Boys basketball High School Top 25 team preview: No. 5 Althoff Catholic

Video: Althoff Catholic photo shoot
Crusaders hope to defend school's first basketball state title.



Head coach: Greg Leib (377-258 career record, 22nd year as head coach)

2015-16 record: 32-2, Class 3A state champions, No. 20 national ranking

State Association: Illinois High School Association

Enrollment: 564 (9-12)

Jordan Goodwin might just be the most underappreciated high school basketball player in the country.

Sure, he's regarded as a Top 50 prospect by 247Sports (No. 48 to be exact). But not many of Goodwin's peers in the Class of 2017 have the all-around athletic resume he does.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound guard has led Althoff Catholic to a 62-6 record over the past two seasons, including the school's first-ever state title in 2015-16.

Goodwin averaged 18.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game last season – earning first team MaxPreps Junior All-American honors. He put up similar per-game averages on the ultra-competitive Nike EYBL circuit for the St. Louis Eagles.

Yet he's probably a longshot to play in the McDonald's All-American Game (a shame) and he's not headed to a college basketball blue blood like Duke, Kentucky or North Carolina.

Goodwin will be staying close to home to play for Travis Ford's Saint Louis Billikens despite offers from the likes of Michigan State, Ohio State and Texas.

That's fitting because Goodwin has always done things a little differently than other elite basketball prospects.

One-sport specialization is almost universal for Top 100-caliber high school players. But Goodwin has remained devoted to the Althoff Catholic football program even after emerging as a big time hoops recruit.

The Crusaders were knocked out of the Illinois Class 4A state tournament last weekend, but finished the 2016 season with an 11-1 record. They went 13-1 and reached the state championship game in 2015 with help from the future Billiken baller.

Gallery: Althoff Catholic preseason photo shoot

Playing tight end and wide receiver, Goodwin finished the season with 42 receptions for 713 yards and eight touchdowns.

MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

Marvin Bateman (6-5, Sr., G/F) … One of five double figures scorers last year

Edwyn Brown (6-6, Sr., G/F) … Another two-sport star at Althoff

C.J. Coldon (6-1, Sr., G) … Over 2,200 yards, 24 TDs as wide receiver past two seasons

Ryder Goodwin (5-8, Sr., G) … Returning guard, no relation to Jordan

Dante Ray (6-4, Sr., F) … Had 22 points in last year's season opener

KEY DATES

Nov. 26 – vs. Edwardsville (Ill.) @ Battling Bulldogs Thanksgiving Tournament

Dec. 3 – vs. Curie (Chicago) @ Marshall County Hoopfest

Dec. 28-30 – Prairie Farms Holiday Classic

Jan. 7 – vs. East St. Louis (Ill.) @ Highland Classic

Jan. 17-21 – Belleville Chick-fil-A Classic

Feb. 21 – vs. Christian Brothers (St. Louis, Mo.)