Bolingbrook opens season at No. 1 behind dependable, talented duo of Davion Thompson, JT Pettigrew
Davion Thompson was a junior high basketball sensation, winning two state titles at Brooks Middle School in Bolingbrook.
The smooth, high-scoring, 6-2 guard had his choice of high schools and prep schools to attend nationwide. But the local high school, which has never won a state title, looked like a perfect fit.
“My dad and I discussed the decision a lot,” Thompson said. “We went to a lot of Bolingbrook games, and we liked the way [coach Rob Brost] gives the players freedom. My dad wanted me to play free, and I wanted that, too. They played fast.”
Brost took over at Bolingbrook in 2007 and turned a football school into a consistent basketball contender. The Raiders are a fixture in the Super 25 and have finished third in Class 4A twice and fourth once.
“We have had really talented players, so that helps,” Brost said. “But to get everything out of them, you have to play in a fun way. We don’t run a ton of sets. We don’t run a lot of plays. We run actions flowing from transition. We want to be in transition 80% of the time. It helps prepare our kids for the next level. It’s a fun style to play, and it helps our kids have fun while they are here.”
Thompson surpassed the major expectations put on him as a freshman last season, averaging 19 points and shooting 45% from three. He teamed with 6-7 JT Pettigrew to lead the Raiders to a 27-5 record.
There isn’t a super team loaded with Division I recruits in the area this season. The preseason No. 1 ranking could have gone to multiple teams, but Thompson and Pettigrew form the most consistent combo in the area and are the reason the Raiders begin the season as the No. 1 team in the Sun-Times’ preseason Super 25.
“I learned a lot last season,” Thompson said. “Especially from the last game losing to Downers Grove North. I have to be a better leader. This year I’ll be more vocal. I was too quiet, and we came up short.”
Pettigrew, a Valparaiso recruit, averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks last season. He played well against some of the best players in the country this summer at the Peach Jam.
“That gave me a lot of confidence,” Pettigrew said. “It showed me I can hang with anyone.”
Brost’s son, Trey, is the team’s confident point guard. Freshman Brady Pettigrew, JT’s brother, should provide an offensive spark. Romeoville transfers Kendall Cutler and Jayden Madden are major additions.
“Jayden is a rim protector that can really block shots,” Brost said. “Being 6-9 is a huge factor. Once he adjusts to how fast we play and the speed the game is gonna go, the sky is the limit for him.”
Expect several teams to occupy the No. 1 spot this season. The best players in the state are all sophomores, which might lead to a tumultuous year. Earning the preseason top ranking is a feather in the cap for Brost and shows he has turned Bolingbrook into a consistent winner and a team young players stay at home to play for.
“It’s been great for our city and school and obviously refreshing for me to watch the growth of the program and the growth of our players,” Brost said. “We are producing quality young men year in and year out that just happen to be quality basketball players. That’s the main thing. And we like to keep the main thing the main thing.”
The full preseason Super 25 high school basketball rankings will be revealed tomorrow on the No Shot Clock podcast, online on Thursday and in the print newspaper on Friday.