When Stevenson graduated a pair of NCAA Division I basketball players in Jalen Brunson (Villanova) and Connor Cashaw (Rice) following its Class 4A state championship, there were questions about how the Patriots would rebound from such huge losses.
Enter senior guard Rodney Herenton and his younger brother Willie, a junior — the new starting backcourt for the Patriots.
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The brothers transferred from Young in Chicago, a program that’s also had its share of success. While they can’t be expected to fill the shoes of players like Cashaw and Brunson, the duo is opening plenty of eyes alongside 6-foot-7 junior star Justin Smith.
“Obviously, Justin is kind of the alpha dog in terms of being the one who gets the most press and flash,” said Patriots coach Pat Ambrose. “But we don’t want Justin to score all the points. The Herentons can do a little of that too.”
In Stevenson’s recent 50-40 North Suburban Lake win over Lake Forest, that’s what happened.
Willie Herenton scored a team-best 16 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also had four steals while mercilessly attacking the basket during his 12-point second-half.
Following the game, a member of the St. Louis University coaching staff, who came to scout him, waited near the locker room to speak with him.
“I don’t have any offers yet, but I’m starting to get some letters and attention from D-I schools,” Willie Herenton said. “It’s exciting.”
He has a noticeable chemistry with his older brother when they’re both on the floor.
“I think the first time I remember ever playing basketball with Rodney was when I was 4 or 5 years old, at a YMCA when my family lived in Memphis,” Willie said. “Having been around him for so long on the basketball court is a blessing. It makes a huge difference.”
As the pair reminisced, Rodney Herenton — who shot 4-for-6 from the field and scored 11 points against Lake Forest — broke some news following the win over the Scouts.
“I just got accepted to Stanford,” said Rodney Herenton, who scored a 29 on his ACT college entrance exam. “But their school is a little different. I do have an interest in playing basketball there, but wanted to make sure I was accepted first. That’s the first step, so we’ll see.”
He already has one NCAA Division I scholarship offer, from Dartmouth, after starting for Young as a junior last season.
“Both Whitney Young and Stevenson are two programs who’ve had a recent history of success,” said Rodney Herenton. “So the winning attitude hasn’t changed.
“Here, I’m just continuing to look and strive for more. More personal goals. More goals for the team. This is a great group of fellas, and there’s a real intense focus among us trying to reach that goal of going deep into the postseason again.”
Lake Forest coach Phil LaScala praised the siblings.
“The Herentons are the kind of players who force you, as a coach, to make sure you’re playing really strong team defense,” LaScala said. “They’re both super quick with the basketball, have great acceleration, and as you saw tonight, can really impact the game at a high level.”
Actually, long before the Herentons transferred, Rodney was a footnote in Stevenson basketball history.
On March 21, 2014, Brunson scored 56 points as the Patriots lost to Young 75-68 in the semifinals of that year’s state tournament. A starting guard for Young that day against Brunson?
Rodney Herenton.
Tim Froehlig is a freelance writer for the News-Sun.
BOYS BASKETBALL: TUESDAY’S GAMES
Lakes at Antioch
Wauconda at Grant
North Chicago at Round Lake
Carmel at Niles North
Grayslake North at Prairie Ridge
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Buffalo Grove at Highland Park
NSC PRAIRIE STANDINGS
North Chicago 4-0
Grant 3-0
Vernon Hills 3-2
Wauconda 2-2
Antioch 1-3
Lakes 1-3
Round Lake 0-4