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It was built up as Illinois' top
senior vs. Illinois' top junior. The defending state champs
vs. the young guns from the public league trying to steal their
crown. Both were in the top 25 nationally throughout the
year, and this was not even for the state title! It was
only the quarterfinals of the Illinois High School State
Tournament. Glenbrook North, the 2005 class AA state
champs came into the game with a 29-2 record and are led by
McDonalds All-American Jon Scheyer. Scheyer, a Duke signee,
has been compared favorably to current Blue Devil JJ Reddick.
He came into the matchup averaging 29.4 points per game.
Derrick Rose led Simeon into the game with his big rep.
Rose is a 6-4 combo guard who is considered a top 5 junior
nationally. I personally have him third only behind
teammates OJ Mayo and Bill Walker. He led his team into
the game coming off a great 29 point performance against Proviso
East. He is averaging 20 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
It appears that the two main contenders for Rose's services are
Illinois and North Carolina. Depaul and Arizona are also
being considered. Now you know the build up. The
stage was set, with all of the state of Illinois watching on TV,
lets
see if this game can live up to the hype!!!!!!!
Derrick Rose 6-4 SG/PG
Rose started off the game on fire! Coming out like he
wanted to show who really was the best player in Illinois.
He got a rebound off Glenbrook's first possession and flew past
3 defenders from coast to coast for a short leaning jump shot.
The 30 seconds later he got a long rebound, passed it off, and
got it right back for a tip dunk. Simeon was up 4-0 quick.
About a minute later Rose came out of nowhere to block an inside
shot from one of Glenbrook's big men. Rose's great dribble
penetration got him his first assist of the game, by getting the
ball to a open teammate for an open 3. He would then come
back with a no look jump pass in traffic to a teammate
underneath the hoop. He would close out the quarter with a
short jumper inside.
At the 6:25 mark he made a great one-handed pass, while falling
down for the assist. After a Scheyer blocked shot Derrick
tipped it, got it back, and tipped it in for two. He
closed the half by hitting a runner and showing his tremendous
hang time. Rose had 10 points at half time and his team
was up 6.
Glenbrook would start out the second half with a box and 1 on
Rose, which would slow his scoring down. Defensively, he
would start out on Scheyer. It was effective.
Scheyer did not score in the third period. Rose would miss
a couple of jumpers in the third, and then at the end of the
period he would steal a pass at mid-court, get a breakaway, and
then wind up for a tomahawk jam. The one problem was that
he left the ball up in the air when it slipped out of his hand.
Simeon is up 13 going to the final period.
He would miss a lay up
in traffic to start the 4th. Then two turnovers, which
Scheyer would capitalize on the second one. Rose would
find center Tim Flowers for two big assists and a 10 point lead.
Rose ended the game with a two handed slam and the crowd went
wild. Simeon wins. Rose ends up with 14 points on
6-14 shooting, 2-2 from the line. He also added 6 assists,
7 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, and 2 turnovers in 31 minutes.
Rose's Skills: He is
going to be a STAR! I think he will be a combo guard at
the next level. His passing ability is uncanny, and he
just has great vision. He might be the fastest player in
high school basketball end to end. His hang time is what
really impressed me. He hangs up in the air long enough to
decide on whether to pass the ball or shoot it. He usually
makes the right decision. His quick first step is what
will help him as a scorer at the next level. He could
score 25 to 30 points a game if he wanted to. One thing
that he has problem with is missing easy shots inside that he
should make. He is a tough on ball defender, by
getting up in their face and having active hands. I think
he will end up in college for two years and then be a top 10
pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Jon Scheyer
6-5 SG
Jon
wasn't looking for his shot early as it was obvious that Simeon
was not going to let him beat them. He let his teammates
get into the game before he decided to assert himself. He
did not take a shot the first five minutes of the game.
His first shot came on a three pointer in transition. This
three was from a good 3 feet beyond the NBA 3 point line.
The next two possessions would be his as well. He got into
the lane, splitting two defenders, got fouled and hit both free
throws. Then the next trip down the floor he came off a
screen and hit a three from the top of the key. Jon
started pumping his chest because he was on tonight.
At the start of the second quarter Jon got a rebound and then
later made a great jump pass to a teammate that he could not
finish. Scheyer then took a three that was even out of his
range for a miss. With 2:20 left in the half Jon came over
and blocked a shot in transition, although Rose put it back in.
He then hit a shot in the lane, by splitting two defenders and
getting fouled. He would make the free throw, of course as
he is a 85% free throw shooter. He would close out the
half by missing a tough three with 3 defenders on him.
Scheyer had 11 points at the end of the first half, but his team
was down by six.
Rose would guard Scheyer and he would shut him down, holding him
to 0 points in the third quarter.
Scheyer had to light it up in the fourth with Glenbrook down
44-31 and only 8 minutes left. He would miss a three 20
seconds in. Then he would get inside for two off a good
pass. With 4:18 left Jon got fouled on a 3 point attempt
and made all three free throws. He just didn't have enough
to carry them back at the end of the contest. He missed a
couple of jumpers late. Scheyer did however make a lay up
to become the fourth all-time leading scorer in the state of
Illinois. He closed out a great high school career with 18
points on 5 of 12 shooting and 6 of 6 from the line. Jon
only shot 2 of 7 from three point range while also recording 2
rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 2 turnovers in 31 minutes.
Scheyer's skills:
Jon Scheyer first is a great player, not just a great shooter.
Yes, shooting is the best part of his game. He is the BEST
shooter in the high school game today. Unlike Redick
coming out of high school Scheyer can score in other ways.
Whether it is going off screans, moving without the ball,
scoring off the dribble, or getting to the foul line. He
passes very well and is at times to unselfish. He can
rebound as well at 5.9 boards a game. The one knock on him
might be that he is a defensive liability. I believe he
will team up with Greg Paulus at Duke for the next 3 years and
then be a first round pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
Recap
Simeon won the game. Scheyer won the scoring battle.
So, who won the head to head battle? Rose definatly won by
not only winning the game, but he had more assists, more
rebounds, more steals, while holding Scheyer to 11 below his
average. Was this game worth the hype??? The scoring
might not say it, but this was a great game!
Oh, by the way, how did Simeon finish the year? Rose led
them to a win in the semifinals with 14 points over Marshall and
their All-Stater Patrick Beverley. Then Simeon would go
against Peoria Richwoods in the title game. They feature
junior big man Bill Cole, who is headed to Illinois. It
was a boring low scoring game. Rose only had 9 points, but
he saved the best for last. He took the ball with 10
seconds and the State title on the line hard to the hole for a
runner as time expired. Rose hit one of what promises to
be many big shots in his career.
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