Mike Shaw (6'8" PF 2011) Dunks on Simeon, Talks About Living Up to the Hype, and Talks About Visiting Illinois, With Highlights vs. Mt Carmel

Mike Shaw has been considered one of the elite prospects in America since he was a 13 year old playing on the 17u Mac Irvin Fire squad- and his good friend Wayne Blackshear (committed to Louisville) has been with him every step of the way. Now juniors in high school, Mike, a 6'8" power forward, has just led his De La Salle Meteors squad to an undefeated conference season and Chicago Catholic League title, while Wayne just completed an improbable title run of his own, as he led his Morgan Park Mustangs to a Chicago Public League title. In the first interview with Daniel Poneman, Mike talks about working on his game, silencing the critics, living up to the hype with Wayne, and gives shoutouts to his family and teammates. This video also features highlights of Mike throwing down some sweet dunks in a blowout win over highly regarded Simeon...

In the second video, Mike talks about his recent visit to the University of Illinois where he attended their upset win over #5 Michigan State with ESPN College GameDay on site. I caught up with Mike after a recent win against Mt. Carmel, led by Illinois point guard recruit Tracy Abrams. The second video also features an interview in which Mike talks all about the visit and about playing against Tracy, as well as highlights of the game. DPbball.blogspot.com ... For more info DanielPoneman@gmail.com

Marko Petrovic (Findlay Prep) Highlights and Interview with Daniel Poneman- "The Croatian Catapult"

Marko Petrovic (Findlay Prep 2010) has three point shooting in his blood. The 6'3" shooting guard was invited to come to the states from his native Croatia to ball for Findlay Prep (the top high school basketball program in America) because of his transcendent ability to knock down shots from long range. One could've reasonably inferred, however, that he may possess this extraordinary ability without even having watched him take a shot because, well, it was about time someone took over the family business. Marko's uncle- the late Drazen Petrovic- is a member of the basketball hall of fame, the father of Croatian basketball, and the one whom many point to as the individual who paved the way for the current abundance of European stars in the NBA. But don't take my word for it, take it from NBA commissioner David Stern himself: "Drazen Petrovic was an extraordinary young man, and a true pioneer in the global sports of basketball. I know that a lasting part of his athletic legacy will be that he paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in the NBA. His contributions to the sport of basketball were enormous. We are all proud of the fact we knew him." Or from Michael Jordan "It was a thrill to play against Drazen. Every time we competed, he competed with an aggressive attitude. He wasn't nervous; he came at me as hard as I came at him. So, we've had some great battles in the past and unfortunately, they were short battles." Those battles were short because Drazen tragically died in a car accident at just 28 years of age, after only four seasons in the NBA (he was the player of the year in Europe twice before coming the the states), and now Marko has returned to America to finish what uncle Drazen started. After starting the season as a little used reserve for the Pilots- a team that starts two top 20 players in the nation in the backcourt- Marko has become a starter and a key contributor for Coach Peck's squad since top 50 guard Jabari Brown left the school last month. Some of the highlights of his season include a 22 point outing, a game in which he made 6 of the 7 three pointers he took, and a 27 point, 8/11 shooting day against a very good Christian Life (TX) squad. A charismatic and confident young Croatian, Marko shows in this interview why he is the man for the job- why he the kid with the heart and desire to make the name Petrovic relevant in the basketball world once again... For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com.

Orr vs. Hyde Park- CPS Playoff Highlights- Fabyon Harris, Mycheal Henry, CJ Jones, Treyshawn Jones

Everyone high school athlete wants to win a state title; this much is obvious. For many young men in the city of Chicago, however, there is one crown that is in many ways more desirable: the Chicago Public League City Championship. Chicago is a big city, and basketball is far more than just a game from Lake Michigan to the West side- from the Evanston border to the wild 100's. At the end of the season there can only be one champion; only one team who can truly claim to be the best Chi-town has to offer, and many young Chicagoans are ready to give every once of effort they've got for the chance to make that claim. The game featured in this video, a match-up between Orr (west side) and Hyde Park (south side), was a hard fought and tightly contested game that featured no fewer than four future division one players, and they were only playing to get to the quarterfinals! Fabyon Harris vs. Mycheal Henry, Curtis Jones vs. Treyshawn Jones: a battle for the ages... Enjoy... For more info email DanielPoneman@gmail.com