Dundee-Crown, Jacobs alumni will play for McNally

All good ideas are meant to be borrowed.

Dave Schultz, a 2004 Dundee-Crown graduate, attended the Elgin-Larkin alumni basketball game in January with his grandfather.

"That was very successful with the number of people who turned out," he said. "He said I should put something together like that."

And then the light bulb went off in Schultz's head. He was looking for a way to help fellow D-C alum Greg McNally (a part of the 2008-2009 Chargers team that took fourth in the state), who is recovering from a stroke.

That way will be a Dundee-Crown-Jacobs alumni evening of basketball on May 12 at 6:30 p.m., at Dundee-Crown. The evening will feature both men's and women's games with the stars of the past from both District 300 high schools. The women's game occurs at 6:30 p.m., with the men following at 8 p.m.

All proceeds will be donated to McNally and his wife, Lily. The event is organized by the Jamie Wise and Sean Toedman Memorial Fund.

Schultz explained McNally currently is going through speech and occupational therapy and will require additional surgery for an AVM (tangle of abnormal blood vessels connecting arteries and veins in his brain).

And Schultz, a member of coach Lance Huber's first team at Dundee-Crown in 2003-2004 (that team reached a sectional final), isn't kidding when hyping the caliber of players from years gone by. The Dundee-Crown men's roster features the likes of Mike McKibben (still the school's all-time leading scorer), Jermaine Ferguson, Graper Griffin, Jeff Beck, McNally's brother, Thomas, as well as current Chargers head football coach Mike Steinhaus, to name just a few.

The Jacobs men's roster is equally loaded with Kevin and Mark Slimko participating, along with Brian Hinkle, Eric Vierneisel, Johnny and Jimmy Moran and Mark Sommerville - again to name only a few. For those wondering about the Krutwig brothers (Conrad and Cameron), they have a family commitment and will be unable to play.

"You will be seeing the best players from the last 25 years," said Schultz, who now works in medical supplies sales.

Hinkle's dad, Jim, the well-known IBCA hall of famer and former Jacobs boys head coach who also coached in the building that currently houses Dundee-Crown when it was called simply Crown High School, will coach the Jacobs men's team, while current Dundee-Crown head coach Lance Huber will coach the D-C contingent. D-C girls coaching great Joe Komaromy, also an IBCA hall of famer, will coach the Chargers' girls team. The Jacobs honorary head coach had not yet been decided as of press time. The well-known Massie officiating brothers (Scott, Steve and Chris) will be the referees that evening and Chuck Feldman, the voice of D-C basketball;, will be at his customary public address position.

"Dave wanted to do something nice for the McNally family," said Huber, who noted Schultz's grandfather lives in his neighborhood. "Dave has done all the heavy work here. It should be a very good time. I'm very excited to see all the old guys and help Greg and his family out."

Huber recalled McNally's key contributions to the 2008-2009 team's run to Peoria. "Greg was very solid his senior year when we got fourth," he said. "He probably played the second- or third-most minutes for us that season. He was a solid fundamental player who was very intelligent. He helped us be as successful as we were. We wouldn't have been able to do what we did without Greg - for sure."

Huber has been blown away by the response from alumni. "It's been a great response from people who want to play," he said. "It will be fun to get everybody back together. The Jacobs side also will create a lot of interest. Coach Hinkle will be the honorary coach. People will get to see some of the guys who made this rivalry what it is since I've been around."

Schultz is no stranger to benefit games. He ran a 3-on-3 benefit for St. Jude for six years at Lions Park in East Dundee that now has morphed into a gala event. Schultz noted 50 percent of those proceeds are earmarked to St. Jude's and the other percentage goes to the Boys and Girls Club of Dundee Township.

The cost of the McNally benefit is $5 per person at the door with kids under 2 years old free. Larger donations will be accepted. Commemorative T-shirts also will be sold and proceeds will go to the McNally family. Schultz noted there will be D-C and Jacobs versions of the shirt.

Schultz said 2004 D-C alum Duke Seward, who now owns runs a BBQ business in East Dundee out of the town's red caboose landmark, will be selling his food out of the concession stand during the game. Concession proceeds also will be earmarked to the family.

Schultz added a GoFundMe effort is under way and already has raised more than $40,000 for the family. "All the proceeds will help the family with medical bills, rehab and Greg being out of work," he said. "The response to the game so far has been good. I put it up on Facebook a week ago and there has been quite a bit of interest. It's cool seeing everybody reaching out to help."

Schultz said he will keep a keen eye on the success of the event with an eye toward possibly making this an annual occurrence that can produce benefits and assistance even wider in scope. "It could be an annual home-and-away thing. Next year it could be at Jacobs and Jacobs can pick where they want to donate the proceeds to."