Joy of the Game’s Academic Showcase earns high marks

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Updated: November 2, 2011 12:44AM

It’s become an international event.

The 6th annual Joy of the Game All-American Academic Showcase drew 180 student-athletes last week from 17 different states. It also brought in one player from Ireland and one from Japan.

This Deerfield event also attracted 100 coaches.

“A great success,” said Scott Shniderman, a Deerfield High School graduate (1993) who is Joy of the Game’s new directior of marketing and sponsorships. “It’s a unique opportunity for coaches to see a bunch of good students at one time in one location. A lot of these guys will be good fits for (collegiate) programs. There are not a lot of these (showcases) out there.”

A lot of players from the Pioneer Press Lake Shore area took advantage of the oportunity. Among the local players participating included Elliott Feeny (Vernon Hills), John Hayes (Lake Bluff/Lake Forest HS), Brad Kruse (Hawthorn Woods/Lake Zurich HS), Brandon Motzel (Buffalo Grove/Carmel), Jack Norcia (Highland Park), Griffin Pils (Libertyville), Ryan Roach (Lake Zurich) and Johnny Vernasco (Libertyville).

“The average ACT score was 27,” said Shniderman, who formerly worked for NBA advertising in New York.

One of the top scorers in the showcase was Waukegan’s Akeem Springs (17.6) and Lakes’ Jay-Jay Elvir (13.0). Springs earned first-team all-tournament honors. Elvir was a fourth-team selection.

The other North Suburban Conference player recognized for his play was Warren senior-to-be Jonathon Geske. He made the third team.

Rising Stars 16s

Four area players — Carter Bass (Lake Forest), Stephen Curry (Mundelein/Vernon Hills HS), Robert Knar (Mundelein) and Sean O’Brien (Mundelein) — led the Rising Stars to a runner-up finish in the prestigious NY2LA Invitational in Milwaukee earlier this month.

The team, which is coached by Mundelein High School assistant Corey Knigge, is all set to play in AAU Nike Showcase in Orlando this weekend. The Rising Stars also will compete in the AAU National Tournament on July 24-30 in Orlando.

The other roster members are Sean Benka (Palatine), Kurt Karis (Glenbrook North), Jason Markus (GBN), Andrew McCauliffe (GBN), Quinten Payne (St. Charles) and Brad Zaumseil (Barrington).

Rising Stars 15s

Brad Kruse, who usually plays on the Rising Stars Gold team, came out firing in the Division I AAU National Tournament, which was held earlier this month in Little Rock, Ark.

Kruse, 5-foot-11 guard who will be a sophomore at Lake Zurich High School, scored 27 points on seven three-pointers in an opening-game win over the Arkansas Wings.

The Rising Stars Blue, which are coached by Mike Springs, wound up finishing in the top 16. They just missed a shot at a trophy (top 12) when they fell to Team Oklahoma 61-55.

The 5-foot-11 Kruse, who lives in Hawthorn Woods, teamed up with John Vernasco (Libertyville), Nate Williams (Mundelein), Marcus Johnson (Evanston), Carl Singletary (Evanston), Frank Toohey (Elmhurst) and Chris Moragne (Zion).

Vernasco (6-4), who will be sophomore Libertyville HS, had a “monster of a tournament” according to his coach.

“He’s a football player. So he’s not afraid of contact,” said Springs. “Usually, he plays the five. But we had him out on the wing a lot.”

Williams gave the team plenty of spark.

“He’s tough,” Springs said. “He came off the bench and did a little of everything for us. He’s a 5-8 point guard who rebounds like a 6-4 kid.”

The 15s Gold squad is on its way to Orlando. The team will play in the AAU Nike Showcase on July 20-24. The Division II AAU National Tournamen