Morgan Park’s Adam Miller and Maine West’s Angela Dugalic took different paths to winning the Mr. and Ms. Basketball of Illinois awards for 2020.
Miller, a senior committed to Illinois, received 142 points and 21 first-place votes to edge Young’s DJ Steward, who finished with 140 points and 19 first-place votes. Rolling Meadows junior Max Christie was third with 37 points.
“Being a kid growing up in Illinois, you always heard about Mr. Basketball,” Miller said. “There are a lot of great players who won it, so me being able to win it is all graced by God. I just had to put in the work and God put me in the right predicaments.”
Morgan Park coach Nick Irvin said a Mr. Basketball award always was part of the plan for Miller.
“He wanted to be remembered as the best player in the state of Illinois his senior year,” Irvin said. “That’s how he wanted to go out.”
Dugalic, meanwhile, had nearly twice as many points as the runner-up. The senior received 24 first-place votes and 166 points. Lake Park’s Darrione Rogers was second with 84 points and Simeon’s Aneesah Morrow third with 72.
The awards are voted on by the state’s coaches and media and presented by the baiduhai in conjunction with the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association.
Miller, the No. 2 senior in the state (behind Steward) and No. 33 nationally in the 247Sports.com composite rankings, wasn’t surprised the voting came down to the two players. But while they’ve had battles over the years — including a 61-59 Morgan Park win this season — Miller doesn’t view Steward as a rival.
“People create a rivalry between us,” Miller said. “We’re none of that. We’re just great basketball players that grew up in the same state. We’re great friends and we’ve battled so many times. We don’t do the comparisons, and it’s just an honor to be able to play against him.”
Miller put together a stellar season that was cut short because of the coronavirus outbreak. The 6-foot-4 guard averaged 23.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals for Morgan Park (22-9), which advanced to a Class 3A sectional final before the IHSA canceled the rest of the state tournament amid the pandemic.
Miller finished with 2,076 career points and grabbed national attention while doing so. He was selected to the Jordan Brand Game and named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year the last two seasons, becoming only the fourth player to win the award back-to-back since 1985.
Dugalic, No. 22 in ESPN’s HoopGurlz rankings, averaged 20.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 steals for the Warriors (30-6), who lost to eventual Class 4A champion Fremd in the Elite Eight. Dugalic led Maine West to a 35-0 record and the 4A championship in 2019 and was named a Second Team All-State selection as a junior.
Dugalic’s list of accolades don’t end there. The 6-foot-4 forward is part of a historic recruiting class at Oregon in which all five five-star players were named to the McDonald’s All-Americans. She was also named the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2019-20 season.
2020 Mr. Basketball of Illinois voting
63 ballots cast, first-place votes in parentheses; 5-3-1 vote value.
Top 10
1. Adam Miller, Morgan Park, senior, 142 points (21)
2. DJ Steward, Young, senior, 140 points (19)
3. Max Christie, Rolling Meadows, junior, 37 points (3)
4. Ray’Sean Taylor, Collinsville, senior, 30 points (3)
5. Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick, junior, 27 points (2)
6. Dom Martinelli, Glenbrook South, senior, 25 points (3)
7. Ahron Ulis, Marian Catholic, senior, 15 points (1)
8. Isaiah Rivera, Geneseo, senior, 13 points
9. Ramean Hinton, Curie, senior, 11 points
T-10. Jackson Connor, Marion, 7 points (1)
T-10. Connor Heaton, Moweaqua Central A&M, senior, 7 points
Others receiving multiple votes: Kam Craft, Buffalo Grove, junior, 4 points; Nate Shockey, York, senior, 3 points; Troy D’Amico, Niles Notre Dame, junior, 2 points.
Receiving one vote: DJ Williams, Thornton, senior, 5 points; Cooper Larsen, Indian Creek, senior, 5 points; Blake McKay, Woodlawn, 5 points; RJ Ogom, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, 5 points; Beau Frericks, Cary-Grove, senior, 5 points; DaRon Hall, Glenbard East, senior, 5 points; Connor Dillon, Peoria Notre Dame, senior, 3 points; Taaj Davis, Aurora Christian, senior, 3 points; Aquan Smart, Niles North, senior, 3 points; Kaden Froebe, Lincoln, senior, 3 points; Antoine Bloxton, Bogan, senior, 3 points; Dante Maddox, Bloom, 3 points; Jaccob Dust, St. Anthony, senior, 1 point; Darius Burford, Bolingbrook, senior, 1 point; Robbie Avila, Oak Forest, senior, 1 point; Jaylin McCants, Galesburg, senior, 1 point; Ty Johnson, DePaul Prep, junior, 1 point.
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2020 Ms. Basketball of Illinois voting
69 ballots cast, first-place votes in parentheses; 5-3-1 vote value.
1. Angela Dugalic, Maine West, senior, 166 points (24)
2. Darrione Rogers, Lake Park, senior, 84 points (8)
3. Aneesah Morrow, Simeon, senior, 73 points (7)
4. Lindsey Dullard, Morton, senior, 48 points (6)
5. Taylor Gugliuzza, Lincoln-Way West, senior, 33 points (4)
6. Kylie Feuerbach, Sycamore, senior, 26 points (3)
T-7. Amber Storr, Kankakee, senior, 24 points (3)
T-7. Halle Douglass, Lake Forest, senior, 24 points (3)
9. Erin Henze, Lanark Eastland, senior, 20 points (3)
10. Anna Heffren, Lewistown, senior, 17 points (2)
Others receiving votes: Jeniah Thompson, Carterville, senior, 11 points (2); Kayla Green, Young, senior, 11 points (1); Emily Klaczek, Fremd, senior, 8 points (1); Capria Brown, Schlarman, senior, 5 points (1); Lydia Coatney, Lanark Eastland, senior, 6 points; Brooke Schramek, Benet, senior 5 points; Erin Henze, Lanark Eastland, senior, 3 points; Peyton Kennedy, Rockford Boylan, senior, 2 points; Kendall Holmes, Benet, senior, 2 points.
Previous Mr. Basketball of Illinois winners
2019: EJ Liddell, Belleville West
2018: EJ Liddell, Belleville West
2017: Mark Smith, Edwardsville
2016: Charlie Moore, Morgan Park
2015: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson
2014: Jahlil Okafor, Young
2013: Jabari Parker, Simeon
2012: Jabari Parker, Simeon
2011 (tie): Ryan Boatright, East Aurora and Chasson Randle, Rock Island
2010: Jereme Richmond, Waukegan
2009: Brandon Paul, Warren
2008: Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor
2007: Derrick Rose, Simeon
2006: Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North
2005: Julian Wright, Homewood-Flossmoor
2004: Shaun Livingston, Peoria
2003: Shannon Brown, Proviso East
2002: Dee Brown, Proviso East
2001: Eddy Curry, Thornwood
2000: Darius Miles, East St. Louis
1999: Brian Cook, Lincoln
1998: Frank Williams, Peoria Manual
1997: Sergio McClain, Peoria Manual
1996: Ronnie Fields, Farragut
1995: Kevin Garnett, Farragut
1994: Jerry Gee, St. Martin de Porres
1993: Rashard Griffith, King
1992: Chris Collins, Glenbrook North
1991: Howard Nathan, Peoria Manual
1990: Jamie Brandon, King
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1989: Deon Thomas, Simeon
1988: Eric Anderson, St. Francis de Sales
1987: Marcus Liberty, King
1986: Nick Anderson, Simeon
1985: Ed Horton, Springfield Lanphier
1984: Brian Sloan, McLeansboro
1983: Marty Simmons, Lawrenceville
1982: Bruce Douglas, Quincy
1981: Walter Downing, Providence
Previous Ms. Basketball of Illinois winners
2019: Brea Beal, Rock Island
2018: Brea Beal, Rock Island
2017: Brea Beal, Rock Island
2016: Kathleen Doyle, Benet
2015: Haley Gorecki, Fremd
2014: Tyra Buss, Mount Carmel (Ill.)
2013: Tyra Buss, Mount Carmel (Ill.)
2012: Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook
2011: Ariel Massengale, Bolingbrook
2010: Tricia Liston, Fenwick
2009: Morgan Tuck, Bolingbrook
2008: Sarah Boothe, Warren
2007: Brittany Johnson, Olney East Richland
2006: Theresa Lisch, Belleville Althoff
2005: Lindsay Schrader, Bartlett
2004: Candace Parker, Naperville Central
2003: Candace Parker, Naperville Central
2002: Candace Parker, Naperville Central
2001: Cappie Pondexter, Marshall
2000: Cappie Pondexter, Marshall
1999: Molly McDowell, Nokomis
1998: Allison Curtin, Taylorville
1997: Courtney Smith, Carlyle
1996: Tauja Catchings, Stevenson
1995: Tamika Catchings, Stevenson
1994: Michelle Hasheider, Okawville
1993: Kim Williams, Marshall
1992: Tammy Van Oppen, Bartonville Limestone
1991: Megan Lucid, Mother McAuley
1990: Courtney Porter, Hume Shiloh
1989: LaTonia Foster, Marshall
1988: Nancy Kennelly, Maine West
1987: Cindy Kaufman, Seneca
1986: Doris Carie, Teutopolis
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