another win for Simeon’s Smith
Mar 17, 2012
PEORIA, Ill. — It was less than two hours before Simeon was to face Proviso East in the Class 4A state championship game, but Wolverines coach Robert Smith had more on his mind than just the game. He wanted to make sure Bennie Lewis had a seat at Carver Arena. …
North Chicago aiming for statewide success
Mar 19, 2012
Michael O’Brien: North Chicago is definitely not respected statewide as a basketball powerhouse. Aaron Simpson and his teammates have done a lot over the past two seasons to change that, but the town is still best known for the two stars that got away: Shawn Marion and Quincy Miller.
Wild, wild Proviso West
Jan 12, 2012
Michael O'Brien: Starting next year, the Proviso West Holiday Tournament will double in size, increasing from 16 to 32 teams—that’s nearly half the size of the NCAA’s March Madness Tournament. It’s the first holiday tournament in Illinois to go to 32 teams; there are a dozen or so 16 team tournaments.
Chicago-area recruits struggling off the court
Feb 6, 2012
Michael O'Brien: There has never been a time when prep basketball in Chicago wasn’t full of shady practices, NCAA investigations and players sabotaging their own careers with behavior issues, but we may be entering a new low period.
Chicago still Mac Irvin’s town
Nov 9, 2011
AFTERNOON SPORTS CLUB: Mac Irvin’s influence on the Chicago basketball scene over the past 30 years is unrivaled. He’s mentored two generations of Chicago basketball players, literally inventing summer basketball and as a result, often serving as the gatekeeper to the richest talent pool in the country.
