In April 2006, the IHSA announced its list of "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament".
Fans selected the first 82 Legends in an online election that ran from November through March. The remaining 18 legends were selected by a blue-ribbon committee.
The 100 individuals were honored at the 2007 boys basketball tournament – the centennial celebration of America’s Original March Madness.
The 100 Legends of March Madness are listed below along with a brief bio:
Joe Allen
Chicago (Carver)
Muscular center on Carver's two state tournament squads…scored 51 points in the 1962 tournament, when Stephen Decatur upset Carver in the title game…came back with 67 in 1963 as Carver outlasted Centralia…notched 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds in the title game…made 50 of 85 field goals (59%) in eight tournament games…played college ball at Bradley University.
Jeff Baker
Park Ridge (Maine South)
Smooth-shooting guard poured it on when it counted in the 1979 state tournament…put in 21 points in super-sectional when Maine South won on last-second shot over New Trier West…30 points and nine rebounds in semifinal win over East Moline…wrapped up with 26 points and ten boards in championship game win over Quincy…finished tourney with 89 points (on 36-of-65) shooting and 35 rebounds…played college ball at Texas Christian University.
Kenny Battle
Aurora (West)
Slam-dunking forward for the 1984 West Aurora squad that finished third…tallied 86 points in four games, with a 28-point high against Champaign Centennial in quarterfinals…25 points in consolation game win over St. Joseph…went on to star at Northern Illinois University, and then on the "Flying Illini" squad that made the Final Four in 1989…played pro ball for four years and also performed with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Boyd Batts
Dolton (Thornridge)
Center of the devastating Thornridge team won back-to-back titles in 1971 and 1972…scored 141 points and grabbed 98 rebounds in eight tournament games…poured in 34 points on 15-of-20 shooting with 18 rebounds in quarterfinal win over Collinsville…topped that with 37 points (14-of-18) and 15 rebounds in title tilt against Quincy…played ball at University of Nevada-Las Vegas and University of Hawaii.
Ted Beach
Champaign (H.S.)
Second player to participate in three state championship contests…played in 12 tournament games and set career scoring record of 198 points, which lasted until Jay Shidler of Lawrenceville edged by in 1976…finished 1946 championship run with a flourish, with 24 in semifinal and 22 in title fray against Centralia…moved with high school coach Harry Combes to play college ball down the street at University of Illinois…member of state tournament bench crew for many years at Assembly Hall.
Dusty Bensko
Pleasant Plains
Star of Pleasant Plains' championship drive in 2000, when he was a junior…scored 101 points in tournament, including memorable 32-point effort against in triple-overtime semifinal against Riverton…hit record 17 of 17 free throws in that game, including 12 straight in final overtime…for tournament career, finished with 119 points, 40 rebounds in 5 games…played baseball, not basketball, at University of Illinois.
Brad Bickett
Ohio (player), Manlius (Bureau Valley) (coach)
Two-way Legend with experience as both a player and coach…led tiny Ohio (enrollment 69) to Class A title game in 1986, smallest school to reach the finals…scored 103 points in those four games, which ended with a loss to Teutopolis…combined with 30 in 1985 super-sectional, had three straight tournament games over 30 points…played college ball at Eureka…then coached Bureau Valley to three consecutive third-place finishes in Class A in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
Don Blanken
Dundee
Star of Dundee's only state champion, in 1938…team lost to Moline in first round in 1937, setting stage for championship run…scored 65 of "high-scoring" Dundee team's 161 points for tournament…high of 24 in the semifinals in 51-36 win over Paris…played his college ball at Purdue University…member of Dayton Metropolitans, early NBL team.
Lou Boudreau
Harvey (Thornton)
First high school basketball superstar, guided Thornton to three straight championship games…"Flying Clouds" finished first in 1933, second in 1934 and 1935…scored a total of 76 points in 11 games, with a high of 18 in 1933 quarterfinal against Mahomet…played basketball at University of Illinois, but left school to pursue baseball career...wise choice, as he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970 for his long career as a player, manager, and broadcaster…died in 2001.
Jamie Brandon
Chicago (King)
Versatile guard-forward of the early King dynasty, played in 13 state tournament games and totaled 269 points, the all-time record…added 77 rebounds and 28 assists in Elite Eight competition…topped 30 points twice in King's run to third place in 1989…returned in 1990 to lead King to the state title, with games of 26-28-27-25 points…played college ball at Louisiana State University.
Jim Brewer
Maywood (Proviso East)
Big center was instrumental in Proviso East's first state title in 1969, scoring 56 points and grabbing 40 rebounds in the four-game title drive…in championship game against Peoria Spalding, scored 17 and pulled down nine rebounds…went to University of Minnesota to play college ball and played on the ill-fated 1972 Olympic team…then embarked on a nine-year pro career.
Bruce Brothers
Quincy (Sr.)
Mainstay of the Quincy teams that finished third in 1951 and then second to Hebron in 1952…racked up 190 points in 10 tournament games, just eight points shy of Ted Beach's record and still good enough for 13th place on the all-time list…scored at least 20 in every game of the 1952 tourney with a high of 25 in quarterfinal against Taylorville…played college basketball at University of Illinois…died in 1986.
Charlie Brown
Chicago (DuSable)
Forward on DuSable's high-flying state tournament squads in 1953 and 1954…scored 93 points in the 1954 tournament with games of 23, 24, 23, and 23…DuSable finished second to Mt. Vernon…played college ball at University of Seattle…drafted by Cincinnati Royals…officiated the Class AA title game in 1994, 40 years after DuSable’s loss…one of only two men to play in and referee a championship (Herb Scheffler is the other).
Quinn Buckner
Dolton (Thornridge)
Leader of the Thornridge squad that many still consider the best ever…team won final one-class title in 1971 and first Class AA title in 1972…scored 147 points and grabbed 63 rebounds in eight games of tournament play, capped by a 28-point performance in 1972 title game versus Quincy…went on to star at Indiana University and play in 1976 Olympics before embarking on 10-year pro career…works as broadcaster for the Indiana Pacers and CBS…inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Chuck Buescher
Peoria (H.S.)
Veteran coach led Peoria Central to four title-game appearances…lost close championship battles in 1983 (to Springfield Lanphier) and 1989 (triple overtime to East St. Louis Lincoln)…held on to win nailbiting back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004 at Carver Arena in Peoria…attended Danvers and East Peoria High Schools…played college ball at Bradley University.
Jack Burmaster
Elgin (H.S.) (player), Evanston (Twp.) (coach)
Star guard on 1944 Elgin squad that fell to undefeated Taylorville in title game…played college ball at University of Illinois and one year of pro ball for Sheboygan…then coached Evanston to four state tournament appearances from 1957 to 1972, including school's only state championship in 1968…later appeared as color commentator on IHSA state tournament television broadcasts…died in 2005.
Ed Butkovich
Canton (player), Mt. Pulaski (coach)
Player on Canton's 1953 and longtime coach at Mt. Pulaski…led the Toppers to a championship in 1976 and followed up with a fourth-place finish in 1977…brought home hardware one more time with a second-place finish in 1984…played his college ball at St. Louis University, Western Illinois University, and Bradley University…later served as assistant coach at Lincoln College…died on trip to away game in 2002.
Ted Caiazza
LaGrange (Lyons)
Dominating center who averaged over 30 points per game during Lyons Township's drive to the state title in 1953…started off with 31 against DuSable, added 38 versus Decatur St. Teresa, and cleaned up with 27 against Pinckneyville and 25 in the final game against Peoria, setting a new one-tournament standard, since broken…played college ball for the University of Illinois.
Andy Calmes
Warrensburg-Latham
Forward came up big in 2003 as Warrensburg-Latham claimed its first trophy ever, a third-place finish…scored 27 points in quarterfinal battle against Cissna Park, finished tournament with 78 points and 31 rebounds…counting totals from 2002 super-sectional loss, his total output was 93 points in five games…playing college ball at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.
Cliff Cameron
Pleasant Plains
Guided Pleasant Plains to championships just two years apart…first squad in 2000 won every game by double digits but needed three overtimes in crucial semifinal against Riverton…2002 team won a nailbiter over Herrin in the championship game…still coaching at Plains after eight seasons…attended Virden High School…played basketball at Lincoln Land.
Francis Clements
Ottawa (Twp.)
Five-foot-eleven junior guard was the star of Ottawa's only state placer…notched 70 points as Ottawa took third in a series of close games…Clements scored 19 in a double-overtime super-sectional win over Pekin and capped his effort with 16 points in another overtime, this time in the consolation game against Quincy Notre Dame…scored 19 in 1958 supers but Ottawa could not get past Peoria Spalding…played college ball at Valparaiso University.
Jeff Clements
Mt. Pulaski
Star of Mt. Pulaski's 1976 and 1977 squads that finished first and fourth respectively…as a sophomore in 1976, tallied 35 points in quarterfinal win over Eldorado amd 87 for the four-game tournament…reprised his performance in 1977 with 66 points…finished his tournament career with 179 points in nine games…continued career at Illinois Wesleyan University.
Harry Combes
Champaign (H.S.)
Led Champaign High to seven state tournament appearances in nine years from 1939 to 1947…captured fourth place in 1940 and 1944 before starting three years of amazing runs to the championship game…Champaign finished second in 1945, first in 1946, and second in 1947…left high school ranks to take over head coaching reins at University of Illinois from Doug Mills...coached UI for 20 years…died in 1977.
Lynch Conway
Peoria (H.S.)
Star of the first state champion team and the first state championship game in 1908…scored 11 baskets in title tilt, a record that stood until 1950…also state champion in the high jump in 1907 with a leap of 5-7 3/4, placed second in the 100-yard dash in 1908…later a star at Bradley University and city engineer in Peoria…died in 1939.
Dick Corn
Benton (player), Pinckneyville (coach)
Has won more Class A regional championships than anyone (23 in 31 years at Pinckneyville) but it took a while for the trophies to start coming…took his first squad to Elite Eight in 1988 and finished second to Pana…won first title in 1994 over Eureka on Ryan Bruns' last-second shot…captured another in 2001, winning title-game rematch with Pana…then fourth in 2006…played on Benton's 1967 Sweet Sixteen team…then in college at Monmouth.
Landon "Sonny" Cox
Chicago (King)
Fashioned three state champions at King High School in Chicago, with victories in 1986, 1990, and 1993…also picked up second place in 1987, third in 1989 and 1999 to share Class AA record with Bennie Lewis with six total trophies won…grew up in Cincinnati…played baseball in college at Kentucky State University…is an accomplished jazz saxophonist.
Bruce Douglas
Quincy (Sr.)
Star of Quincy's unstoppable 1981 team, shooting 79 points and shooting 66% from the field…subbed on the second-place 1979 squad and scored 89 points in 1982 when Quincy's 64-game winning streak was broken in the semifinals by Mendel Catholic…played a total of 12 state tournament games and scored 182 points…went on to star at University of Illinois…had a cup of coffee in the pros in 1987.
Walter Downing
New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
Willowy center led Providence to a third in 1978 and a state championship in 1979, when he was a junior…in 10 state tournament games, scored 184 points and grabbed 80 rebounds, but is best known as a shot-blocker…rejected a record 12 shots in 1978 quarterfinal against Ottawa Marquette, but this stat was not always recorded…played college ball at Marquette University.
Mike Duff
Eldorado
High-scoring center put on a show at the 1977 tournament, logging 36, 37, 22, and 36 points for a total of 131 as Eldorado finished third…combined with his performance in six tournament games in 1975 and 1976, he finished with 252 points and 112 field goals, both Class A records for a tournament career…died in tragic plane crash of Evansville University basketball team in December, 1977.
Dwight "Dike" Eddleman
Centralia
Widely hailed as Illinois' best schoolboy athlete of the first half-century (1900-50)…set the state scoring record in his senior year with 2,702 career points…scored 194 points in 12 tournament games, with Centralia finishing 4th in 1939, 2nd in 1941, and 1st in 1942…starred at Illinois and played pro for four years…three-time state high jump champion, finished second in 1948 Olympics… inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1983…died in 2001.
LaPhonso Ellis
East St. Louis (Lincoln)
Six-foot-ten star of the first two of East St. Louis Lincoln's three consecutive champions, he dominated scoring, rebounding, and blocked shot totals…held to two points in 1987 semifinal, he responded with 27 against King in title game…in 1988, he totaled 94 points, including a title game log of 26 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 blocked shots…played college ball at University of Notre Dame and had an 11-year pro career.
Melvin Ely
Harvey (Thornton)
Came up big in three straight tournaments with only Peoria Manual blocking the way each time…scored 15 in the 1995 championship game as a sophomore…returned in 1996 to register 69 points on 30-of-50 shooting, falling to Manual again in the final…finished career with 57 more points in 1997 state finals…in 12 games, totaled 157 points, 79 rebounds, and 39 blocked shots…played college ball at Cal State-Fresno…then on to a pro career.
Ernie Eveland
Waterman, Paris
Piled up 10 state tournament appearances from small towns, first at Waterman and later at Paris, near the Indiana border…Paris won in 1943 and 1947, and finished second in 1942 only because of Dike Eddleman's heroics…also finished second in 1939 and third in 1938…first coach to win state titles in two sports, he led the Paris cross country team to championships in 1947, 1948, and 1949…retired from coaching in 1958…native of Lewistown…died in 1987.
Ron Felling
Lawrenceville
Colorful coach led Lawrenceville to four state titles, becoming first coach to accomplish the feat…his 1972 squad won the inaugural Class A championship…repeated the feat in 1974 with exciting title game win over Ottawa Marquette…1982 and 1983 squads won 68 games in a row, a state record, and became state’s only back-to-back undefeated state champions…left high school coaching to work for Bobby Knight at Indiana University…native of Indiana.
Michael Finley
Maywood (Proviso East)
Mainstay of the heralded Proviso East teams of the 1990s, and one of the Three Amigos…led the 1991 team with 56 points in four state tourney games…scored 14 in the title game, a 68-61 win over Peoria Manual…college career at University of Wisconsin…NBA champ with the San Antonio Spurs and two-time All-Star with the Dallas Mavericks during 17-year NBA career.
Vergil Fletcher
Collinsville
Coached more state tournament victories (21) and more state tournament games (34) than any man…Collinsville's first state champion in 1961 was a juggernaut that won its three Elite Eight games by a combined 94 points…the 1965 team made him the seventh coach to win two state titles…Collinsville also took 2nd in 1957, 3rd in 1978 (Class AA), and 4th in 1950…all told his teams played in 14 state tournaments…attended Johnston City High School…inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.
Jim Flynn
IHSA
IHSA administrator for 31 years…hired as editor, marketer and public relations spokesman…tirelessly promoted the phrase "March Madness" until it became known well beyond Illinois…spearheaded the March Madness Experience…wrote volumes about the basketball tournaments and inspired many others to do the same…retired from IHSA in 2004…now works for Illinois Elementary School Association…grew up in Galesburg and Springfield.
Larry Graham
Madison
Second Class A coach to log two state championships, after Ron Felling…his 1977 squad ended years of frustration in Madison with a convincing win over Aurora Central Catholic in the title game…after a fourth-place finish in 1980, the 1981 squad turned the trick again with a win over Dunlap…coached his teams to a total of six state tournament appearances…native of Indiana.
Bob Grant
Pekin
Star of Pekin's first great team, which went 29-4 under Coach Glenn "Frenchy" Haussler… scored 37 points in four games, with a high of 12 in a 37-19 quarterfinal win over Hillsboro…scored another 10 points as Pekin finished third with a 22-16 win over Moline…offered college scholarship at Illinois Wesleyan, but returned home...was the only write-in candidate to be elected to the 100 Legends…died in 1999.
Lowell Hamilton
Chicago (Providence-St. Mel)
Dominant center led Providence-St. Mel to a third-place finish in 1984 and the Class A state title in 1985…scored 165 points and grabbed 94 rebounds in 11 career state tournament games over four seasons…blocked 19 shots in three Elite Eight games in 1984, including eight against Lena-Winslow in the third place game…starred for the University of Illinois.
Dawson "Dawdy" Hawkins
Peoria (H.S.), Pekin
Took nine teams to the Sweet Sixteen, the first four times with Peoria Central…led the 1953 squad to second place, finishing with loss to Lyons Twp….struck gold at Pekin in 1964, downing Cobden in memorable state championship game…then again in 1967, with a win over Carbondale in the title match-up…also coached a state championship team at Lincoln Northeast, in his home state of Nebraska, in 1948.
Bill Heisler
Warsaw
Plucky guard was leader of Warsaw's surprising champions in 1997…scored 114 points with 19 assists in four games…unloaded in overtime title contest against Spring Valley Hall, ringing up 36 points including six three-pointers…in four tourney games made 16 of 27 three-point attempts (59%)…played college ball at Western Illinois University.
Max Hooper
Mt. Vernon
High-scoring center on Mt. Vernon's back-to-back champions, only the second team to accomplish that feat…in 1949, scored 81 points, 34 in the quarterfinal game against Decatur…followed up that feat with 104 points in the 1950 tournament, including 36 in the title game against Danville, a record that stood for 22 years…first player to lead the tournament field in scoring twice…played college ball at University of Illinois.
Walt Hoult
Chrisman
A sophomore on Chrisman's 1985 Class A runner-up, came back in 1987 to lead the Cardinals to a third-place finish in 1987…scored 35 and pulled down 23 rebounds in 1987 super-sectional win over Tri-City…finished tournament career with 119 points and 66 rebounds in eight games…third-place finisher in Class A high jump in 1986 and 1987…ran track and field at Millikin University.
Cal Hubbard
Normal (University)
Directed University High into the state finals seven times over a 10-year period from 1990 to 1999, finishing with three trophies…1992 squad was runner-up to small-school darling Findlay…1995 squad won it all in a 56-54 squeaker over Aurora Christian…then in 1997, U-High pulled out a third-place finish.
Shawn Jeppson
Spring Valley (Hall)
Only player to score 50 points in a state championship game, he did it with 51 in losing, overtime effort against Warsaw in 1997…scored 116 points in 1997 tournament and returned Hall to the title game in 1998 against Nauvoo-Colusa…freak injury hampered his performance in championship game as Hall was runner-up for second straight year…totaled 182 points and 43 rebounds in 8 tournament games…played college ball at Illinois State University.
Dave Johnson
Oneida (ROVA)
Big center, six-foot-eight, put up big numbers in the 1976 Class A meet…set Class A mark of 19 free throws made in semifinal game against Lawrenceville, when he scored 33 altogether…added 28 in title game against Mt. Pulaski but ROVA fell 59-58…finished with totals of 105 points and 48 rebounds for the four-game tournament…played college ball at Drake University.
Paul Judson
Hebron
The guard half of Hebron's famed Judson twins, led school to unforgettable overtime victory over Quincy in 1952…scored 59 points in the tournament, with high games of 17 in the first round and quarterfinals…finished with 21 of 43 shooting from the field…played basketball at the University of Illinois and against the Harlem Globetrotters…coached Dundee girls to the state quarterfinals in 1978.
Phil Judson
Hebron
The forward half of Hebron's famed Judson twins…school's championship in 1952 only time a "district (small) school" won the one-class tournament, which was discontinued after 1971…scored 46 points in the tournament…played basketball at the University of Illinois and against the Harlem Globetrotters….later coached at Zion-Benton.
Gordon Kerkman
Aurora (West)
Veteran coach has brought West Aurora to the state tournament 10 times, winning five trophies…broke City of Aurora's long championship drought with an upset win over Westinghouse in 2000…West also finished second in 1997, losing memorable title contest to Peoria Manual…added third-place trophies in 1980, 1984, and 2004…native of Iowa…played basketball and baseball at Coe College.
Gay Kintner
Decatur (H.S.)
One of the three great coaches of the early years, he followed Arthur Trout into the three-time-winner club…Decatur won it all in 1931, again in 1936, and one more time in 1945…among a total of 11 state tournament appearances, he added a second-place finish in 1937 and a fourth in 1951…was in his 32nd year as head coach in 1960 when he collapsed and died at halftime of a game at Decatur MacArthur.
Tom Kleinschmidt
Chicago (Gordon Tech)
Brawny forward put up big numbers in two state tournament appearances…after super-sectional loss in 1989, led Gordon Tech to the championship game in 1990, falling to King in title game…scored 34 points in 82-80 super-sectional win over Blue Island Eisenhower and 38 in semifinal win over Quincy to put Gordon into title contest…totaled 148 points in just five games…went to DePaul University for college career...returned to Gordon Tech as head coach in 2012 (Gordon Tech changed its name to DePaul College Prep in 2014).
Jerry Kuemmerle
Danville (Schlarman)
Shortest tournament career of any Legend player (just two games), but he made the most of it…scored 27 points in 1958 super-sectional win over Arcola to set up quarterfinal match-up at Huff Gym with high-scoring Rock Falls…scored 49 points in that battle, a tournament record that lasted until 1984… he sank 17 of 29 field goal attempts and 15 of 17 from the line, but it was not enough as Rock Falls prevailed 101-76…played college ball at Christian Brothers University in Memphis.
C.J. Kupec
Oak Lawn (Community)
Six-foot-seven center who paced Oak Lawn to a second-place finish in 1971, in final single-class tournament…scored 87 points and pulled down 48 rebounds in four games…scored 28 in super-sectional against New Trier East and grabbed 17 rebounds in the semifinal win over Springfield Lanphier…played basketball at University of Michigan and then three years in the pros.
Jerry Leggett
Olympia Fields (Rich Central), Quincy (Sr.)
Coached at five schools but will always be remembered for his Quincy teams…second-place finish in 1979 was a prelude of things to come…1981 team went undefeated and breezed easily through tournament play…returned undefeated in 1982, losing stunner to Mendel Catholic, but retaining third place on most unbelievable play in tourney history…added fourth-place trophies in 1987 and 1990…finished career at Moline, where he attended high school…played college ball at Beloit.
Bennie Lewis
East St. Louis (Lincoln), East St. Louis (Sr.)
One of only two coaches to win four state titles (Ron Felling being the other)…guided first East St. Louis Lincoln, and then Senior, to a total of 11 Sweet Sixteen appearances…brought Lincoln its first state title in 1982…then set new standard by winning three straight state championships in 1987, 1988, and 1989, the last a triple-overtime thriller…finished third in 1990 (with Lincoln) and 2000 (with East St. Louis Senior)…a native of Mississippi…played in college at Langston University in Oklahoma.
Marcus Liberty
Chicago (King)
Key cog in King's 1986 state championship squad, scoring 64 points…had to take matters into his own hands the next year, putting up games of 41, 23, 38, and 41 points in the state tournament stretch, but…it wasn't enough, as East St. Louis Lincoln won the title tilt, 79-62…his 143-point tournament stands as Class AA record…only Class AA player to top 40 twice in the same tournament…played for University of Illinois and then four years of pro ball.
Richard Liitt
Rock Island (H.S.)
Unquestioned star of the first three state tournaments, still holds the tournament career record for total free throws made (70)…record has stood for incredible 96 years (Jon Scheyer finished with 69)…also held record for points in a tournament career, 154, which lasted until broken by Dike Eddleman in 1942…Rock Island finished second, fourth, and second in three-year span…high game (25) in tournament came in first contest as a sophomore (rest of team scored six)…died in 1953.
Jack Lipe
Decatur (H.S.) (player), Harvey (Thornton) (coach)
Iconoclastic coach of Thornton's teams during the Lou Boudreau era…guided the school to its first championship in 1933 and followed up with second-place finishes in 1934 and 1935…later removed his team from the tournament for several years in dispute over IHSA’s hosting policy…played on Decatur's state tournament team in 1921…college basketball at University of Illinois….died in 1998.
Shaun Livingston
Peoria (H.S.)
Slender guard led Peoria High to consecutive titles in 2003 and 2004 while scoring 122 points and pulling down 51 rebounds…scored last-second bucket to defeat Thornwood in the 2003 title tilt…tallied 20 and 27 in final two games of 2004 as Peoria edged Carbondale and Homewood-Flossmoor…went directly from high school to NBA (4th pick in 2004) and has played in NBA for over a decade after rebounding from a devastating knee injury.
Paxton Lumpkin
Chicago (DuSable)
Exciting guard on DuSable's famous team, scored 29 in his Huff Gym debut in 1953 loss to eventual champion Lyons Twp…returned next season with hot shooting, dribbling and passing in determined march to championship game…31 in semifinal over Edwardsville his tournament high, on 13-for 27 shooting…scored 13 in loss to Mt. Vernon in title game…played at Indiana State and Indiana University before starring for the Harlem Globetrotters…died in 1991.
Cuonzo Martin
East St. Louis (Lincoln)
Emerging from the shadow of LaPhonso Ellis, played on two state champions and a third-place team for East St. Louis Lincoln…rang up 68 points as a sophomore as Lincoln won its second consecutive title…added 80 more the next tournament when Lincoln became the first to win three straight…slowed a bit his senior year but finished with 198 points (10th on all-time list) and 111 rebounds in 12 games…played college basketball at Purdue University and four years in the NBA...Has been a head coach at the University of Tennessee and the University of California.
Sergio McClain
Peoria (Manual)
One of only two players (with teammate Marcus Griffin) to play in maximum 16 state tournament games and win every single one, from 1994 to 1997…the last three championships won with father Wayne McClain as coach…scored 201 points, recorded 89 rebounds in 16 games, good for eighth place on the all-time scoring list…played college basketball at University of Illinois.
Wayne McClain
Peoria (Manual)
After taking over for Dick Van Scyoc, was in fourth season of coaching before he lost his first tournament game…won three straight from 1995 to 1997 with son Sergio as his starting forward…moved up to college ranks after 2000, joining Sergio at University of Illinois as assistant coach…as high schooler, he played in state tournament for Manual on 1972 squad, finishing fourth…played his college ball at Bradley University...returned to high school basketball as head coach at Champaign (Central) in 2013.
John McDougal
Salem (player), Aurora (West), Rockford (Lutheran) (coach)
First experienced state tournament thrills as starter on Salem's third-place squad in 1943…played football and ran track at Evansville University…then embarked on long coaching career at West Aurora, where his teams finished third in 1973 and second in 1976…after a 10-year stint as head coach of Northern Illinois University, returned to high school game to direct Rockford Lutheran to a fourth-place finish in 1994…only man to coach a team to a trophy in both Class A and Class AA.
Tom Michael
Carlyle
Tall center paced Carlyle's charge to the state title in 1989…was a one-man wrecking crew in the semifinal against Prairie Central, totaling 45 points, nine rebounds, and seven blocks in 67-62 win…followed up that evening with 28 more against Rock Island Alleman in 65-56 state championship triumph…totaled 121 for the tournament, averaging over 30 ppg…played college ball at University of Illinois...named Athletic Director at Eastern Illinois University in 2014.
Fred Miller
Pekin
After two super-sectional losses, made the most of his final appearance in 1967…came out blazing with 25 in win over Toluca and 30 in quarterfinal game against York…saved best for last with 36-point performance in championship win over Carbondale, making 16 of 20 shots from the field…16 baskets still a title-game record… finished tourney career with 147 points in six games…played college basketball at University of Illinois.
Doug Mills
Elgin (H.S.) (player), Joliet (Twp.) (coach)
Star player of first high school team to win back-to-back state titles, in 1924 and 1925…totaled 32 points in four games for Elgin in low-scoring era…played college ball at University of Illinois…then coached Joliet to the state tournament in 1935…returned to the U of I as coach of the famous "Whiz Kids" and later served as athletic director…died in 1983.
Dale Minick
Decatur (H.S.)
Stalwart of the Decatur team that won it all in 1936 and returned to the title game in 1937…in eight low-scoring state tournament games, scored a total of 56 points and exceeded double figures three times…best game, scored 10 of team’s points in 20-19 win over Johnston City in 1936 semifinal…played college basketball at Millikin University…died in 1973.
Johnny Orr
Taylorville
Hot-shooting forward on Taylorville's legendary 1944 team, first to finish the season undefeated…scored 64 points in 4 tournament games including 17 in title match-up against Elgin…played college ball at University of Illinois and, after a stint in the Navy, at Beloit College…after one season of pro ball, began coaching career at Milton, Wis…later coached at University of Massachusetts, University of Michigan, and Iowa State University...died in 2013.
Mark Pancratz
Schaumburg
Guard was star of Schaumburg's unlikely title-game win over Thornwood in 2001, scoring 21 points…also topped 20-point mark in super-sectional against Zion-Benton and quarterfinal against West Aurora…played as sophomore on Schaumburg's fourth-place finisher in 1999…total output for eight tournament games was 92 points…played college game at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee.
Mark Peterman
Canton, Springfield (H.S.)
Influential coach of the early era, credited with (or blamed for) widespread use of "slow-break" in the Twenties and Thirties…only coach to win state titles at two different schools and only coach to win seven trophies…led Canton to third place finishes in 1923, 1924, and 1925, improving to second in 1926 and first in 1928…moving to Springfield, finished second in 1934 and won another title in 1935…retired from coaching after 1947 season…died in 1968.
Andy Phillip
Granite City (H.S.)
Following Lou Boudreau in superstar stature, hot-shooting guard led Granite City to 1940 state championship…totaled 53 points in four games as low-scoring era was in its last throes…tallied 15 of Granite City's points in 24-22 title-game win over Herrin…member of the famed "Whiz Kids" at the University of Illinois…in 1947, embarked on 11-year pro career in early NBA…inducted into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961, three years after his retirement…died in 2001.
Gene Pingatore
Westchester (St. Joseph)
Longtime coach at St. Joseph, best known as mentor of Isiah Thomas, has guided the Chargers to a complete complement of trophies…championship trophy came in 1999, with 61-51 win over Gurnee Warren…finished second with Isiah in 1978, third in 1987, and fourth in 1984, all in Class AA…his teams have made 10 state final appearances all told...passed Dick Van Scyoc as state leader in career victories with #827 in 2009...won 900th career game in 2013.
Roger Powell
Joliet (Central)
Star of powerful Joliet Central squad that finished third in 1970…logged 90 points in four games, with a high of 26 in super-sectional victory over Maine South…tallied 25 points in semifinal loss to Lyons Twp…rebounded for 25 more in consolation match with Peoria Spalding…attended Illinois State University where he played basketball...son Roger Powell Jr. was a starter on 2005 University of Illinois Final Four team.
Bogie Redmon
Collinsville
Six-foot-six star of Collinsville's 1961 state title team that rolled through the season undefeated...scored 92 points in four state tournament games, capped by a 31-point performance in the title game against Thornton…also put in 25 points in quarterfinal match-up with East Rockford…shot 66% for the tournament…went on to star at the University of Illinois.
Quentin Richardson
Chicago (Young)
Six-foot-six guard-forward holds the Class AA championship game record for rebounds, pulling down 20 in Young's 1998 win over Galesburg…scored 18 points in same game…in his six-game tournament career, he scored 130 points and grabbed 69 rebounds…high was 32 in 1998 quarterfinal win over Elgin…later starred at DePaul University…played 14 seasons in the NBA.
Dave Robisch
Springfield (H.S.)
Six-foot-nine center averaged 35 points in 5 state tournament games…unleashed a torrent of points in 1967…scored 47 in super-sectional against Quincy, 25 against Champaign Central, 41 in semifinal loss to Pekin, and 39 in consolation win over West Rockford…also had at least 18 rebounds in each game…his 152 points in 1968 demolished Joe Wiley's record and still ranks third…his 77 rebounds remains the state record…played college ball at Kansas…then played in the NBA and ABA for 13 years.
Chuck Rolinski
Toluca
"Father of two-class basketball" lobbied hard for change and finally got it in 1972… Toluca's furthest advancement in the old one-class system was a loss to eventual state champ Pekin in the 1967 super-sectional…also coached teams to the Sweet Sixteen twice in the Class A era, in 1973 and 1984…retired from coaching in 1990 after 34 years…long-time the secretary-treasurer of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association...died in 2014.
Cazzie Russell
Chicago (Carver)
All-everything guard for Larry Hawkins' 1962 Carver squad…led team with 79 points in 4 games…scored 22 in quarterfinal and 25 in semifinal…continued pace with 24 points in title game as Carver was edged by Stephen Decatur in the final moments …played his college ball at University of Michigan before embarking on a 12-year pro career…coached in high school and college ranks.
Herb Scheffler
Springfield (H.S.)
Six-foot-four center starred on the 1935 Springfield team that knocked off Thornton in the championship game…in five games of tournament action, scored 53 points, with 13 of Springfield's 24 points in the title contest…played basketball at Oklahoma, making the very first Final Four in 1939…returned to Huff Gym in 1954 as coach of the Springfield team, which lost to Pinckneyville in the first round…completed the trifecta in 1961 when he officiated the state title contest between Collinsville and Thornton…died in 2001.
Jon Scheyer
Northbrook (Glenbrook North)
Youngest Legend graduated in 2006, but his performance was historical…in 10 tournament games he scored 236 points, fourth on all-time list…his 48 points in 2005 super-sectional win over Waukegan set a new Class AA standard…totaled 134 points in 2005 tournament as Glenbrook North won state tournament…16 for 16 performance from free throw line in quarterfinal against Brother Rice also a Class AA record…helped lead Duke University to 2010 NCAA National Championship...became a Duke assistant coach in 2013.
Bill Schulz
Hebron
Big man on the tiny Hebron team (98 students) that shocked the state by winning it all in 1952… never played basketball until Alden consolidated with Hebron when he started eighth grade…as a junior, scored 65 points in 4 games in the 1952 tournament, including 24 in overtime victory over Quincy in the title game… played college ball at Northwestern University.
Jay Shidler
Lawrenceville
Remembered almost as much for his flowing mane as his incredible outside shooting…up-and-coming star as a sophomore on the 1974 state champion team…hit his stride as a senior, scoring 48 points, a Class A record for many years, in a semifinal loss to ROVA…came back in the third-place game to add 45 more and set Class A career record of 206 points, broken by Mike Duff the next year…played college basketball at University of Kentucky.
Jack Sikma
St. Anne
Future NBA star first hit limelight at 1973 Class A state tournament, playing for St. Anne, a small town near Kankakee...made 100 points and grabbed 73 rebounds in the four games as St. Anne finished fourth…eye-popping game was a 36-point, 24-rebound, 12-block performance against Cerro Gordo in the quarterfinals…went to Illinois Wesleyan University to play ball, and graduated from there to the NBA…enjoyed 14-year career in the pros.
Marty Simmons
Lawrenceville
Star of Lawrenceville's two undefeated state champions in 1982 and 1983…highest-scoring of many Lawrenceville shooters, with 245 points scored in a total of 10 state tournament games…also pulled down Class A record 136 rebounds…scored incredible 43 points in 56-54 win over Providence-St. Mel in 1983 quarterfinals, including all 23 of Lawrenceville's points in the second half...went on to play at Indiana University and University of Evansville…spent six years as head coach at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, before taking head job at Evansville in 2007.
Dolph Stanley
Equality, Mt. Pulaski, Taylorville, Rockford (Auburn), Rockford (Boylan)
Holds "unbreakable" record of guiding five different schools into the state tournament…no other coach has led more than three…first hit paydirt with tiny Equality's third-place finish in 1934, then fourth with Mt. Pulaski in 1936…subsequently directed famous 1944 Taylorville team to state championship…after a stint at Beloit College, returned to Illinois high schools to guide Rockford Auburn and Boylan to state berths…native of Marion…played three sports at University of Illinois…died in 1990.
Lyndon Swanson
Watseka
High-scoring center helped Watseka win its only tournament hardware, a third-place trophy in 1975…scored 16 in a super-sectional loss to Lexington as a junior…next season, totaled 95 points and 55 rebounds in four state tournament games…racked up 37 points in final appearance, consolation win over Eldorado……finished second in both Class A discus and shot put in 1975…played college basketball at Texas A&M.
John Thiel
Galesburg
Piloted Galesburg to nine state tournament appearances over an 18-year career as head coach…took first trophy in 1959 when Galesburg finished third…Galesburg made two mighty runs in the 1960s…finished second to Thornton in 1966 and second again to Evanston two years later...retired from high school coaching in 1973…drafted by both the Milwaukee Hawks (basketball) and Chicago White Sox....died in 1988.
Isiah Thomas
Westchester (St. Joseph)
All-American guard on Gene Pingatore's first great team at St. Joseph…tallied 93 points and 31 rebounds in the four game run…St. Joseph fell to Lockport in the title game, 64-47…went on to play for Bobby Knight at Indiana University…13-year NBA career ended with induction into the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000…has been a pro and college head coach, a basketball executive, and a broadcaster.
Merrill "Duster" Thomas
Pinckneyville
Pride of Pinckneyville led small southern Illinois burg to a state title and four third-place trophies in a eight-year span…initial third-place finish in 1947 proved a warm-up for spectacular 1948 team that demolished East Rockford in title game…after return trips to Huff Gym in 1951 and 1952, embarked on three-year string (1953-55) with third-place the result each time…retired from coaching in 1957…attended Illinois College but played baseball there…died in 1981.
Gary Tidwell
Pana, Fairbury (Prairie Central)
Rare two-school player who followed his step-father and coach, Charlie Strasburger, between head coaching posts…as a sophomore in 1988, played for Pana and tallied 52 points in state-title drive…moving to Prairie Central in 1989, he added 69 points as team finished third…then as senior, added 86 more as Prairie Central finished second after overtime loss to Wesclin…finished with 207 career points, tied for fifth on all-time list…played ball in college at Olivet Nazarene University.
Arthur Trout
Centralia
Grand Old Man of high school basketball coaches, with 809 wins spanning 37 years…led Centralia to the state tournament ten times…won state titles in 1918, 1922, and 1942, the last time with superstar Dike Eddleman…also won three other trophies, a second in 1946, third in 1941, and fourth in 1939…native of Indiana…retired from coaching in 1951…died in 1956…charter inductee into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.
Dick Van Scyoc
Washington, Peoria (Manual)
Winningest boys coach in Illinois history (826), exceeded Arthur Trout's record in his final season…also won his first state title in final game as a coach, downing Carbondale in 1994 title game…previously directed Manual to second place finish in 1991, third in 1986 and 1988, and a fourth in 1972, with his eventual successor Wayne McClain as a player…native of Eureka…attended Illinois Wesleyan and University of Illinois.
Bob Van Vooren
Moline
Top player on Moline's runner-up squad from 1951, Maroons' best finish to date…scored 64 points in 4 games...best effort was a 27-point performance in a 64-63 semifinal win over Quincy…followed up with 12 in title game but Moline fell to Freeport…played college ball at Marquette University.
Brian Vance
Rock Falls
Five-foot-eleven guard led Rock Falls to its state title in most dramatic fashion, sinking a last-second three-pointer to seal 45-43 win over Waterloo Gibault in the 1999 Class A finals…in five tournament games, scored 111 points and hauled in 31 rebounds…high game in that run was his first, 29 points in a loss to Farmington in the 1998 super-sectional.
John Wessels
Rockford (West)
Tall center headed the West Rockford squad that became only the third to win back-to-back state championships…as a junior in 1955, scored 51 points in the four-game stretch run…came back in 1956 to pour 107 through the nets, with a 36-point effort in the quarterfinals versus West Frankfort his personal best…added 29 in the 67-65 title-game win over Edwardsville…played his college ball at University of Illinois…died in 1994.
Frank Williams
Peoria (Manual)
Star of two state champions, six-foot-four guard known for playmaking and quick hands on defense…was bit player as freshman on Manual's 1995 champs…in starting role in 1996, scored 16 points in title-game win over Thornton…laid 20 on Thornton in 1997 semifinal that propelled Manual into title game…finished tournament career in 1998 super-sectional loss to Quincy, having scored 135 points in 10 games…played in college at University of Illinois…enjoyed pro career for nearly a decade.
George Wilson
Chicago (Marshall)
Six-foot-eight center led Marshall to two state championships, first ever for city of Chicago…as a sophomore in 1958, poured in 86 points in four games as Marshall glided to title over Rock Falls…returned with 64 points in 1960 as Marshall breezed through field…starred at University of Cincinnati and on the 1964 Olympic team…played seven years of pro ball.
Bob Zerrusen
Teutopolis
Backbone of Teutopolis' undefeated state champs in 1986…in four tournament games, six-foot-six center scored 81 points on 32 of 44 field goal shooting (73%), added 44 rebounds and 10 blocked shots…key player in 75-73 super-sectional win over Venice, tallying 25 points…scored 18 (on 8-of-9 shooting) and grabbed nine rebounds in title game against Ohio.