Steve Tucker's preps notebook

Three-feat

Simeon coach Robert Smith is only in his fifth year, but he joins legends Arthur Trout, Jerry Leggett, Wayne McClain and mentor Bob Hambric as three-time winners of the Pontiac tournament.

Hersey's kids

In an e-mail, John Theriault points out former Westinghouse great Hersey Hawkins' sons, Corey and Brandon, are standouts at Estrella Foothills in Goodyear, Ariz., and won a state title last winter. Hersey is an assistant. Brandon, a senior, committed to Pacific, and Corey, a junior, committed to Arizona State after receiving offers from many schools, including LSU, Texas and Stanford, where Hersey's former 76ers backcourt mate Johnny Dawkins is coaching.

Big-time prospect

Former Hubbard star Brian Thomas, a 6-2, 260-pound defensive tackle, is being recruited by Indiana, Minnesota and several MAC schools. Thomas was an academic qualifier but lacked great size, so he opted to attend College of DuPage for two years. Last season, he was an all-conference and all-region selection.

U.S. Army game

Three Illinois products will participate in the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl at noon Saturday (Ch. 5) in San Antonio — Notre Dame-bound OL Chris Watt of Glenbard West and DE Craig Drummond of Morgan Park and WR Kraig Appleton of East St. Louis, two Illinois recruits.

Top 20

The top 20 junior football prospects according to former Sun-Times high school sports reporter Taylor Bell: TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, Johnsburg; OL Christian Lombard, Fremd; WR Kyle Prater, Proviso West; DE Chance Carter, Loyola; QB John Whitelaw, Hinsdale Central; QB Chandler Whitmer, Downers Grove South; QB Miles Osei, Prospect; DB Corey Cooper, Proviso East; DL Frank Boenzi, Geneva; OL Zach Fulton, Homewood-Flossmoor; LB Jack Dittmer, Fenwick; RB Matt Perez, Maine South; RB Georgio Bowers, Rich Central; RB LaSteven McKinney, Nazareth; DL Nathan Ollie, Mount Carmel; LB J.D. Barchard, Crystal Lake South; QB Jim Garoppolo, Rolling Meadows; QB Taylor Graham, Wheaton North; DL Jon Thibideau, Homewood-Flossmoor; and OL Dan Foreman, Joliet Catholic.