For all Jon Scheyer has accomplished, you would think his legacy is complete.
Not according to sentiment in the Public League, which has it that Simeon’s Derrick Rose, Crane’s Sherron Collins and Marshall’s Patrick Beverley are all better than the 6-foot-6-inch Glenbrook North star.
“I’m aware of it, but I can’t worry about what other people think,” Scheyer said. “This is my third time going Downstate, and to me, it’s all about winning. I feel like I don’t have anything to prove.”
The 6-4 Rose, rated among the nation’s top five juniors, will go head-to-head with Scheyer when Simeon (30-4) battles Glenbrook North (29-2) in the 6:30 p.m. Class AA quarterfinal Friday at Carver Arena in Peoria.
Rose, averaging 20 points, 8.5 rebounds and eight assists and shooting 40 percent from three-point range, has been dominant in the playoffs.
“As he matures, he is becoming more aggressive and confident in his game,” said Simeon coach Robert Smith, who has banned interviews with his players. “He is doing whatever it takes for us to win.”
Scheyer, who averages 29.4 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals, played against Rose at a basketball camp last summer.
“He is a great player, and Simeon is a really great team,” Scheyer said. “It’s going to be real fun playing them.”
While Rose’s explosive penetrating and soaring athleticism presents a matchup nightmare for Glenbrook North coach Dave Weber, Smith believes he has a remedy for Scheyer.
Simeon’s 5-10 defensive specialist, Dexter Williams, who often guards Rose in practice, will harass Scheyer in a box-and-one scheme.
“As long as we win, it doesn’t matter if I score two points or 30,” Scheyer said. “Other guys like Matt Shamis, Zach Kelly and Tyler Cullitan have been stepping up in the playoffs.”
Nobody has risen higher than Thornwood (24-6) in the postseason. The Thunderbirds have sprung consecutive upsets over Thornridge, Washington and Homewood-Flossmoor to reach Friday’s 1:45 p.m. quarterfinal with Schaumburg (21-7).
They beat Washington in five overtimes and H-F in three.
“A lot of people are saying we don’t belong here and we’re supposed to lose on Friday,” guard/forward Cameron Snelling said. “Stuff like that just makes us play harder.”
Marshall (30-2) has overwhelmed its postseason competition, winning five games by an average of 34 points.
Edwardsville (30-0) will face a fast-breaking, zone-pressing attack featuring Patrick Beverley (32 points, six rebounds, six assists, five steals), Ryan Hare (23.6 points, 8.3 rebounds), Mike Stovall (16.7 points) and Darius Smith (12 points, eight rebounds, 5.5 assists) in the 8:15 p.m. game.
With a defense that is holding opponents to 44.4 points per game, West Aurora (29-1) is expected to emerge from the top bracket.
The Blackhawks will have to contend with Peoria Richwoods (24-6) and 6-9 Billy Cole in the noon quarterfinal. Cole (16 points, nine rebounds) has orally committed to Illinois.
West Aurora (29-1) vs. Peoria Richwoods (24-6)
Probable starters
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WEST AURORA CL HT P PPG
Aaron Snyder Sr. 5-11 G 8.3
Johnny Walker Sr. 5-9 G 9.6
T.J. Marion Sr. 6-2 F 11.1
Tyler Thompson Jr. 6-4 F/C 7.1
Dernardo Eiland Jr. 6-4 F/C 9.6
PEORIA RICHWOODS
Justin Dehm Jr. 6-1 G 14.9
Ryan Phillips Sr. 6-4 F 9.2
Dan Mathis Sr. 6-0 G 2.8
Patrick Hogan Sr. 6-1 F 2.6
Bill Cole Jr. 6-9 F 16.1
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Inside stuff: West Aurora has won 19 in a row since its lone defeat, 61-56 to Warren in the semifinals of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Led by lock-down defender Marion, the Blackhawks are holding opponents to an average of 44.4 points per game. Marion (11.1-point average) heads a balanced offense also featuring point guard Walker (9.6 points, five assists) and three-point shooter Snyder. West Aurora finished in third place in 2004 after having won the state championship in 2000. Richwoods relies on Cole (16.1 points, nine rebounds), who has made an oral commitment to Illinois. He is backed by Dehm (14.9 points) and Phillips (9.2).
Thornwood (24-6) vs. Schaumburg (21-7)
Probable starters
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THORNWOOD CL HT P PPG
Rashad Singleton Sr. 6-4 G/F 8.0
Cameron Snelling Jr. 6-4 G/F 5.2
Trey Blue Jr. 6-2 G 17.1
Reggie Hamilton Jr. 6-0 G 10.5
Brandon Merke Jr. 6-0 G 4.4
SCHAUMBURG
Mike Kelly Sr. 5-9 G 3.3
Bobby Rhodes Sr. 5-10 G 5.7
Grant Monroe Jr. 6-5 G 12.7
Drew Jackson Sr. 6-2 F 10.1
Jake Pancratz Sr. 6-1 G 13.9
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Inside stuff: Welcome to the rematch quarterfinal. Not only did Schaumburg defeat Thornwood 64-55 on Dec. 17 at the Hillcrest Shootout, but the Saxons knocked off Thornwood and Eddy Curry for the Class AA championship in ’01. This Thornwood team could be destiny’s darling, having defeated Public League powerhouse Washington in five overtimes for the sectional title and Homewood-Flossmoor in three OTs in the supersectional on Tuesday night. Blue leads the Thunderbirds with 17.1 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. The Saxons will look toward Pancratz (13.9 points), Monroe (12.7) and Jackson (10.1) to lead the way.
Simeon (30-4) vs. Glenbrook North (29-2)
Probable starters
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SIMEON CL HT P PPG
Randall Hampton Sr. 5-11 G 7.0
Dexter Williams Sr. 5-10 G 3.6
Derrick Rose Jr. 6-4 G/F 20.0
Tim Flowers Jr. 6-5 F/C 18.6
Joshua Davis Sr. 6-3 F 10.6
GLENBROOK NORTH
Tyler Cullitan Sr. 6-4 F 7.1
Jon Scheyer Sr. 6-6 G 29.4
Matt Shamis Sr. 6-0 G 7.0
Zach Kelly Sr. 6-7 C/F 9.0
Jonathan Radke Sr. 6-5 F 3.4
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Inside stuff: The marquee quarterfinal is worthy of title-game status. Simeon has beaten five playoff foes by an average of 23 points behind the surging Rose, who is averaging 20.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8 assists and is converting 40 percent of his three-pointers. He is supported by Flowers (18.6 points, 10 rebounds) and Davis (10.6 points, 8.7 rebounds). The defending champion Spartans are led by two-time All-Stater Scheyer, averaging 29.4 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. He has hit 98 threes at a 40 percent clip. Glenbrook North has hit 223 three-pointers, with Shamis making 43 percent and sixth man Chris Stamas 41 percent.
Marshall (30-2) vs. Edwardsville (30-0)
Probable starters
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MARSHALL CL HT P PPG
Patrick Beverley Sr. 6-2 G 31.9
Mike Stovall Jr. 6-5 G/F 16.7
Darius Smith Jr. 6-2 F/C 12.1
Ryan Hare So. 6-3 F 23.6
Darrius Gaters Sr. 6-7 C 9.0
EDWARDSVILLE
E.J. Jones Sr. 5-11 G 10.3
Joe Allaria Jr. 6-0 G 10.5
Carl McCaleb Sr. 5-8 G 0.6
Spencer Stewart Sr. 6-4 G 10.4
Dustin McGuire Sr. 6-5 C 16.1
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Inside stuff: It has been Marshall law in the postseason, as the Commandos have won five playoff games by an average of 34 points. The Commandos, who have scored 100 or more points five times, are led by Beverley’s averages of 31.9, six rebounds, six assists and five steals. There’s also Hare (23.6 points, 8.3 rebounds), Stovall (16.7 points), Smith (12.1 points, eight rebounds, 5.5 assists) and Gaters (nine points, 10 rebounds). Edwardsville also has four starters averaging in double-figure scoring, led by McGuire (16.1 points, six rebounds) and Stewart (10.4 points, 6.5 assists, six rebounds). Stewart has signed with Illinois-Chicago.
Rose vs. Scheyer
A look at the season statistics of Glenbrook North senior Jon Scheyer and Simeon junior Derrick Rose:
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PLAYER G FG FGA 3P 3PA FT FTA PTS AVG REB AST HIGH
Rose 33 273 525 25 63 90 123 661 20.0 280 269 29
Scheyer 31 293 611 98 245 226 263 910 29.4 182 128 52
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bsakamoto@tribune.com
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