Von Steuben players unwind from tough senior season with some fun
By Karl Bullock After a disappointing end to their senior season at Von Steuben, members of the boys basketball team participated in the Illinois High School Association’s 3-point shooting contest at Whitney Young Magnet High School on Chicago’s near West Side. For Tyrus Jenkins, Rafael Cruz and Justan McNair-Sneed, the contest was a chance to have […]
Von Steuben seniors enter great unknown after prep careers end
By Karl Bullock With looks of dejection on their faces, members of the Von Steuben boys’ basketball team shook hands, grabbed their gym bags, and walked quietly off the court and into the visiting locker room. Their goals before the season had been lofty: a conference title, a playoff berth and ultimately to compete for […]
Heads held high: Von Steuben exits season with optimism
By Karl Bullock It’s past 8:30 p.m. at Whitney Young Magnet High School during the first matchup of the IHSA regional playoff matchup between Von Steuben and Riverside Brookfield. With less than a minute left in the fourth quarter, players and coaches on both benches show a stark contrast in body language despite a mere […]
Von Steuben player finds motivation from tragedy
By Karl Bullock After failing to muster the required layups in a practice drill, Von Steuben players head to the sideline to face the consequences: sideline sprints. “Were you hustling?” Donovan Maxey asks freshman guard Chijioke Nwosu. With a look of frustration on his face, they begin to run back and forth. Before Nwosu can […]
The path least taken
By Karl Bullock As a scrawny 15-year-old freshman in 2013, Rafael Cruz Jr. sauntered up to Von Steuben basketball coach Marvin Williams with confidence. “I told him I was going to play varsity, and he just laughed at me,” Cruz said as he stretched his arms out on his living room couch with a slight […]
Athletic trainers play vital role in high school sports
By Karl Bullock Walking along the campus of New Trier High School in 2000, Dale Grooms looked in awe at the scenery. Standing a foot from the sideline of the football field were four trees, a potential hazard for student-athletes during competition. A cause for concern, at least for an athletic trainer. When an injury […]
Order on the court: Referees remain calm in a crowd of noise
By Karl Bullock They walked out of the Von Steuben gym on Friday night, already an afterthought in the minds of spectators. Ken Vasser is just fine with that. On this night, audacious shouts of disagreement travel through the air directed at the black-and-white striped jerseys of Vasser and his fellow official as they dealt […]
Depth Issues lead to Von Steuben’s slide
By Karl Bullock It’s starting to become heartbreaking. The Von Steuben boys’ basketball team lost to Farragut Academy 63-57 on Saturday night. Early turnovers and poor shot selection put the Panthers down early before their aggressive defense allowed them to claw their way back into the game. “We’re not the type of team that can […]
