When Kankakee takes the ground, it’s no secret that every one eyes are on Lincoln Williams.
The 6-5 taking pictures guard is a four-star prospect and Illinois’ consensus No. 1 junior within the 247Sports.com rankings.
However he’s hardly the one Kays participant to concentrate to. On Friday, 6-7 senior Eli Stipp scored an environment friendly 16 factors and grabbed eight rebounds as No. 18 Kankakee cruised previous host Crete-Monee 65-42.
Stipp made all eight of his photographs from the sector to steer 5 Kays in double figures. All the eye paid to Williams means there are many beauty for his teammates.
“I’ve had some environment friendly nights,” Stipp stated. “I don’t actually step outdoors of the arc an excessive amount of. I simply get it completed within the paint.”
The Kays get it completed all around the flooring offensively. 4 completely different gamers hit three-pointers on Friday and 5 completed in double figures.
Williams had 12 factors and eight rebounds together with two dunks, two steals and a block. Myair Thompson and Jordan Davis additionally scored 12 factors every and Kenaz Jackson Jr. completed with 10.
Jaylen Blakes led Crete-Monee (12-6, 2-2 Southland) with 16 factors.
“Our coach preaches that each recreation, that we’ve obtained 5 guys on the market that may rating,” Stipp stated. “We’ll have guys off the bench have 15, and we all know all of our starters [can get] 20 any evening.”
And far of it comes again to all the eye paid to Williams.
“He’s participant to play off of,” Stipp stated. “As a result of for those who move it to him, you may get an help. And if he passes to you, it’s all the time move.”
The Kays (12-2, 5-0 Southland) have had 4 gamers lead the group in scoring at the least as soon as this season. And the potential is there for much more to take action.
“One of many luxuries as a coach is when you have got 5 to 6 — we even have seven guys who can go on the market and lead us,” Kays coach Chris Pickett stated.
That Stipp is considered one of them is a testomony to his improvement.
“For those who noticed Eli in seventh, eighth grade, you’d by no means suppose that he’s obtained thus far,” Pickett stated. “However he’s a grinder. As a coach, we love having guys who’re sponges, who take heed to what we’re making an attempt to show them, and so they take every little thing in since you’re solely going to get higher
“And that’s precisely what occurred.”
Kankakee had a busy December of nonconference journey, however now has some pivotal native video games arising. One of many greatest is Tuesday at house in opposition to No. 2 Wealthy.
“That schedule is by design as a result of we have been in a position to play in opposition to completely different kinds of groups, groups that have been completely different ranges so far as competitiveness,” Pickett stated. “And it’s made us higher. The 2 video games we misplaced — we misplaced to 2 ranked 4A groups [Bolingbrook and Curie] by a mixed six factors.
“We took one thing away from every recreation and we obtained again to the gymnasium. It grabbed our guys’ consideration so they begin listening to what we’re speaking about. And we’re simply getting higher at it.”
