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All 38 players that graduated from an Illinois High School in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament

March Madness is in full swing and the excitement continues to rage on. The first weekend brought much excitement with several notable team having to hit the road and look toward the future. Once again many former Illinois high school hoops stars are in this year’s men’s tournament. Below is the full list of the…

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March Madness is in full swing and the excitement continues to rage on. The first weekend brought much excitement with several notable team having to hit the road and look toward the future.

Once again many former Illinois high school hoops stars are in this year’s men’s tournament.

Below is the full list of the 38 former Illinois high school basketball athletes that helped their teams make this year’s men’s tournament. The list would be longer if it were to include those from the state of Illinois. Michigan State’s Malik Hall is included despite not graduating from an Illinois high school. He previously spent his first two years at Matea Valley.

Take a look below and get to know some of the players.

Play-In Games

Southeast Missouri

  • Chris Harris (Lake Forrest Academy)
    • 6-3, Redshirt Senior
    • 32 games (25 starts), 24.6 minutes, 7.4 points on 36.6 percent shooting, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
    • 36 minutes, 23 points, 9/20 FG, 2/8 3PT, 3/5 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 turnovers in a 75-71 #16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
  • Aquan Smart (Niles North)
    • 6-3, Sophomore
    • 35 games (33 starts), 31.9 minutes, 15.6 points on 37.4 percent shooting, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.9 steals per game.
    • 14 minutes, 3 points, 1/1 FG, 1/2 FT, a rebound, 2 assists, and a block in a 75-71 #16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi

  • Terrion Murdix (Springfield Southeast)
    • 6-1, Senior
    • 31 games (30 starts), 27.6 minutes, 13.4 points on 48.9 percent shooting, 4.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game.

Nevada

  • Trey Pettigrew (Kenwood)
    • 6-3, Senior
    • 26 games (0 starts), 11.4 minutes, 3.1 points on 34.1 percent shooting, and 1.6 rebounds per game.
    • 10 minutes, 7 points, 3/3 FG, 1/1 3PT, 2 rebounds, and a turnover in a 98-73 loss to #11 Arizona State.

Rest of Teams

Alabama

  • Nimari Burnett (Prolific Prep)
    • 6-4 Sophomore
    • 24 games (9 starts), 15 minutes, 5.7 points on 38.1 percent shooting, 2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
    • 18 minutes, 11 points, 3/8 FG, 3/6 3PT, 2/2 FT, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal in a 96-75 win over #16 Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
    • 11 minutes, 3 points, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3PT, 3/3 FT, and a block in a 73-51 win over #8 Maryland.
  • Mark Scharnowski (Wheaton Academy)
    • 6-6, Junior
    • 3 games (0 starts)

San Diego State

  • Cam Lawin (Orr Academy)
    • 6-3, Freshman

Furman

  • Ben Vanderwal (Timothy Christian)
    • 6-7, Freshman
    • 34 games (7 starts), 16 minutes, 5.1 points on 49.5 percent shooting, and 3.2 rebounds per game.
    • 12 minutes, an offensive rebound, and 2 total rebounds in a 68-67 win over #4 Virginia.
    • 16 minutes, 0/1 FG, an offensive rebound, 2 total rebounds, and a block in a 75-52 loss to #5 San Diego State.

Creighton

  • Sami Osmani (Oak Lawn)
    • 6-4, Junior
    • 10 games (0 starts), 2.6 minutes, 0.9 points on 50 percent shooting, and 0.8 rebounds per game.
  • Devin Davis (Westinghouse College Prep)
    • 6-0, Junior
    • 15 games (0 starts), 1.1 minutes, and 0.2 points per game.

Princeton

  • Caden Pierce (Glenbard West)
    • 6-6, Freshman
    • 29 games (28 starts), 29.8 minutes, 8.3 points on 43.4 percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
    • 34 minutes, 6 points, 2/6 FG, 0/4 3PT, 2/3 FT, 2 offensive rebounds, 8 total rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block, and 2 turnovers in a 59-55 win over #2 Arizona.
    • 38 minutes, 9 points, 3/9 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/3 FT, 7 offensive rebounds, 16 total rebounds, a block, and a turnover in a 78-63 win over #7 Missouri.
  • Blake Peters (Evanston Township)
    • 6-1, Sophomore
    • 29 games (0 starts), 13.2 minutes, 5.4 points on 38.6 percent shooting, and 1.8 rebounds per game.
    • 15 minutes, 9 points, 3/6 FG, 3/5 3PT, 3 rebounds, a steal, and a turnover in a 59-55 win over #2 Arizona.
    • 15 minutes, 17 points, 5/8 FG, 5/8 3PT, 2/2 FT, an offensive rebound, 2 total rebounds, and a steal in a 78-63 win over #7 Missouri.

Memphis

  • Connor Glennon (Brother Rice)
    • 5-10, Junior
    • 1 game (0 starts)
  • Damaria Franklin (Niles North)
    • 6-3, Fifth Year
    • 24 games (1 start), 17.1 minutes, 5.2 points on 40 percent shooting, 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.9 steals per game.
    • 20 minutes, 3 points, 1/3 FG, 1/2 3PT, 0/1 FT, an offensive rebound, 2 total rebounds, an assist, a steal, a block, and a turnover in a 66-65 loss to FAU.

Duke

  • Jaden Schutt (Yorkville Christian)
    • 6-5, Freshman
    • 13 games (0 starts), 7.3 minutes, 2.2 points on 38.5 percent shooting, and 1.1 rebounds per game.
    • 3 minutes, 0/2 FG, 0/1 3PT, an offensive rebound, and 2 assists in a 74-51 win over Oral Roberts.

Kentucky

  • Antonio Reeves (Simeon)
    • 6-5, Senior
    • 32 games (12 starts), 27.5 minutes, 14.4 points on 42.9 percent shooting, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game.
    • Also, shot 40.7 percent from three on nearly six attempts per game.
    • 38 minutes, 22 points, 8/18 FG, 5/9 3PT, 1/2 FT, an offensive rebound, 3 total rebounds, and 3 turnovers in a 61-53 win over #11 Providence.
    • 30 minutes, 5 points, 1/15 FG, 1/10 3PT, 2/2 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a turnover in a 75-69 loss to #3 Kansas State.

Providence

  • Bryce Hopkins (Fenwick)
    • 6-6, Sophomore
    • 32 games (32 starts), 34.8 minutes, 16.1 points on 45.7 percent shooting, 8.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.6 blocks.
    • 39 minutes, 7 points, 2/9 FG, 0/3 3PT, 3/5 FT, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 turnovers in a 61-53 loss to #6 Kentucky.

Michigan State

  • Malik Hall (Matea Valley)
    • 6-8, Senior
    • 20 games (5 starts), 25.2 minutes, 9.2 points on 44.4 percent shooting, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
    • 28 minutes, 6 points, 2/7 FG, 0/1 3PT, 2/2 FT, an offensive rebound, 4 total rebounds, an assist, 2 steals, a block, and a turnover in a 72-62 win over #10 USC.
    • 28 minutes, 4 points, 2/7 FG, 0/4 3PT, 2 offensive rebounds, 5 total rebounds, an assist, 3 steals, and 3 turnovers in a 69-60 win over #2 Marquette.

USC

  • Drew Peterson (Libertyville)
    • 6-9, Fifth Year
    • 32 games (32 starts), 35.8 minutes, 14 points on 44.3 percent shooting, 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game.
    • 39 minutes, 11 points, 4/10 FG, 1/4 3PT, 2/2 FT, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 turnovers in a 72-62 loss to Michigan State.

Marquette

  • RJ Walson (Perspectives Math and Science Academy)
    • 6-0, Sophomore

Iowa

  • Ahron Ulis (Marian Catholic)
    • 6-3, Junior
    • 31 games (26 starts), 22.8 minutes, 6.2 points on 40.1 percent shooting, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
    • 16 minutes, 2 points, 1/5 FG, 0/2 3PT, and a turnover in a 83-75 loss to the #9 Auburn.
  • Amarion Nimmers (Rock Island)
    • 6-2, Freshman

Miami (Fl.)

  • AJ Casey (Whitney Young)
    • 6-9, Freshman
    • 26 games, 6.8 minutes, 1 point on 36 percent shooting, and 1.2 rebounds per game.
    • 5 minutes, 0/1 FG, and a turnover in a 85-69 win over #4 Indiana.

Drake

  • Connor Enright (Mundelein)
    • 6-0, Redshirt Freshman
    • 34 games (4 starts), 18.9 minutes, 4.2 points on 43.4 percent shooting, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.7 steals per game.
    • 11 minutes, a rebound, 2 assists, and a turnover in a 63-56 loss to #5 Miami.
  • Nate Ferguson (Lemont)
    • 6-8, Redshirt Junior
    • 26 games (0 starts), 12.3 minutes, 3.5 points on 67.3 percent shooting, and 2.6 rebounds.
    • 7 minutes, 2 points, 1/1 FG, a rebound, and an assist in a 63-56 loss to #5 Miami.

Kent State

  • Julius Rollins (Hillcrest)
    • 6-6, Sophomore
    • 27 games (0 starts), 2.1 points on 43.5 percent shooting, and 1.6 rebounds.
    • 1 minute and a rebound in a 71-66 loss to #4 Indiana.
  • Chris Payton (Bloomington)
    • 6-7, Senior
    • 33 games (4 starts), 16 minutes, 6.6 points on 75 percent shooting and 4.8 rebounds per game.
    • 1 minute and a rebound in a 71-66 loss to #4 Indiana.

Xavier

  • Kam Craft (Buffalo Grove)
    • 6-6, Freshman
    • 14 games (0 starts), 7.1 minutes, 2.8 points on 50 percent shooting, and 1.6 rebounds per game.

Kansas

  • Joseph Yesufu (Bolingbrook)
    • 6-0, Junior
    • 33 games (3 starts), 12.5 minutes, 4 points on 35.7 percent shooting, 1.2 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game.
    • 14 minutes, 8 points, 3/5 FG, 2/4 3PT, a rebound, 2 assists, and a steal in a 96-68 win over #16 Howard.
    • 8 minutes, 3 points, 1/2 FG, 1/1 FT, and a rebound in a 72-71 loss to #8 Arkansas.

Illinois

  • Terrance Shannon Jr. (Lincoln Park)
    • 6-6, Senior
    • 30 games (29 starts), 32.1 minutes, 17.1 points on 44 percent shooting, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game.
    • 31 minutes, 20 points, 5/10 FG, 0/3 3PT, 10/13 FT, 2 rebounds, a steal, and 2 turnovers in a 73-63 loss to #8 Arkansas.
  • Connor Serven (St. Rita)
    • 6-9, Junior
    • 5 games, 3.8 minutes, 0.2 points, and 0.8 rebounds per game.
  • AJ Redd (St. Ignatius)
    • 6-3, Freshman
    • 2 games
  • Brandon Lieb (Deerfield)
    • 7-0, Junior
    • 16 games (6 starts), 3.7 minutes, 0.9 points, and 1.1 rebounds per game.
  • Ty Rodgers (Thornton Township)
    • 6-6, Freshman
    • 32 games (0 starts), 17.2 minutes, 3.2 points on 51.1 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 0.6 steals per game.
    • 23 minutes, 6 points, 3/5 FG, 3 rebounds, an assist, 4 steals, a block, and a turnover in a 73-63 loss to #8 Arkansas.
  • Paxton Warden (Glenbard West)
    • 6-4, Freshman
    • 10 games (0 starts) and 1.5 minutes per game

Gonzaga

  • Malachi Smith (Belleville West)
    • 6-4, Redshirt Junior
    • 33 games (1 start), 20.8 minutes, 8.7 points on 53.3 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and a steal per game.
    • 14 minutes, 2 points, 1/2 FG, 3 rebounds, and 2 turnover in a 82-70 win over #14 Grand Canyon.
    • 17 minutes, 11 points, 4/6 FG, 3/4 3PT, 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers in a 84-81 over #6 TCU.
  • Braden Huff (Glenbard West)
    • 6-10, Freshman

Northwestern

  • Nick Martinelli (Glenbrook South)
    • 6-7, Freshman
    • 18 games (0 starts), 10.3 minutes, 2.7 points on 48.7 percent shooting, and 1.5 rebounds per game.
  • 10 minutes, 2 points, 1/1 FG, and a rebound in a 75-67 win over #10 Boise State.
  • 5 minutes, 2 points, 1/1 FG, a rebound in a 68-63 loss to #2 UCLA.

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