Transfer Jeremiah Williams elevates Simeon to contender status

Bloom, Morgan Park and Young have received all the preseason hype and early-season attention. The state’s top basketball program, Simeon, has been quietly preparing outside the spotlight.

It briefly appeared this could be a rebuilding year for the Wolverines. Coach Robert Smith was expected to depend on a talented group of sophomores and juniors. That all changed when senior Jeremiah Williams transferred from St. Laurence.

Williams averaged 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3 steals and 2.5 blocks and was an All-Area selection last season.

“He’s going to be the all-purpose guy,” Smith said. “He can guard different people, he can score in different ways. He worked in real well with the guys early and that is always huge. He does so many different things. I can see him getting at least two or three triple-doubles this season.”

Williams’ arrival completely changes the expectations for Simeon this season. He’s a legitimate star. Add his ability to junior scorer Ahamad Bynum and point guard Jaylen Drane, one of the state’s top sophomores, and it is clear the Wolverines are a major contender for the city championship and the Class 4A title this season.

“The transition has been real smooth, the guys have been awesome,” Williams said.

Simeon also suffered a major loss in the transfer market. AJ Casey, a 6-7 sophomore, transferred to Tinley Park after starting for the Wolverines his entire freshman year. He’s the top prospect in the state’s sophomore class.

Last season was challenging for Smith. The team finished 20-15, the most losses Simeon has ever suffered since he took over in 2004-05.

The Wolverines struggled to a 1-6 start without Bynum, who wound up missing a large chunk of the season with an injury. He returned for the city and state playoffs and became a reliable scoring threat. Bynum committed to DePaul last month.

“I think it will be a breakout year [for Bynum],” Smith said. “He was that second scorer we were missing last year. When he got back in the state playoffs you could see us getting better. He had some great moments.”

Several players mentioned the chemistry the new group has, which includes sharpshooter Frederick Poole, freshman Jalen Griffith, junior Dylan Ingram and a slew of bigs expected to join the regular rotation.

“I really like our bench,” Smith said. “We have more depth this year than the last couple of years and most important, the guys like each other. That is half the battle right there.”

Drane was in and out of the rotation last season but showed some tremendous flashes of potential.

“He’s grown as a player,” Smith said. “Last year helped him out a lot, getting that time on the floor in big games. He might not have had all those minutes if Bynum wasn’t hurt. I’m looking for big things from him. [Bynum and Drane] are really good out there together, so that will be good for us.”

The Wolverines open the season Tuesday against Lindblom and face Baltimore St. Frances on Saturday in the Chicago Elite Classic at Wintrust Arena.

“People think we are weak or something this season,” Bynum said. “They will find out the truth soon.”