Jeff Reinebold, special teams coordinator of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats and his nearly 40 years of coaching experience joins the 100 Crew to talk Chicago Bears football
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Keepin’ It 100 – North of the BorderStephen Johnsonon June 3, 2021 at 4:22 am Read More »
A key aim of Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s visit to Washington is believed to be securing U.S. funding to help restock Israel’s Iron Dome, a sophisticated missile defense system that smacked down many of the more than 4,000 rockets that Hamas militants fired toward Israel last month.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz sought a reaffirmation of U.S. security commitments to Israel on Thursday as the country weathers its greatest domestic political upheaval in years and the aftermath of last month’s war with Hamas militants in Gaza.
A key aim of Gantz’s visit to Washington is believed to be securing U.S. funding to help restock Israel’s Iron Dome, a sophisticated missile defense system that smacked down many of the more than 4,000 rockets that Hamas militants fired toward Israel last month. More than a week of Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets killed 254 people in Hamas-ruled Palestinian Gaza and 12 in Israel.
Gantz was meeting with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The Biden administration pledged ongoing support for Iron Dome on the eve of Gantz’s visit.
“During the conflict we saw the Iron Dome system, which our nations developed together, save the lives of countless innocent civilians,” acting Assistant Secretary of State Joey Hood told the Israel Policy Forum, a New York-based research group.
President Joe Biden “is clear about this administration’s support for replenishing this system to support Israel’s ability to defend itself in the future,” Hood said.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, touring Israel this week in a show of support after the latest Gaza war, said he expected Israelis to seek up to $1 billion from the U.S. for Iron Dome, including for restocking the system’s interception missiles.
The U.S. partnership in Israel’s Iron Dome has wide bipartisan support in Congress, as does overall U.S. support for Israel’s defense, a tenet of U.S. foreign policy for decades. Last month’s war, however — the fiercest Israeli-Palestinian fighting since 2014 — has exposed a rift in Biden’s Democratic Party. Progressives and some others demanded a cease-fire by Israel as well as Hamas as Palestinian deaths grew in the crowded Gaza Strip, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, said the U.S. should take an “even-handed” approach to ally Israel in its long-running conflict with the Palestinians.
The latest Gaza war started May 10 after Hamas fired rockets toward Jerusalem in support of Palestinian protests against Israel’s heavy-handed policing of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to Jews and Muslims, and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families by Jewish settlers.
Biden and his administration have stressed U.S. support for Israel’s defense and condemnation of Hamas attacks, while exhorting both sides to avoid incendiary moves. Long-term, the administration says it is maintaining U.S. backing for reviving a moribund peace process that would include a separate state for Palestinians.
Gantz’s visit with Israel’s top ally comes as Israeli opposition leaders seek to come together in a coalition to oust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ending his record 12 years in power.
Gantz is part of the coalition pushing to unseat Netanyahu. He is expected to remain in his post as defense minister if the government changes.
A survey of 2,000 baseball fans said Clark was the best. The White Sox’ Southpaw? Not so much.
The Cubs are way ahead of the White Sox when it comes to mascot popularity.
According to a survey conducted by PlayUSA.com, Clark the Cub is the best mascot in Major League Baseball. Clark’s South Side counterpart, Southpaw, came in 22nd place. Slider, the mascot for the Sox’ AL Central rival Cleveland Indians, came in last place.
Fans surveyed gave Clark a 3.95 rating out of 5. Southpaw had an average rating of 3.07.
Rounding out the top 5 best MLB mascots: 2. Paws (Detroit Tigers) 3. Dinger (Colorado Rockies) 4. T.C. (Minnesota Twins) 5. The Oriole Bird (Baltimore Orioles).
The worst MLB mascots: 1. Slider (Cleveland Indians) 2. Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres) 3. Billy the Marlin (Miami Marlins) 4. Raymond (Tampa Bay Rays) 5. Blooper (Atlanta Braves).
The most obnoxious MLB mascots: 1. Philly Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies) 2. Baxter (Arizona Diamondbacks) 3. Slider (Cleveland Indians) 4. Swinging Friar (San Diego Padres) 5. Blooper (Atlanta Braves).
PlayUSA.com surveyed more than 2,000 baseball fans and asked them to rate every official MLB mascot on a scale of 1-5. Ratings were then averaged for each mascot. Among respondents, 59% were male and 41% were female with an average age of 37.
Benetti and Sox radio voice Len Kasper will debut their podcast “Sox Degrees” on Monday.
White Sox TV voice Jason Benetti already is one of the busiest people in sports broadcasting. Now he’s adding the Summer Olympics to his list of responsibilities.
Benetti confirmed he’ll be calling baseball for NBC in the Tokyo Olympics, which begin July 23. His schedule is still being worked out.
Benetti, who already is in the NBC family with NBC Sports Chicago, also calls major-league baseball and college basketball and football for ESPN. He’s the lead voice for the network’s Statcasts of MLB games, and he called his first NBA game this season.
On Monday, he and Sox radio voice Len Kasper will debut their podcast “Sox Degrees.”
Beth Mowins, who occasionally fills in calling Cubs games on Marquee Sports Network, will call Olympic softball. Baseball and softball are back in the Olympics for the first time since 2008 in Beijing.
NBC is expected to announce more broadcast assignments today.
With summer on our doorsteps, it’s time to enjoy the area’s many al fresco dining options.
With pandemic restrictions increasingly easing, and Chicago making huge strides to a return to pre-pandemic normalcy, the area’s restaurant community is adding a spring/summertime favorite to its menus: al fresco dining.
Devasted by the pandemic, Chicago’s culinary scene has weathered more than a year of closures, carryout, deliver-only and limited indoor dining. But customers have done their best to patronize their favorite eateries and discover some new ones along the way.
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Here’s a look at some of what the area’s outdoor dining scene is offering. But check out your neighborhood — there are hundreds of restaurants, diners and food-offering bars serving up some of the best food in the country.
Aba: The rooftop patio seating features heaters and fire pits throughout, and a Mediterranean menu from chef CJ Jacobson, highlighting influences from the Mediterranean, including Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. 302 N. Green Street; abarestaurants.com
Aire: Located at the Hyatt Centric in the Loop, this rooftop hotspot has a 360-degree view of the city and features fire pits, cabanas and couches. The menu includes an array of appetizers, flatbreads and salads plus craft cocktails and beer. 100 W. Monroe; hyatt.com
Angelo’s: The Albany Park restaurant has a streetside patio plus a handy covered patio in case of inclement weather. The menu includes pasta, pizzas and seafood plus craft cocktails and wine. 3026 W. Montrose; angeloschicago.com
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Athena: This Greektown staple has a charming patio with a retractable roof, Greek columns and a waterfall. The extensive menu is full of Greek-inspired classics from flaming saganaki to gyros and solmades plus many varieties of lamb. 212 S. Halsted; athenachicago.com
Avli River North & Avli on the Park. The River North spot offering contemporary Greek cuisine features a cedar terrace/patio and sidewalk café. The Lakeshore East location has a rooftop patio with fireplaces and a great view. 702 N. Wells and 180 N. Field; avli.us
Bar Avec: Located in River North, this new rooftop is inspired by the leisurely style of dining found at seaside diners in coastal Spanish and Portuguese towns. Chefs Paul Kahan and Ross Henke’s menu is simple fare that showcases seafood and seasonal vegetables as well as Avec classics. 640 N. Lasalle; baravec.com
Bar Chido: A patio extends the fun atmosphere of this restaurant that offers a modern take on Mexican street food. There’s also a taco takeout window. 1012 Curtiss, Downers Grove; facebook.com/barchidodg/
The Barn Steakhouse: The Evanston restaurant features an outdoor space with Adirondack chairs and firepits. In addition to steaks, the menu includes seafood, salads and more. 1016 Church, Evanston; thebarnsteakhouse.com
Big Star Wicker Park & Big Star Wrigleyville: The outdoor patio of the Wicker Park location is a lively neighborhood cornerstone with tasty tacos, slushies and margaritas with music provided by DJs. A smaller streetside patio at the restaurant’s Wrigleyville location features the same food and honky-tonk vibe within sightlines of the ballpark. 1531 N. Damen and 3640 N. Clark; bigstarchicago.com
BiXi Beer: The Asian-inspired brewpub located in Logan Square features a roof deck with a covered section for outdoor dining in inclement weather. Chef Bo Fowler’s menu includes noodles, burgers, seafood and more. 2515 N. Milwaukee; bixi.beer
The Bureau Bar + Restaurant: The South Loop restaurant and event space is equipped with outdoor patio seating, a pool table, live music, and a comprehensive menu including brunch options. 2115 S. State. Visit bureaubarandrestaurant.com.
Cabra: Stephanie Izzard’s Peruvian-influenced restaurant is situated atop the Hoxton hotel and includes a partially covered patio space with views of Fulton Market. The menu features small plates including salmon ceviche, goat empanadas, eggplant saltado and more. 200 N. Green; cabrachicago.com
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Café Ba-Ba-Reeba: Chicago’s original tapas bar has tented outdoor tables where patrons can enjoy a menu of authentic Spanish cuisine designed to share. 2024 N. Halsted; cafebabareeba.com
Chez Moi: The French restaurant located in Lincoln Park features bistro-style outdoor dining with a romantic ambiance. Chef Dominique Tougne’s classic French menu includes onion soup, foie gras, steak frites, crème brulee and more. 2100 N. Halsted; chezmoichicago.com
City Winery: The restaurant/music venue has a large dog-friendly outdoor patio where patrons can enjoy a selection of small and large plates, pizzas, salads, cocktails and, of course, wine. 1200 W. Randolph; citywinery.com/chicago
Coco Pazzo Café: This casual eatery has reopened with an outdoor patio and a new menu of small plates. 212 E. Ohio; cocopazzocafe.com
The Duck Inn: Enjoy everything duck (rotisserie duck, duck fat French fries, duck wings and more) under a tent on the Bridgeport restaurant’s backyard patio. 2701 S. Eleanor; theduckinnchicago.com
Found Kitchen & Social House: The restaurant includes an outdoor patio where you can enjoy chef Debbie Gold’s menu that highlights seasonal flatbreads, an array of cheeses, shared plates and kitchen driven craft cocktails. 1631 Chicago, Evanston; foundkitchen.com
French Quiche: There’s cozy patio hidden away in the back of this Lincoln Park establishment. It’s the perfect place to read the paper and enjoy quiche, sandwiches, sweets and more. 2210 N. Halsted; fqchicago.com
Frontier: Chef Brian Jupiter’s bar/restaurant features a covered patio with string lights and a fireplace. Famous for its Whole Animal Experience perfect for a large group, the menu also features blackened salmon, wagyu ribs, char-grilled oysters and the fan favorite five-cheese mac. 1072 N. Milwaukee; thefrontierchicago.com
Fuller House: Enjoy signature American cuisine on this restaurant’s large outdoor patio while also soaking up some sunshine. 35 E. First, Hinsdale; fullerhousebar.com
Fulton Market Kitchen: Chef Jonathan Harootunian offers a new seasonal menu with ingredients sourced from regional farms and markets at this part restaurant, part art gallery crossover that also has a comfortable outdoor patio. 311 N. Sangamon; fultonmarketkitchen.com
Geja’s Café: Enjoy fondue and fine wines on a pergola-covered patio at this North Side staple know as “Chicago’s most romantic restaurant.” 340 W. Armitage; gejascafe.com
Gibson’s Italia: The restaurant’s outdoor area features a retractable roof and walls for warm summer nights along the Chicago River. Chef Jose Sosa’s menu pairs the tastes of Italy with the meat-based menu of Gibson’s Steakhouse. 233 N. Canal; gibsonsitalia.com
Greek Islands: The Greektown restaurant has a traditionally decorated outdoor space and a menu of favorite Greek classics. 200 S. Halsted; greekislands.net
Harold’s #88 Chicken Meets Beer: While the hook is the chicken, the South Loop location stands out with outdoor patio seating, “infused” smoothies, and an occasional Thursday comedy night. 1450 S. Michigan. Visit instagram.com/haroldschicken88meetsbeer/.
Il Culaccino: Located in the South Loop, this Italian eatery has an outdoor patio with a retractable roof and walls. The menu boasts an extensive list of pasta dishes as well as salmon, chicken and veal. 2134 S. Indiana; ilculaccino.com
IO Godfrey: A year-round rooftop patio with a retractable roof, craft cocktails and a menu that features shared plates, grilled selections, sushi and flatbreads. 127 W. Huron; iogodfrey.com
The J. Parker: The rooftop restaurant sits atop Hotel Lincoln and features great views of the city and Lake Michigan. The menu features small plates, sandwiches and burgers. There’s also a breakfast menu. 1816 N. Clark; jparkerchicago.com
Kennedy Rooftop: Located in Wicker Park atop the Hyatt Place Chicago, this outdoor deck has views of the Chicago skyline. The menu features sharable plates as well as burgers, salads and more. 1551 W. North; kennedyrooftop.co
Kimski: Operating within Bridgeport’s Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar, the Polish-Korean mashup has outdoor patio service, eats such as the “Puff Daddy,” a burger patty in between two pizza puffs, and Chap Chae noodles, a vegan stir-fry delicacy. 954-960 W. 31st. Visit kimskichicago.com.
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Kinzie Chophouse: The River North mainstay’s streetside patio features overhead awnings and large umbrellas. Order from the expansive menu (steaks, seafood, pasta) or just stop by for happy hour, which features its own drink and food menu that includes buy one get one free appetizers. 400 N. Wells; kinziechophouse.com
La Josie: The West Loop eatery features a rooftop deck plus a sidewalk café. The upscale-casual Mexican restaurant’s menu includes tacos, enchiladas and more plus a full agave bar. 740 W. Randolph; lajosie.com
MacArthur’s Restaurant: The West Side institution, which boasts Southern comfort food such as smothered chicken, fried catfish, and collard greens, among many other eats, has an outdoor patio. 5412 W. Madison. Visit macarthursrestaurant.com.
Nobu Hotel: Located along the Randolph Street’s restaurant row, this restaurant and hotel has a rooftop space that is partially covered from the elements and has a relaxed, lounge vibe. The menu features small and large plates inspired by the team at Nobu. 155 N. Peoria; chicago.nobuhotels.com
Norman’s Bistro: The North Kenwood hotspot boasts outdoor patio service, a menu featuring signature sandwiches, and a weekly jazz set, among other amenities. 1001 E. 43rd. Visit normansbistro.com.
Offshore: The large rooftop deck located at Navy Pier has spectacular views of the Chicago Skyline and Lake Michigan. The menu offers salads, pizzas, poke bowls, fish and burgers plus an extensive drink menu. 1000 E. Grand; drinkoffshore.com
Open Outcry Brewery Company: The Morgan Park-based brewery, which has a rooftop beer garden and a community taproom, specializes in Neapolitan-style pizza. 10934 S. Western. Visit openoutcrybrewing.com.
Osteria Langhe: Patrons can enjoy the traditional Piedmontese cuisine of chef Cameron Grant in the relaxed atmosphere of a patio hidden behind this Logan Square eatery. There’s also a curated regional wine list. 2824 W. Armitage; osterialanghe.com
Pacino’s: Pull up a seat under the outdoor pergola at this Italian eatery where Sicily meets South Loop. Menu includes antipasti, pizza, salads, seafood, pasta and more. 1010 S. Delano; pacinoschicago.com
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Pilsen Yards: Sporting a menu including tequila and bourbon options, along with vegan pozole and “Drunken Tres Leches (rum, mezcal, charred pineapple),” the Pilsen eatery and event space has outdoor patio seating and other amenities. Live DJ vinyl sets from local creatives round out the ambiance. 1163 W. 18th. Visit pilsenyards.com.
Pizza Friendly Pizza: Hidden behind the Empty Bottle music club in Ukrainian Village this is an urban patio that has an alt-rock energy. There’s a walk-up window to order chef Noah Sandoval’s Sicilian-style pizza and tables to sit at under twinkling lights. 1030 N. Western; pizzafriendlypizza.com
The Promontory: The Hyde Park-based restaurant and event space is equipped with an outdoor patio downstairs, an outdoor deck upstairs, and a menu featuring “Heavy Artillery,” a cocktail with bourbon, cognac, rum, pineapple, lime, black pepper, along with food options. 5311 S. Lake Park West. Visit promontorychicago.com.
The Publican: The West Loop mainstay of chef Paul Kahan features a patio expanded into the closed-off street. The menu as always features an array of meat, seafood and vegetables. 837 W. Fulton; thepublicanrestaurant.com
Publican Quality Meats: Patrons can enjoy artisanal meats and cheese plus unique sandwiches in this outdoor café setting. There’s also a menu of charcuterie selections curated by chef-butcher Rob Levitt. 825 W. Fulton; publicanqualitymeats.com
Reggie’s On the Beach: Reggies Chicago’s Jackson Park seasonal location opened this month. While the eatery has a similar menu (burgers, wings, etc.) as the original, the latest iteration sports an outdoor patio within the backdrop of a beachwalk shoreline behind the 63rd Street Beach House. 6300 S. Lake Shore. Visit reggieslive.com.
Roof on the Wit: Check out the sweeping skyline views at this bar atop the Wit hotel with a retractable roof plus an open patio under the stars. The menu features Neapolitan-style pizzas and classic cocktails. 201 N. State; roofonthewit.com
Saint Lou’s: The Fulton Market hangout spot has a new drink menu and a socially distanced, dog-friendly backyard patio with picnic tables, fire pits and a Bocce ball court. The food menu includes snacks, dips and poboys. 664 W. Lake; saintlouischicago.com
Testaccio: The Logan Square restaurant’s cozy patio echoes al fresco street dining in Europe. The menu features Italian comfort food and wood-fired oven specialties from chef Jacob Solomon plus live music throughout the summer. 2456 N. California; testacciochicago.com
Tuscan Hen Market: The North Center eatery has a quaint European-style patio in its back courtyard where you can enjoy your favorite Italian dinner under the stars. 4019 N. Damen; tuscanhenmarket.com
Tzuco: This Gold Coast restaurant features a patio with a cantilevered ceiling and removable side panels where you can enjoy chef Carlos Gaytán’s vision of Mexican cuisine. 720 N. State; tzuco.com
Uncommon Ground: The Edgewater location has a large patio where patrons can peruse a menu that includes seasonal bucatini, bacon wrapped meatloaf, BBQ roasted chicken and more. 1401 W. Devon; uncommonground.com
Venteux: The French brasserie from chef Donald Young offers a Parisian-inspired garden patio with umbrellas, hanging plants and floral arrangements. Enjoy Young’s nouvelle French menu along with wine and craft cocktails. 224N. Michigan; venteuxchicago.com
Virtue: The Hyde Park eatery has a wrap-around patio where you can choose from chef Erick Williams’s Southern-influenced menu, which includes blackened catfish, lemon chicken, pork steak and more. 1462 E. 53rd; virtuerestaurant.com
The Woodlawn: The Chatham eatery and event space, where the menu includes jerk chicken salad, jambalaya flatbread pizza, and turkey tips, among other eats, is equipped with a rooftop deck and outdoor dining. Starting today, The Woodlawn kicks off their “Underneath the Moon” rooftop DJ and dining series. 1200 E. 79th. Visit thewoodlawn1200.com.
Compiled by Mary Houlihan and Evan F. Moore
The girl was on a sidewalk in the 1700 block of West 48th Street when three people approached and one fired shots, striking her in the head, police said.
Three young gunmen chased a 14-year-old girl down a sidewalk in Back of the Yards and shot in her head Wednesday evening after asking what gang she belonged to, officials said.
The girl was walking her dog, headed to a corner store with her boyfriend, when she was confronted by the three around 6 p.m. in the 1700 block of West 48th Street, according to police.
They asked if she was in a gang and she said she wasn’t, at which point the three chased her half-way down the block and opened fire, according to Ald. Ray Lopez (15th), who said he got the details from police.
She was struck in the head and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, police said.
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No one was in custody.
Lopez said the shooters, who were believed to be 15 and younger, are part of a new gang in the area that has been recruiting from a neighborhood school. The alderman blamed the glorification of gang culture for violence in his ward.
“This elevation of gang life has to come to an end. It’s not cute. It only comes to one outcome, what we saw last night,” Lopez said.
Community activist Andrew Holmes said the girl was taken into surgery Wednesday evening. Her family was at the hospital.
Holmes urged neighbors who may have cameras on their homes to give footage to the Chicago Police Department.
With shootings up 36% this year compared to 2020, Holmes put partial blame on pretrial judges who set bonds, saying the lack of consequences for gun offenders is resulting in more violence — a belief repeatedly expressed by Chicago Police Supt. David Brown.
“These streets belongs to the children, the parks belong to the children,” Holmes said Wednesday outside Comer Hospital. “Give our city back to our youth.”
Between 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, at least four other people were shot in Chicago, two of them fatally. Since last week Thursday, at least 10 people 18 or younger have been shot in the city.
Through the end of May, 1,386 people were shot in Chicago, a jump from 1,116 during the same time in 2020. Murders have risen 5% compared to 2020, with the department reporting 252 murders so far this year.
If any class deserves a little extra attention, it’s this year’s seniors. And we’re going to give it to them.
If any class deserves a little extra attention, it’s this year’s seniors. And we’re going to give it to them.
The Class of 2021 has been a part of history no one could have ever imagined, including two seasons where no state champions were crowned and a senior season that amounted to a dozen or so games and an entire postseason canceled.
As high school seniors are graduating across the state, we look back and recognize this group of players who endured so much over the past 15 months of a global pandemic.
The Michigan State-bound guard was the top-ranked prospect entering high school and remained there all four years.
As a 6-6 guard with a diverse game, Christie did everything asked of him as a player and in developing as a prospect. He put up massive numbers while being ranked among the top 20 players in the country and earning McDonald’s All-American recognition.
All that was missing –– and it was no fault of his own –– were high-stakes, high-profile games and opportunities to help turn a star into a legend in this state.
Even without winning a state title –– no one did the past two years –– Peters has a whole lot of winning on his four-year résumé.
With Peters averaging an eye-opening 15 points a game as a freshman, Evanston went 27-6 and finished third in the state. As a sophomore, Peters helped Evanston to a Class 4A state runner-up finish and 32 victories and then led the ’Kits to the sectional final and a 29-4 record as a junior before Covid-19 pulled the plug on the season.
In total, the sharp-shooting Peters was a part of 105 wins in four years, which included an abbreviated senior season, while winning four Central Suburban League South titles.
But with Peters it went beyond simply the winning totals. It was also about how he went about the winning with several momentous, clutch, game-winning shots. He was the heart and soul of a fabulous four-year Evanston run.
The influx of high-level European talent has been a boon at the highest level of basketball with the NBA being dominated by the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic.
High school basketball in Illinois was also a big recipient with the international arrival of Lesmond, who moved in from France with his family and played for Evanston as a sophomore. Following a transfer to Notre Dame, the 6-5 wing emerged as a star over the past two seasons.
With shooting range out to the three-point line, size and athleticism and a presence defensively, Lesmond is among the top five prospects in the senior class. He turned down high-major offers and is headed to Harvard.
No one was talking about Schwieger as a freshman when he was completely unknown. As a sophomore he was all about projection, and the numbers didn’t warrant a whole lot of name recognition.
Even after putting up just 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds a game as a sophomore, the junior stats remained intriguing but somewhat modest with 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game.
But the high ceiling of the athletic 6-6 Schwieger was what made him so intriguing.
By the time his junior season was complete, he was still relatively an unknown. But Schwieger was among the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top dozen prospects in the class and a mid-major target. He finishes as the No. 8 ranked prospect and is headed to Loyola.
Both Christie and Hopkins set themselves apart from the rest of the pack as their high school careers played out –– Christie immediately as an impactful freshman and Hopkins with a breakout sophomore season.
As a result, they were the two national recruits with high-majors and Blue Bloods on them both. But there is no doubt the lack of visits, due to Covid, quieted the recruiting gossip and drama for all top 100 recruits, including the top two prospects in Illinois.
The recruitment of Hopkins started out as a rather ho-hum one with the 6-6 forward committing to Louisville very early, pulling the trigger before he even began his junior season.
But Hopkins, ranked No. 35 in the country by Rivals, decommitted from the Cardinals last August, setting off a recruiting flurry. He ultimately ended up at Louisville’s rival, Kentucky, where he is part of a top five recruiting class in the country.
For as highly-regarded and highly-ranked as Christie has been throughout his career, the recruitment was about as even-keeled as you’ll find. He turned down Blue Blood offers and interest and zeroed in on some Big Ten options, choosing Tom Izzo and Michigan State last July.
Christie is the highest ranked recruit Izzo has landed since five-star Jaren Jackson in 2017.
The class will undoubtedly have a player or two who exceeds at a level higher in college than anyone dreamed. But the bet right now is on Johnson, who was a dynamic scorer in the backcourt while leading DePaul Prep to the Chipotle Clash of Champions to close out the season.
Drew Valentine, who takes over for Porter Moser as head coach of the red-hot Loyola Ramblers basketball program, was able to keep Johnson on board following Moser’s departure to Oklahoma. That’s a big deal.
Johnson is a mid-major recruiting steal. The 6-3 guard kept inching his way up the rankings throughout his career and landed in the top 10 after blossoming as a junior. He has the type of size, speed and scoring ability in the backcourt that would generally draw a whole lot of eyes during evaluation periods. But there were none, thus it came down to a Loyola-Colorado State recruiting battle.
A player who may have never quite received his proper due over the course of his career, Rollins produced early in his career and quietly maintained his status throughout.
Rollins, who averaged 17.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game this past season, is a bit of a throwback. But he also shows hints of being a new-age hybrid forward as his skill level smooths itself out.
The 6-6 Rollins brings energy, plays hard, rebounds and, as noted, has improved his perimeter jumper and made progress with his overall skill level. Rollins put the work in and is now at least a threat from the three-point line. Kent State nabbed a nice one.
You’re never quite sure just what the burly, physical 6-5 Augillard is as a player. But he will go search out a bucket, whether that’s with a jumper, powerful straight-line drives to the basket or through contact as a strong interior finisher. He did score over 2,000 career points with the Zee-Bees.
While Augillard will have to figure out the defensive end of the game, the size, physicality and scoring prowess he possesses is enough to land somewhere at the low-major or mid-major level. He remains the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s highest ranked, uncommitted prospect in the class.
Final City/Suburban Hoops Report top 10 rankings: 1. Max Christie, Rolling Meadows; 2. Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick; 3. Isaiah Barnes, Simeon; 4. Louis Lesmond, Notre Dame; 5. TY Johnson, DePaul Prep; 6. Ahamad Bynum, Simeon; 7. Chris Hodges, Schaumburg; 8. Ben Schwieger, Waubonsie Valley; 9. Troy D’Amico, Notre Dame; 10. KJ Debrick, Springfield Lanphier
Could the Chicago Bulls and Derrick Rose reunite one more time this offseason? The point guard is expected to be a free agent this offseason.
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The new USFL announced Thursday it will play next spring with a minimum of eight teams “and deliver high-quality, innovative professional football to fans.”
The USFL is relaunching in 2022, four decades after the spring football league’s short-lived run that featured such stars as Reggie White, Herschel Walker, Steve Young, Jim Kelly and future president Donald Trump.
The new USFL announced Thursday it will play next spring with a minimum of eight teams “and deliver high-quality, innovative professional football to fans.”
Although those teams, along with the cities, head coaches and schedules won’t be announced until later, the league said it retains the rights to “key original team names.”
The USFL also is using the same red, white and blue stars-and-stripes logo it did from 1983-85.
Fox Sports, which has a minority equity stake in the company that owns the new USFL, will serve as the league’s official broadcast partner.
“I’m extremely passionate about football and the opportunity to work with Fox Sports and to bring back the USFL in 2022 was an endeavor worth pursuing,” said Brian Woods, co-founder of the new USFL and founder and CEO of The Spring League.
“We look forward to providing players a new opportunity to compete in a professional football league and giving fans everywhere the best football viewing product possible during what is typically a period devoid of professional football.”
Fox CEO and executive producer Eric Shanks called the USFL’s relaunch “a landmark day for football fans and Fox Sports.”
“Football is in our DNA and the return of this innovative and iconic league is a fantastic addition to our robust slate of football programming,” Shanks said.
The USFL was launched in 1983, but crumbled after three seasons because of out-of-control spending and an ill-conceived push led by Trump, owner of the New Jersey Generals, to compete directly against the NFL with a fall season.
Launched originally to serve as more of a complement to the NFL than a direct competitor, the USFL helped change professional football in its short lifespan.
The USFL featured rules innovations, helped usher in underclassmen being drafted by the NFL and pushed the league to pay bigger salaries and create real free agency.
In the end, the USFL’s most enduring legacy was the $3 judgment it “won” in an antitrust suit against the NFL, a ruling that finished off the league in 1986 before it carried out a Trump-backed move from spring to fall.
Most famous for getting beat by Abraham Lincoln, the senator’s other local legacy is making Chicago the railroad hub of America—at immense cost.Read More
