Michael O’Brien’s notebook: Dominic Martinelli picks up a D-I offer, Peoria vs. Champaign decision delayed

Glenbrook South senior Dominic Martinelli said he almost had given up hope that a scholarship offer would ever come from a Division I school.

That changed this week, as the 6-5 senior received an offer from Missouri-Kansas City. Billy Donlon, a star player at Glenbrook North in the ’90s, is the coach at UMKC.

“Since it was April, I thought it might have been too late,” Martinelli said.

“Especially with everything going on and no one playing basketball.”

Martinelli, a Sun-Times All-State and All-Area selection, averaged 26.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists this season, capping a tremendous career. He was one of the most dominant seniors in the state. But college coaches and recruiting analysts have had doubts about his athleticism.

Phil Ralston, Martinelli’s coach at Glenbrook South, stressed all season that he believed Martinelli was a D-I player. That offer finally came. But Martinelli, who has never been to Kansas City, will have to wait to visit the school.

“With all the new regulations in place I don’t think I’ll be able to visit until maybe later in the summer,” Martinelli said. “They are going to set up a virtual visit for me, and I’m thinking maybe I’ll just go down there and drive around.”

Martinelli said he is keeping his options open and is still talking with Northern Michigan, a Division II school, along with a couple other schools.

He’s staying busy with his online learning and is able to play basketball with his brother at a private court nearby.

“It’s not too bad,” Martinelli said. “The schoolwork only takes an hour or two and my brother [and] I are staying in shape for when or if we get to play again this spring or summer.”

Coronavirus’ impact on recruiting and spring sports

The NCAA has suspended on- and off-campus recruiting until May 31. That means there won’t be any unofficial or official visits for recruits and the spring evaluation period basically won’t happen.

Martinelli is just one of many local athletes that likely will have to make a college decision without ever visiting the school.

Things seem even bleaker for athletes in spring sports. They’ve been shut down since Illinois schools were closed on March 17 and can’t restart until May 1 at the earliest.

Despite that, the Illinois High School Association released a statement Wednesday that said “we remain optimistic that a May 1 return to school, followed by a to-be-determined acclimatization practice period, can still result in a truncated spring season that culminates with IHSA State Series tournaments and the crowning of state champions in June.”

The IHSA said its board would be willing to extend spring sports play into late June, but competing in July is not being considered.

Champaign or Peoria?

The IHSA board originally was scheduled to vote on the boys basketball state finals hosting bids on April 21. The decision is down to staying in Peoria or moving to Champaign. That vote now has been delayed.

“Because of the time, effort and resources that each community and venue has invested into their respective hosting bids, I believe it is vital that the IHSA Board be able to meet in person to vote on the state basketball bids,” said Craig Anderson, the IHSA executive director.

The next scheduled board meeting is June 15. But the IHSA said that it may decide to hold a special meeting and make a decision before mid-June.

Peoria has hosted the tournament for 25 years. Champaign was the host for 77 years before Peoria’s run.