'Better than a dream': Young wins state

Young’s Marcus Jordan lies on the court while hugging the basketball after winning the state championship against Waukegan.
(Scott Powers/For the Sun-Times News Group)

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PEORIA – When Marcus Jordan transferred from Loyola to Young two years ago, the Dolphins were immediately saddled with tremendous expectations, global opportunities and all the massive distractions that come along with Michael Jordan’s son.

This weekend Jordan lived up to all of the promise, leading Young to the Class 4A state championship with a 69-66 win over Waukegan at Carver Arena.

Jordan led the way with 22 points in the semifinals against Thornton and scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed five rebounds in the title game. He made four free throws in the last 26 seconds to seal the win.

“I can’t even tell you what this feels like,” Jordan said. “It’s just amazing. This is better than any dream I’ve ever had.”

Jordan’s entire family was on hand to watch the victory.

“My brother was just amazing, he played his heart out,” Marcus’ sister Jasmine said. “No sister could ask for anything more.”

The Dolphins had the toughest road to the state title of any team in the field. They defeated six ranked teams on the way to the title: Fenwick, Morton, De La Salle, Hyde Park, Thornton and Waukegan.

Two free throws from Mike Springs made it 60-58 Young with 2:02 to play. Dolphins senior Chris Colvin exploded through the lane for a basket to put Young ahead by four and then the key play: Sam Thompson’s baseline drive.

The athletic sophomore drove the baseline and was fouled by Waukegan junior Jereme Richmond, the Sun-Times Player of the Year. Thompson’s shot went in and he made the free throw, giving the Dolphins a seven-point cushion they would need to withstand two late three-pointers from Waukegan senior Colin Nickerson.

Richmond finished with 17 points and nine rebounds. Stan Brown and Franklin Griffin, the two primary defenders on Richmond, each fouled out midway through the fourth quarter.

“We just had in mind that we had to battle today,” Brown said. “I wasn’t going to let my team down. I wasn’t coming off the floor unless I gave it everything I had.”

Brown finished with 14 points. Ahmad Starks and Antonio Johnson each scored eight points.

Johnson stepped up and guarded Richmond when his two teammates were gone.

“I just knew I had to play hard with two guys fouled out,” Johnson said. “It’s the last high school game for all the seniors and nothing mattered more than going out with a win.

Brown and Griffin stepped into the starting lineup after injuries to Starks and Anthony Johnson in early March. The two seniors solid play fueled the playoff run.

“I told my coaches even if I make a mistake I’m going to come back with two really good things out there,” Brown said. “With the injuries I knew I had to step up and be strong in the middle.”

Young opened the game with a 28-11 run, utilizing size and leaping ability to severely hinder Waukegan’s offensive game. Jordan drained two three-pointers and scored eight during the run. The Dolphins blocked four shots in the first half and forced the Bulldogs to drastically alter nearly a dozen shots.

Waukegan (26-5) clawed back into the game with a 10-0 run to cut the lead to seven at the half. The Bulldogs tied the game with 6:52 remaining on three free throws from sophomore Aaron Johnson.

Nickerson finished with 14 points and junior Quan Conner scored 14, despite suffering an injured hand in the second quarter. Johnson scored 12.

“Of course I’m disappointed that we lost, but you can’t fault our effort,” Richmond said. “Everyone gave it all they could. We just lost to a great team and after last year what more could you ask for.”

Young finishes the season with a 26-9 record, the most losses by a state champion since Decatur’s 24-11 record in 1936. But Young’s season was nothing like Decatur’s. Because of Jordan’s famous name and his equally talented teammates, Young was invited all over the country, playing games in seven states.

Quentin Richardson led Young to its first state title in 1998. The Public League has won five boys basketball state titles in the last five seasons.

“This feels almost as good as the first,” said George Stanton, Young’s coach in ’98. “You have to hand it to these guys, they overcame injuries, overcame doubts and overcame all the teams in their path.”