Top Teams in Illinois- Whitney Young

The gap between this next team and the team I reported about last weekend might be bigger than the gap between Jennifer Aniston and Michael Moore in a beauty contest. With that said, this next program is very capable of winning a state title and finishing in the national top 25. This program consistently is one of the top programs in Illinois and seems to be a revolving door for division 1 athletes. But after some key departures, this years’ team will rely on a senior point guard and some key young ballers that will be coming to a division 1 program near you. So without further ado, let’s introduce the probable second best team in the state….

Whitney Young Dolphins—Last year was supposed to be the year for the Dolphins: they had one of the top seniors in the state and one of the deepest benches as well. But after a couple of injuries and a slow start for a couple of players, Whitney Young had to play some catch up to raise their ranking in the state. This season, the roster is a bit lighter and some key departures, most notable, SF Sam Thompson, will certainly impact the team. Outside of the point guard, the Dolphins will throw out a younger lineup than last year. Some of the youngsters from last year have showed some great strides this AAU season and might be the difference between a very good basketball team to a great one.

The three players, Jr. C Thomas Hamilton, Jr. (6-9, 230 lbs, offers from Illinois and Michigan State, left), So C Jahlil Okafor (6-8, 255 lbs, offered by Syracuse, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, DePaul) and So SF/PF Paul White (6-7, 185 lbs, offered by DePaul, Illinois, Ohio State, Syracuse, Michigan State) will be the heart and soul of this team. The two sophomores spent some time with team USA and U16 tryouts this summer and scouts have loved what they have seen. With these three, not only will the Dolphins have one of the best front courts in the state, but most likely the country with 3 potential 5 star athletes. The development of Hamilton, Jr. will be just as impactful. Thomas has developed from an overweight big man that can dictate defenders inside to a skilled big man that can step out and hit a jumper to match his inside game. Conditioning and rebounding will be key as Hamilton, Jr. hopes to solidify himself from a fringe 5 star to a sure-fire 5 star recruit.

With Okafor and Hamilton, Jr., this could be a dominating 1,2 frontcourt, but the key to this whole group might be White. Last year, the Dolphins were bailed out by Thompson’s athleticism and scoring ability. That will surely be missed and could be the different between a good and great season for Whitney Young. Thompson was able to guard multiple positions and play at different positions on the court. No one on this team, so far can come close to that. The player that might become what Thompson was last year is White. His athleticism is beyond his years and White is very crafty around the net. He was limited in his role on the team last due to just being a freshman, but White should see plenty of minutes this year. White can attack off the dribble and with his superior ball handling; White can create for himself and others. It will be his versatility that will allow Whitney Young to have a good outside and great inside game.

There are some young studs on this team that definitely garnish plenty of star power, but the floor general and presumed lone senior in the starting lineup will be the difference between a young, erratic team vs. a composed and mature team. Sr. PG Derrick Randolph (5-7, 150 lbs, interest from UIC and NIU) will take on a bigger role as point guard this year after sharing time with PG Kwai Pearson. Randolph might look like Mini-Me compared to everyone else on the floor but Randolph’s style of play is similar to a bowling ball in that he charges down the lane knocking over a couple defenders, including himself, who get in the way. His point guard skills are still raw but Randolph is a flashy passer and will be asked to look to distribute more to players inside like Okafor and Hamilton, Jr. His developing point guard skills and composure, something he did not always display last year, will be inertial to this year’s team.

In most other states, Whitney Young would be favored to win a state title. In Illinois, finishing second seems like a good accomplishment. The Dolphins might not be as deep but they are more skilled at other positions than they were last year. If White, Hamilton, Jr., and Okafor can develop as expected, this should be a very fun team to watch as much of a competition to dethrone Simeon as state champs. But there are some ifs on this team but at the very worst, the three big stars, figuratively and literately, will make this an exciting season for Whitney Young.

NEXT WEEK: TOP TEAMS IN ILLINOIS