By: Brian Weitz
It was a David and Goliath story Friday night in Skokie where the previously 1-6 Niles West wolves were hosting the tenth ranked Evanston Wildkits. However in this David and Goliath, David was fighting without a slingshot. When word came that Niles West’s 6’6 star Nik Garcia would miss the game with a sprained ankle, it seemed that David (Niles West) was not only fighting Goliath without any weapons, but without arms as well.
The game was a complete mismatch throughout. The Wolves were so riddled by injuries to Garcia, 6’4 Danny Zahos, and 6’2 Stefan Kovacevic, that come tip off time, every single one of Evanston’s starters were taller than the every single player on the entire active Niles West roster. Garcia, who has offers from SIU, NIU, and Akron, is currently the face of the program, and the outcome of the game shows his value to the team.
From the very tip to the push to try and reach triple digits at the game’s end, Evanston made a complete mockery of the word competition, more than doubling the Wolves, 96-42.
The game had a special importance to Darryan Hunt of Evanston. Hunt transferred to Evanston after spending last year at Niles West. Friday was his first game back, and first time in a varsity game to be on the visiting sideline.
“I was a little nervous at first,” Hunt admitted. “But then the jitters went away and it was just like a regular game.
If Hunt truly had pre game jitters, he did a great job of camouflaging them in a barrage of offensive attacks to score early and often for the visiting Wildkits. Hunt shot a astounding 85.7% from the field, going 6/7 and scoring 12 points on the night.
The 6’6 Hunt, who is known for his astronomical leaping ability and distinctive ability to, on any given possession, take the ball and throw down backboard shaking dunks with ease. “Darryan can just jump out of the gym,” said Evanston Head Coach Bobby Locke. Many who are familiar with the recruiting process feel that he has a outside shot to play his way into a D1 scholarship, and that his best basketball is ahead of him,
Evanston sophomore Ryan FrazieChambers is one of the best players in the Illinois class of 2010. Evanston’s Coach Locke believes that Frazier-Chambers can become one of the state’s best players come his senior year, takes an unusual method in coaching his budding star, “ I do not even talk to him about offense, that just comes naturally for him. This year is all about defense. Defensively he has a long way to go, but he’s talented” says Locke.
Much like the other buttons Locke has been pushing in the midst of Evanston’s current 8 game winning streak, his efforts seem to be paying off for Frazier, who “quietly” led the team with 20 points. Equally impressive is that he also had 4 steals and 4 assists. “He’s going to be a great player. He can make every play in the book. When he learns to play defense, he will be one of the best players in the state.“ Adds Locke.
It’s the way of high school basketball for seniors to blossom at the end, and this year, high school basketball is the way of Evanston. Stephen Rudnicki has become Evanston’s primary point guard, although Zach Morton is well more than serviceable there. However unlike the gifted athlete that Morton is, Rudnicki is a guy who until this year had been a 3 point specialist, However, thanks to the decision to focus solely on basketball over the attraction of starting on Evanston’s varsity baseball team, again beside Morton, Rudnicki transformed himself into not only a shooter, but now is also able to drive. However its his talent of being able to set up team mates that may be what helps the team the most. Rudnicki scored 11 points Friday, but had 12 assists.
Rudnicki has had 5 assists in six of Evanston’s nine games and is averaging 6 per game.
The best game overall however belonged to Travis Clark. The Evanston forward neared one of the biggest accomplishments in high school basketball, a triple double by a big man. Thanks to 5 highlight reel third quarter blocks, Clark came out for good early in the fourth quarter, after scoring 14 points on 100% shooting, grabbing 10 rebounds, blocking 7 shots, swiping 4 steals and dishing out 4 assists.
The sharp shooting Morton also got into double figures with 15 points as Evanston shot 68.4% on the night.
Without their stars, Zahos and Garcia, the Niles West offense was just anemic. They were rarely able to dribble without being trapped and forced into turning the ball over, which happened almost 30 times. “We just played a half court and they just could not do anything” said Locke. Take away the 18 points by 6’0 Niles West forward Jamar Forest and the Wolves had more turnovers than points.
“I was mad Nik and Zahos did not play” said Hunt. “But we still got one more game with them.”
Unless Garcia and Zahos get healthy, that is the last thing any employee, student or alumnus of Niles West wants to hear.
Evanston will play Waukegan on Thursday, December 20, where the victor will be in sole control of first place in the CSL South and also its last unbeaten. Jereme Richmond and Co. are going to be coming off of a victory over 11th ranked New Trier. Evanston will have to face a talent in Richmond that they will not be able to ignore, and Rashaan Melvin is a very formidable guard as well. The Illinois commit will be facing off against a few members of his extended family in what should be a great one in Evanston.