Rick Armstrong – Page 57

Yorkville's Jason Jakstys (32) shoots over West Aurora's Gabriel Gonzales during a Southwest Prairie West game in Yorkville on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

Column: Yorkville’s Jason Jakstys is signed, sealed, delivered for Illinois. Bottom line? ‘He was Big Ten tonight.’

January 26, 2024 at 5:51 p.m.

Leave it to dad to keep his son, the Big Ten recruit, grounded. Not that Yorkville's Jason Jakstys needs it. A 6-foot-10 senior forward who signed in early November with...

Marmion's Evan Stumm goes for the basket as St. Rita's James Kingsbury (24) defends during a Catholic League crossover game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

After being the sixth man, Evan Stumm takes over as Marmion’s No. 1 player. ‘He just does the right thing.’

January 24, 2024 at 10:46 a.m.

Knowing it was his turn, Marmion's Evan Stumm embraced his expanded role. The 6-foot-2 senior guard has proceeded to make the most of it. Somebody had to take a leadership...

Waubonsie Valley's Matthew Sessom, right, tries to squeeze past Naperville North's Luke Williams during a DuPage Valley Conference game in Aurora on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023.

Soft-spoken Matthew Sessom steps into spotlight as Waubonsie Valley improves to 20-0. ‘Fact is, he’s a dog.’

January 22, 2024 at 11:53 p.m.

Waubonsie Valley's Matthew Sessom can fool you. While he generally keeps a lower profile, it's wise to not overlook the 6-foot-3 senior forward. So says junior point guard Tyreek Coleman,...

Yorkville's Jason Jakstys blocks a shot by Nazareth's Talen Pearson during the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic in Elmhurst on Monday, Dec. 26, 2022.

Rick Armstrong’s Aurora-Elgin area boys basketball rankings and player of the week

January 22, 2024 at 8:41 p.m.

Oswego East, Metea Valley and Yorkville among teams moving up in the rankings. Yorkville's Jason Jakstys is the player of the week. Top 10 With records through Monday and previous...

Aurora Christian's Marshawn Cocroft (3) starts to pass after grabbing a rebound against Marian Central Catholic during a Chicagoland Christian Conference game in Aurora on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024.

Sophomore Marshawn Cocroft grows up fast as young Aurora Christian looks to ‘contend for a state championship’

January 20, 2024 at 12:32 a.m.

It may be cliché, but it applies. Marshawn Cocroft is turning into the straw that stirs the drink for Aurora Christian's young, up-and-coming basketball team. Feel free to call the...

Hinckley-Big Rock Martin Ledbetter, a junior forward averaging 18.2 points and 12.3 rebounds who has a bright future as a pitching prospect in baseball, is shown before a Little Ten Conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.

Martin Ledbetter, who’s got a 93-mph fastball, goes lights out for Hinckley-Big Rock. ‘He’s a special player.’

January 17, 2024 at 11:40 a.m.

Martin Ledbetter's game is definitely on point. Question is, which game are we talking about for the 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior from Hinckley-Big Rock? It depends upon the season. With subzero...

Yorkville's Dayvion Johnson (3) drives around West Aurora's Calvin Savage during a Southwest Prairie Conference game on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

Ready to go, cousins Dayvion and Kaevian Johnson offer up spark for rusty Yorkville. ‘Those two are big for us.’

January 16, 2024 at 7:32 a.m.

John Holakovsky's ailing, raspy voice already made communication difficult Monday when things started to go downhill fast. It left the Yorkville coach grasping to find something good for what ailed...

West Aurora's Gabriel Gonzales (24) works for position against Oswego East's Braydon Murphy (4) during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.

Rick Armstrong’s Aurora-Elgin area boys basketball rankings and player of the week

January 16, 2024 at 6:34 a.m.

Big win keeps Waubonsie Valley atop the rankings, while Oswego East and Aurora Christian move up. Oswego East's Braydon Murphy is the player of the week. Top 10 With records...

West Aurora's Mike Evans scores on a breakaway layup ahead of Joliet Central's Jaylin Murphy during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Aurora on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

Mike Evans can score. He really can. But he focuses on being West Aurora’s defensive stopper. ‘Always about team.’

January 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Meet Mike Evans, who could easily be dubbed the mayor of West Aurora's clamp city — Los Angeles Clippers reference — for what the senior guard does on defense. That's...

Plano's Isaiah Martinez (23) and Yorkville's Jason Jakstys (32) battle for the rebound during a nonconference game in Yorkville on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023.

Coming back from knee surgery, 6-10 Isaiah Martinez stands tall, and stars, for Plano. ‘It’s a process.’

January 9, 2024 at 11:42 a.m.

Plano's Isaiah Martinez is not your average tall boy. On track in late August 2022 to be one of the next big things in basketball coming out of Kendall County,...

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