Joe Henricksen’s City/Suburban Hoops Report

Updated: February 16, 2012 6:34PM

City

This is about the time of year when Player of the Year banter begins. With all due respect to St. Rita’s Tony Hicks, North Chicago’s Aaron Simpson and every other candidate, Simeon junior Jabari Parker has forged to the head of the pack. With Parker, it’s about his understated all-around brilliance. Plus, few players can affect a game or stuff a stat sheet like the 6-8 Parker, who averages 26.5 points, eight rebounds, four assists and 3.5 blocks while playing for the No. 1 team in the state.

South

It’s not exactly now or never for talent-rich Homewood-Flossmoor, but the next month will be pivotal for a team that has been building for this season and a March run. Although there was probably a little too much hype thrown at H-F’s seniors as young players, the Vikings still have the talent, size and experience to reach Peoria for the first time since Julian Wright led them to a second-place finish in 2004. H-F has clinched its second
consecutive Southwest Suburban Blue title and has won 30 league games in a row.

West

If you’re looking for a self-promoting coach, you’ve got the wrong guy in West Aurora’s Gordie Kerkman. But the success of his program makes him stand out.
Kerkman, who has won 732 games in his career, is among the 10 all-time winningest coaches in state history. He has taken eight teams to the state finals, won a state title in 1999 and is expected to be named one of the coaches for the McDonald’s All-American Game on March 28 in Chicago.North

When Warren won 28 games and finished second in the state in 1999, many around Illinois labeled the Blue Devils a one-year wonder. But coach Chuck Ramsey turned Warren into perennial power that has averaged 22 victories in the last 13 seasons and nabbed another second-place trophy last March. Ramsey, one of the most underrated coaches in state history, is retiring at the end of the season. He’s closing in on 400 career victories and has one more legitimate shot of reaching Peoria this season.

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