The 100 Legends
of the
IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament
Press Conference
December 14, 2005
Announcement
The Illinois High School Association today (Dec. 14) announced its list of nominees for the “100 Legends” to be honored at the 2007 boys basketball tournament – the centennial celebration of hoops hysteria in Illinois.
Over the next fourteen weeks, fans of high school basketball will be able to register their preference for the players and coaches they think deserve recognition as lasting legends of the state tournament. Voting will take place on the IHSA’s web site ( starting Thursday, December 15, and ending Sunday, March 19, 2006.
The Legends election and accompanying events are sponsored by COUNTRY Insurance and Financial Services® and the National Association of Realtors®.
A smorgasbord of 281 talented individuals, the Legends ballot is broken down into seven regions of the state and three tournament eras. All told there are 20 different groups to vote on, but it’s likely many fans will stick to the nominees they know best, the ones closest to home. For example, voters in western Illinois can call up the Division 6 ballot and vote for two of the six nominees from the Pioneer Era (1908-40), four of the fifteen nominees from the Golden Age (1941-71), and six of the twenty nominees from Modern Times (1972-2005).
Voting will proceed through the end of the 2006 boys basketball tournaments. When all the ballots are tallied, 82 Legends will be elected. The remaining 18 legends will be selected by a blue-ribbon committee that will consider player and coach nominees who missed election by the fans, as well as officials, members of the media, and friends of the game.The team of 100 Legends will be announced to the public in late March or April, 2006. Members of the team will be invited to attend the 2007 boys tournament and participate in special events at the centennial gala and autograph a commemorative “Ball of Fame” that will be auctioned off to a lucky fan. The proceeds from the Ball of Fame raffle will go to the Illinois High School Activities Foundation, which annually awards scholarships to high school students from member schools.
“We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate our boys basketball centennial by directly involving the fans, who have supported our tournament in great numbers throughout the years,” said Executive Director Marty Hickman. “The Legends election and the Ball of Fame are fun ways to get folks interested in our rich history and set the table for a terrific celebration in 2007.”
“Some of the nominations will no doubt surprise people,” said Assistant Executive Director Scott Johnson. “Our criteria were strict in that the nominations were based on performance in state final tournament games and super-sectional games only. A lot of great players and coaches never made it to state, or only participated in a game or two. Our overriding goal was to present a list of nominees who in the final analysis might beconsidered ‘persons who made a significant contribution to or a lasting impression on the state final tournament.’ ”
Rules of the Election
The procedures for the 100 Legends election will be as follows:
1.ELIGIBILITY FOR NOMINATION AS A LEGEND: All nominees for direct election by the fans must have participated (as a player or coach) in at least one game at the IHSA boys state final tournament from 1908 to 2005.
2.NOMINEE GROUPS: Voting will be conducted in a total of 20 groups representing seven geographic areas of the state and three eras of high school basketball. The seven geographic areas will mirror the present IHSA Board of Directors divisions. The three eras will be the Pioneer Era (1908-40), the Golden Age (1941-71), and Modern Times (1972-2005). (Because Board Division 1 had minimal participation in the state finals prior to 1941, no fan voting will conducted in this group.) Persons who participated in more than one geographic area or era will be placed in the group that most accurately represents their participation.
3.ELECTION BY FANS: For each Pioneer Era group of nominees, fans will elect two Legends from a slate of six nominees. For each Golden Age group, fans will elect four Legends from a slate of 15 nominees. For each Modern Times group, fans will elect six Legends from a slate of 20 nominees. Altogether fans will elect 82 Legends, ten from IHSA Board of Directors Division 1 and twelve from the other six Board Divisions.
4.ONLINE VOTING PROCEDURES: Online fan voting will be conducted through the IHSA Web site ( from Thursday, December 15, 2005 through Sunday, March 19, 2006. Fans may vote an unlimited number of times in any or all of the 20 groups. Fans may cast up to two write-in votes on any ballot. IHSA reserves the right to cancel votes that show a pattern of mechanical ballot-stuffing.
5.AT-LARGE SELECTION: After the 82 Legends elected by the fans have been determined, an additional 18 Legends will be selected by a blue-ribbon committee. The committee will consider nominees who missed election by the fans as well as contributors in various non-competitive categories such as officials, media, and administration.
6.ANNOUNCEMENT OF LEGENDS: The 100 Legends will be announced on the IHSA Web site at a date to be determined in March or April, 2006.
Nominee Quick Facts
281 nominees
239 played in the state finals
57 coached in the state finals
15 both played and coached in the state finals
151 schoolsrepresented (10 from Thornton)
3 schools with nominees in all 3 eras (Thornton, Quincy, Peoria)
56 counties represented (77 from Cook County)
152 in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame
4 in the National High School Hall of Fame (NFHS)
2 in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
1 in the National Baseball Hall of Fame
1 in the College Football Hall of Fame
38 pro basketball players
5 Harlem Globetrotters
6 Olympians (1 in track and field)
Ballot Index
Sample Ballot
Alphabetical List of Nominees
There are 281 names on this list. A total of 82 will be directly elected to the 100 Legends team through the online voting process. The remaining 18 Legends will be selected by a blue-ribbon committee.
Alexander, Craig, Peoria (H.S.)
Aley, Tom, Elgin (H.S.)
Allen, Joe, Chicago (Carver)
Anderson, Eric, Chicago (St. Francis de Sales)
Ard, Jim, Harvey (Thornton)
Arnold, Mitch, Effingham (H.S.)
Aubry, Mark, Seneca
Avant, Al, Mt. Vernon
Baker, Jeff, Park Ridge (Maine South)
Baker, Ralph, Rockford (H.S.)
Baker, Tony, Pittsfield
Barclift, Perry, Quincy (Sr.)
Barmore, William, Villa Grove
Barnes, Ken, Decatur (Stephen Decatur) (player), Rockford (Auburn) (coach)
Basarich, Bob, Lockport (Twp.)
Battle, Kenny, Aurora (West)
Batts, Boyd, Dolton (Thornridge)
Bawinkel, Devan, Winnebago
Beach, Ted, Champaign (H.S.)
Beals, Roger, Chrisman
Belford, Norman, Marion (H.S.)
Bell, Gary, Joliet (Twp.)
Bemoras, Irv, Chicago (Marshall)
Bennett, Dave, Pittsfield
Bensko, Dusty, Pleasant Plains
Beyers, Rich, Shelbyville
Bickett, Brad, Ohio (player), Manlius (Bureau Valley) (coach)
Blab, Uwe, Effingham (H.S.)
Blanken, Don, Dundee
Bocinsky, Jim, Oak Lawn (Community)
Bontemps, Ron, Taylorville
Booth, David, Peoria (Manual)
Boudreau, Lou, Harvey (Thornton)
Bradshaw, Rich, Chicago (Marshall)
Braksick, Bill, Flanagan
Brandon, Jamie, Chicago (King)
Brewer, Jim, Maywood (Proviso East)
Brothers, Bruce, Quincy (Sr.)
Brown, Charlie, Chicago (DuSable)
Brown, Jim, Chicago (DuSable)
Brown, Owen, LaGrange (Lyons)
Browning, Brent, Ridgway
Buckner, Quinn, Dolton (Thornridge)
Buescher, Chuck, Peoria (H.S.)
Bunch, Fernando, Chicago (Providence-St. Mel)
Burmaster, Jack, Elgin (H.S.) (player), Evanston (Twp.) (coach)
Butkovich, Ed, Canton (player), Mt. Pulaski (coach)
Caiazza, Ted, LaGrange (Lyons)
Calmes, Andy, Warrensburg-Latham
Cameron, Cliff, Pleasant Plains
Changnon, Stan, West Frankfort (Frankfort), Mt. Vernon
Chesbrough, Bill, Elgin (H.S.)
Clark, Keon, Danville (H.S.)
Clark, Leon, Harvey (Thornton)
Clements, Francis, Ottawa (Twp.)
Clements, Jeff, Mt. Pulaski
Cobb, Levi, Chicago (Morgan Park)
Cole, Tom, Springfield (H.S.)
Combes, Harry, Champaign (H.S.)
Conway, Lynch, Peoria (H.S.)
Corn, Dick, Benton (player), Pinckneyville (coach)
Cox, Landon "Sonny", Chicago (King)
Crawford, Ken, Teutopolis
Cross, Russell, Chicago (Manley)
Cuffle, Clint, Riverton
Curry, Eddy, South Holland (Thornwood)
Davidson, Marc, Aurora (Christian)
Davis, Kenny, Maywood (Proviso East)
Davis, McKinley "Deacon", Freeport (H.S.)
Davis, Mel, Chicago (Dunbar)
DeLacey, Eugene, Dundee
Doster, Bob, Decatur (H.S.)
Douglas, Bruce, Quincy (Sr.)
Douglas, Dennis, Quincy (Sr.)
Downing, Walter, New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
Duff, Mike, Eldorado
Eddleman, Dwight "Dike", Centralia
Edmondson, Jim, Hinckley-Big Rock
Ellis, LaPhonso, East St. Louis (Lincoln)
Ely, Melvin, Harvey (Thornton)
Endress, Phil, Manlius (Bureau Valley)
Evans, Charles, Danville (H.S.)
Eveland, Ernie, Paris
Felling, Ron, Lawrenceville
Ferguson, Ron, Harvey (Thornton) (player), Dolton (Thornridge) (coach)
Fletcher, Vergil, Collinsville
Flick, Kenny, Cobden
Ford, Sherrell, Maywood (Proviso East)
Freeman, Jerome, Chicago (Crane)
Gee, Jerry, Chicago (St. Martin de Porres)
Gentry, Nolden, Rockford (West)
Glover, Darius, Chicago (Westinghouse)
Goers, Steve, Oswego (H.S.), Rockford (Boylan)
Golden, Dave, Pekin
Graham, Larry, Madison
Green, Fred, Urbana (H.S.)
Gregurich, Bob, Havana
Griffin, Marcus, Peoria (Manual)
Griffith, Rashard, Chicago (King)
Grover, Charles "Bud", Dundee
Hall, Harry, Harvey (Thornton)
Hall, Jesse, Venice
Hambric, Robert, Chicago (Simeon)
Hamilton, Lowell, Chicago (Providence-St. Mel)
Hanks, Sherrill, East Alton-Wood River (player), Quincy (Sr.) (coach)
Hansen, Chris, Dundee
Hawkins, Dawson "Dawdy", Peoria (H.S.), Pekin
Hawkins, Larry, Chicago (Carver)
Heerdt, Jeff, Elmhurst (Timothy Christian)
Heisler, Bill, Warsaw
Heitholt, Bill, Quincy (Sr.)
Henson, Floyd, Paris
Herring, Erik, Harvey (Thornton)
Hicks, Matt, Aurora (West)
Hitt, Bill, Maywood (Proviso East)
Hobson, Dave, Raymond (Lincolnwood)
Hocking, Bill, Braidwood (Reed-Custer)
Hollyfield, Derik, Aurora (West)
Holmes, Glenn "Pat", Freeport (H.S.)
Hooper, Max, Mt. Vernon
Horton, Ed, Springfield (Lanphier)
Hoult, Walt, Chrisman
Hubbard, Cal, Normal (University)
Hubbard, Seth, Normal (University)
Hufford, Harold, Bloomington (H.S.)
Hughes, Morris, Madison
Hull, Marty, Kinderhook (West Pike)
Hunter, Bob, East Moline (United)
Jackson, Mannie, Edwardsville (H.S.)
Jakes, Eddie, Chicago (Marshall)
Jeppson, Shawn, Spring Valley (Hall)
Johansen, Bob, Geneva
Johnson, Dave, Oneida (ROVA)
Johnson, JoJo, Benton
Jones, Farrel, Evanston (Twp.)
Judson, Paul, Alden-Hebron
Judson, Phil, Alden-Hebron
Kamp, Elbert "Babe", Mt. Carmel
Keith, Gilbert, Hinsdale (Twp.)
Kelley, Dale, Galesburg
Kerkman, Gordon, Aurora (West)
Kintner, Gay, Decatur (H.S.)
Kivisto, Tom, Aurora (East)
Kleinschmidt, Tom, Chicago (Gordon Tech)
Kopatz, Jim, Springfield (Lanphier)
Kuba, Andy, Staunton
Kuemmerle, Jerry, Danville (Schlarman)
Kupec, C.J., Oak Lawn (Community)
Lackey, Bob, Evanston (Twp.)
Laude, James, Rockford (H.S.), Rockford (East)
Lazenby, Jim, Pinckneyville
Lee, Brandon, Peoria (H.S.)
Leggett, Jerry, Quincy (Sr.)
Leighty, Rick, Lawrenceville
Lewis, Bennie, East St. Louis (Lincoln), East St. Louis (Sr.)
Liberty, Marcus, Chicago (King)
Liitt, Richard, Rock Island (H.S.)
Lipe, Jack, Harvey (Thornton)
Lipnisky, Mike, Rolling Meadows
Livingston, Shaun, Peoria (H.S.)
London, Gary, Chicago (Hales Franciscan)
Lumpkin, Paxton, Chicago (DuSable)
Lynch, Steve, Maple Park (Kaneland)
Mace, Layard, Bloomington (H.S.)
Macuk, Benny, Joliet (Twp.)
Marlow, Jason, Augusta (Southeastern)
Martin, Cuonzo, East St. Louis (Lincoln)
Martin, Jamie, Harvard
Matta, Thad, Hoopeston-East Lynn
Mauer, John, Batavia
McCants, Melvin, Chicago (Mt. Carmel)
McClain, Sergio, Peoria (Manual)
McClain, Wayne, Peoria (Manual)
McCoy, Robert, Chicago Heights (Bloom)
McDermott, Raymond, Batavia
McDougal, John, Salem (player), Aurora (West), Rockford (Lutheran) (coach)
McKinney, Chris, East St. Louis (Lincoln)
McMillon, Shellie, Chicago (DuSable)
Mettler, Oliver, Canton
Michael, Tom, Carlyle
Mickeal, Pete, Rock Island (H.S.)
Miles, Darius, East St. Louis (Sr.)
Miller, Fred, Pekin
Miller, Russell, Mt. Vernon
Millikin, Tom, Pinckneyville (player), Maywood (Proviso East) (coach)
Mills, Doug, Elgin (H.S.) (player), Joliet (Twp.) (coach)
Minick, Dale, Decatur (H.S.)
Minnoy, Nate, Chicago (Hales Franciscan)
Moore, Larry, Quincy (Sr.)
Nesby, Tyrone, Cairo
Nikcevich, Ron, LaGrange (Lyons)
Nixon, Dick, Waukegan (H.S.)
O'Neal, Alvin, Peoria (Spalding)
Orr, John, Taylorville
Ott, Leroy, Hillsboro
Owens, Robert, Paris
Pace, Dennis, Collinsville
Page, Ray, Springfield (H.S.)
Pancratz, Mark, Schaumburg
Peterman, Mark, Canton, Springfield (H.S.)
Phillip, Andy, Granite City (H.S.)
Pierce, Pierre, Westmont
Pingatore, Gene, Westchester (St. Joseph)
Ponsetto, Joe, Maywood (Proviso East)
Poscover, Max "Hippo", Springfield (H.S.)
Powell, Roger, Joliet (Central)
Rateree, Rich, Harvey (Thornton)
Redman, Steve, Chrisman
Redmon, Bogie, Collinsville
Richardson, Quentin, Chicago (Young)
Riddle, Fred, Madison, Collinsville
Riley, George, Decatur (H.S.)
Robinson, Don, Thomson
Robisch, Dave, Springfield (H.S.)
Root, Kevin, Hoopeston-East Lynn
Rose, Greg, Dolton (Thornridge)
Ruklick, Joe, Princeton
Russell, Cazzie, Chicago (Carver)
Salario, Isadore "Spin", Chicago (Marshall)
Saudargas, Alex, Rockford (West)
Scheffler, Herb, Springfield (H.S.)
Scheyer, Jon, Northbrook (Glenbrook North)
Schnackenberg, Paul, Chicago (South Shore)
Schneiter, John, Decatur (Stephen Decatur), Winnetka (New Trier, New Trier East)
Scholz, Dave, Decatur (Stephen Decatur)
Schulz, Bill, Alden-Hebron
Selvie, Johnny, Chicago (King)
Seymour, Eugene, Hillsboro
Sheets, Mel, Northfield (New Trier West), Winnetka (New Trier)
Shidler, Jay, Lawrenceville
Shrake, Justin, Pana
Siebel, Ken, Rock Falls
Sikma, Jack, St. Anne
Simmons, Marty, Lawrenceville
Sloan, Brian, McLeansboro
Small, Bill, Aurora (West)
Smith, Eric, Findlay
Smith, Gary, Elgin (H.S.)
Smith, Greg, Aurora (East)
Stallings, Kevin, Collinsville
Stanley, Dolph, Equality, Mt. Pulaski, Taylorville, Rockford (Auburn), Rockford (Boylan)
Stanton, Jeremy, Normal (University)
Stasica, Stanley, Rockford (H.S.)
Stephens, Everette, Evanston (Twp.)
Stiffend, Joe, Chicago (Marshall)
Stilwell, Leland, Olney (H.S.)
Stivers, Clayton, Findlay
Stout, Hiles, Peoria (H.S.)
Strumillo, Chet, Cicero (Morton)
Sunderlik, Jack, Decatur (Stephen Decatur)
Swanson, Lyndon, Watseka
Thiel, John, Galesburg
Thomas, Isiah, Westchester (St. Joseph)
Thomas, Lamarr, Harvey (Thornton)
Thomas, Merrill "Duster", Pinckneyville
Thompson, Jamaal, Aurora (West)
Tidwell, Gary, Pana, Fairbury (Prairie Central)
Tidwell, John, Herrin
Trapkus, Brian, Rock Island (Alleman)
Trimpe, Roger, Quincy (Notre Dame)
Trimpe, Tracey, Havana
Triplett, Ruben, Galesburg
Trout, Arthur, Centralia
Turner, Clyde, Champaign (Central)
Van Scyoc, Dick, Washington, Peoria (Manual)
Van Vooren, Bob, Moline
Vance, Brian, Rock Falls
Vaughn, Govoner, Edwardsville (H.S.)
Voreis, Mark, DeKalb
Washington, Marcus, LaGrange (Lyons)
Wente, Mike, Effingham (St. Anthony)
Wessels, John, Rockford (West)
Wiley, Joe, Belleville (Twp.)
Williams, Frank, Peoria (Manual)
Williams, Larry, Chicago (Phillips)
Williams, Matt, Libertyville
Wilson, George, Chicago (Marshall)
Wyatt, Thomas, Aurora (East)
Zerrusen, Bob, Teutopolis
Ziebell, Norm, Cicero (Morton), Moline
Zoellick, Scott, Schaumburg
List of Nominees by Board Division
From each Board of Directors Division, there are 6 nominees from the Pioneer Era (1908-40), 15 nominees from the Golden Age (1941-71), and 20 nominees from Modern Times (1972-2005). (NOTE: There are no nominees from Division 1 for the Pioneer Era.)
Board Division 1 (1941 to 1971)
Joe Allen, Chicago (Carver)
Irv Bemoras, Chicago (Marshall)
Rich Bradshaw, Chicago (Marshall)
Charlie Brown, Chicago (DuSable)
Jim Brown, Chicago (DuSable)
Mel Davis, Chicago (Dunbar)
Jerome Freeman, Chicago (Crane)
Larry Hawkins, Chicago (Carver)
Eddie Jakes, Chicago (Marshall)
Paxton Lumpkin, Chicago (DuSable)
Shellie McMillon, Chicago (DuSable)
Cazzie Russell, Chicago (Carver)
Isadore "Spin" Salario, Chicago (Marshall)
Paul Schnackenberg, Chicago (South Shore)
George Wilson, Chicago (Marshall)
Board Division 1 (1972 to 2005)
Eric Anderson, Chicago (St. Francis de Sales)
Jamie Brandon, Chicago (King)
Fernando Bunch, Chicago (Providence-St. Mel)
Levi Cobb, Chicago (Morgan Park)
Landon "Sonny" Cox, Chicago (King)
Russell Cross, Chicago (Manley)
Jerry Gee, Chicago (St. Martin de Porres)
Darius Glover, Chicago (Westinghouse)
Rashard Griffith, Chicago (King)
Robert Hambric, Chicago (Simeon)
Lowell Hamilton, Chicago (Providence-St. Mel)
Tom Kleinschmidt, Chicago (Gordon Tech)
Marcus Liberty, Chicago (King)
Gary London, Chicago (Hales Franciscan)
Melvin McCants, Chicago (Mt. Carmel)
Nate Minnoy, Chicago (Hales Franciscan)
Quentin Richardson, Chicago (Young)
Johnny Selvie, Chicago (King)
Joe Stiffend, Chicago (Marshall)
Larry Williams, Chicago (Phillips)
Board Division 2 (1908 to 1940)
Don Blanken, Dundee
Eugene DeLacey, Dundee
Chris Hansen, Dundee
John Mauer, Batavia
Raymond McDermott, Batavia
Doug Mills, Elgin (H.S.) (player), Joliet (Twp.) (coach)
Board Division 2 (1941 to 1971)
Tom Aley, Elgin (H.S.)
Jack Burmaster, Elgin (H.S.) (player), Evanston (Twp.) (coach)
Bill Chesbrough, Elgin (H.S.)
Charles "Bud" Grover, Dundee
Bob Johansen, Geneva
Farrel Jones, Evanston (Twp.)
Paul Judson, Alden-Hebron
Phil Judson, Alden-Hebron
Tom Kivisto, Aurora (East)
Bob Lackey, Evanston (Twp.)
Dick Nixon, Waukegan (H.S.)
Bill Schulz, Alden-Hebron
Bill Small, Aurora (West)
Gary Smith, Elgin (H.S.)
Mark Voreis, DeKalb
Board Division 2 (1972 to 2005)
Jeff Baker, Park Ridge (Maine South)
Kenny Battle, Aurora (West)
Marc Davidson, Aurora (Christian)
Jim Edmondson, Hinckley-Big Rock
Matt Hicks, Aurora (West)
Derik Hollyfield, Aurora (West)
Gordon Kerkman, Aurora (West)
Mike Lipnisky, Rolling Meadows
Steve Lynch, Maple Park (Kaneland)
Jamie Martin, Harvard
John McDougal, Salem (player), Aurora (West), Rockford (Lutheran) (coach)
Mark Pancratz, Schaumburg