It seemed like this day would never roll around for Andrew Johnson.
Basketballs hitting the hardwood floor. The sound of screeching gym shoes. The first toot of a whistle. Johnson’s team crowding around him, hanging on his every word.
His team: Andrew Johnson’s Proviso East Pirates.
“Believe it or not, I was restless Sunday night,” said Johnson, the new head basketball coach at Proviso East. “I could hardly sleep.”
With the official start of high school basketball practice Monday, a new era at Proviso East got underway with Johnson taking over the coaching reins from Bill Hitt, who resigned after last season. Hitt guided the Pirates to a 235-55 record in 10 years, including back-to-back Class AA titles in 1990-91 and 1991-92.
Johnson spent the previous four years as an assistant to Hitt. That meant discussing the daily practice plans. On Monday, Johnson’s routine had changed. Slightly.
“The main difference is I have to make all the preparations and do the practice plans for my team, and the scheduling for the freshmen and sophomores,” Johnson said.
The first day of practice also signaled a new beginning at Hales Franciscan. The Spartans have moved to Class AA after finishing second to Staunton for last season’s Class A title.
Hales also has a new coach, Marty Monegain, who replaces Tom Shields after spending the last two seasons as one of his assistants.
– The 1-2 punch of 7-footers Rashard Griffith and Thomas Hamilton is gone, but defending state champion King again has the talent to make a run at the state title. It will be led by transfers Michael Hermon, Eddie Washington and Toporis Nash.
– King still will have its toughest challenge in years for the Public League title, with Farragut and Simeon looming as the favorites to unseat the Jaguars. We’ll get a good idea of how things could shape up fairly early. King will play Farragut, led by Curtis Ganes and Ronnie Fields, in the annual Danville Thanskgiving tournament.
– Mt. Carmel, led by Antoine Walker, Willie Jones and Donovan McNabb, has a strong shot at the Class AA title. The 6-foot-8-inch Walker, regarded as one of the country’s top prospects, has been suspended for the Caravan’s first three games for breaking team rules, but that shouldn’t make a difference.
– An indication of which teams will rule down south could come as early as Nov. 30 when Rich Central plays Joliet Township.
Both figure to be among the state’s top teams. Rich Central already has a star in Wisconsin-bound guard Sean Mason, but two transfers-6-4 Quinton James from Marian Catholic and 6-3 guard Jermond Remmer of Rich South-will make the Olympians stronger.
The merger of the Joliet West and Joliet Central programs could make Joliet an elite team. Coach Mike O’Connell already had 6-5 junior forward Gary Bell at Joliet West. Now O’Connell also has a couple of talented guards in Ty Calderwood and Joel House from Joliet Central.
