10-06-2005, 05:29 PM
Cut and pasted from the Gurnee Review (Pioneer Press) Oct 6th 2005
Here's a real (big) Cougar sighting
There's a large presence walking the halls of Vernon Hills High School. When the boys basketball season opens in late November, look for John Kuecher to take the center jump.
It won't be tough to spot him: the junior stands 6-foot-11. Kuecher enrolled at Vernon Hills in the fall after transfering from Chatham Glenwood (near Springfield).
"We're trying to bring him in under the radar," said Cougars athletic director Al Janulis. "He fills my doorway."
The team hasn't conducted tryouts for the 2005-06 season, but the school has put a large investment into this big man.
"I ordered $650 in uniforms for the guy," said Janulis, adding the quadruple XL unis had to be custom-made. "I told him, 'you better make the team.'"
Janulis did reveal that Kuecher attended several big-man camps last summer, including stops at Northern Illinois University and Western Michigan University.
He will not be the only new face on the Lake County scene this winter. North Chicago has a move-in from Georgia in 6-foot-4 point guard Tracey Thomas.
The senior has been playing in the Rising Stars Basketball Club's Sunday Night Fall League. He's considered a Division I recruit, drawing the interest of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Purdue, Alabama, Central Florida and Southern Illinois.
Meanwhile, Warren's backcourt -- senior Jordan Dalton and junior Ceola Clark -- continues to impress. According to Mike Weinstein of the Rising Stars, Lehigh, Chicago State, Howard and Brown could be nice matches for Dalton.
Clark is getting looks from Northern Illinois, Loyola, Western Illinois, Ball State and others.
"He could be one of the best players to come out of this area," said Weinstein. "He makes everyone around him better."
Here's a real (big) Cougar sighting
There's a large presence walking the halls of Vernon Hills High School. When the boys basketball season opens in late November, look for John Kuecher to take the center jump.
It won't be tough to spot him: the junior stands 6-foot-11. Kuecher enrolled at Vernon Hills in the fall after transfering from Chatham Glenwood (near Springfield).
"We're trying to bring him in under the radar," said Cougars athletic director Al Janulis. "He fills my doorway."
The team hasn't conducted tryouts for the 2005-06 season, but the school has put a large investment into this big man.
"I ordered $650 in uniforms for the guy," said Janulis, adding the quadruple XL unis had to be custom-made. "I told him, 'you better make the team.'"
Janulis did reveal that Kuecher attended several big-man camps last summer, including stops at Northern Illinois University and Western Michigan University.
He will not be the only new face on the Lake County scene this winter. North Chicago has a move-in from Georgia in 6-foot-4 point guard Tracey Thomas.
The senior has been playing in the Rising Stars Basketball Club's Sunday Night Fall League. He's considered a Division I recruit, drawing the interest of Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Purdue, Alabama, Central Florida and Southern Illinois.
Meanwhile, Warren's backcourt -- senior Jordan Dalton and junior Ceola Clark -- continues to impress. According to Mike Weinstein of the Rising Stars, Lehigh, Chicago State, Howard and Brown could be nice matches for Dalton.
Clark is getting looks from Northern Illinois, Loyola, Western Illinois, Ball State and others.
"He could be one of the best players to come out of this area," said Weinstein. "He makes everyone around him better."