Just minutes after leading Morgan Park to a massive win against arch-rival Simeon in the Public League playoffs, star junior Adam Miller was reminded by a reporter that he is not from Chicago. It’s strange to see an import dominate in the city playoffs.
Miller moved to Chicago after growing up in Peoria. He played at Peoria Manual his freshman season.
“I’m from Peoria but it is the same thing down there,” Miller said. “I was raised, bred to play basketball the right way and the tough way.”
Miller’s toughness and talent was on display all season. He transitioned from Ayo Dosunmu’s running mate/understudy into a force. That isn’t easy. More players fail in that situation than succeed, especially underclassmen.
Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin’s style seems to mesh well with Miller. Irvin pushed the right buttons with Miller at halftime of that Simeon game and many others throughout the season.
The Mustangs fell short in the city title game, but are heavy favorites to win their third consecutive Class 3A state title.
Miller averaged 29.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists, according to Morgan Park. He’s joined on the team by three seniors and another junior, Young’s DJ Steward. Two juniors cracking the Chicago Sun-Times All-City First Team is rare. There has only been one junior on the team over the past five seasons, Dosunmu in 2017.
Steward, who transferred to Young after starring at Fenwick his first two years, is another player that has successfully made the transition to high-level Public League basketball. He’s considered a top-100 player in the national class of 2020.
DaJuan Gordon led Curie to a tremendous season. The Kansas State recruit averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds and three assists. The Condors won the city title, the Pontiac Holiday Tournament and the Red-South/Central. They haven’t lost to an in-state team and are the favorites to win the Class 4A state title.
Marquise Kennedy of Brother Rice is one of the city’s top all-around players in recent memories. He’s a monster on offense and defense. The Loyola recruit averaged 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2 steals and 1.2 blocks. He shot 60 percent from the field. Many coaches and longtime observers say Kennedy is the best shot-blocking guard they’ve seen.
Bogan’s Rashaun Agee was the city’s dominant big man this season. He had no peer. The 6-8 forward is ridiculously under-recruited by colleges, holding only a handful of mid-major offers. Agee averaged 24 points, 16 rebounds and three assists.
Uplift senior Markese Jacobs was having a Player of the Year-caliber season before going down with an injury in January. He would likely have been a First Team selection if he had completed the season.
Players on teams in the Chicago city limits are eligible for All-City. The All-Area team, comprised of players in the Sun-Times’ entire coverage area, will be released next week and the All-State team will be revealed in two weeks.
FIRST TEAM
Player, School, Position, Height, Year
Rashaun Agee, Bogan, C, 6-8, Sr. 24 pts, 16 rebs, 3 assists
DaJuan Gordon, Curie, F, 6-4, Sr. 18 pts, 8 rebs, 3 assists, 2 steals
Marquise Kennedy, Brother Rice, G, 6-1, Sr. 23.8 pts, 6.4 rbs, 3.8 asst, 2 stls, 1.2 blk, 60% FG
Adam Miller, Morgan Park, G, 6-4, Jr. 29.2 pts, 7.8 rebs, 6.1 assists
DJ Steward, Young, G, 6-4, Jr. 24.3 pts, 3.2 assists
Rashaun Agee, Bogan
Curie’s DaJuan Gordon (3) goes up for a dunk in the second half,Tuesday 01-08-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.
Marquise Kennedy, Brother Rice
Adam Miller, Morgan Park
DJ Steward, Young
SECOND TEAM
DaChaun Anderson, Leo, F, 6-7, Sr. 19.3 pts, 12.2 rebs, 3 blocks
Perry Cowan, DePaul Prep, G, 6-4, Sr. 18.4 pts, 5.5 rebs, 3 assists, 2.2 steals
Markese Jacobs, Uplift, G, 6-0, Sr. 30.2 pts, 4.5 rebs, 3.3 assists, 3.8 steals
Antonio Reeves, Simeon, G, 6-4, Sr. 21.7 pts, 6 rebs, 3 assists
Tujautae Williams, Orr, G, 6-6, Sr. 13.7 pts, 7.3 rebs, 4.2 assists, 2 steals, 1.3 blocks
DaChaun Anderson, Leo
Perry Cowan, DePaul Prep
Markese Jacobs, Uplift
Antonio Reeves, Simeon
Tujautae Williams, Orr
THIRD TEAM
Myles Baker, Young, G, 6-3, Sr. 15.2 pts, 4.6 rebs, 2.5 assists
Jordan Booker, Bogan, G, 5-9, Sr. 16 pts, 5 assists
Trevon Hamilton, Curie, G, 5-10, Sr. No stats provided
Ramean Hinton, Curie, F, 6-4, Jr. 11 pts, 8 rebs
Aaron Strong, Farragut, G, 6-2, Sr. 22.3 pts, 8.9 rebs, 4.4 assists
Myles Baker, Young
Jordan Booker, Bogan
Trevon Hamilton, Curie
Ramean Hinton, Curie
Aaron Strong, Farragut
FOURTH TEAM
Fred Cleveland, Leo, G, 5-10, Sr. 21.7 pts, 6.4 assists, 3.2 steals
Dhashon Dyson, Corliss, G, 5-10, Sr. 19.7 pts, 3 assists, 3.5 rebs, 2.6 steals. 49% FG, 39% 3PT
Josh Redic, Mount Carmel, G, 6-3, Sr. 17.2 pts, 6.2 rebs, 1.5 steals
Marcus Watson, Morgan Park, G, 5-10, Jr. 13 pts, 11 assists, 4.2 rebs, 4.4 steals
Austin Freeman, St. Patrick, G, 6-3, Sr. 18 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asst, 3 stls. 54% FG, 45% 3PT, 82% free throws
HONORABLE MENTION
Raheem Anthony, DePaul Prep, G, 6-3, Sr.
Clyde Benton, De La Salle, F, 6-5, Sr.
Noah Chatman, Senn, G, 6-1, Sr.
Jabari Chiphe, Payton, F, 6-3, Jr.
Kejuan Clements, Simeon, G, 6-2, Sr.
Devin Davis, Westinghouse, G, 6-0, G.
Vuk Djuric, Lane, C, 6-6, Sr.
Demetrius Douglas, North Lawndale, G, 6-2, Sr.
Ismail Habib, Lincoln Park, G, 6-0, So.
Justin Harmon, Curie, F, 6-3, Sr.
Khalid Herron, Phoenix, F, 6-6, Sr.
Deion Jackson, Providence-St. Mel, G, 6-3, Sr.
Seryee Lewis, Kenwood, C, 6-8, Jr.
Julio Montes, Lincoln Park, G, 5-9, So.
Jeremiah Oden, St. Rita, F, 6-6, Sr.
Greg Outlaw, Orr, F, 6-4, Sr.
Pierre Poindexter, Brooks, F, 6-3, Sr.
Kyle Rowan, Ag. Science, G, 6-1, Sr.
Tyrese Scurlock, Dunbar, F, 6-6, Sr.
Deshawndre Washington, Morgan Park, F, 6-7, Sr.
