Tipped Off: Michael O’Brien’s hoops notebook

Almost everything is unpredictable

Take a good look at St. Rita coach Gary DeCesare throwing his hands up in the air in frustration as a young Marist team upsets his Mustangs. That’s something we are bound to see an awful lot of this season. After Rita knocked of De La Salle on the road last night, the Mustangs earned their big bump up to No. 5 in the rankings. But there are really only three proven commodities at this point (Simeon, Young, Proviso East) and anyone else can be beat on any given night.

This Brownridge kid might be pretty good after all

City/Suburban Hoops Report guru Joe Henricksen thinks Waubonsie Valley junior Jared Brownridge could be the best shooter in the state. He hasn’t looked it the times I’ve seen him, but Joe is usually to be trusted. Brownridge had a big Wednesday, scoring 29 points with 13 in a crucial fourth quarter.

Here’s a snippet from Jim Owczarski’s story on Waubonsie’s win over Neuqua Valley:

Brownridge hit three more threes in the second quarter — one off a catch-and-shoot in the corner, another off a crossover, and then a buzzer-beater at the half where he split two defenders and then pulled up to give the Warriors a 32-29 lead.

And this is what Neuqua Valley coach Todd Sutton had to say after the game:

“We can’t guard him. Flat out. We just couldn’t guard him. Boatright-esque.”

Comparing anyone to the Boat Show is high praise.

Everyone is eligible

Longtime readers will know I’m not too concerned about transfers. They can’t be stopped, it’s been going on forever. And who says a kid has to stay at a school? Coaches, teachers and media members get to jump around to wherever they want, why shouldn’t the kids.

Anyway, word is that possibly all and definitely most of the transfers in the Public League (notably Markee Williams, Moshawn Thomas and Jawan Savage) are eligible to play. Those three played this week, which means very big things for Crane and Hyde Park.

Go watch Andrew

This one is for the aficionados. Go see Andrew as soon as possible. They will cleanse your palate of all the manufactured super teams in the city. It’s so refreshing to watch a real high school basketball team–with kids that actual grew up in the community they are representing–playing such fluid basketball together.

Where to go Thursday

I’ll be watching North Lawndale at Hyde Park, supposedly tipping off at 5:30 pm. I’m excited to get a look at Lamont Bryant’s squad, and the Phoenix always has some unknown talents on hand.

Schaumburg at Hoffman Estates is always a solid pick, great rivalry.

And who wouldn’t want to go watch Dundee-Crown at Stevenson? I’m dying to get a look at the Stevenson freshmen.