Barrington’s Will Grudzinski flew a bit under the radar this season.
The senior forward’s name didn’t come up often in discussions about the state’s best players. While several area stars drew the attention of major college programs, Grudzinski will go to Division III Washington University in St. Louis.
Grudzinski’s production, however, speaks for itself. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.0 rebounds in Barrington’s best season ever.
After the Broncos upset Glenbrook South in the Class 4A Forest View Supersectional on March 7, Grudzinski got the chance to show all of Illinois what he could do at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Friday.
“Exposure is one thing,” Grudzinski said. “I feel like I got a bit of exposure this summer, but I was playing hurt, so that kind of messed me up a bit. It just felt good to be out there competing with some big names.”
Grudzinski more than held his own. He scored 24 points in a state semifinal against Whitney Young. Barrington led for much of the game but lost 51-47.
In the third-place game, Grudzinski scored 15 points as the Broncos (29-5) beat Bolingbrook 59-54 and earned the first state trophy in program history.
That was Barrington’s second game of the day and ended late Friday night.
“It definitely felt nice,” Grudzinski said. “Only two teams get to have that feeling of winning their last game. Just to go out with the guys one more time and get a win, it feels great.
“It’s 10:30 at night, and we’re all cramping up, but I’m very proud of my guys for how we worked. It was just grit, and we worked really hard for this.”
Barrington coach Bryan Tucker said he was glad Grudzinski and his teammates got to show off their talents to a large audience.
“Will’s so talented and gifted, and we felt all along that he may have been underrecruited,” Tucker said. “I would say the same thing about these other guys. … All these guys, playing on this stage, I’m really happy that the state got to see what they’re all about. They’ve just done a great job.”
‘Right choice’
Grudzinski was not attracting college attention as a sophomore. Then his junior season was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic. But he had plenty of reasons to be optimistic a few months later.
“During the summer, I had a bunch of interest,” he said. “I felt like the summer was going to be my chance to finally show people what I could do and what kind of player I am.”
Things unraveled, however.
“I played bad at one tournament,” Grudzinski said. “The next week, I hurt myself. I sprained my left ankle pretty bad, and I primarily jump off my left leg, so that really limited everything. My shot wasn’t working.
“I went from starting on my AAU team to hardly finding playing time. It was a big mental block. I felt like that was my time to shine, and it just didn’t really work out.”
Make no mistake, though. Grudzinski is not disappointed about where his recruitment led him.
“I’m at the right place,” Grudzinski said. “Wash U is a great school, and I’m going to have great opportunities with them. Coach (Pat) Juckem is a great guy. … It’s just great basketball and great just to be competing.
“There are good players on that team. I know some guys who turned down D-I offers. I feel like I made the right choice, school-wise, environment-wise and everything else.”
Grudzinski went into his senior season with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, but he wasn’t worried about what others thought of him.
“Don’t try to prove it to anyone,” he said. “Your work shows, and when you have heart and you put your mind to it, it’s going to work out. Whatever happens happens.
“I know I leave it all out on the floor. I’m not trying to impress people. I’m just here for my team, and whatever I’ve got to do, I’ll do.”
It all comes together
Grudzinski upped his game in many ways during his senior season. He became a more efficient scorer and a smarter player.
He made 47% of his field-goal attempts, 42% of his 3-point shots and 70% of his free throws. He was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s 4A all-state second team.
“It was a growing year, most definitely,” Grudzinski said. “Most of my stats went up, especially my shooting percentage. It was just offseason work and learning how to work off face guards, get my teammates open, and knowing when to shoot and when not to shoot.”
Meanwhile, the Broncos developed a skilled, veteran team around Grudzinski. They had 11 seniors this season, including all five starters in Grudzinski, Daniel Hong, Nick Bordenet, Evan Jno-Baptiste and Nate Boldt.
“With 11 seniors on the team, we had high expectations,” Tucker said. “These kids have been a pleasure to work with. I’m really excited and happy for them to have this kind of success with the work they’ve put in.”
The regular season was filled with success for the Broncos, who won the Mid-Suburban League West Division title with an 8-2 record.
That put them in the Mid-Suburban League championship game against Rolling Meadows, which went 10-0 in the East. Barrington lost to the Mustangs in that game last season but turned things around with a 57-49 win. Grudzinski scored 23 points.
“Last season we lost to Rolling Meadows, and there were no playoffs, so it was a disappointing way to end things, and it stung,” Grudzinski said. “It meant a lot to win it this year and then get to experience a playoff run as a senior.”
Grudzinski said the win over Rolling Meadows gave Barrington confidence it could compete with the top teams in the state.
“It all started with the MSL championship,” he said. “That’s when I knew we could do it. … Our guys, when we work together, we can beat some bigger and better guys. At the end of the day, it’s just who wants it more, and I feel like we wanted it more throughout the playoffs.
“Being there for each other, lifting each other up and giving each other positive energy is what’s got us this far.”
‘Amazing ride’
Barrington earned the top seed in the sectional it hosted, making it the favorite.
The Broncos rolled through the first three rounds, beating Waukegan, Buffalo Grove and Fremd by at least 20 points each.
The sectional championship game against Libertyville was a much tougher challenge. The Broncos had to rally late before winning 56-47 in overtime for their first sectional title in 20 years. Hong hit eight free throws in OT.
That sent Barrington to the supersectional as a massive underdog against Glenbrook South, which was ranked No. 2 in 4A in the final poll by The Associated Press and was thought to be the biggest challenger to top-ranked Glenbard West in 4A.
Barrington was unranked.
The Broncos built a 15-point lead midway through the third quarter before Glenbrook South rallied to tie it late in the fourth.
But Grudzinski answered with a 3-pointer, and Barrington led the rest of the way in a 52-50 victory.
“I like being the underdog,” Grudzinski said. “We come out with heart, and other teams are definitely not ready for that.”
In the state semifinal, Barrington jumped to a 22-12 lead over Whitney Young at the end of the first quarter.
The Broncos showed they were not intimidated by the stage.
“Sometimes some teams get a little bit nervous and shy away from the big moment,” Tucker said. “Not these guys. I’m very proud of how they did that and how they responded early.
“Then Whitney Young just did a great job defensively, and we got a little uncomfortable in the second half. It took us a little while to right the ship, and then they just made the plays at the right time.”
Grudzinski’s jumper with 3:30 left in the game gave Barrington a 44-41 lead, but the Dolphins scored the next eight points to escape with the win.
Still, the Broncos knew there was nothing to hang their heads about.
“Credit to these guys,” Hong said. “It’s been a pleasure playing with them all year. We have the mindset, obviously we want to win, but the main goal was just to leave it all on the floor. I think we’re proud of the effort we put forth.”
Barrington bounced back to finish its memorable season with a win.
“It’s been an amazing ride this season,” Grudzinski said. “I’m so glad I was able to do it with this group of guys.”
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
