Simeon senior Zach Norvell easily grabbed a first team spot on the 2016 Sun-Times All-City Team. The Gonzaga recruit was one of the city’s dominant forces this season, only fellow first team selection Charlie Moore could boast better numbers.
But even back on the first day of practice, Norvell had other things in mind for this season.
“This is Simeon basketball,” Norvell, said. “We want to leave on top. We aren’t worried about individual accolades, we want the city and state championship and nothing less.”
The city championship will be decided this weekend. Norvell, who is averaging 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists, will have one final showdown against his good friend Moore, who is averaging 28 points, seven assists and five steals. The Wolverines face Morgan Park in the Public League playoff semifinals on Friday at Quest Multisport.
Moore and Norvell are joined on the first team by Curie point guard Devin Gage. The DePaul recruit averaged 15 points and four assists this season. He led the Condors to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title and won the prestigious A.C. Williamson award.
Buffalo recruit James Jones (20 points and five rebounds) and uncommitted Kenwood senior Nick Robinson (17 points, 11 rebounds) round out the first team.
De La Salle senior George Willborn wasn’t expected to make the All-City team this year, but his stellar season (20 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals) earned him second team honors. Fellow Catholic Leaguer Christian Peevy, a Mount Carmel senior, is another player that earned his way onto the second team with an outstanding season. The 6-5 senior is averaging 17 points and seven rebounds for the Caravan.
Orr’s Raekwon Drake is the only player from the White Division to make one of the top four teams. The 6-5 sophomore is one of the state’s few electric talents. He’s averaging 19 points and seven rebounds despite battling a knee injury.
Two juniors, Simeon’s Evan Gilyard (14 points, six assists) and Uplift’s Demarius Jacobs (19 points, six rebounds, four assists) round out the second team.
FIRST TEAM
Player, School, Position, Height, Year
Devin Gage, Curie, G, 6-1, Sr.
James Jones, Bogan, F, 6-4, Sr.
Charlie Moore, Morgan Park, G, 5-11, Sr.
Zach Norvell, Simeon, F, 6-5, Sr.
Nick Robinson, Kenwood, F, 6-5, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Raekwon Drake, Orr, F, 6-5, So.
Evan Gilyard, Simeon, G, 5-9, Jr.
Demarius Jacobs, Uplift, G, 6-3, Jr.
Christian Peevy, Mount Carmel, F, 6-5, Sr.
George Willborn, De La Salle, G, 6-3, Sr.
THIRD TEAM
Bryce Barnes, Bogan, G, 5-10, Sr.
Jordan Bell, Vocational, F, 6-7, Sr.
Jamal Burton, Morgan Park, F, 6-3, Sr.
Tyrone Rhivers, North Lawndale, G, 5-9, Sr.
Dulan Scott, Farragut, G, 6-4, Sr.
FOURTH TEAM
Tajuan Agee, Hyde Park, F, 6-7, Sr.
Chamar Hawkins, Marist, F, 6-3, Sr.
Elijah Joiner, Curie, G, 6-3 Jr.
Zion Morgan, Kenwood, G, 6-3, Sr.
Lucas Williamson, Young, F, 6-4. Jr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Craig Atkins, DePaul Prep
Xavier Castaneda, Young
Manny Patterson, Kenwood
Jarrin Randall, Morgan Park
Jake Rhode, Mount Carmel
Coreyon Rushin, Westinghouse
Dexter Smith, North Lawndale
Josh Thomas, Simeon
Kahlil Whitney, Solorio
Marquan Williams, Perspectives-MSA
