Hoffman Estates' Torey Baskin drives to the basket for a layup as Buffalo Grove's Alex Sirbu defends during Friday’s game in Buffalo Grove. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
MLK Day events keeping prep athletes busy
Hoffman Estates' Torey Baskin drives to the basket for a layup as Buffalo Grove's Alex Sirbu defends during Friday’s game in Buffalo Grove.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
Prep athletes stayed busy during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend.
This edition of the Daily Herald prep sports newsletter looks at the latest rankings for boys and girls basketball as well as the many great games taking place throughout the area.
“Edgy” Tim O’Halloran checks in with a football recruiting update, and College Achievers focuses on a Willowbrook graduate.
Boys top 20
Benet maintains its grip atop the Daily Herald rankings.
Jan 19, 2026 11:22 am - Records through Jan. 18
Team Comment
1. Benet 20-1 Hosts Sides Collide Saturday
2. Warren 16-1 State championship rematch vs. Benet Saturday
3. Fremd 17-1 Pinto scores 19 in 4-point win over Hersey
4. Neuqua Valley 18-1 Sweet-shooting Mason
Girls top 20
Waubonsie Valley’s first loss shakes up the top of the rankings.
Jan 19, 2026 11:21 am - Records through Jan. 18
Team Comment
1. Benet 18-1 Haven’t lost since season opener
2. Naperville Central 18-3 Kritzer 20 points, 18 rebounds vs. Waubonsie Valley
3. Waubonsie Valley 19-1 Hope to learn lessons from Naperville Central loss
4.
College coaches visiting high schools
O’Halloran writes about local football players getting visits from college coaches.
Jan 18, 2026 2:49 pm - Football recruiting was on a hiatus over the last several weeks as the focus for college coaches was on reloading and retaining their rosters via the transfer portal.
Those same college coaches already began visiting high schools last week. Expect e
Last week’s dazzlers
Who had the top prep basketball performances last week?
Jan 19, 2026 3:06 pm - It’s not easy keeping track of prep basketball games during the holidays.
Not far behind is trying to keep track of Martin Luther King Jr. Day basketball events.
The High Five continues to stay busy chasing down the top performances. This edition h
Eyeing the Combine
Willowbrook graduate Enrique Cruz, a Kansas football player, is hoping to land an invite to the NFL Combine.
Jan 18, 2026 3:00 pm - Between his junior year at Willowbrook High School and his redshirt senior football season this fall at the University of Kansas, Enrique Cruz Jr. estimated he added 100 pounds of mass.
A 2025 all-Big 12 Conference honorable mention selection at offe
Lakes stuns Fremd
Dorian Pullen knocked down a 3-pointer in the waning seconds as Lakes beat Fremd.
Jan 19, 2026 7:09 pm - Although the lakes in the Lake Villa area are all frozen, Lakes High School reached the boiling point Monday.
Dorian Pullen sunk a one-handed three-point basket from 25 feet with 1.6 seconds to play to stun Fremd 60-59 in the championship game of Lak
A good cause
The Coaches vs. Cancer fundraiser at Lake Park was also a family reunion.
Jan 19, 2026 7:03 pm - It was a special day of girls basketball at Lake Park's West Campus High School on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Not only was the 'Coaches vs. Cancer' event a fundraiser for cancer, it also brought together two families who have strong ties to the spor