The Shoot Around: Deerfield’s Alfieri bursts onto the scene

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Deerfield's Michael Alfieri puts up a shot against Niles North in last week's action. | Brian O'Mahoney~for Sun-Times Media

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Updated: January 24, 2012 12:23AM

Mack Watts is the dependable player in the Deerfield High School lineup.

He’s a guy that coach JJ Pearl can count on.

He’s the veteran — part of last year’s starting five which advanced to the Barrington Sectional.

Watts’ skill-set is solid. Good shooter, good rebounder, good defender and good passer.

He also is unflappable. This senior guard just goes about his business on the court. He keeps his focus.

The intriguing guy on this Warriors team is the sophomore: 6-foot-3 Michael Alfieri.

Down the road, Alfieri could turn into a Ferrari.

Right now, he’s making a strong bid for the Pioneer Press All-Lake Shore All-Rookie Team.

In last Friday’s 66-48 home loss to Niles North, Alfieri used a variety of inside moves to score eight on his team’s first 10 points. Plagued by foul trouble, he settled for 14 points to go along with seven rebounds.

The long-haired Alfieri, who moved in from California prior to his freshman year, can play the whole court. He’s got plenty of upside.

“He’s got a ways to go, but he’ll get there,” said Pearl, in his first season as head coach of the Warriors. “He’s still a work in progress.”

He’s got the right attitude.

“He’s get upset when he doesn’t play well,” Pearl said. “He’s a good kid. Hard-nosed.”

He’s been trained well.

“He’s got some very creative moves,” the coach said. “Sometimes, a little too creative. He needs to just go up strong and score.”

He’s got an expanded game.

“He can score with his back to the basket. He can hit in the 15-footer. And he can take his man and score off the dribble,” said Pearl.

He’s a player that the Warriors can build around.

“He’s got the ability to take over a game. He just needs to be more consistent.”

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What about Dillon Wallace?

The Deerfield junior, who was moved up to the varsity last year as a sophomore, decided not to come out.

The athletic Wallace, who would have seen action at point guard, is concentrating on baseball.

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Niles North appears to have hit its stride. Junior guard Malachi Nix, who scored 21 points, just might be the best 5-foot-6 player in the state.

And, what about these resurgent Vikings? What about their offensive firepower?

Pearl, a former player at Niles North, recalls the “old” Vikings.

“We never used to play like that,” he said. “We sat in a 2-3 zone and scored in the 40s.”

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Posted on Jan. 9

— Libertyville’s Matthews is on a hot streak —

It was a father talking to a son.

Or, in this case, a modern-day basketball standout talking to a legendary one.

Prior to the Wildcat Hardwood Holiday Classic, Libertyville senior Ellis Matthews told his dad that he wanted to be perfect at the free-throw line in the four-game set at Wheeling high School.

No doubt, Sean Matthews, an all-stater for Libertyville in 1981 and a nominee for Mr. Basketball in Illinois, liked what he heard.

Mr. Matthews had to like what he saw even more.

His son, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard for the Wildcats, stepped to the foul line 19 times at Wheeling. And he made all 19.

On Friday night, in a 76-65 loss to visiting Mundelein, he went to line and hit eight more without a miss.

Now, we’re counting.

After you add the two he made in the fourth quarter of the Libertyville-Forman game on Dec. 17, Matthews is on a 29-for-29 string. Which is 17th best all-time in the state of Illinois.

Talk about being in good company. He has passed former Glenbrook North star and Duke standout Jon Scheyer, who made 28 straight in 2004 (Feb. 4-17).

But not so fast. Scheyer was Mr. Sensational at the line. He also owns four other consecutive streaks, including 47 in a row in 2003.

The best streak among Lake County players? That belongs to Lake Forest’s Rob Pelika. who later went on to play at Michigan and become a sports agent (Kobe Bryant is one of his clients). He made 46 straight in 1988.

The all-time leader is Glenbrook South’s Brad Niemann, who made 76 consecutive in 1987.

Matthews will try to extend his streak this Friday, when the Wildcats head to Warren.

“Now don’t jinx him,” his dad said.

** Update: Ellis Matthews’s free-throw streak ended at 29. He went 0-for-1 in loss to Warren on Jan. 13

•••

He’s become one of my favorite players to watch.

I’ve seen three Libertyville games this winter. And I’ve come to this conclusion.

Griffin Pils, the Wildcats’ curly-haired senior point guard, is the ultimate sandbagger.

And I say that in a good way.

In Friday’s loss to Mundelein, Pils waited until the second quarter to tally 24 of his game-high 26 points.

That’s prettty much is what he does.

In the third-place game at the Wheeling Tournament, Pils — a threat from three land and off the dribble drive — put together a delirious fourth quarter, scoring 16 of his 23 points.

And, in a Dec. 16 overtime loss to Stevenson on Dec. 16, the unflappable Pils came up with a 12-point fourth quarter and a 10-point outburst in a four-minute overtime.

•••

And how about that Dan Ryan?

The Libertyville senior, a 5-foot-7, 135-pound guard, gets my vote for Mr. Spirit.

No one gives out more high-fives to teammates than this guy. He’s bright, sunny and bounces around like the happiest guy in the world. He’s almost too good to be true.

He’s a throwback. Just not sure how far back.

To his credit, Libertyville coach Scott Bogumil goes to him at some point in the game. Ryan can give his team a quick adrenaline rush.