Inductees

PRE-1960s

TED BEACH: He played on three Champaign teams that posted a 106-7 record and reached the state championship game for three years in a row, finishing first in 1946 and second in 1945 and 1947. He was a two-time All-Stater and set a three-year tournament scoring record with 195 points. At Champaign, he set a career scoring record with 1,551 points in three years. He played for coach Harry Combes at Champaign and at Illinois. He played on two Big 10 championship teams in 1949 and 1951 that finished third in the NCAA tournament. He was a second-team All-Big 10 selection in 1951.

TERRY BETHEL: He was one of four Collinsville players to be recognized as a high school All-America. He earned All-State honors in 1956 and 1957. He led the Kakoks to second place in the 1957 state tournament. He scored a game-high 18 points in a 45-42 loss to Herrin in the state final. The 6-7 center led all scorers in the tournament with 113 points in four games. He was a member of Parade magazine's first All-America team in 1957. Bethel and other members of the team, which included Jerry Lucas and Tom Meschery, Al Butler and Tony Jackson, appeared on Steve Allen's NBC television show.

RON BONTEMPS: The 6-3 All-Stater helped to lead Taylorville to a 45-0 record in 1943-44, the first unbeaten state champion. The year before, the Tornadoes were ranked No. 1 in the state but finished 29-2, losing to Decatur in the sectional. Later, Bontemps and teammate Johnny Orr reunited with their Taylorville coach, Dolph Stanley, at Beloit College. A two-time All-AAU selection, he starred for the Peoria Cats in the NIBL. He captained the United States' gold-medal winning Olympic team in 1952. He was named to the Helms Foundation Hall of Fame in 1958 and the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1976.

LOU BOUDREAU: He was the first superstar of high school sports in Illinois. At Harvey Thornton, the three-time All-Stater led the famed Flying Clouds to the state championship in 1933 and to second-place finishes in 1934 and 1935. He captained the basketball and baseball teams at Illinois. He made his major league debut at age 21 with the Cleveland Indians in 1938. In 1948, he was the American League's MVP and managed the Indians to the World Series title. An eight-time All-Star and league batting champion in 1944, he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1970. He died in 2001.

BRUCE BROTHERS: The 6-5 center was a two-time All-Stater who led Quincy to records of 25-6, 29-4 and 28-5 from 1949 to 1952. He scored 1,464 points, leading the Blue Devils to the state quarterfinals in 1950 to third place in 1951 and second in 1952, an overtime loss to Hebron in the first televised state final. He led all tournament scorers in 1952 with 91 points, including 20 in the final game. He went on to become a three-year starter at Illinois and was the team MVP as a senior, when the Illini were ranked No. 1 in the nation. Later, he served as head coach at Maine East. He died in 1986.

CHARLIE BROWN: "Sweet Charlie" led Chicago Du Sable to the Public League title in 1953 and 1954 and stood out on the Panthers' 1954 team that finished second in the state tournament. His last-second basket in double overtime to beat Roosevelt in the Public League final was cited as "the best sports thrill of the year" by the Chicago Sun-Times. He was the second-leading scorer in the 1954 state finals. Later, he was an All-American at Seattle and played with Elgin Baylor on Seattle's 1958 NCAA runnerup. He also served as a basketball official for 30 years.

TED CAIAZZA: Known as the first dominating big man in state history, the 6-7, 235-pound Caiazza was a two-time All-Stater who averaged 30 points per game while leading La Grange to a 29-0 record and the 1953 state championship. He scored 1,710 points in 75 varsity games with a high of 44. He also was a state place-winner in the discus and was named the most valuable all-around athlete in Illinois in 1954. His college career at Illinois was cut short by a knee injury. He coached basketball, football, cross-country and track and was athletic director at three high schools.

MCKINLEY "DEACON" DAVIS: A two-time All-Stater, he led Freeport to the state quarterfinals in 1950 and the 1951 state championship. The 6-2 center scored 24 points in a 71-51 victory over Moline in the state final. At Iowa, he earned All-Big 10 and All-America recognition. From 1955 to 1957, he was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1968, he was named Director of Special Programs at Northern Illinois, where he founded the CHANCE program. In 1978, he became executive director of intercollegiate athletics at NIU. In 2000, he received Iowa's Distinguished Alumni award. He died in 2003.

ARCHIE DEES: Born in Ethel, Mississippi, the 6-8 center/forward started his basketball career in Mount Carmel, Illinois. He was an All-Stater in 1953 and 1954 and scored 2,823 points, No. 11 on the all-time list. His 1954 team finished the regular season with a 21-3 record and was ranked No. 11 in the state, a major achievement for a small school. At Indiana, he was named Big 10 MVP in 1957 and 1958, one of only three players to receive the award more than once. Drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 1958 NBA draft, he played four seasons. He was named to Indiana's All-Century Team in 2001.

DAVE DOWNEY: A two-time All-Stater at Canton, the 6-5 forward gained statewide attention as a junior when he converted 20 of 22 shots and scored 44 points in a game at Decatur with legendary Decatur coach Gay Kintner watching from the bench. As a senior, he led his 18-8 team to the sectional for the second year in a row. At Illinois, he was a three-time All-Big 10 selection and led the Illini to the NCAA tournament. In the greatest single-game performance in school history, he made 22 of 35 shots, grabbed 15 rebounds and scored a school-record 53 points in a victory at Indiana.

THOMAS DWIGHT "DIKE" EDDLEMAN: One of the best all-around athletes in state history, he led Centralia to third place in the 1941 state tournament and was the tournament's leading scorer while leading the Orphans to the 1942 state championship. A three-time All-Stater, he scored a then state record 2,702 points. At Illinois, he earned 11 varsity letters in basketball, football and track and field. He was Big 10 MVP in basketball in 1949. He was an outstanding punter on Illinois' 1946 Rose Bowl team and was a silver medalist in the high jump in the 1948 Olympics. He died in 2001.

NOLDEN GENTRY: A two-time All-Stater, he was a rebounding and defensive specialist on West Rockford teams that went 27-1 and 28-1 and won state championships in 1955 and 1956. A 6-6 forward, he averaged 16 points per game. In 1955, he tipped in a shot with 14 seconds left to beat Elgin. In 1956, he tipped in the game-winning shot with two seconds left to beat Galesburg in the supersectional, then drew a charging foul against Edwardsville star Mannie Jackson to turn the tide in a two-point victory in the final. At Iowa, he earned All-Big 10 recognition.

TOM HAWKINS: Born in Winston-Salem, N.C., he came to Chicago when he was 6. As a senior at Parker (now Robeson) in 1955, he averaged 29 points and 20 rebounds per game and led his team to the No. 5 ranking in the state before losing in the Public League quarterfinals. He became Notre Dame's first African-American basketball star. The 6-5 forward was a two-time All-American, averaging 23 points and 16.7 rebounds per game. Selected in the first round of the 1959 NBA draft, he played for 10 years. After a long career in radio broadcasting in Los Angeles, he retired in 2004.

ARTHUR HICKS: In the 1950s, high school basketball in Chicago "was a feast of royal plum pudding" according to Parker star Tom Hawkins. And nearly everyone agreed that Arthur Hicks was the best player of all. The 6-4, 220-pounder led St. Elizabeth to Catholic League and all-city championships in 1956 and 1957. The Ironmen also won the National Negro Tournament in 1956 and 1957. Hicks scored 1,151 points, or 22.6 per game, while leading his team to a 48-3 record in 1956-57. He scored 2,866 points in four years, No. 11 on the state's all-time list. He died in 2008.

MAX HOOPER: He was the leading scorer on the Mount Vernon team that won state championships in 1949 and 1950. He was the leading scorer in the state finals in 1949 and 1950 and set a tournament record by scoring 36 points in the 1950 state final. He was a two-time All-Stater. Later, he played on an Illinois team that qualified for the NCAA Final Four in 1952 and for the Denver Truckers of the National Industrial Basketball League. He was selected among the "100 Legends" as the Illinois High School Association celebrated the 100th anniversary of the state basketball tournament.

MANNIE JACKSON: He and lifelong friend Govoner Vaughn led Edwardsville to a 28-7 record and second place in the 1956 state tournament. They finished 2-3 in tournament scoring but Jackson blamed his team's two-point loss to West Rockford in the state final on himself. He scored 21 points but shot only 10-of-21. At Illinois, Jackson averaged 16.4 points and captained the team as a senior. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters for two years, worked at Honeywell for 20 years, founded his own telecommunications company, then bought the Harlem Globetrotters in 1993.

PAUL JUDSON: He was the leading scorer on a Hebron team that represented the smallest school (98 students) ever to win the state championship. Playing with his twin brother Phil, Hebron beat Quincy in overtime in the first televised state tournament in 1952. Together, they played at Illinois, which ranked No. 1 in the nation when they were juniors and seniors. Paul was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in the NBA, where former Illinois star Johnny Kerr was playing. He coached at Dundee from 1963 to 1983, then served as athletic director at Hampshire for 10 years before retiring.

PAXTON LUMPKIN: How good was Paxton Lumpkin, Chicago Du Sable's mercurial playmaker and two-time All-Stater? Duster Thomas, Pinckneyville's legendary coach, always rated Centralia's Bobby Joe Mason as the best player he had seen. After seeing Lumpkin, however, he said Lumpkin was a superior ball-handler but Mason was a better shooter. Lumpkin led Du Sable to the Sweet Sixteen in 1953, scoring 29 points in an 85-68 loss to eventual state champion La Grange. He led the 31-1 Panthers to second place in the 1954 state tournament. He played for the Harlem Globetrotters. He died in 1991.

BOBBY JOE MASON: At Centralia, he followed Dick Eddleman as one of the best all-around athletes in state history. He was a two-time All-Stater in basketball in 1954 and 1955, an All-State quarterback in 1954 and a state pole vault champion in 1954. He was the only player in the history of the Centralia Holiday Tournament to be named to the first-team all-tournament squad for four years. His number 14 jersey is retired at Centralia. Later, he was named to Bradley's Team of the Century and played for the Harlem Globetrotters from 1962 to 1974. He died in 2006.

WALT MOORE: He was the ball-handler and second-leading scorer on Mount Vernon's 1949 and 1950 state championship teams that won 46 games in a row. He received All-State recognition in 1949, 1950 and 1951. He earned 14 varsity letters. He was the first African-American basketball player at Illinois. Later, he played on Western Illinois' NAIA third-place team in 1956 and its NAIA national runnerup in 1957. He was a NAIA Little All-American in 1957. As head coach at Carbondale High School, he was named "Coach of the Year" in 1968 by the Southern Illinoisan. He died in 2004.

DON NELSON: He was one of the first of the great players to be developed in the Quad-Cities. An All-Stater in 1958, when he led Rock Island to a 20-3 record and the No. 5 ranking in the state at the end of the regular season. At Iowa, the 6-6 forward was a two-time All-American who averaged 21.1 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He was the 19th overall choice in the 1962 NBA draft. He played on five of the Boston Celtics' NBA championship teams. His No. 19 jersey was retired by the Celtics. He also coached five NBA teams from 1976 to 2010 and was a three-time NBA Coach of the Year.

DON OHL: In 1954, the 6-2 guard led Edwardsville to fourth place in the state tournament. He earned all-tournament and All-State recognition and was the Player of the Year in the St. Louis area. Later, he was a two-time All-Big 10 selection at Illinois and was an All-American earned All-American in 1958. He was an AAU All-American for the Peoria Cats in 1960 and a five-time all-star during a 10-year NBA career. In the 1965 playoff, Ohl and future Hall of Famer Jerry West locked in a shootout that saw West and Los Angeles Lakers prevail. But Ohl averaged 26 points in 10 postseason games.

JOHNNY ORR: Born in Yale, Kansas, he grew up in Taylorville, Illinois. He was a standout on coach Dolph Stanley's 1944 team that won the state championship with a 45-0 record. He was his team's leading scorer in the tournament. In 2007, he was named one of 100 Legends of Illinois basketball. He later played at Illinois and Beloit College. He became head coach at Michigan in 1969, was Big 10 Coach of the Year in 1974 and National Coach of the Year in 1976 when his team finished second in the NCAA tournament. He coached at Iowa State from 1980 to 1994.

ANDY PHILLIP: He led Granite City to the 1940 state championship, scoring 15 of his team's points in a 24-22 victory over Herrin. He was the tournament's leading scorer. He was a standout on Illinois' famed "Whiz Kids." He played in the first five NBA All-Star games and was the first player to record 500 assists in a season. He played on the Boston Celtics' 1957 NBA championship team. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961 and Illinois' All-Century Team in 2005. He also was named one of 100 Legends of Illinois Basketball in 2007. He died in 2001.

HARV SCHMIDT: A two-time All-Stater at Kankakee, he played in one of the most celebrated games in state history. The 6-6 forward scored 37 points but top-rated and unbeaten Kankakee lost to unbeaten and third-rated La Grange 83-74 in the Joliet sectional in 1953. La Grange went on to win the state title. At Illinois, he averaged 12.3 points in 65 games. He was selected in the second round of the 1957 NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. Later, he served as head coach at his alma mater, Illinois, from 1967 to 1974. His 1970 team was 19-5 and finished second in the Big 10.

JERRY SLOAN: One of 10 children, he was an All-Stater at McLeansboro in 1960. Later, he was a two-time All-American at Evansville College, a two-time NBA all-star and a four-time member of the NBA's all-defensive team. He is fourth on the Chicago Bulls' all-time scoring list and 10th among the NBA's all-time leaders in steals per game. As an NBA coach for 22 years, he won 1,221 games, third all-time. In 2009, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. His son Brian was Illinois Player of the Year in 1984 and led McLeansboro to the Class A championship.

BILL SMALL: A transfer from Roanoke-Benson, where he led his team to two district championships, he was a two-time All-Stater at West Aurora and led the Blackhawks to fourth place in the 1958 state tournament and second in the 1959 state finals. In 112 varsity games, he scored 2,320 points and averaged 20.7 per game. As a senior, he averaged 26.4. Later, he was a three-year starter at Illinois and was an All-Big 10 selection on Illinois' 1963 conference championship team. He graduated with the highest career free throw shooting percentage and was among the top 25 in career scoring.

CHARLES "CHICO" VAUGHN: He scored 3,358 yards from 1955 to 1958, a state record that no one has come close to eclipsing. Playing at Tamms, he waged a career-long battle with Dongola's Joe Aden, who finished with 3,033 points during the same period. The 5-11 guard averaged 32.3 points in 104 games, all with an unorthodox, two-handed, behind-the-head shot that resembled a slingshot release. His 1958 team was 26-4 but lost to defending state champion Herrin in overtime in the sectional. He later set a career scoring record at Southern Illinois and played in the NBA and ABA for eight years.

GOVONOR VAUGHN: He was a member of the Edwardsville team that finished fourth in the 1954 state tournament and was an All-Stater on the 1956 team that finished second. He scored 28 points in the state final but Edwardsville lost to West Rockford 67-65. Later, he was a three-year starter at Illinois and All-Big 10 and Illinois MVP as a senior. Upon graduation, he was the No. 3 scorer in Illini history. He joined the Harlem Globetrotters in 1960 and was named the MVP of the 1961 World Series of Basketball, a 20-game series against the nation's top college seniors.

GEORGE WILSON: A 6-8 center, Wilson was a three-time All-Stater who scored 2,285 points while leading Chicago Marshall to state titles in 1958 and 1960. The unbeaten 1958 squad, rated one of the best in state history, was the first Public League representative to win a state title. He averaged 25 points per game as a sophomore, 27 as a junior and 26 as a senior. Later, he was an All-American at Cincinnati and played on the Bearcats' 1962 NCAA championship team. He also was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team and the No. 1 choice in the 1964 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals.

 

POST-1960s

NELISON "NICK" ANDERSON: He was a two-time All-Chicago Area selection at Chicago Prosser as a freshman and sophomore, then transferred to Chicago Simeon in 1984 because he wanted to play with the late Ben Wilson. He led his team to a 28-2 record and the state quarterfinals in 1985 and was Illinois' Player of the Year in 1986 but his 26-1 team lost to King in the Public League championship game. He started on Illinois' 1989 NCAA runnerup, then had a 13-year career in the NBA, most with the Orlando Magic. He was named to Illinois' All-Century Team in 2004. MARK AGUIRRE: A transfer from Chicago Austin, the 6-6 forward built Chicago Westinghouse into a nationally recognized high school dynasty. The two-time All-Stater led the Warriors to the Public League final in 1977 and the state quarterfinals in 1978. At DePaul, he averaged 24.5 points per game over three seasons and was the College Player of the Year in 1980 and 1981. He was the No. 1 choice in the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. In a 13-year career, he averaged 20 points per game. He played on the Detroit Pistons' NBA championship teams of 1989 and 1990.

JAMIE BRANDON: A three-time All-Stater at Chicago King, he was the focal point of one of the state's greatest basketball dynasties. He finished as the No. 3 scorer in state history with 3,157 points. The 6-3 guard led King to the Public League final in 1988, to third place in the 1989 state tournament and to the state and national championships in 1990. He scored 25 points and had 12 rebounds while leading King to a 65-55 victory over Gordon Tech to complete a 32-0 season in 1990. He was Illinois' Player of the Year in 1990. Later, he played at LSU with Shaquille O'Neal.

JIM BREWER: As one of the most intimidating and dominating rebounders and defensive players in state history, the 6-9 Brewer led Proviso East to the 1969 state championship. Despite playing with a severely sprained ankle, he converted two free throws with two seconds to play to beat Champaign Central in the semifinals, then scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds in a 58-51 victory over Peoria Spalding in the final. At Minnesota, he was an All-Big 10 selection and conference MVP in 1972. He also was a member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic team and played in the NBA for 12 years.

QUINN BUCKNER: The leader of what is generally regarded as the best team in state history, he was the National Player of the Year in 1972 as Thornridge went 33-0 and didn't allow an opponent to get within 14 points. He was a two-time All-Stater as the Falcons won state titles in 1971 and 1972. He was Player of the Year in Illinois in football in 1971 and basketball in 1972. At Indiana, he captained the Hoosiers' 1976 NCAA championship team. He also captained the United States' gold-medal winning Olympic team in 1976 and the Boston Celtics' NBA championship team in 1984.

BRUCE DOUGLAS: In 1981, he led Quincy to a 33-0 record. One of the best teams in state history, the Blue Devils won their last four games by margins of 28, 25, 31 and 29 points, including a 68-39 rout of Proviso East in the state final. One of the state's all-time assist leaders, he led Quincy to records of 32-1, 26-3, 33-0 and 32-1. In 1982, Quincy's 64-game winning streak was snapped by Chicago Mendel in the state semifinals. Later, he led Illinois to a Big 10 championship and an Elite Eight berth in 1984 and the Sweet Sixteen in 1985. He also was named to Illinois' All-Century Team.

LAPHONSO ELLIS: He led East St. Louis Lincoln to back-to-back state championships in 1987 and 1988. He had 27 points and 10 rebounds to beat King 79-62 in 1987 and had 26 points and 15 rebounds to beat St. Francis de Sales 60-52 in 1988. He was a Parade magazine and McDonald's All-America in 1988 and outplayed Alonzo Mourning in a holiday tournament as a senior. He also was named one of the 100 Legends of Illinois basketball. At Notre Dame, he scored 1,505 points in his career. He was the fifth pick in the 1992 NBA draft by the Denver Nuggets and was named to the All-Rookie first team.

KEVIN GARNETT: A transfer from Mauldin, South Carolina, he played as a senior at Chicago Farragut and led the Admirals to a 28-2 record and the state quarterfinals. He averaged 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds. 6.7 assists and 6.5 blocks per game. He was rated as the No. 1 player in the nation. The 6-11 center/forward skipped college and was selected as the fifth overall choice in the 1995 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, becoming the first player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years. He has been a 14-time NBA all-star with the Timberwolves and Boston Celtics.

GLEN GRUNWALD: He is the only four-time All-Chicago Area and All-State selection in state history. He was Player of the Year in 1976. In four years, the 6-8 forward led Franklin Park East Leyden to records of 20-3, 21-4, 28-1 and 25-1. He scored 2,335 points in his career. Injured prior to his freshman year at Indiana, he was captain of Indiana's 1981 NCAA championship team and was drafted in the fifth round of the 1981 NBA draft but never played professionally. The former general manager of the Toronto Raptors, he currently is senior vice-president of the New York Knicks.

DAN ISSEL: The 6-9 center was an All-Stater in 1966 at Batavia, the oldest community in Kane County. Even though he played for a small school, he didn't escape the eye of Kentucky's legendary coach, Adolph Rupp. He was a two-time All-American, averaged 25.7 points in three years and emerged as the most prolific scorer in school history. He scored more than 27,000 points while playing in the ABA and NBA from 1970 to 1985, fourth on the all-time list when he retired. He also served as coach of the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

MARCUS LIBERTY: He was a two-time All-Stater who was hailed as the No. 1 player in the nation as a senior. He led Chicago King to a 32-1 record and the state championship in 1986 and to second place in the state tournament in 1987. In a 79-62 loss to East St. Louis Lincoln, he scored a record 41 points and had 15 rebounds. He set a Class AA record with 143 points in four games. At Illinois, he was sixth man on the 1989 NCAA runnerup. As a junior, he averaged 17.8 points for a 21-8 team. Then he opted for the NBA draft. He played four years in the NBA, then seven overseas before retiring.

HOWARD NATHAN: Illinois' Mr. Basketball and a McDonald's All-American in 1991, the two-time All-Stater was a product of one of the state's most successful programs. The 5-11 guard led a 28-3 Peoria Manual team to the Sweet Sixteen in 1990. He scored 25 points but the Rams lost to Quincy 58-57. In 1991, he averaged 20 points and was the tournament's leading scorer while leading a 31-3 team to the state final, losing to Proviso East 68-61. He played one year at DePaul and briefly in the NBA. Since 2006, he has been in a wheelchair after his car was struck by a drunk driver.

TOM PARKER: He was one of four All-Americans produced by legendary Collinsville coach Vergil Fletcher. A two-time All-Stater, the 6-6 forward scored 2,041 points in his career and averaged 32.9 as a senior in 1967-68. He scored a record 50 points in the final of the Carbondale Holiday Tournament in 1967. As a junior, he led the Kahoks to the state quarterfinals. He was the St. Louis Globe-Democrat's Player of the Year and a Parade All-American in 1968. At Kentucky, he was a two-time All-SEC selection and the SEC's Player of the Year in 1971-72.

GLENN "DOC" RIVERS: The nephew of Jim Brewer, he was a three-time All-State selection at Proviso East but never advanced to the Elite Eight. As a junior, his team ranked No. 2 in the state but lost in the sectional. As a senior, his team ranked No. 1 in the nation but lost in the sectional. In the late 1970s, his friendship with Isiah Thomas and Mark Aguirre triggered an explosion of interest in the Chicago area. He played at Marquette and in the NBA for 10 years. He coached the Orlando Magic in the NBA for four years and has been head coach of the Boston Celtics since 2004.

DAVE ROBISCH: An All-State selection in 1966 and 1967, the 6-9 Robisch led Springfield to a 30-4 record and third place in the state tournament in 1967 by setting four-game records for points (152) and rebounds (78). As a senior, he averaged 32 points per game. He scored 47 against Quincy in one tournament game. Later, he was a three-time All-Big 8 selection at Kansas and a Helms Foundation All-American and Big 8 Player of the Year in 1970 and 1971. He led Kansas to the NCAA Final Four in 1971. He had a 13-year professional career, accounting for over 11,000 points and 6,000 rebounds.

CAZZIE RUSSELL: The Chicago Sun-Times once rated Cazzie Russell as the No. 1 high school basketball player ever produced in the Chicago area. The 6-5 forward led Carver to a 28-5 record and second place in the 1962 state tournament, was a three-time All-American at Michigan, the No. 1 choice in the 1966 NBA draft and played in the NBA for 13 years. He coached at Savannah College of Art and Design for 13 years. He currently is associate pastor of Live Oak Community Church in Savannah, Ga. He will be inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame later this month.

JAY SHIDLER: He started on Lawrenceville's 1974 state championship team but became a virtual rock star while leading the 29-2 Indians to third place in the 1976 tournament. He set a tournament scoring record with 157 points, including 48 in a semifinal loss and 45 in the consolation victory. He finished with 1,013 points, an average of 32.7 per game. In four years, he scored 2,183 points. At Kentucky, he started as a freshman but saw limited playing time after being injured as a sophomore. He currently is an executive for the Lexington Legends minor league baseball team.

MARTY SIMMONS: Known as "the Mule," Simmons led Lawrenceville to back-to-back 34-0 seasons and Class A championships in 1982 and 1983. He scored 2,986 points in his career and was named Player of the Year in Illinois in 1983. In four years, his Lawrenceville teams won 123 of 130 games. He averaged 24.5 points and 10.7 rebounds as a junior and 32 points and 11.4 rebounds while converting 60 percent of his shots as a senior. At Evansville, he finished sixth in the nation in scoring with 25.9 points per game as a senior. He currently is head coach at Evansville.

ISIAH THOMAS: The youngest of nine children, he led Westchester St. Joseph to a 31-2 record and second place in the 1978 state tournament and was Illinois' Player of the Year in 1979. He was selected among the 100 Legends of Illinois basketball. As a sophomore, he led Indiana to the 1981 NCAA championship, then opted for the NBA draft. He was the No. 2 pick by the Detroit Pistons. He made the All-Rookie team and led the Pistons to two NBA championships. He was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

RICH YUNKUS: He was a two-time All-Stater who sparked Benton to 61 victories in 63 games in 1965-67. He scored 45 points in one game. The Rangers were 25-0 and ranked No. 1 in the state after each regular season but lost to Galesburg 73-71 on Dale Kelley's last-second shot in the 1966 quarterfinals and to Carbondale 59-53 in the 1967 supersectional. Coach Rich Herrin said he was the best player he produced in 32 years. He was a two-time All-American at Georgia Tech. In 1971, he was drafted in the third round of the NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals. He quit in his first year.

WOMEN

CATHY BOSWELL: She led Joliet West to the 1978 state title and was a three-time All-State selection. A 5-9 sophomore, she led the tournament in scoring. She had 26 points and nine rebounds as Joliet West beat Lincoln 64-48 for the title. She later played at Illinois State and was a member of the United States' gold-medal winning Olympic team in 1984. At ISU, she had 2,005 points and 1,054 rebounds while leading her team to 90 victories in three years. She competed internationally for 14 years, winning seven team MVP awards, one league MVP award and one Player of the Year award.

DOMINIQUE CANTY: A three-time All-Stater, she led Chicago Whitney Young to the Public League championship in 1995. The 5-9 guard was a high school All-America selection and participated in the WBCA All-America game, scoring 17 points. She was a two-time All-American and a four-time All-SEC selection at Alabama, averaging 18 points per game for four years. Upon graduation, she was the school's all-time leading scorer, male or female. She was the 29th overall pick in the 1999 WNBA draft by the Detroit Shock. She currently plays for the Chicago Sky of the WNBA.

TAMIKA CATCHINGS: She was a two-time All-Stater, led Lincolnshire Stevenson to a 33-2 record and the state championship in 1995 and was named Illinois' Player of the Year--as a sophomore, the youngest player ever to win the award. Then she moved to Duncanville, Texas. She was a four-time All-American at Tennessee. She was drafted by the Indiana Fever of the WNBA in 2001. She played for the United States' gold-medal winning team in the 2004 Olympics. She was named one of the top 15 players in the 15-year history of the WNBA. She was the WNBA's most valuable player in 2011.

PAM GANT: A three-time All-Stater at Joliet East, she finished as the No. 3 scorer in state history. She scored 3,205 points, including 1,005 as a junior and 930 as a senior. She led her 30-3 team to third place in the 1980 state tournament as a junior and was the tournament's leading scorer. She led her 27-5 team to the state quarterfinals as a senior, losing to eventual state champion Elk Grove 52-51 in overtime despite her 34-point effort. An outstanding outside shooter, she played on three Final Four teams at Louisiana Tech, including the 1982 NCAA championship team as a freshman.

YOLANDA GRIFFITH: As a senior at Chicago Carver in 1988, she was named to Parade magazine's All-America team. She scored 50 points in one game. She has been considered one of the most outstanding rebounders and defensive players in the history of women's basketball. She played in the ABL and WNBA. She is a seven-time WNBA All-Star and won the WNBA's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1999. She led the Sacramento Monarchs to the WNBA title in 2005. In 2011, she was selected as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history. She currently is an assistant coach with the Indiana Fever.

JANET HARRIS: A two-time All-Stater and one of the most prolific rebounders in state history, the 6-3 center led Chicago Marshall to second place in the 1980 state tournament and third place in 1981. In the two tournaments, she accounted for 98 points and 54 rebounds. At Georgia, she was the only four-time All-American in school history while setting school records with 2,641 points and 1,398 rebounds and leading the team to a 107-24 record, the NCAA Final Four in 1983 and second place in the NCAA tournament in 1985. She was inducted into Georgia's Circle of Honor in 2009.

E.C. HILL: At Chicago Whitney Young, she scored 2,225 points with a single-game high of 73. She also had 23 assists in one game. In 1990, she was the No. 2 high school prospect in the nation behind Lisa Leslie. She was a unanimous All-Chicago Area and All-State selection, a Parade first-team All-American and the Naismith and Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois. She was inducted into the Chicago Public League Hall of Fame in 2000. After high school, she was an All-American at Northern Illinois and played in the WNBA from 1996 to 2002. She currently is an assistant coach at Arizona.

TINA HUTCHINSON: She was the first superstar of girls basketball in Illinois. The 6-3 forward from East St. Louis Lincoln was the National Player of the Year in 1983. She scored 2,042 points in her career and 994 as a senior. She led her team to second place in the 1982 state tournament and to the state quarterfinals in 1983. As a freshman at San Diego State, she scored 41 points in a game against USC's heralded Cheryl Miller. She averaged 29.9 points as a freshman, still an NCAA record. However, as a sophomore, she suffered a knee injury and never was the same again. NORA LEWIS: The first four-time All-Stater in Illinois history, she led Peoria Richwoods to the 1983 state title, to second place in 1984 and to third in 1985. In each year, she was the tournament's leading scorer. She was National Player of the Year in 1985. She finished as the No. 2 scorer in state history with 3,314 points, including 1,017 as a senior. She had high games of 47 and 46. Her teams won 95 of 97 games. She was rated the No. 1 player in the nation and also received the Dial High School Athlete/Scholar of the Year award. She was a Kodak All-American at Louisiana Tech.

KIM WILLIAMS: Like Derrick Rose, she is a product of Chicago's Englewood community. She was named Illinois' Player of the Year in 1993 after leading Chicago Marshall to a record of 105-12 over four years and three state championships. A 5-7 guard, she set a state tournament record for steals. She was named to the Kodak and Parade All-America teams. At DePaul, she averaged 25 points per game, was named Conference USA's Player of the Year and earned Associated Press All-American recognition. She played in the WNBA for two years but has played overseas since 1998.