Parham Perspective: Wednesday Observations
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** Written by Steve Parham On Day 3 of holiday tournament week. I made a stop at two gyms and I watched a game online at home. Here is what I watched on Wednesday from Proviso West, Big Dipper, and…
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Continue Reading** Written by Steve Parham
On Day 3 of holiday tournament week. I made a stop at two gyms and I watched a game online at home. Here is what I watched on Wednesday from Proviso West, Big Dipper, and Kankakee.
Proviso West Tournament
St. Rita – Whitney Young
By far the top game of the night, maybe the week. Featured both highly ranked teams meeting in a game that was very close until the end. Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2023 State #231 Nation IL was huge in this one, hitting 3 of 5 from three in the first half of the game, giving Young an early lead in the second quarter. By the third quarter, it was more of Johnson hitting shots from mid-range and the corner. James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO got it going in the 3rd quarter with his spin move into lefty finish. As he had 12 points and 11 boards in the third. Rita fought back with some buckets from Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'5" | SG Brewster Academy | 2024 State #79 Nation NLG . He made tough shots from three and mid-range. As Rita chipped away at Young’s lead guard senior Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL was instrumental at keeping the flow of the game for the Dolphins but made a crucial turnover down the stretch. Rita would get one more shot to tie the game, but Nojus missed the shot and Whitney Young would advance to the Championship game .
Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2023 State #231 Nation IL 26 pts 6 reb
Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL 20 pts 11 reb
James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO 15 pts 13 rebs
Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'5" | SG Brewster Academy | 2024 State #79 Nation NLG 18 pts
Proviso East – Kenwood
This one was pretty much over two minutes into the game. Sophomore Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL came out blazing, knocking down 3 triples in the first two minutes, jumping to an early double-digit lead. Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 6'2" | SG Wheaton Academy | 2025 State IL also made some big-time plays at the rim. He also scored double digits point in the first quarter. Proviso East never really got their footing in this game as Bryce Coleman Bryce Coleman 6'6" | SF Proviso East | 2023 State IL was the only Pirate that looked to assert himself. Before you knew it, Proviso East was down 30 by half and seemed to be playing catch up the rest of the game. Kenwood would win and set up a rematch of last year’s Proviso West tournament final.
Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL 17 pts
Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 6'2" | SG Wheaton Academy | 2025 State IL 15 pts
Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL 13 pts
Bryce Coleman Bryce Coleman 6'6" | SF Proviso East | 2023 State IL 16 pts 6 reb
Emory Marshall Emory Marshall 6'0" | PG Montini | 2023 IL 13 pts
Big Dipper
Perspectives – Francis Parker
At Rich Township’s south campus I watched the backcourt of Francis Parker go back and forth with the more experienced Perspectives guards. From the tip Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL was in range to score as he made the first three baskets for the Warriors. Francis Parker senior guard Payton Pitts Payton Pitts 6'2" | SG Francis Parker | 2023 State IL answers back with his own mini run. As the game stayed close early on KJ Cobb KJ Cobb 6'0" | SG Perspectives | 2023 State IL and Jakeem Cole Jakeem Cole 6'0" | PG Perspectives | 2023 State IL of Perspectives started inserting themselves as scoring threats. Both got to the rim on strong drives and each hit a couple shots in the rhythm of the game. Parker would fall behind until senior Caleb David stepped up and became the second scorer in the third quarter. But the onslaught of the Cobb brothers became too much as Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL answered with another 10-0 run himself to keep Perspectives lead at double digits and ultimately scored the win.
Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL 29 pts 6 assist
KJ Cobb KJ Cobb 6'0" | SG Perspectives | 2023 State IL 12 pts 3 assist
Jakeem Cole Jakeem Cole 6'0" | PG Perspectives | 2023 State IL 10 pts 6 assist.
Payton Pitts Payton Pitts 6'2" | SG Francis Parker | 2023 State IL 21 pts
Caleb David 16 pts
Kankakee
Dunbar – Hansberry
In the morning, I watched a game online before getting over to the Big Dipper. Many people who saw me post on Twitter about an unknown player in the city. Well, it was 6’6” sophomore Al Brooks Jr. of Hansberry. In a matchup against Dunbar where his team was down most of the first half, he and his brother (Ikee) took over in the third quarter and never looked back. Al did almost everything from blocking shots, rebounding, assisting, and even getting multiple steals while Ikee did a lot of the scoring to lead the Bengals back after being down 11. The tandem willed their team through a bad start and ultimately won the game. What I was most impressed was how impactful and active Al was and his final stats said it all.
Al Brooks Jr. 18pts 16 reb 7 blk 8 steals 3 assist.
Ikee Brooks 23 pts 10 reb 5 assist
There seems to be another set of brothers that’s playing some good basketball in December.