Every week during the prep basketball season, IlliniHQ will give a wrap-up of how Illini commits and targets fared during the previous weekend's games. Here are a few notes from the week that was. 




THE RECRUITS











AUSTIN COLBERT, a senior forward/center from Gill St. Bernard's (N.J.) School, compiled 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Knights during their 77-52 win against Bound Brook (N.J.) High School on Saturday during the Somerset County (N.J.) Tournament semifinals. Prior to Saturday, Colbert had 15 points and seven rebounds during Gill St. Bernard's 73-56 win at Ridge (N.J.) High School on Thursday night, and in last Tuesday's 65-43 win against Montgomery (N.J.) High School last Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Somerset County Tournament, Colbert finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots. Gill St. Bernard's (16-6) gets back in action this Tuesday night at Watchung Hills Regional (N.J.) High School before facing Ridge again in a rematch next Saturday during the Somerset County Tournament championship game. 

MALCOLM HILL, a senior guard/forward from Belleville East (Ill.) High School, had another 30-plus point game with 36 points during Belleville East's 67-62 win at Alton (Ill.) High School on Friday night. Belleville East (22-3) and Hill resume play this Tuesday night at home against Collinsville (Ill.) High School before ending the regular season this Friday at Granite City (Ill.) High School.

MAVERICK MORGAN, a senior center from Springboro (Ohio) High School, helped the Panthers finish a perfect 10-0 in conference play and improve to 18-4 overall after an 84-67 home win against Lebanon (Ohio) High School on Friday night. Morgan delivered 22 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Springboro and Morgan will start the postseason this Saturday against Trenton Edgewood in a Division I first-round district game at Butler (Ohio) High School.

KENDRICK NUNN and JAYLON TATE, senior guards from Chicago Simeon High School, and the Wolverines fell short of reaching the championship game of the Chicago Public League playoffs after a 54-53 overtime loss against Chicago Morgan Park last Wednesday night in the semifinals at Chicago State University. Simeon (22-3) returns to the court this Saturday against Chicago Marist in the City-Suburban Showdown at Chicago's House of Hope Arena. 



THE COMMIT










MICHAEL FINKE, a junior forward from Champaign Centennial (Ill.) High School who verbally committed on Dec. 12, had eight points and Centennial suffered its third straight loss on Friday night, falling 52-37 at Normal West (Ill.) High School. The Chargers (18-8) are back in action this Tuesday night at home against Kankakee (Ill.) High School in their regular season finale. 




THE TARGETS










CLIFF ALEXANDER, a junior center from Chicago Curie High School who has offers from Illinois, Connecticut, DePaul, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin, along with interest from Ohio State and North Carolina State, and the 17-7 Condors had the week off. 



LARRY AUSTIN, JR., a junior guard from Springfield Lanphier (Ill.) High School who has offers from Illinois, Bradley, DePaul, Iowa, Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Southern Methodist and Wake Forest, dropped 32 points during an 85-82 win at Peoria Central (Ill.) High School on Saturday night, which came after he scored 19 points in a 63-58 road win against Jacksonville (Ill.) High on Friday night. The Lions (15-10) end the regular season at home this Friday against Lincoln (Ill.) High School. 



TREVON BLUIETT, a junior forward from Park Tudor School in Indianapolis who has offers from llinois, Butler, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State, Louisville, Michigan, Notre Dame, Purdue and Xavier,  scored 26 points as the Panthers rolled to a 68-43 win at Bishop Chatard (Ind.) High School on Friday night. Friday's effort came after Bluiett had 12 points during Park Tudor's 56-41 win at Lutheran High School of Indianapolis last Tuesday. The Panthers (19-2) and Bluiett are slated to end the regular season this Tuesday night at home against Howe (Ind.) High School.


CARLTON BRAGG, a sophomore forward from Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Ohio) High School who has interest from Illinois, Dayton, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Texas and Xavier, along with offers from Missouri and Ohio State, had a 14-game winning streak snapped after a 70-55 home loss to St. Ignatius (Ohio) High School on Saturday night. Bragg had five points in the loss. Prior to Saturday, Villa Angela-St. Joseph beat host St. Peter Chanel (Ohio) High School 67-53 on Friday night, with Bragg supplying 17 points. The Vikings also won 63-40 at home on Wednesday night against Trinity (Ohio) High School in a makeup game. Bragg had a team-high 15 points in the win. Villa-Angela St. Joseph (17-3) and Bragg end the regular season this Friday at home against Holy Name (Ohio) High School.



JALEN BRUNSON, a sophomore point guard from Lincolnshire Stevenson (Ill.) High School who has offers from Illinois, DePaul, Southern Methodist and Xavier, along with interest from Indiana and Iowa, had 17 points during the Patriots' 77-67 home win against Mundelein (Ill.) High School on Friday night. Prior to Friday, Brunson and Stevenson beat Evanston (Ill.) High School 62-35 at home last Tuesday night, with Brunson scoring 22 points. Brunson and Stevenson (22-4) will try to keep their 12-game winning streak intact this Wednesday when the Patriots host North Chicago (Ill.) High School in their regular season finale.



HYRON EDWARDS, a sophomore point guard from East Chicago Central (Ind.) High School who has offers from Illinois, Indiana and Purdue, and the Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak with an 86-66 win at Hammond Noll (Ind.) High School on Friday night. Edwards and East Chicago Central (9-9) are back in action this Tuesday night at home against Bowman (Ind.) Academy before hosting South Bend Washington (Ind.) High School in its regular season finale this Friday.




JAQUAN LYLE, a junior point guard from Evansville Bosse (Ind.) High School who has offers from Illinois, Cincinnati, Georgetown, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas and Xavier, along with interest from Arizona, Duke, Florida and UCLA, did not play in either of Bosse's two in-state games last week (a 51-48 win at Evansville Mater Dei on Thursday and a 78-60 home loss to Evansville Harrison last Tuesday) after he was indefinitely suspended for a violation of team rules. No word on when Lyle might return for Bosse (15-5), which hosts Mount Vernon Posey (Ind.) High School this Tuesday before ending the regular season at Evansville Reitz (Ind.) High School this Friday. 



CHARLES MATTHEWS, a sophomore guard from Chicago St. Rita who has offers from Illinois, Arizona, DePaul, Providence and Southern Methodist, and the Mustangs won their third straight game on Friday, defeating Seton (Ill.) Academy 66-58 at home, with Matthews scoring 18 points. St. Rita opened last week with a 79-57 home win against Chicago Brother Rice last Tuesday. Matthews connected for 18 points in that win. St. Rita (16-7) and Matthews are slated to host Chicago Mount Carmel this Tuesday before ending the regular season this Friday at Westchester St. Joseph (Ill.) High School. 



SEAN O'MARA, a junior forward from Benet Academy in Lisle, Ill., who has offers from Illinois, Boston College, DePaul, Georgia Tech, Marquette and Virginia, among others, and the Redwings improved to 23-4 after a 50-28 home win against Chicago Marist on Friday. O'Mara helped Benet hold off host Wheaton Academy 51-39 last Tuesday with 12 points and eight rebounds. Benet (23-4) and O'Mara host Nazareth (Ill.) Academy this Wednesday before squaring off against Chicago Whitney Young as part of the City-Suburban Showdown in Chicago this Saturday.



JAHLIL OKAFOR, a junior center from Chicago Whitney Young, along with junior teammates PAUL WHITE and L.J. PEAK, emerged with the championship of the Chicago Public League playoffs after a 60-56 overtime win against Chicago Morgan Park on Friday night at Chicago State University. Okafor, who has offers from Arkansas, DePaul, Illinois, Michigan State, North Carolina and Ohio State, among others, had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots while Peak, who has garnered Illinois interest and has offers from Clemson, Florida, Florida State, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech, among others, added 15 points. Okafor had 26 points and 13 rebounds to pace Young during its 66-51 win against Chicago Orr on Wednesday in the semifinals of the Chicago Public League playoffs, with Peak chipping in 14 points. The Dolphins (23-3) are set to end the regular season this Saturday against Benet Academy at the City-Suburban Hoops Showdown in Chicago. 



D.J. WILLIAMS, a sophomore forward out of Chicago Simeon who has offers from Illinois, Florida, Cal-Poly, DePaul, Nebraska and SMU, and the 22-3 Wolverines will return to the court this Saturday against Chicago Marist after a 10-day layoff following a 54-53 overtime loss to Chicago Morgan Park last Wednesday during the semifinals of the Chicago Public League playoffs. 



KEVIN ZABO, a junior point guard out of Wolfeboro Brewster (N.H.) Academy who has offers from Illinois, George Washington, Iowa State and West Virginia with interest from Connecticut, Marquette and Ohio State, among others, and the Bobcats improved to 24-5 after an 83-42 win on Saturday after winning the New Hampton (N.H.) School Tournament against the host school, which came after an 85-66 win on Friday against Massanutten (Va.) Military Academy. Zabo and Wolfeboro (24-5) play at Tilton (N.H.) School on Monday, at home against Bridgton (Maine) Academy this Wednesday and this Friday at home against Notre Dame Prep.