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Mundelein’s Trey Baker is making an impact on and off the court.
The senior guard is a 3-point-shooting specialist who was a key factor in the Mustangs’ record-breaking 2019-20 season. Baker also recently was named the president of the Mundelein Black Student Union and is the director of the Mundelein My Brother’s Keeper Community, which has accepted the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge from the Obama Foundation.
Baker said he plans to find a college where he can be a valuable contributor on the court and become a leader in his community.
“I’m really happy with the progress that we’re making in our community and empowering all walks of life,” Baker said. “We’re working with social and emotional problems, starting with the root of the problem. I’m also helping with the school supply drive and the food supply drive.
“For me, it’s all about my 40-year plan in life. Basketball has taken me a lot of places, but I’m all about public service and want to continue that in college. I’m passionate about all the work I’m doing on and off the court and with all the different issues. It keeps me going.”
With senior point guard Conor Enright committed to Drake and senior center Scottie Ebube committed to Southern Illinois, Baker intends to follow in the footsteps of his longtime friends.
Baker has received interest from Columbia, Holy Cross, Johns Hopkins, Maryville and the University of San Diego.
“I’ve heard from a variety of coaches from different divisions,” Baker said. “For me, I want to go to a top-notch university with great academics, where I can thrive and I can play and have an impact right away, and that fits my 40-year plan.”
Baker’s first name is an easy conversation starter for some coaches recruiting him. He hit 12 3-pointers to finish with 42 points in an 82-38 win over Wheeling in a Class 4A Fremd Regional semifinal in early March.
Baker said his father, Maurice, played semipro basketball and helped build his love for the game. But his father didn’t name him Trey for basketball reasons.
“I was named Trey because I was the third child,” Baker said, laughing. “Yes, I’ve been told my name kind of matches my game.”
The 5-foot-10 Baker admitted his height motivates him to prove people wrong. He’s a big fan of NBA guard Isaiah Thomas and points to the 5-9 Thomas’ success. Because of his height, Baker most likely will play point guard in college. But he often plays off the ball for the Mustangs while Enright handles much of the point guard role.
“It hasn’t affected me much because me and Conor switch out, and I have a good balance playing both AAU and high school,” Baker said.
Warren softball news: Warren’s softball team hasn’t played an official game since losing 4-1 to Libertyville in a Class 4A Palatine Sectional semifinal on May 29, 2019, but the program has good news off the field.
Senior infielder Brooke Mangler has committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater, and senior outfielder Bianca Gallegos has committed to Rock Valley College.
“I’m super happy for both of them,” Warren coach Jenna Charbonneau said. “I coached Brooke the year before, and Bianca was mostly on junior varsity in 2019. The two girls gave relentless effort and made the best out of the situation.”
Tidbits: In another round of bad news for the class of 2021, the NCAA extended its recruiting dead period through Jan. 1, which means there will continue to be no in-person recruiting during the coronavirus pandemic. … In girls basketball, Libertyville sophomore guard Emily Fisher added an offer from Nebraska on Monday.
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Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.