Basketball: Week 1 MVPs
Stevenson junior guard Jalen Brunson has been named Daily Herald MVP for his efforts in the early stages of the high school basketball season.
Brunson helped Stevenson to a 4-0 record in tournament play at Buffalo Grove and was named tourney MVP after scoring 26 points in the Patriots’ finale against the host Bison.
Boys players of the week
Jalen Brunson, Stevenson: The Division I coaches keep pouring into high school gyms to watch the junior sensation. The point guard keeps pouring in shots. Brunson’s 26 points led the tournament-champ Patriots to a 67-44 win over the hosts in their finale at Buffalo Grove. His tourney-MVP effort included a game with Michigan State coach Tom Izzo in attendance.
Ryan DiCanio, Bartlett: This 6-foot-2 junior guard led Bartlett to a 4-0 start by averaging 21 points throughout the Wheaton Academy Thanksgiving Tournament. Named tournament MVP, DiCanio helped the Hawks secure the title with a 23-point performance against the host team.
Riley Glassmann, Fremd: The Vikings senior guard had a career-best 30 points in a season-opening win over Mather at Fenton’s tournament — but he was just getting warmed up. Glassmann finished with a team-best 14 in a victory over Fenton, had a game-high 26 against South Elgin and helped Fremd wrap up the tournament title by scoring 12 second-half points in a 57-38 win over Lake Park in the championship game.
Nate Navigato, Geneva: The 6-foot-7 junior led the Vikings to the West Chicago Thanksgiving tournament title. The all-tourney selection averaged 17.4 points on 52 percent shooting from the floor, and 7.6 rebounds. In a 68-66 loss to King, Navigato scored a career-high 27 points on 10-of-14 field goal shooting, plus 8 rebounds.
Sean O’Mara, Benet: The 6-foot-9 Xavier-bound center earned MVP honors at the Oswego/Naperville North Hoops for Healing tourney as Benet claimed four wins and the title. O’Mara averaged 21 points and 13 rebounds, including a 27-point performance against Oswego East and 15 boards against Naperville Central.