Collinsville senior places 4th in Illinois’ Mr. Basketball voting
Chalk up another elite recognition for Collinsville senior guard Ray’Sean Taylor.
A first team Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 4A all-state selection, the 6-1 Taylor has placed fourth in the voting for the 2020 Illinois Mr. Basketball award.
Both Illinois Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball were released by the Chicago Tribune on Friday.
Morgan Park senior and University of Illinois recruit Adam Miller was voted as Illinois Mr. Basketball. The 6-4 guard collected 21 first place votes and 142 points in all as he edged Duke recruit and Whitney Young star DJ Steward for the honor.
Steward finished with 140 points and 19 first place votes. Max Christie of Rolling Meadows, the No. 1 ranked junior in the state, placed third with 37 points, followed by Taylor with 30. Both Christie and Taylor finished with three first place votes.
Headed to SIU-Edwardsville, Taylor was a four-year standout for the Kahoks and earlier this season became Collinsville’s all-time leading scorer.
This season, Taylor averaged 23.6 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.8 steals per game for Collinsville, which was ranked among the top 5 Class 4A teams all season. The Southwestern Conference champions, Collinsville (31-3) had its season end prior to the sectional final by the coronavirus pandemic.
Current Ohio State University freshman and former Belleville West great EJ Liddell won back-to-back Illinois Mr. Basketball awards in 2018 and 2019, while former Edwardsville standout and current University of Missouri guard Mark Smith was Illinois’ Mr. Basketball in 2017.
Darius Miles of East St. Louis, who went from high school to the NBA, won Mr. Basketball in 2000.
Angela Dugalic of Maine West was named as Illinois’ Miss Basketball.
Past Illinois Mr. Basketball Winners
2019 — EJ Liddell, Belleville West
2018 — EJ Liddell, Belleville West
2017 — Mark Smith, Edwardsville
2016 — Charlie Moore, Morgan Park
2015 — Jalen Brunson, Lincolnshire Stevenson
2014 — Jahlil Okafor, Whitney Young
2013 — Jabari Parker, Simeon
2012 — Jabari Parker, Simeon
2011 — Ryan Boatright, East Aurora; Chasson Randle, Rock Island
2010 — Jereme Richmond, Waukegan
2009 — Brandon Paul, Gurnee-Warren
2008 — Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor
2007 — Derrick Rose, Simeon
2006 — Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North
2005 — Julian Wright, Homewood Flossmoore
2004 — Shaun Livingston, Peoria Central
2003 — Shannon Brown, Proviso East
2002 — Dee Brown, Proviso East
2001 — Eddy Curry, Thornwood
2000 — Darius Miles, East St. Louis
1999 — Brian Cook, Lincoln
1998 — Frank Williams, Peoria Manual
1997 — Sergio McClain, Peoria Manual
1996 — Ronnie Fields, Farragut
1995 — Kevin Garnett, Farragut
1994 — Jarrod Gee, St. Martin de Porres
1993 — Rashard Griffith, Chicago King
1992 — Chris Collins, Glenbrook North
1991 — Howard Nathan, Peoria Manual
1990 — Jamie Brandon, Chicago King
1989 — Deon Thomas, Simeon
1988 — Eric Anderson, St. Francis de Sales
1987 — Marcus Liberty, King
1986 — Nick Anderson, Simeon
1985 — Ed Horton, Springfield Lanphier
1984 — Brian Sloan, McLeansboro
1983 — Marty Simmons, Lawrenceville
1982 — Bruce Douglas, Quincy
1981 — Walter Downing, Providence
