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Held Sunday, February 25, 2024
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by Kyle Williams | Chicago SunTimes
February 10, 2024
Young beats Kenwood to win third consecutive
city championship
Curie’s Carlos Harris (2) moves the ball past Kenwood during the Chicago Public League championship game at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
by Michael O'Brien | Chicago SunTimes
February 10, 2024
Carlos Harris began his high school career wearing a mask and playing games in empty gyms. The Curie senior was so talented and advanced that he started as a freshman back in the abbreviated 2021 COVID season.
Harris continued to improve and became one of the state’s best players. On Saturday at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena, his poise and maturity led the Condors to their third city championship. He finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in No. 2 Curie’s 65-59 victory against No. 13 Kenwood in the Public League title game.
“I’ve been close so many times and pushing myself to win this title,” Harris said. “But the job isn’t done. I still want to be player of the year and win the state title.”
Harris, a UIC recruit, was overcome with emotion at the final buzzer and took a knee on his future college court.
“[Harris] is one of the best to ever play at Curie,” Condors coach Mike Oliver said. “And he’s the most unselfish. He always thinks about the team first and the other guys. I’ve had to get on him to be more of a leader, but he leads with his play.”
Sophomore guard Desiree Merritt immediately shifted her focus for Oswego East with 4:20 left in the first quarter Tuesday night when Maggie Lewandowski was whistled for her second foul. With the Wolves’ leading scorer on the bench, Merritt realized it was her turn to take the wheel.
“I knew once Maggie got that second charge that I had to step up and I had to be a leader of the team in that moment,” Merritt said afterward. “That’s really where my mindset was.
“I just really wasn’t thinking about anything else but the game. I was just thinking about the next play — what can I do at this moment?”
Merritt kept Oswego East afloat, building a brief lead on a 3-pointer late in regulation. Lewandowski then returned and led the charge to a 57-52 win in overtime over Yorkville.
In all, Merritt ended up with 12 points as the Wolves (15-13, 13-2) won the Southwest Prairie West title. Lewandowski led all scorers with 23 points, including 21 in the second half and OT.
To read more: Chicago Tribune
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What a great night! We honored our players this year at a wonderful event! Players and Parents alike were awarded for their incredible season as football players for their schools. The coaches also attended with their players also with friends and family. The Honorable Judge Carl Boyd gave moving words of encouragement to these talented young men.
Every year for the past 44 years, Prep Insight Magazine, under the direction of Garret Gosha, and in partnership with EAR Sportsman Club 4H, have produced some of the most heartfelt events that honor the incredible achievements of young people in sports in the Illinois area. For the past 7 years, Prep Insight has also partnered with Legacy Design Leadership, LLC, lead by Marsha Johnson, CEO. Legacy has given Prep Insight its new look and designs all web and print materials for these events. Along with honoring the students, this team has also honored the coaches, officials, school administrators, clergy, civic leaders and other government officials. This year, will be just as in the past, another great year honoring more outstanding people.
Harris finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists in Curie’s 65-59 win against Kenwood in the Public League title game.
by Paul Johnson | Chicago Tribune
Published February 7, 2024
Seizing the moment, Desiree Merritt takes control as Oswego East clinches conference title. "She was huge."
Prep Insight Magazine's Annual All-State
High School Football Banquet
Young’s 68-60 victory at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena gave it the city’s first three-peat since the Dolphins accomplished the feat in 2011-14.
Four-year force Carlos Harris leads Curie to city championship
EAR SPORTSMAN CLUB 4H
Yorkville’s Desiree Merritt (21) goes to the basket between three Yorkville players during a Southwest Prairie West game in Oswego on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)
Prep Insight Magazine Presents Our
Annual All State
High School Basketball Awards Dinner
Held Sunday, March 17, 2024
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Destiny Jackson closes her eyes when she steps to the free-throw line in practice. With her eyes shut, the Young guard imagines the big moment.
Her Dolphins trailed at halftime of the city championship game Saturday, but there wasn’t time to dwell on that. Jackson continued to attack the basket and seek out contact. She couldn’t falter because she heard the doubts cast on her team.
As the horn sounded, Jackson could relax. The Dolphins had captured another championship. “This one has a little bit more value to it because it’s the first time we won without [former Young guard] Skylar [Jones],” said Jackson, who had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists in Young’s 68-60 victory against rival Kenwood at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena. “I know a lot of people said, ‘Y’all can’t win without Skylar, and I don’t think y’all can do it this year,’ and then we came out and did it. So another city championship ... hold up the threes.”
The “threes” Jackson referred to — as she raised three fingers — mark Young’s third consecutive city championship, the first three-peat since the Dolphins accomplished the feat in 2011-14.