Nojel Eastern knows he’s only going to please the masses by playing a certain way.
The 6-foot-6 Evanston senior became a major recruit his own way, which is much more than OK with the people he’s interested in impressing.
“I’m not looking for a high ranking,” Eastern said. “I’m not looking for anything that doesn’t get me where I want to end up. I want to keep pushing to get a state championship, and I’m excited to be on campus at Purdue next year.”
With Boilermakers coach Matt Painter in the building, he did everything but take a bunch of shots in the No. 4 Wildkits’ 54-37 victory over New Trier on Tuesday night in Winnetka.
Eastern’s nine points, 11 rebounds and seven assists easily could have been a triple-double but were plenty for the Wildkits (8-1, 3-0 Central Suburban South) to turn back an early challenge and win going away.
“It was not my night,” Eastern said. “I got my teammates involved, and my shot wasn’t falling so I just kept attacking and getting my teammates open shots.
“It depends on the night. One night I could probably go for 30, another night nine but fill the other stats up. I let the game come to me. I don’t force myself on the game. If the man is open, you get the ball. That is how I see it. I’m not going to take a bad shot if you have a great shot.”
Evanston hardly took any bad shots at all as Eastern’s unselfishness was contagious against New Trier’s zone.
Malcolm Townsel and Lance Jones shared scoring honors with 10 points apiece, and six Wildkits scored six or more points. Sophomore Ciaran Brayboy had 11 for New Trier (4-3, 2-1).
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“We see (Eastern) is big-time prospect and with him passing the ball and sharing the ball, we see that we can share just like him,” Townsel said. “We don’t need to just score to be highly touted. We can work together to achieve one goal. He sets that tone and we follow that lead.”
Evanston will head to Akron, Ohio, for the LeBron James Classic this weekend, taking on James’ alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.
Player of the game: Nojel Eastern, Evanston, 9 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists
Key performers: Evanston — Elijah Williams, 6 points, 8 rebounds; Malcolm Townsel, 10 points. New Trier — Ciaran Brayboy, 11 points, 9 rebounds; Spencer Boehm, 10 points, 7 rebounds.