Illinois high school basketball notebook: Quincy tops Imhotep at Quincy Shootout

Bradley Longcor III leading Quincy in impressive 20-1 start

The Quincy basketball team continues to prove it is one of the best in Illinois and earned a statement win on Saturday night.

The Blue Devils defeated visiting Imhotep (Philadelphia, Pa.) in the showcase game of the Quincy Shootout, 74-62, behind a game-high 21 points from junior guard Bradley Longcor III and 19 points and nine rebounds from junior forward KeShaun Thomas.

“This is a big one,” Quincy coach Andy Douglas said. “For us, obviously, it’s big. But I know this group of guys, they know they can compete with the best of them. This was a true test. We knew what we were getting ourselves into scheduling a game like this and we scheduled this because we’ve got guys who are competitors, high competitors.”

“Bradley was massive tonight, but he had a lot of other guys that were making plays. Ralph (Wires) was stellar defensively – one of the best outings he’s had. But to beat a team like this, a well-coached team like this, a talented team like this, it takes a team effort and our guys were huge.”

The Blue Devils improved to 19-1 with the victory – and are now 20-1 after topping Galesburg 77-35 on Tuesday. Their only loss was a 44-39 setback at Collinsville on Dec. 29, but they’ve won six straight since.

Longcor, a 6-foot-4 guard, has been the catalyst and showed out against Imhotep and its standout senior guard Ahmad Nowell, who has signed with UConn.

Nowell scored a team-high 19 points on Saturday night, but Longcor stole the show. He finished with 21 points on seven of 11 shooting, including four-of-seven from 3-point range, and added six rebounds, three assists and one steal.

“This game hopefully will put him on the map even more than he already is on it because he’s the best player out there tonight,” Douglas said.

Longcor said the Blue Devils competed at a high level and showed how hard they have worked to get to that point.

Quincy had four players score in double figures: Longcor (21), Thomas (19), senior guard Ralph Wires (11) and junior guard Dom Clay (11). Wires also added three steals.

“Dom Clay, he can shoot,” Longcor said. “KeShaun (Thomas), my cousin, the big guy. He’s great at catching and finishing. Ralph (Wires), lockdown defender. Tyler (Sprick), he’s just a team leader out there. Camden (Brown), he’s our athletic guy. He’s going to go out there and guard some of the best players and perform at a high level on offense as well.”

Douglas has a strong all-around squad with a good mix of talent and leadership and that should make Quincy a contender to make a long postseason run in a few weeks.

“Last year they were young and still inexperienced – experienced but not the senior-lead or junior-lead that have been playing going on three years now – so I think that’s been huge,” the coach said. “Our senior leadership has been great. When you’ve got a player like Brad – I mean Brad Longcor was the best player on the floor tonight and he’s been like that through the toughest games that we’ve played.”

The Blue Devils close out January with some tough matchups at Sterling and at home against Batavia and Moline.

“We know we have to stay at ground level – we can’t get too high or too low – but we’re going to continue to come to practice and give it our all,” Longcor said. “I think that’s important. And not take anybody for granted.”

Vote: Who was the top high school basketball player at the Quincy Shootout?

Morez Johnson dunks against Metamora at the Highland Shootout / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

MOREZ JOHNSON SNUBBED FROM ALL-AMERICAN GAME

You can make a strong case that Thornton senior center Morez Johnson was the best player not selected when the McDonald’s All-American Game rosters were announced on Wednesday.

Johnson, a 6-9 senior who has signed with the University of Illinois, is averaging 18.7 points, 13.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per game for a Wildcats squad that is 19-2 and one of the best in the state.

A transfer from St. Rita, Johnson is ranked as the No. 27 prospect nationally in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports and the 247Sports Composite rankings that also factor in other recruiting outlets. He is the top prospect in Illinois and the No. 5 center prospect in the country, according to 247Sports.

Johnson certainly would have been a deserving choice, considering his play this season in addition to his standing as a prospect, but he will more than likely be selected for more postseason honors and all-star game selections.

Joliet West sophomore Jeremiah Fears takes a shot against Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) at the 2023 Bank of O'Fallon Shootout / Photo by Paul Halfacre

JEREMIAH FEARS COMMITS TO ILLINOIS

Former Joliet West guard Jeremiah Fears, who is now at Compass Prep in Arizona, made a verbal commitment to the University of Illinois this week.

Fears, a 6-3 junior combo guard, is rated by 247Sports as the No. 45 overall prospect in the Class of 2025.

His older brother, Jeremy, is a freshman point guard at Michigan State.

The Fears brothers played together at Joliet West last season after Jeremy transferred back home from La Lumiere in Indiana. But then Jeremiah transferred to Compass Prep for his junior year.

Vote for the top play from the 2024 Quincy Shootout basketball showcase (1/24/2024)

Quincy - Imhotep boys basketball (1/20/2024)

Photos by Nate Latsch

Photo by Nate Latsch