08/24 – 08/25/13
sports
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Highland Park's Jacob Iden
Lake Forest's Noah Karras
New Trier's Ricky Samuelson
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Loyola's James Clarke
Carrying the torch
Weinstein shoots high, unveils big plans for Fundamental U ■ by kevin reiterman
Clarke is a consistent knock-down shooter.” The roster also included Deerfield’s Eric Porter and Stefanos Fasianos; Libertyville’s It was looking like a lost summer for New Joe Borcia; Carmel’s Jack George; Trier High School senior Ricky Samuelson. Prospect’s Bobby Frasco; and Fremd’s Riley The 6-foot-3 wing missed most of the Glassmann. summer showcase tournaments with a The two U-16 teams were loaded with severely sprained ankle. Lake Forest and Lake Forest Academy play“He was cleared to play just before our ers. The Grey squad went 4-1 in the Power (final) tournament in Las Vegas,” said Pool at Las Vegas. In bracket play, it lost a Michael Weinstein, head coach and founder Sweet Sixteen game to eventual champion of the Fundamental University basketball Houston Hoops. club. Noah Karras (6-3), who will be a junior And voilà. at LFHS, left an impression. “We threw him out there,” Weinstein “He was the shocking player of the sumsaid. “And he was just awesome. He banged mer. He played great in Vegas. He had some down his first three three-pointers. breakout games,” said Weinstein. “He’s got “He took charge,” the coach added. “He a great body for basketball. He’s got the played phenomenon basketball.” body, strength and skills to be very good.” “It was fun being back,” said Samuelson. LF’s Steven Vogrich, brother of Matt “Being out (for six weeks) was disappointVogrich who just completed his Big Ten ing. I wanted to show myself.” basketball career at Michigan, was another Samuelson wasn’t his team’s only standstarter on the Grey squad. out in the super-competitive Big Foot Las “He’s a stretch four [power forward],” Vegas Tournament on July 24-28. said Weinstein. “He can really shoot, and It was a team thing. he can play inside and outside. And his Michael Weinstein heads up the Fundamental U basketball program. Fundamental U capped off its summer by grades are off the chart. He wants to play in the Ivy League.” winning four straight playoff bracket games photography by joel lerner before losing to the NorCal Wildcats in the Jack Traynor, a backup guard for U-17 Platinum Championship Game. the Scouts this past season, played for (GBS) and Peter Silvestri (Libertyville HS) — it’s all about “We fought hard,” said Weinstein. “A lot of college coaches inspiring players and making basketball a passion by play- Fundamental U in the spring. “He’s a hard-nosed play. A leader,” said Weinstein. “He came up to me and wanted to talk about our kids.” ing the game the right way. Weinstein, former owner of Deerfield-based Joy of the “Carrying the torch” just might be the perfect motto for didn’t play in the summer for us. He worked on football. He’s a big-time football player [linebacker].” Game, Inc., who helped send more than 100 players to the Fundamental U. Last year, Weinstein formed only one competitive team next level while running the Rising Stars for 20 years, is The Grey roster also included Drew Cayce (Libertyville), in his second go-around. — and eight of those players, including Lake Forest’s Sam Will McClaughry (Lake Zurich), Kyle Beyak (Prospect), And he’s in a build-it-big mode. After creating Downey (Yale) and New Trier’s Steven Cook (Princeton), Sam Kaufman (Richmond-Burton), Jason Gregoire (CaryFundamental U in 2012, he formed three teams (U-16 will be moving on to play college basketball this winter. Grove) and Sam Kuznetsky (Deerfield). Blue, U-16 Grey and U-17) this year and plans to increase There will be no early Division I commitments from this The Blue squad, which advanced to the Final Four in the that number significantly in 2014. summer’s U-17 squad. Chicago Summer Classic on July 18-21, was led by a couple Along with Kurt Vahle and Mike Springs, Weinstein also “But all of them will be playing college basketball (at of LFA players: 6-4 Daniel Joseph and 6-2 Ryan Clamage. is set to unveil a new endeavor. The “Let’s Play Basketball” some level),” said Weinstein. “Joseph is a beast,” said Weinstein. “He really goes to Fall League will begin on Sept. 8 and be played at Trinity “My overall game has gotten better,” said Samuelson. the rim. International University in Deerfield. “And Mike does whatever he can to get you to the college “And Clamage can really score the ball,” the coach added. “It’s going to be a straight high school league, not AAU. level. I’m getting some looks.” Another bright spot was the play of Highland Park guard In addition to Samuelson, the U-17 squad featured the Jacob Iden. It’s going to be the Scouts vs. the Giants; the Warriors vs. “With Jacob, don’t judge a book by its cover,” Weinstein the Titans,” said Weinstein, referring to the nicknames of Loyola Academy guard tandem of James Clarke and Kevin said of the 5-9 guard. “He’s a great floor leader.” area high schools. “High School coaches are excited about Kucera. “I love the Loyola kids,” Weinstein said. “They’re tough it. Team captains will be in charge of their teams. It’s going The roster also included LFHS’s Matt Talbot and to be like the old days.” kids. They’re winners. Loyola is going to be real good this Tommy Trkla; LFA’s Alec Mesrobian and Dominic Rowley; With Weinstein and his staff — Kevin Bulger (Glenbrook winter. Deerfield’s Will Boshes; Warren’s CJ Payawal; Fremd’s South), Billy Douglass (Lake Forest HS), Jake Kalnitz “Kucera is a true point guard,” the coach added. “And Patrick Benka; and Stevenson’s Tom Imus. ■
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