PREP ZONE: D’Amico looks to shine again in Fla.

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Only a couple days before departing for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game, Geneva basketball standout Jeremy D’Amico was unsure who his coach would be, let alone his teammates.

“It’ll be some good guys,” D’Amico said.

Pardon the recent Geneva grad for failing to keep up with the ins-and-outs of the prestigious IBCA game. D’Amico has had more pressing matters on his mind lately – like where he’s going to be attending college in two months.

Surely one of the latest deciders in the class of 2009, D’Amico is still finalizing his choice from two Division II options in Florida.

“I guess the process takes a long time,” said D’Amico, who has a grandfather who lives in Florida.

“You’re going to go to the college for four years so you have to pick the one that you like the most.”
D’Amico has zeroed in on Eckerd College and Rollins College, both members of the Sunshine State Conference. Eckerd, located in St. Petersburg, is a strong possibility; D’Amico is hoping to wrap up his decision in the next week.

“He likes Florida and also the ability to be able to play at the Division II level in that conference,” said Mark D’Amico, Jeremy’s father. “It’s going to be a great experience. The school that he liked, Eckerd, was right on the gulf, a beautiful campus. He really liked the coach and he liked the players. He just had a really good visit. He felt comfortable down there.”

A First-Team Chronicle All-Area selection, the 6-foot-5 D’Amico averaged 20.6 points and 7.5 rebounds a game in leading the Vikings to a share of the Western Sun Conference championship.

Mark D’Amico was a part of the team’s success, too, having served as an assistant coach during Phil Ralston’s first year at Geneva. Mark D’Amico, who had a decorated coaching career at Lisle, is not planning on a return.

“I really enjoyed it but I don’t have any intentions of going back right now,” Mark D’Amico said. “... Working with Phil was a really good experience and I’m glad I was able to help out but I’ve got two [kids] in college now and another one is going to be in eighth grade. I’m to the point where I just want to go and watch games and not have to coach.”

As for this weekend, Jeremy better bring his A-game. Illinois recruit Brandon Paul, Iowa recruit Cully Payne and Illinois State recruits Zeke Upshaw and Terry Johnson are among the 3A/4A North All-Star team members expected to team with D’Amico in Saturday’s IBCA game at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

It’ll be D’Amico’s last high school contest before seeing how his game translates to college ball. It’s been a marathon recruiting process for D’Amico, but one that he is happy is leading south.

“There’s nothing wrong with going to Florida,” D’Amico said.

Next up: With new boys basketball coach Brian Johnson hired, Kaneland athletic director Leigh Jaffke is turning her attention to the other coaching position Dennis Hansen vacated: softball.

Ken Neahring became Kaneland’s interim softball coach when Hansen was suspended mid-season. After the season, he told the Chronicle he had not ruled out pursuing the position full-time.

Kaneland has an additional varsity coaching slot to fill in girls track, Jaffke said.

• Jay Schwab is sports editor of The Chronicle. He can be reached at 630-845-5382 or jschwab@kcchronicle.com.