Marine Leadership Academy, 1920 N. Hamlin Ave. | Google maps

Marine Leadership Academy principal Erin Galfer was promoted to a high-level role within the district, but has since been fired after CPS said she failed to report sex misconduct allegations at the school. She denies that and says it was CPS officials that didn’t take the claims seriously.

Chicago Public Schools attorneys and leaders long had knowledge of an investigation into sexual misconduct and failure to report it by the principal at Marine Leadership Academy, despite claiming otherwise Friday.

And, in the two years that the investigation went on, CPS not only kept the principal on staff but also promoted her, information obtained by WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times shows.

The school district has fired 10 employees as a result of this investigation. Some of the staff are accused of grooming students or having inappropriate relationships with three separate students. The school district says the others knew about these situations and failed to report them.

One of those terminated was the school’s former principal, Erin Galfer. Her firing on Nov. 6 for failure to report came just months after she was promoted to a high-level role within the district’s college and career success office. She had been principal since 2015 of Marine Leadership Academy, which is in Logan Square on the near Northwest Side.

“The behavior uncovered by this investigation represents a stunning betrayal of trust and colossal failure of judgement and character on the part of far too many individuals,” said CPS CEO Pedro Martinez.

Galfer denies that she failed to report sexual misconduct and says it was CPS officials, not her, that failed to take the sexual misconduct seriously. Galfer’s lawyer issued a statement late Friday saying “the tragic failure at Marine falls at the feet of CPS who long knew about the misconduct and did not take timely steps to protect the students.” The statement does not say what more Galfer thinks district leadership should have done, but says she is fighting her firing and defending her reputation.

Will Fletcher, the district’s inspector general, said his office alerted CPS in April of 2019 about three allegations and listed the principal as one of those being accused of knowing about, but not reporting, some of these situations. These allegations were from an anonymous source.

The inspector general’s office quoted a note it shared internally with CPS, saying, “FYI, This is the third sexual complaint that we have received this week from Marine,” according to the public summary of the investigation, which was posted Friday.

And, as time went on, the inspector general’s office insisted it continued to keep CPS in the loop to help inform decisions about what employees needed to be removed.

During the two-year period of the investigation, CPS said in a statement that it “took immediate action to remove employees when it was clear that they posed a risk to student and/or staff safety, health and wellbeing.”

This did not include the principal.

None of the former leadership of CPS responded to questions about the investigation at Marine Military Academy. Interim Chief Education Officer Maurice Swinney, who previously led the equity office, said Galfer’s promotion was in the works before he moved positions in June.

On Friday, Martinez said the district didn’t know the extent of the investigation until the inspector general’s office briefed officials in late October. And CPS followed up to state the principal was fired once the district learned in that briefing that she was “part of the ongoing comprehensive OIG Investigation that yielded substantiated findings regarding the school culture.”

However, in the same statement, school district officials acknowledge that “CPS” knew far earlier. They said CPS was informed in April 2019 by the inspector general “that several employees, including the former principal, were alleged to have failed to report an abuse case.” The statement was in response to questions about the legal department’s knowledge and involvement. Despite that, the statement refers to “CPS” without specifying who at CPS knew and why that information was not taken into consideration when the principal was being promoted.

That huge lag in time before the investigation was complete and final action taken — more than 2 years — prompted outcry from staff at the school, who felt their concerns were being ignored. And now Martinez says he wants to do something about it.

Under his administration, he said staff who fail to report a case of abuse or neglect will be removed, not just the perpetrators. In addition, before someone is transferred or promoted, officials will check if they are under investigation.

Martinez said on Friday future investigations should be completed much faster. He said the inspector general’s office had a backlog, but with fewer cases coming in during the pandemic, they have been able to clear it. Also, this year, the school district added six more staffers to the inspector general’s office.

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez speaks during a press conference Friday, where officials discussed multiple sexual misconduct investigations at Marine Leadership Academy.

What happened at Marine Leadership Academy?

The inspector general’s report released Friday provides details about what occurred at the school. Two teachers had substantiated claims against them: one for having sex with a student in 2015-2016, and another for grooming a student and making sexual advances after graduation. In one of those cases, the investigation uncovered texts from a teacher to a student saying, “I can’t wait until you turn 18,” officials said.

The inspector general also substantiated allegations against three military instructors, two for inappropriate interactions, such as personal conversations and text messaging, and another for sexual harassment. In 2013, the school went from being a neighborhood middle school to a military academy for middle and high schoolers — a move that some community members and parents fought against.

Galfer and a security guard are taken to task for knowing about the sexual relationships between the teachers and the students, but not reporting them, according to the report. In one case, Galfer only reported the abuse 15 minutes after a child welfare investigator visited the school, the IG said.

The inspector general also found that two other teachers and a security guard also knew about these relationships and did not alert anyone. The results of two additional investigations by the watchdog will be released in the coming weeks.

But even before these current allegations, there was evidence that Galfer was not being vigilant with background checks or removing staff accused of harming students. In 2017, a report written by a CPS attorney said the district determined Galfer failed to report a student had a nude photo of a staff member and lied about knowing the picture existed, according to documents obtained by the Sun-Times and WBEZ. Galfer was also cited in 2015 for failing to report a picture that included a staff member holding a beer.

Another investigative memo completed in spring 2018 found that Galfer allowed a volunteer to coach a sports team without verifying he completed a background check and, even after he was accused of sexual misconduct, did not make sure he stopped volunteering at the school. Investigators did not find evidence of sexual misconduct on the part of the coach.

Neither of those cases appears to be among those later investigated by the inspector general. The CPS Law Department used to handle those types of cases before the inspector general took over all adult-on-student sexual misconduct investigations. That change happened in 2019 in the aftermath of a Chicago Tribune series detailing the district’s widespread mishandling of cases. In response, then-CPS CEO Janice Jackson said she was “sick to her stomach.” She promised a review of practices and past cases.

It’s unclear if Galfer was ever reprimanded in those two cases, and the CPS Law Department failed to release these investigations or any information in response to a 2020 WBEZ public records request for Galfer’s personnel file.

At the time, attorneys said part of the reason they weren’t releasing Galfer’s personnel file was “portions of the requested records that have been determined to be factual information inextricably intertwined with an ongoing investigation or disciplinary proceeding.” On Friday, CPS indicated that the investigation had nothing to do with the sexual misconduct probe. Instead, they released an investigative report into Galfer for pressuring a military officer working in the school to resign rather than fire him properly. She was suspended for a day, which she argued in a letter was unfair.

Galfer also feels she is being treated unfairly now. Galfer’s attorney, Jonathan Karmel, said CPS “falsely stated that our client … failed to report the sexual misconduct” at Marine Leadership Academy.

“Notwithstanding Mr. Martinez’s attempt to create a false narrative, the tragic failure at Marine falls directly at the feet of CPS who long knew about the misconduct and did not take timely steps to protect the students,” Karmel said in a statement.

“Instead, Erin was wrongly terminated and looks forward to restoring her reputation and, more importantly, holding CPS responsible for its endemic failures to protect CPS students.”

Martinez told reporters Friday at a press conference that preempted the inspector general’s report that there was a “culture of behavior and distrust that occurred at Marine Leadership Academy that is not tolerated by our district.”

Sarah Karp covers education for WBEZ. Nader Issa is the education reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times.

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A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot Nov. 21, 2021, in Roseland. | Sun-times file

The teen was attacked Sunday evening in the 200 block of West 110th Place, officials said.

A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot Sunday evening in Roseland on the Far South Side outside a home that had been targeted earlier that day.

The boy was attacked while he stood on a sidewalk around 5 p.m. in the 200 block of West 110th Place, according to Chicago police. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the boy was alone when gunfire rang out and struck him multiple times.

He was standing outside a home that had been targeted earlier in the day, police Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told reporters Monday. It was unclear if he was the target of the shooting.

Police released no other details. No one was in custody.

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Mirabel (center, voiced by Stephanie Beatriz) is part of magical family but has no magical powers in “Encanto.” | DISNEY

Several generations love their enchanted house in the gorgeous movie filled with memorable songs.

The end credits for today’s animated films run for so long that, if you live within a mile or two of a theater, you might make it home before all the production supervisors and effects animators and character technical directors and environment look supervisors and visual effects artists and crowd/fix animators and layout artists and lighting and compositing artists et al. get their due.

It takes a studio village. It usually takes years. And, in the case of the vibrant, gorgeous, eye-popping, colorful and, well, enchanting “Encanto,” you can see the effort of every single individual listed in the credits come to full flourish on the big screen. Disney’s 60th animated film is one of the most beautiful in the long and storied history of the catalog and a surefire contender for best animated feature of 2021.

With crisp and assured direction from Byron Howard and Jared Bush (with lead screenwriter Charise Castro Smith co-directing), a bounty of catchy new songs by the ubiquitous treasure that is one Lin-Manuel Miranda and fantastic voice work from the ensemble cast, “Encanto” is a magical and warmhearted journey with lovely messaging about the importance of family, some genuinely funny set pieces and those stunning visuals that fill every corner of the screen. If you could hug a movie, this is the kind of movie you’d want to hug.

Whereas so many Disney fairy tales feature ambitious and adventurous young characters who yearn to escape the walls of their gilded palaces or homes, “Encanto” is all about the wonders INSIDE and around a particularly special household: the multi-story casita occupied by three generations of the Madrigal family. The candy-colored home is the centerpiece of a town nestled deep in the mountains of Colombia, and it’s a character unto itself, as the tiles ripple like dominoes and the bedroom doors are glowing, mystical entranceways to bedrooms occupied by various family members with special gifts.

Meet the Madrigals:

Abuela Alma (Maria Cecilia Botero) is the family matriarch, who was gifted with a continually glowing special candle during a time of great tragedy when she was a young mother — a candle that sits in a windowsill and is the source of all the magic within the house.
Julieta (Angie Cepeda) can heal any ailments with her cooking, while Julieta’s sister, Aunt Pepa, controls the weather with her feelings. Cousin Dolores (Adassa) has super-hearing, while another cousin, Camilo (Rhenzy Feliz), is a mischievous shapeshifter.
Julieta’s daughter Isabela (Diane Guererro) is a classic animated beauty who makes flowers bloom everywhere, while Isabela’s older sister Luisa (Jessica Darrow) has Thor-level strength.

Then there’s Julieta’s third daughter, Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz), who is the heroine of our story and, in classic underdog-Disney fashion, is also the black sheep of the family, as she has no magic gift and has a propensity for getting in everyone’s way and messing things up, no matter how good her intentions. Abuela can’t hide her disappointment with Mirabel, Isabela is constantly Mean Girl-ing Mirabel, and everyone else pretty much ignores her or tells her to get out of the way.

One of the cool things about “Encanto” is how the townsfolk aren’t fearful of the Madrigals or assembling a mob to destroy this mysterious and supernaturally gifted family; it’s quite the opposite, as they depend on the Madrigals’ special talents to keep the village thriving and enjoy flocking to the home for special occasions. It’s a wonderfully diverse, vibrant community where music and joy are the order of the day.

Until the inevitable darkness on the horizon.

When Mirabel is the only one to see cracks in the house (literally), indicating the candle could soon blow out and all the magic will be lost, things start to go terribly wrong, and of course, Mirabel is blamed and shunned. Still, she remains determined to save the family, even if they don’t appreciate her. In the meantime, we’re introduced to a key supporting player, John Leguizamo’s hilariously eccentric Uncle Bruno, who disappeared years ago and becomes a reluctant ally to his fellow outcast Mirabel.

From a flashback set to Miranda’s Spanish-language “Dos Oruguitas” to the rousing ensemble numbers “Welcome to the Family Madrigal” to “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” to the Mirabel/Isabela duet “What Else Can I Do?” to the anthemic “Colombia, Mi Encanto,” the songs in “Encanto” are infectious and instantly memorable. Blending just the right mixture of comedy, heartwarming family drama and thrilling adventures, this is one of my favorite movies — animated or otherwise — of the year.

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Mikayla Renfrow makes her Paramount Theatre debut in the title role of “Cinderella.” | Liz Lauren

Oscar Hammerstein’s book has been tweaked, but the story is the same as ever — and that’s not necessarily a good thing.

The Paramount Theatre’s “Cinderella” is opulent to behold, gorgeously sung and filled with all glitter and (seeming) magic one expects the lavish theater palace in Aurora.

Directed by Brenda Didier, with music direction by Kory Danielson, there are wonderful things about “Cinderella,” its easy-to-hum music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein among them.

Adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs, from the teleplay by Robert L. Freeman (and Charles Perrault’s version of the original fairy tale), Hammerstein’s book has been tweaked, but the story is the same as ever: Orphan girl, abusive stepmother/stepsisters, fairy godmother, ball, charming prince, midnight, glass slipper, happily-ever-after.

The most noticeable tweak gives Cinderella (Mikayla Renfrow, an ethereal dancer with a voice of silvery sweetness) a moment of pure agency. It arrives as Cinderella defies the orders of her Stepmother (Sarah Bockel) to remain silent and invisible, instead stepping into the light and simply, assertively stating “I’m here.” It’s a powerful moment.

Liz Lauren
Cinderella (Mikayla Renfrow) and Prince Christopher (Markcus Blair) Meet Cute at the ball in Paramount Theatre’s production of “Cinderella,” directed by Brenda Didier.

Other notable plusses: All hail Lionel (Lorenzo Rush Jr.), town cryer/assistant to prince Prince Christopher (Markcus Blair, charming in a thanklessly bland role). When Chris mopes that he has no life of his own, Lionel claps back with a forest of shade contained in half a dozen words. Lionel deserves a fairy godwhatever to give him his own show.

The Stepmother’s one-liners (“What he lacks in height, he makes up for in cash.” “How long does it take to wrap a salmon?”) are also comic gold, as is a bit where she channels Carol Burnett-as Scarlett-O’Hara by fashioning a gown from drapes.

Didier and co-choreographer Tiffany Krause fill the stage with wowza showstoppers, from peasants vogueing in Lederhosen to Cinderella’s balletic, iconic waltz across the royal ballroom.

Theresa Ham’s costumes are detailed and character-specific. The stepsisters (Jacquelyne Jones, Tiffany T. Taylor), for example, have bulbous, cabbage- sized floral arrangements sprouting like giant acne from their gowns. Cinderella’s baby-blue ballgown is interpreted with the sparkle of a thousand Shirley Temples.

That gown comes, of course, from the Fairy Godmother (Jerica Exum, serving Lilith meets Eve meets Dorothy Dandridge meets your favorite aunt). When Exum wields her scepter, you know big magic is going to follow.

Liz Lauren
Sarah Bockel (center) plays Cinderella’s evil stepmother, Tiffany T. Taylor (left) is stepsister Joy, and Jacquelyne Jones plays stepsister Grace in Paramount Theatre’s “Cinderella.”

The problem is the story itself: If you are a girl and want to be happy-ever-after, you must marry a rich man. Don’t tell that message doesn’t worm its way into impressionable psyches. Yes, it’s just a fairy tale. But “Cinderella” is also a global brand at this point, about as ubiquitous as Coca-Cola.

Further, the script asks the audience to empathize with a prince living in a palace, with endless wealth and two loving parents (Rashada Dawan and Michael Kingston, regal and real as Queen Constantina and King Maximillian) as much as it empathizes with an orphan perpetually stuck in the scullery. That’s ridiculous, and not in a good way.

At the Paramount, there are two camped-up scenes of garish women debasing themselves, each played for broad laughs. The first is at the ball, as googly-eyed, tittering maidens do everything but death-drops as they try to keep Chris entertained. He rolls his eyes when they aren’t looking. He ‘s the one — not the women — who complains about being treated like livestock. The second is the shoe-fitting test, which has women literally willing to limp through life if it means they get the guy.

To use the Fairy Godmother’s language, that’s a whole lot of folderal and fiddle-dee-dee.

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Five people were killed and 34 others wounded this weekend. | Sun-Times file

The 14-year-old was shot Sunday evening in the 200 block of West 110th Place, authorities said.

A 14-year-old boy was among five people killed in weekend shootings in Chicago, with 34 other people wounded, including six teens.

The most violent area of the city was the 11th police district on the West Side, which had 11 shooting victims between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday. The same police district felt the brunt of last weekend’s violence too: more than a quarter of the 21 people shot.

In the first weekend of the month, 10 people were killed and 42 were wounded.

The youngest person killed this past weekend was a 14-year-old boy gunned down late Sunday in Roseland on the Far South Side. The attack happened just after 5 p.m. in the 200 block of West 110th Place, Chicago police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released.
A man was killed and another wounded Friday night in West Englewood on the South Side. A 45-year-old man was found with wounds to the head and chest in a car in the 7100 block of South Seeley Avenue about 9:30 p.m., police said. He was pronounced dead at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. His name hasn’t been released. The car was parked outside a home where another man, 35, was found with a gunshot wound to the hip. He was in good condition.
A 22-year-old man was fatally shot Saturday in Homan Square on the West Side. He was standing on the corner in the 3800 block of West Roosevelt Road when someone walked up and fired about 1:40 p.m., police said. The man was struck in the head and pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital. His name has not yet been released.
About 20 minutes later, a man was killed in a drive-by in Pilsen on the Near West Side. Florentino Vargas, 47, was standing outside in the 900 block of West 19th Street when a car drove by and someone inside opened fire about 2 p.m., authorities said. He was struck in the abdomen and taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
A teenager was killed in a shooting Sunday afternoon in the South Shore neighborhood. Quinhon T. Douglas, 19, was shot in the head about 4:40 p.m. in the 6700 block of South Merrill Avenue, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three people were wounded when someone fired into a Chatham gas station in the 8600 block of South State Street about 3:45 p.m. Saturday, police said. All three men went to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.
A Chicago police officer shot a person in an exchange of gunfire during an “investigative stop” on the West Side, officials say. No officers were struck by gunfire. About 8:30 p.m. Sunday, officers were conducting a stop in the 200 block of North Kostner Avenue when a male fled on foot, police said. Officers were shot at and returned fire, according to police. He was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Two teenage boys were wounded in a shooting Friday afternoon in Fernwood on the South Side. The boys, 15 and 16, were on the sidewalk in the 10000 block of South Parnell Avenue when someone opened fire about 5 p.m., police said. They were both shot in the leg and were taken in good condition to Christ.
About 45 minutes later, a 17-year-old girl was grazed by a bullet in Englewood on the South Side. She was stopped at a red light in the 6000 block of South State Street when a car pulled up and someone inside fired shots, police said. She was grazed in the back and was taken to the University of Chicago in good condition.
Another teen, a 16-year-old boy, was shot Saturday in East Garfield Park on the West Side. He was walking in the 3400 block of West Lake Street, when he was shot in the leg about 1:15 p.m., police said, He was taken to Stroger in good condition.
A few hours later, a 16-year-old boy was wounded in Park Manor on the South Side. The teen was sitting in a car in the 7000 block of South Wabash Avenue when another car pulled up and someone someone inside fired shots, police said. He was transported to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition.
A 17-year-old boy was wounded Sunday evening in Albany Park on Northwest Side. The teen was near an alley in the 5000 block of North Lawndale Avenue when someone approached and opened fire about 5:20 p.m., police said. He was struck in the stomach and was transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition.
Three people were wounded in a shooting Sunday night on the Bishop Ford Expressway. They were shot around 9 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 94 near 120th Street, according to Illinois State Police. They were taken to hospitals, where one of them had life-threatening injuries and the two others were expected to survive.

At least 20 other people were wounded across Chicago over the weekend.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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Evanston’s Rashawn Bost (24) gets ready to shoot past Notre Dame. | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

The following are the six teams that are arguably the very best unranked teams in the Chicago area,

The preseason rankings are fun. What better way to get high school basketball fans amped up and talking about the sport before a single game is even played?

But anyone who puts together a preseason ranking this year will quickly come to the realization that it’s unlike any other year for prognostications of teams led by teen-aged athletes. There was only so much basketball played last season and even less watched due to the small window of opportunity to play and the absence of tournaments and shootouts.

For years I have put together a massive preseason ranking of the top 85 teams, a number that just grew from the original top 50 in order to provide additional exposure and to highlight more teams and players. There was something humorous about a team or fan base feeling disrespected over being the 74th ranked team in November.

While the task of ranking 85 teams is daunting in a normal year, it was nearly impossible this season with so little basketball even played over the past year. Thus, I took a pass.

But we have Michael O’Brien’s Sun-Times preseason Super 25 to get us started and dissect. The following are the six teams that are arguably the very best unranked teams in the Chicago area, a few of which would be in my own preseason top 25 rankings.

Benet

This is the best team not ranked in the preseason Super 25. If things materialize just the right way, it will be a team that is a big threat by the time March rolls around.

Coach Gene Heidkamp didn’t take shortcuts in building this program when he took over in 2008. That’s paying off now as the respected Benet basketball program simply turns the page and wins, usually pretty big, every year. The standard remains just as high this year. And a Benet team that is under the radar is a dangerous one.

There is only one true returning starter, senior point guard Brennan White, but coach Gene Heidkamp has a junior class that will prop this team up and a host of perimeter shooters that should be able to put points on the board.

While White averaged seven points and three assists a game last year, 6-4 junior Niko Abusara is expected to make a big jump and is an unknown player to get excited about. He has length, athleticism and a will to get to the basket.

Both 6-3 junior wing Brady Kunka and 6-6 sophomore big man Parker Sulaver bring some physicality and gained valuable experience a year ago as young players at the varsity level.

The wild card will be 6-9 Kyle Thomas, a transfer from St. Joseph who was once regarded as one of the top prospects in the class. There is a lot to learn for Thomas, both within the Benet system and how to play with the expectations this program will fully expect. But if he can develop into a presence defensively, on the glass and can score using his size, athleticism and running ability for a big man, he could prove to be a huge asset.

Burlington Central

There is something to be said about chemistry and cohesiveness, especially with an experienced group. With four returning starters who were all double-figure scorers a year ago, coach Brett Porto has a lot of it. This is why the Rockets are the favorite in the Fox Valley Conference after going 16-1 last season.

But this group wants more than a 20-plus win season and a conference championship. The program has never won a sectional title in school history. But this team is built for a potential long run in March, thanks to returning senior starters Gavin Sarvis, Carson Seyller, Zac Schmidt and Nick Carpenter. And keep an eye on 6-7 junior Andrew Scharnowski, who brings size and versatility.

The question now is whether this team can compete with anyone and play at the highest level? For one early measuring stick, the Rockets get a big mid-December test against Rolling Meadows.

Evanston

Coach Mike Ellis has just one returning starter back from a year ago. But the Wildkits aren’t going away. It’s a team that could very well have been ranked in the preseason top 25, even with senior Rashawn Bost as the lone starter back from a year ago.

More importantly when it comes to the success factor, Evanston has become an elite program that’s enjoyed a magnificent run of late. This isn’t nearly as talented of a team as recent years, but it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the pace and win totals of the teams of the past five years. Nonetheless, Evanston will enjoy it’s new role of darkhorse in the Central Suburban League South with Glenbrook South and New Trier as the favorites.

This team’s potential starts with the lone returning starter. Bost’s role as an experienced guard will expand, along with last year’s sixth-man, Prince Adams, becoming an even bigger factor. The 6-6 Adams showed flashes last season and should take a significant step forward as a junior.

A big addition is senior David Gieser, a 6-3 shooter who has transferred in from Fenwick. Gieser brings a ton of experience and much-needed space-the-floor shooting that was lost with the departure of all-stater Blake Peters.

A couple of other players to keep an eye on are Javen Barnett, a junior guard and transfer from Hoffman Estates, and promising freshman guard Yaris Irby.

Lake Forest

It’s not very often the preseason Super 25 doesn’t have a single team from the North Suburban Conference. Whether it’s been Stevenson, Waukegan, Warren, Zion-Benton or even an upstart like Mundelein a year ago, it’s been a strong and proud basketball league over the past few decades.

The favorite this year: Lake Forest. It’s a team that would be in my preseason top 25 and one that can make a run at 20-plus wins and be a major player in March — this year in Class 3A.

The Scouts went 12-4 a year ago in the shortened season and welcome back junior Asa Thomas, currently the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2023. He sports several high-major offers already and is among the state’s best perimeter shooters. The 6-6 Thomas averaged 11 points a game as a sophomore but has become bigger, stronger and has two years of varsity basketball under his belt.

Senior Cade Nowik is a two-year starter and Leo Scheidler is an athletic 6-2 senior who will begin his third year at the varsity level. Senior point guard Sam Gibson has some nice size for the position at 6-3, while 6-1 Alex Forowycz is yet another perimeter player for coach Phil LaScala.

Lyons

There aren’t enough people talking about LT basketball as this 2021-22 season tips off. This is a dangerous team with several weapons it can turn to with none bigger than Tavari Johnson.

The sleek senior point guard who signed with Akron is the rare combination of distributor and bucket-getter. He can do both efficiently and is poised for a huge season. Johnson is a game-changer with the ball in his hands and makes the Lions a threat to break into the top 25 at some point this season.

Will Carroll, a 6-4 senior, is another key returning player for coach Tom Sloan, while there are also some good, young pieces in the program. The junior class is talented, primed and ready to make a splash, including 6-6 Nik Polonowski, who has the look of a future Division I prospect, 6-0 guard Jackson Niego and 6-5 Graham Smith.

Riverside-Brookfield

The Bulldogs can sometimes get lost a little playing in the non-descript Metro Suburban Conference. But R-B won last year, going 11-2, just as it’s done since the 2008-09 season. It’s been a decade-plus of this program regularly churning out 20-win seasons.

It should be more of the same this season with the return of so many veterans who produced a year ago and had another offseason to develop together. When you combine skill, shooting and experience, it’s a potentially dangerous offensive team.

There is an abundance of shooting and scoring in the form of 6-2 guard Joevonn McCottry (13 ppg), 6-3 shooter JP Hanley (16 ppg), 6-3 Joe Gilhooly (8 ppg), Cory Baker (10 ppg) and point guard Brady Vaia. Plus, Will Gonzalez is an exciting 6-4 sophomore with varsity experience who should take a big step forward. Arius Alijosius, a transfer from Stagg, adds depth and added shooting.

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