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Chicago Tribune
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Stevenson guard Donny Williams' time has come. With a big game, he begins to ‘push my name out there.'
Although Donny Williams started for North Suburban Conference co-champion Stevenson last season, he remained under the radar. That's no longer the case for the 6-foot guard. 'I realized last year that I wasn't in the spotlight as much, and I was patient in seeing my teammates shine and knowing that I was helping the team win,' Williams said. 'Now my role is definitely changing.' Williams and guard Rocco Pagliocca, who will be seniors, are the only mainstays returning for the Patriots (22-11, 11-3). Williams believes he's ready for that spotlight. 'Having to carry more of the load is something I'm comfortable with,' he said. 'I'll have to be way more versatile with a lot more decision-making. All for the good of the team. I love it so far.' Indeed, Williams has taken to the role quite well this summer. At Riverside-Brookfield on Friday, he scored 30 points in Stevenson's 51-49 loss to DePaul Prep, which has won three straight state titles in Class 2A and 3A. 'I hit two early threes, and I saw that I could get a lot of good shots,' Williams said. 'I started to feel it, and I was able to adapt to the defense.' That's important for Williams, who has the ball in his hands more than he did last season, when then-senior guard Aidan Bardic initiated a lot of the offense. 'I've always played the point on my other teams, so having the ball in my hands a lot is something I'm used to,' Williams said. 'I can bring those tools to my school team, and I'm already learning a lot.' Williams, who hit a team-high 47 3-pointers and averaged 11.4 points last season, has already showed that he could do more at times. He put up 25 points against York during Palatine's Ed Molitor Thanksgiving Classic and scored 20 points in a conference game against eventual 4A state runner-up Warren. The Patriots won both. Williams was also third on the team with 57 assists. 'He's been pretty consistent, and it's been nice to see his game expand,' Stevenson coach Will Benson said. 'He's gotten really good at shooting off the dribble all the way out to the 3-point line, and he's crafty in getting to the rim. 'There are only so many possessions in a game and so many shots to go around, and it was tough at times last year to find him a lot of shots. I don't think that will be a problem this year.' Benson is also quick to point out how well Williams has defended this summer. Williams attributes improvements in that aspect of his game to weight training. 'I've always relied on my quickness on defense, and I'm blessed with pretty good length in my arms,' he said. 'With being stronger, I've learned how to keep my stance and be strong in helping body with the guys I'm guarding.' Williams and Pagliocca will be difficult to guard as one of the best backcourt duos in the area. 'He's someone I love playing with, and he's been able to show all of the things he can do,' Pagliocca said. 'You can see his confidence growing, and it's cool to see the big steps he's already taken. He's going to be very big for us.' Williams is suddenly getting the attention of college coaches too. He heard from several NCAA Division III teams after his 30-point game, and that process could pick up steam when the Patriots play in an event in Rockford this weekend and then when Williams plays AAU basketball in July. 'I'd very much like to play in college, and it's been good to be able to push my name out there,' he said. 'I'm looking forward to seeing how we progress as a team.' Williams knows he has a key part to play in that. 'It was so important how the older guys mentored me,' he said, 'and now it's important for me to do the same for younger players.'
Chicago Tribune
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Marshawn Cocroft always rises to the occasion for Kaneland. It's what he does best. ‘Just got the same confidence.'
Before junior point guard Marshawn Cocroft arrived on the scene, Kaneland already had all the makings of a very successful boys basketball team. The puzzle was indeed there. The Aurora Christian transfer, though, became the missing piece as the Knights made history. 'It's probably my favorite season ever playing high school basketball,' Cocroft said. 'We had a great season, 32 wins, getting to a supersectional. We hadn't done that in over 40 years. 'Even though we didn't get the goal we wanted, we still had a great season. We have to keep our heads up and get ready for next year.' Next year begins right away as Kaneland's magical run came to an end Monday night with a 68-28 loss to DePaul Prep in the Class 3A Hoffman Estates Supersectional at NOW Arena. Senior forward Freddy Hassan paced the Knights (32-2), who had their 31-game winning streak snapped, with 12 points. Cocroft and sophomore forward Jeffrey Hassan added six points apiece. Rykan Woo led all scorers with 14 points for DePaul Prep (31-4). AJ Chambers and Makai Kvamme each had 10. Hassan grew up with Cocroft, so he knew the player the Knights were getting — and that Cocroft was just what the doctor ordered. 'Coming into the season, we knew we needed a point guard that can step up and lead us, not only on the court but off the court,' Hassan said. 'He brings our confidence up when we're losing.' Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe had observed how much of an impact player Cocroft was at Aurora Christian. As Cocroft's first season in the program went on, Colombe gained an even better appreciation. 'He's done a great job,' Colombe said of Cocroft. 'He came in, and one of the things he's really helped us with, whether we're up 10 or down 10, he looks the same. He's just got the same confidence. I think he helps the other kids build that confidence. 'You look out there when he's on the court, you feel like you have a shot to come back and win. I think he's really helped guys to understand to play a little more even-keeled.' DePaul Prep jumped on Kaneland in the early going Monday, however, and the Knights were unable to recover. The Rams roared to a 26-3 lead in the second quarter and never looked back. 'We've been working hard all year, and sometimes you run into a team that's really, really good and you tip your hat,' Colombe said. 'They hit shot after shot. They didn't miss much. We haven't had a team shoot like that. 'I think it was a combination. We were pressing a little bit. We took some tough shots early. A lot of that is their defense is really, really good. Then they were on fire, so it kind of snowballed early.' DePaul Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt confirmed that his team's defensive attention centered on limiting Cocroft and Freddy Hassan. 'They're excellent players,' Kleinschmidt said. 'We wanted to make sure we focused on them. We know we're a good defensive team, but if you play those two one-on-one, they cause problems.' Cocroft explained what made it so difficult to find open shots against the Rams. 'They're always in help,' Cocroft said. 'When we had the ball, there was always a defender on the help side keying in on our best players. They were more physical than us. I just feel like they were really ready for us. They had physicality. 'We just didn't match up to it.' The accomplishments Kaneland achieved this season can't be minimized regardless of the final outcome, though. The program's first sectional title since 1982, a program-record 32 wins, plus the 31-game win streak, should be the springboard to future success. 'We're really proud of these guys and the season they've had and how hard they've worked,' Colombe said. 'That's not going to go away because of (Monday).'
