Proviso West All-Time All-Tournament Team (2000)

Proviso West Holiday Tournament All-Time All-Tournament Team 40 Most Influential Individuals During the First 40 Years of the Holiday Tournament *Chosen in 2000 by a vote from fans, media, coaches and former players*
	MARK AGUIRRE -- Despite playing in only two Holiday Tournament games, 1977 Tournament Most Valuable Player Mark Aguirre left his own mark with a 35-point performance against Saint Joseph in the Warriors 66-65 quarterfinal defeat. Westinghouse was ousted by Saint Joseph again in the state quarterfinals later that year, but that did not stop or even slow down Aguirre’s great future career. As a freshman at DePaul, Aguirre averaged 24 points per game and led the Blue Demons to the 1979 NCAA Final Four. As a sophomore, Aguirre was National Player of the Year; and as a junior he helped lead DePaul to the nation’s number one ranking and finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,182 points over three seasons. Aguirre was selected as the first pick in the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks and went on to a 13-year NBA career which included two championship rings with the Detroit Pistons. Over a six year period, Aguirre averaged more than 22 points per game in each of those six seasons and finished with career 18,458 points for a 20 points per game lifetime average.

	CEDRICK BANKS -- The most recent participant on the Top 40 list, Westinghouse’s Cedrick Banks is the only player to have two tournament championships and two Most Valuable Player awards under his belt, winning individual and team titles in both 1998 and 1999. He was selected as the Player of the Year in Illinois during his senior year and played at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

	TAYLOR BELL -- With over five decades of covering high school sports, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Taylor Bell represents his field well as the lone member of the working media on the All-Time team. With the tournament's success and growing crowds in the late seventies, Bell's coverage of the West event dominated the headlines and helped create a public awareness of high school sports in the Chicagoland area. The tournament's growth coincided with Bell's outstanding coverage.

	DONNIE BOYCE -- A member of the “Three Amigos”, Donnie Boyce guided Proviso East to the 1990 Holiday Tournament and 1991 State Tournament title. After high school, Boyce played at the University of Colorado and ranks among their all-time offensive leaders. Boyce played for the Atlanta Hawks during the 1995-96 season and later played professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters.

	NEIL BRESNAHAN -- When Fenwick made their first appearance in the 1975 Proviso West Holiday Tournament, the Friars captured the Consolation Championship and were led by senior standout Neil Bresnahan. The six-foot, five-inch postman rang more than twice by setting a four game rebounding record of 64 boards – a mark which stood for twenty years. The Oak Park All-Stater played collegiate ball at the University of Illinois at Champaign.

	JIM BREWER -- A two-time All-Tournament Team selection, Jim Brewer helped Proviso East advance to two Holiday Tournament championship games and one state tournament title. As a junior, the six-foot, six-inch center’s team fell 50-48 in overtime to eventual state champion Evanston in the Proviso West title game. Not to be denied of a tournament crown, the Pirates returned to the championship the following year and defeated every opponent by double digits and then went on to win their own state championship. Brewer is considered as one of the greatest defensive players of all-time in Illinois basketball history. He later went on to play for the University of Minnesota and was selected second overall in the 1973 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jim played for the Detroit Pistons, Portland Trailblazers and Los Angeles Lakers in a nine year professional career.

	OWEN BROWN -- Guiding Lyons Township to back-to-back championship game appearances in 1969 and 1970, two-time All-Tournament Team standout Owen Brown compiled great numbers in great games. As a junior, Brown’s 15-point, 13-rebound performance helped beat Downers North in the 1969 title game. His legendary 24-point, 24-rebound showing in the 1970 state tournament championship game victory still ranks among the finest individual efforts in Illinois prep history. The following year, Lyons was upended in the Holiday Tournament final, despite receiving a 19-point, 13-rebound effort by Brown. Owen played at the University of Maryland and was drafted in the 1975 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns before having his promising career cut short in a fatal heart attack.

	RANDY BROWN -- Although most of his notoriety came after his high school playing days, Collins guard Randy Brown is one of three Holiday Tournament players to play professionally without being selected as a previous All-Tournament Team standout. His NBA career included stints with the Sacramento Kings and the Boston Celtics, but mostly he is recognized for returning to this hometown, and being part of the Chicago Bulls championship teams in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

	LEVI COBB -- Another team and player that made their debut in the 1975 tournament was Morgan Park and six-foot five inch senior center, and tournament Most Valuable Player, Levi Cobb. The Mustangs advanced to the championship game of the Christmas tournament, only to lose by one point to Proviso West; but later got revenge by winning the state championship game by one point over West Aurora three months later. Cobb was a mainstay at the University of Illinois in the late seventies.

	ROY CONDOTTI -- Coach Roy Condotti has been a fixture on the sidelines as both an assistant coach and head coach in Proviso West Holiday Tournament history. Dating back to Westinghouse’s arrival in the tournament three decades ago, Condotti was an assistant under the legendary Frank Lollino and later succeeded him as head coach of the Warriors. As head coach Westinghouse participated in three championship games, including back-to-back second place finishes in 1993 and 1994. After taking over the Homewood-Flossmoor job, Condotti promptly returned back to the Proviso hardwood – this time with the Vikings – and guided them to a Final Four appearance.

	RONNIE FIELDS -- There may have never been anyone who electrified the Holiday Tournament crowds more than Farragut’s Ronnie Fields. As a junior Fields teammed with Kevin Garnett and captured the hearts of many fans and the 1994 title. In 1995, Fields was the headliner act in his high flying show and broke a 20-year old tournament individual game scoring record by netting 51 points against Loyola Academy. The Admirals once again advanced to the Final Four and Fields capped his 127-point four day total with a 39-point performance against King in the third place game, and was selected as tournament Most Valuable Player. Fields went right from high school to the Continental Basketball Association.

	MICHAEL FINLEY -- The only member of the “Three Amigos” to not receive Proviso West All-Tournament Team honors, Proviso East’s Michael Finley was an integral part of the Pirates state tournament run during the 1990-91 season. Finley scored 20 points and a record 12 assists in the 1990 tournament title game and would soon become a prolific scoring machine. At the University of Wisconsin, Finley was the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,147 points. He was a first or second All Big-Ten team choice in each of his last three seasons. Drafted by the Phoenix Suns with 21^st overall pick, he became one of the biggest steals in the draft. He started in 72 games, averaged 15 points and became only one of six rookies to top the 1000 point club. Finley was traded to Dallas in 1996 and averaged over twenty points per game in each of the next three seasons. In 1999 he led the league in minutes played and was 11^th in scoring average and 20^th in assists, earning a trip to the NBA All-Star Game.

	SHERRELL FORD -- 1990 Tournament Most Valuable Player Sherrell Ford’s arrival to Proviso East as a transfer was just what the doctor ordered, as the six-foot, six-inch senior injected the Pirates to Holiday Tournament and State Championship titles during the 1990-91 school year. Ford scored 28 points in the Christmas classic final against rival Proviso West and shot an impressive 12-of-14 from the field. Ford would later attend the University of Illinois at Chicago and play with the Seattle Supersonics and the Harlem Globetrotters.

	TONY FREEMAN -- One of the smallest members of the All-Time All-Tournament Team, five-foot, seven inch dynamo Tony Freeman put together big numbers in helping Saint Joseph advance to four straight final fours from 1982 to 1985. Freeman, who started on the varsity as a freshman, became the first player to play in four final fours and scored 202 points over a then record 15 Holiday Tournament games. Freeman later attended Indiana University.

	KEVIN GARNETT -- Making his first Chicagoland appearance in the 1994 Proviso West Holiday Tournament, Farragut’s Kevin Garnett drew large crowds and even larger ooh’s and aah’s as he dominated the court like no other player before him. The six-foot, eleven-inch center led the Admirals to the 1994 title with a twenty point victory in the championship game against rival foe Westinghouse. Garnett was named tournament MVP with a triple double performance of 26 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks. He was named National High School Player of the Year and declared himself for the NBA draft where he was selected fifth overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. After his rookie season in the league, Garnett quickly obtained NBA All-Star status averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds in his second season.

	KIWANE GARRIS -- As only one of two players in Holiday Tournament History to be named to three consecutive All-Tournament Teams, Kiwane Garris helped lead Westinghouse to a fifth place and two third place finishes from 1990-92. The six-foot, two-inch guard ranks fifth in all-time career scoring history with 250 points over 12 games. Garris went on to play at the University of Illinois and competed with the Denver Nuggets during the 1997-98 season.

	HERSEY HAWKINS -- When you are your team’s tallest player you have a big responsibility. But when you are only six-foot, three-inches tall – your responsibility becomes even bigger. Westinghouse forward Hersey Hawkins liked big challeneges and sent the Warriors to the 1983 tournament championship en route being named tournament MVP. Hawkins scored 25 points in the title tilt and consistently shutdown bigger opponents with a swarming defense. He remains as only one of a handful of players to win tournament scoring and rebounding crowns in the same season. At Bradley University, Hawkins averaged 24.1 points per game over a four year career and led the nation in scoring as a senior with a 36.3 average and was selected College Player of the Year. Hawkins was chosen sixth in the 1988 NBA draft and has played thirteen seasons in the league with Philadelphia, Charlotte, Seattle, and Chicago averaging 15.2 points per games during that span.

	BILL HITT -- After following coaching Legends Tom Millikin and Glenn Whittenberg as head coach in Proviso East’s storied history, former Pirate player Bill Hitt had big shoes to fill. Hitt continued the tradition of winning, as his teams won back-to-back Holiday Tournament and state championships during the “Three Amigos” years in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons. As a player and coach, Hitt saw the Pirates win in 32 of 45 games while competing in the Proviso West event.

	JEFF HORNACEK -- A perennial slow starter, Jeff Hornacek was a 1980 All-Tournament Team choice and scored 16 points in a championship game loss to Saint Joseph. Not offered a scholarship to college, the former Lyons Township standout walked on at Iowa State University and became an all-conference player. Chosen late in the second round of the NBA draft, he earned a spot of the Phoenix Suns and later became an all-star. His fourteen year NBA career came to an end last season with the Utah Jazz and was one of a handful of NBA players to score 15,000 points and have 5,000 assists over his career.

	JUWAN HOWARD -- One of two players to be runner-up to the tournament MVP two straight seasons, Juwan Howard played second fiddle to no one when he was on the basketball court. The Chicago Vocational graduate scored 109 points in four games as a junior and 117 points as a senior as the Cavaliers finished with two tournament trophies – fifth place in 1989 and third in 1990. After high school, Howard was a member of the “Fab Five” at Michigan and advanced to the NCAA championship game twice in 1992 and 1993. He was the fifth overall choice of the 1994 NBA draft selected by Washington. In his first seven years in the NBA, Howard has averaged over 18 points per game in his career and has made one NBA All-Star Game appearance.

	RICK HOWAT -- Leading Downers Grove North to the championship in 1966, guard Rick Howat established scoring marks that are still on the books more than 30 years later. The overwhelming tournament MVP scored a present-day record 35 points in the Trojans 21-point victory over Proviso East in the title game and set an all-time record 127 points over the four day event. Rick later played at the University of Illinois and became head basketball coach at Addison-Trail High School .

	MICHAEL INGRAM -- Six-foot, eight-inch 1984 Tournament Most Valuable Player Michael Ingram helped catapult Proviso West to the tournament title in his senior year and led the Panthers to a perfect 25-0 regular season record and a number 9 ranking in the nation. The Player of the Year, nicknamed “The Intimidator”, Ingram was a defensive force in the middle and led the tournament in rebounds and blocked shots. Ingram later played college ball at Missouri and the University of Iowa.

	BOB LACKEY -- As Evanston became the first team to win Holiday Tournament and State Tournament titles in the same year, the Wildkits were led by senior forward Bob Lackey. The 1967 All-Tournament team player scored 15 points against Proviso East in the legendary 50-48 championship game overtime victory which was watched by more spectators than any other game in tournament history. Lackey played at Marquette and became the tournament’s first NBA entrant, playing for the New York Nets from 1972 to 1974.

	MARCUS LIBERTY -- The first person to ever being named as Tournament Most Valuable Player two consecutive years and win two tournament scoring titles, Marcus Liberty guided Martin Luther King to three Final Fours and a tournament championship. In the 1985 title game, Liberty scored 34 points to give King their first Proviso West championship title. The Jaguars later went on to capture the State title in March of that year. He currently ranks second in all-time career scoring with 284 points over a three year career. Liberty, who starred at the University of Illinois and helped guide the Fighting Illini to the NCAA Final Four in 1989, also played in the National Basketball Association with the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons.

	LOWELL LUCAS -- In addition to being an administrator of the Holiday Tournament from 1970 to 1993, Proviso West basketball coach Lowell Lucas put together impressive numbers as well, on the hardwood. The Panther mentor led West to three championship titles in 1975, 1984 and 1992. He ranks second on the all-time list for tournament games won with 56. He improved the Panther program which had never had a winning season prior to his arrival to one of the most respected in the state winning 433 games at Proviso West in his 23-year coaching career.

	COREY MAGGETTE -- Not since the days of Neil Bresnahan when Fenwick first came on the scene at the Proviso West Tournament, did a Friar ever make an impact as much as Corey Maggette. Maggette’s team returned to the Proviso hardwood in 1996 and over the next two seasons, and the six-foot, six-inch forward dominated every step of the way. Corey was named runner-up tournament Most Valuable Player in 1997 and led his team to an Elite Eight appearance in Peoria. Maggette then went to Duke and helped the Blue Devils to the Final Four and the NCAA Championship Game. After one collegiate season, the former tournament standout declared early for the NBA draft and has played with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers.

	TOM MILLIKIN -- Although the tournament was only in its fourth year in1964, Proviso East basketball coach Tom Millkin had two Holiday Tournament titles under his belt in his first two Christmastime appearances. The Pirate coach guided his school to ten straight victories in his first ten tournament games; coached in five championship games over six years, put together the best win-loss percentage to date of any coach in tournament history as Proviso East won 24 games while only losing three over a six year period; and captured tournament titles in 1963, 1964 and 1968.

	RON NIKCEVICH -- Another legendary coach who brought two teams to the Proviso West tournament is former Riverside-Brookfield and Lyons Township head coach Ron Nikcevich and won four Holiday Tournament titles. After guiding the Bulldogs during the sixties, Nikcevich also found success with Lyons Township. In 1969, his first year with the Lions, his team went 31-0 and became the third straight Proviso West Holiday Tournament champion to win the state tournament later that year. Nickevich won three Holiday Tournament titles in his first five years with Lyons Township, and won his last championship in 1982 – making him the first coach to capture tournament championships, in three different decades.

	TOWNSEND ORR -- Only one of three people to be named back-to-back tournament Most Valuable Player, Townsend Orr led Thornridge to two straight championship game appearances in 1988 and 1989. The six-foot, one-inch swingman had a knack for big performances in big games and scored 23 points against New Trier in the 1988 title game to help the Falcons to their only tournament crown. Orr later played collegiate ball at the University of Minnesota, overseas and with the Harlem Globetrotters.

	GENE PINGATORE -- Saint Joseph coach Gene Pingatore holds tournament records for most championships won and most games won. Pingatore’s teams won Holiday Tournament titles four times over a five year period from 1977-1981, and again in 1987 and 1989. He has also coached ten former All-Tournament Team players over a thirteen year stretch from 1977 to 1989 and his 1998-99 team captured the school’s first ever state championship.

	JOE PONSETTO -- 1973 Tournament Most Valuable Player Joe Ponsetto was the blue-collared driving force behind the Pirates state championship run. The six-foot, five-inch forward led the tournament in scoring his senior year and would be nicknamed “The Godfather” as he would not back down to anyone who came across his path. Ponsetto went on to start for three seasons at DePaul University.

	GLENN RIVERS -- One of only two players to be a three-time All-Tournament Team selection, and tournament Most Valuable Player in 1979, Proviso East’s Glenn Rivers guided the Pirates to two championship games and one title in a storied high school career. Rivers led the tournament in scoring his senior year and established the all-time tournament career scoring mark with 258 points in 11 games – which currently is third best today. Playing collegiate ball at Marquette, Rivers earned the nickname of “Doc” from then coach Rick Majerus when he wore a Dr.J t-shirt to summer camp. Rivers was selected 31^st overall by Atlanta in the 1983 NBA draft after his junior season, and played the next eight seasons with the Hawks and set their all-time single season and career records for assists. Over a 13-year NBA career Doc also played for the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Rivers worked as a Turner Sports NBA analyst before being named as head coach of the Orlando Magic in 1999.

	WALT SAWOSKO -- The originator of the Christmas classic. The tournament began in 1961 with eight teams and expanded to sixteen the following year. The event was started to provide an avenue for teams to play locally over the holiday season. During Sawasko’s reign, the tournament drew statewide attention as tourney champs won three consecutive state titles in the late sixties.

	BERNIE SKUL -- Standing the test of time, former Proviso West Athletic Director Bernie Skul, administered over the Holiday Tournament for 35 years. Under his direction the tournament gained the addition of Public League powerhouses, increased attendance figures and secured nationwide recognition as the finest event of its type throughout the nation. Bernie continued on the tradition begun by Walt Sawosko and took the Holiday Tournament to new heights always striving to invite top teams each year.

	JOE SPAGNOLO -- As the Tournament Director and Media Services Coordinator during the eighties and nineties, Joe Spagnolo has overseen major cutting edge improvements including the implementation of the first three person officiating crew at the high school level, tournament expansion, increased media coverage – including live television production, computerized courtside statistics, and internet cybercasts over the world wide web.

	ISIAH THOMAS -- The Saint Joseph guard became one of the event’s most exciting and productive players, and from 1976 to 1978 guided the Chargers to three Final Fours and two back-to-back championship game victories. As a junior Isiah equalled the championship game record of 35 points and was selected as runner-up tournament MVP. In his senior season Saint Joseph defeated the Glenn Rivers led Proviso East team before 4600 spectators, as Thomas scored 27 points and dished out ten assists en route to being selected as unanimous Most Valuable Player. Winning and Isiah Thomas went hand-in-hand as he was a member of the 1979 Gold Medal Pan-American team, and the 1981 NCAA National Championship team at Indiana University. Being selected as the second pick overall in the 1981 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons and during his initial year in the league, Thomas made his first of 12 straight appearances in the NBA All-Star Game. Thomas established a league record with 13.9 assists per game in 1985 and was selected to three NBA First teams three consecutive years from 1984 to 1986. “Zeke” won yet two more championships in 1989 and 1990 as the Pistons captured the NBA crown. In 1997, he was selected to the league’s 50 Greatest Players. In 2000 he was named as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and to the professional basketball Hall of Fame.

	MARCUS WASHINGTON -- The 1969 Tournament Most Valuable Player Marcus Washington was a key factor behind Lyons Township first tournament championship as the Lions rolled through the competition by winning margins of 32, 28, 16 and 16 points. The Lions also rolled through regular season competition as well, as they won the state tournament title with a perfect 31-0 undefeated record. Washington captained the Marquette University basketball team in 1974.

	GLENN WHITTENBERG -- One of three Proviso East basketball coach to be named to the All-Time All-Tournament Team, Glenn Whittenberg coached at Proviso East for thirteen seasons and captured four tournament titles during the seventies in 1970, 1974, 1976 and 1979. His teams won 35 of 49 games and sixteen players made the All-Tournament Team first five under his tutelage. Whittenberg’s 1973-74 team, despite finishing fourth at Proviso West, captured the state championship later that season.

	EFREM WINTERS -- Leading Martin Luther King to their first ever championship game appearance, Efrem Winters stood six-foot, ten-inches tall and led the Jauguars dominance in 1981, as King made their first of four championship game appearances over a five year period. Although, Winters’ team lost 43-40 to Saint Joseph in title game, he was named that year’s Most Valuable Player. Efrem also played at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

	MICHAEL WRIGHT -- Farragut standout Michael Wright rewrote the record book over four years of play. As a freshman, Wright established the all-time field goal percentage mark for a tournament by making 21 of 24 shots, as the Admirals won the title. In his junior season the Admirals fell in overtime in the championship game and Wright was tournament MVP runner-up. Farragut and Wright both took home one more title the following year, as the 1997 tourney’s top player set all-time career records for points scored, rebounds and games played. Wright became one of the nation's top collegiate rebounders at the University of Arizona.

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