MSL Basketball: Boys All-Conference Teams from 1963-64 to 1978-79
The MSL All-Conference Project
Presenting the All-MSL boys basketball teams from the league’s first season of 1963-64 through the 1978-79 season as part of the MSL All-Conference Project. This was a time of transition for the new league, especially in the early years, with schools joining, departing and opening through Barrington’s arrival in the 1977-78 school year.
An asterisk * denotes the player was a Paddock/Daily Herald All-Area selection. The selection of these teams has changed through the years in terms of numbers of players and coverage areas. There are instances where a player did not make all-conference but made all-area and those players are listed in that category. There were also some years where an honorable mention group was listed. I have also added some notes.
One note about the selection of all-conference teams is coaches had/have different approaches where some might nominate only seniors for the honor. We are not saying there is any perfect or “right/wrong” method but it is the case in various sports.
Information is from Paddock Publications/Daily Herald and the Chicago Tribune. If you have any questions, corrections or suggestions please contact Marty Maciaszek at marty.maciaszek@gmail.com.
1963-64
DEERFIELD - Jim Busse (Sr., F, 6-2), Neal Hirsch (Sr.)
FOREST VIEW - Joe Mueller (Sr., F, 6-1), Darrell Fenton (Sr., F, 6-3)
GLENBROOK NORTH - Jim Holder (Jr., F, 6-4)
GLENBROOK SOUTH - Chuck Stewart (Jr., F, 6-4)
MAINE WEST - Joe Wehlacz (Sr., C, 6-9), JIm Smith (Jr., F, 6-6)
PROSPECT - *Ron Moehling (Sr., F, 6-1), *Dave White (Sr., G, 5-10)
1964-65
DEERFIELD - Dick McDermott (Jr., G, 6-0)
FOREST VIEW - *Pat Dunnigan (Jr., F, 6-3), Steve Jacobsen (Sr., F, 6-5)
GLENBROOK SOUTH - Mike Reeves (Jr., C, 6-5), Chuck Stewart (Sr., F, 6-4)
MAINE WEST - Stoney Jackson (Sr., G, 6-2), Jim Smith (Sr., F, 6-6)
NILES NORTH - Roger Thomas (Sr., G, 5-11)
PROSPECT - Jim LaRocco (Sr., G., 6-0), *Bill Phillips (Sr., G, 5-11)
HONORABLE MENTION - Jim Baumgardt (Forest View), Paul Brubaker (Glenbrook North), Brian Erler (Glenbrook North), Tom Fuzzey (Deerfield), Don Kinder (Maine West), Mark Newman (Wheeling)
NOTES
- Maine West’s Jim Smith had a Hall of Fame career at Northern Illinois University and was drafted in the 9th round of the 1969 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith is a member of the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) Hall of Fame. He was also an all-MSL pitcher in 1965.
- Wheeling’s Mark Newman was a successful college baseball coach as an assistant at Southern Illinois and head coach at Old Dominion. He was a major part of building the Yankees’ dynasty in the 1990s as a front office executive from 1989-2014. Newman passed away in 2020.
1965-66
CONANT - John Glasshof (Sr., G, 5-11)
FOREST VIEW - *Pat Dunnigan (Sr., F, 6-2), Jim Baumgardt (Sr., C,. 6-5)
MAINE WEST - Ken Mueller (Sr., G, 5-9)
PALATINE - Jerry McCormick (Sr., F, 6-1), Dave Willy (Sr., C, 6-3)
PROSPECT - *Tom Lundstedt (Jr., C, 6-4), Dan Agard (Sr., G, 6-1), Tony Kulasa (Sr., G, 5-11)
SPECIAL MENTION - Scott Bischoff (Wheeling), Jim Buckholz (Forest View), Byron Bogardt (Forest View), Paul Kozlicki (Palatine), Larry Powell (Conant)
NOTES
- Prospect’s Tom Lundstedt played Major League Baseball as a catcher with the Cubs and Twins. Lundstedt, who also played baseball and basketball at the University of Michigan, is a member of the IBCA Hall of Fame.
- Prospect was the first team to have three all-MSL selections in one season.
1966-67
ARLINGTON - *Steve Allen (Sr., G, 6-3), Terry Townley (Sr., G, 5-11), Dave Lockwood (Sr., F, 6-1)
FOREST VIEW - Ted Lambert (Sr., F, 6-3)
MAINE WEST - Al Fritz (Sr., F, 6-2)
PALATINE - Dick Smith (Sr., F, 6-3)
PROSPECT - *Dave Kingman (Sr., F, 6-6), *Tom Lundstedt (Sr., C, 6-4)
WHEELING - Rex Peterson (Sr., G, 6-0), Scott Bischoff (Sr., F, 6-0), Tom Bastable (Sr., F, 6-0)
HONORABLE MENTION - George Schenck (Conant), Chris Shadwell (Conant), Bob Arnold (Forest View), John Ekeberg (Palatine), Dick Manny (Maine West)
NOTES
- Prospect’s Dave Kingman had a 16-year MLB career where he hit 442 home runs with 7 teams - including the Cubs from 1978-80.
- Maine West’s Al Fritz was a 40th-round MLB pick of the White Sox in the 1967 draft.
1967-68
CONANT - Chris Shadwell (Sr., G-F, 6-3)
ELK GROVE - Tom Pomey (Sr., G, 6-1)
FREMD - Dave Freeman (Sr., F, 6-2), Gerry Grybash (Jr., G, 5-10)
PALATINE - Brian Scholl (Sr., G, 5-10)
PROSPECT - *Craig “Butch” Leonard (Sr., F, 6-2), George Timson (Sr., C, 6-5)
WHEELING - *Jack Bastable (Jr., G, 6-0), Don Wright (Jr., G, 6-1), *Carl Fricke (Jr., C, 6-3)
NOTES
- Wheeling’s Jack Bastable starred in football and baseball at Missouri. He was taken in the 8th round of the 1972 MLB draft by the A’s and had a six-year minor league career - reaching Triple-A with the Phillies in 1976-77.
- Fremd’s Dave Freeman was Conant’s head coach from 1981-82 to 1984-85.
1968-69
ARLINGTON - Gary Anderson (Sr., C, 6-3), Jim Baumagartner (Sr., G, 5-8), *Chris Buttenob (Sr., F, 6-3)
ELK GROVE - John Flesch (Jr., 6-0, F)
FOREST VIEW - Mike Kinneman (Sr., 5-9, G)
HERSEY - Scott Feige (Jr., 5-10, G),
FREMD - Gerry Grybash (Sr., 5-10, G)
WHEELING - Jack Bastable (Sr., G, 6-0), *Carl Fricke (Sr,. C, 6-3), *Don Wright (Sr., F, 6-1)
HONORABLE MENTION - Don Anastasi (Glenbard North), Dave Christiansen (Conant), Phil Donahue (Palatine), Dave Hasbach (Palatine), Mike Kolze (Fremd), Brad Rucker (Prospect)
1969-70
ARLINGTON - *John Brodnan (Jr., G, 6-0), Mike Mandele (Jr., F, 6-5)
CONANT - Brant Barton (Sr., G-F, 6-1)
FREMD - *Mike Kolze (Sr., G, 5-10)
GLENBARD NORTH - Bill Wright (Sr., C., 6-3)
HERSEY - *Andy Pancratz (Soph., C, 6-8)
PALATINE - *Dave Hasbach (Sr., C, 6-2)
PROSPECT - Brad Rucker (Sr., F, 6-1)
WHEELING - Gary Kawell (Sr., F, 6-2), Roger Wood (Soph., C, 6-10)
HONORABLE MENTION - Dave Long (Forest View), Rich Olson (Forest View), Gene Pinder (Elk Grove), Bill Heffernan (Arlington), Don Anastasi (Glenbard North)
NOTES
- Hersey’s Andy Pancratz was one of the first three-time all-MSL selections. Pancratz was a big part of DePaul’s renaissance and played on the 1976 NCAA tournament team. His sons Mark, Zach and Jake and daughter Drewann were also all-MSL basketball selections at Schaumburg. Andy Pancratz is in the IBCA Hall of Fame.
- Wheeling’s Roger Wood was the other first three-time all-MSL selection. He played 7 games at Kentucky in 1972-74 and was one of the last recruits of legendary coach Adolph Rupp.
- Fremd’s Mike Kolze was a head coach at Highland Park from 1984-99 and won 193 games, 4 Central Suburban League division titles and 2 regionals. Kolze is a member of the IBCA Hall of Fame.
1970-71
ARLINGTON - *John Brodnan (Sr., G, 6-1), Mike Mandele (Sr., F, 6-6)
CONANT - John Macdonald (Sr., G, 6-0), Dave Irion (Sr., F, 6-4)
ELK GROVE - Mark Hopkins (Sr., F, 6-6)
FREMD - Randy Hague (Sr., C, 6-4)
HERSEY - *Andy Pancratz (Jr., C, 6-8), Bruce Frase (Sr., G, 5-9), John Tilhou (Sr., F, 6-3)
PROSPECT - Casey Rush (Sr., G, 6-2), Dave Lundstedt (Sr., F, 6-4)
WHEELING - *Roger Wood (Jr., C, 6-11), *Mike Groot (Sr., G, 6-0)
HONORABLE MENTION - Jim Staumer (Palatine), Steve Garoutte (Palatine), Chet Pudlosky (Conant), Ed Bansfield (Forest View), Tony Schuld (Wheeling), Dave Wickersham (Fremd), George Bauer (Forest View)
NOTES
- Prospect’s Casey Rush is the son of legendary Chicago sports broadcaster Red Rush. Casey Rush was also all-MSL in football.
1971-72
ARLINGTON - Tim Will (Sr., F, 6-3), *Ken Peters (Sr., G, 6-2)
CONANT - *Chet Pudlosky (Sr., F, 6-4), Bill Arkus (Sr., G, 5-10)
ELK GROVE - Bob Prince (Jr., G, 5-10)
FOREST VIEW - Don Woodsmall (Jr., F, 6-4)
FREMD - Mark Hollinger (Sr., F., 6-2)
GLENBARD NORTH - Tom Witucki (Sr., C, 6-5)
HERSEY - Dave Corzine (Soph., C, 6-11), *Andy Pancratz (Sr., F, 6-9)
PALATINE - Steve Garoutte (Sr., G, 6-2)
PROSPECT - John vonBerg (Sr., G, 6-2), Andy Bitta (Sr., G., 6-1)
SCHAUMBURG - John Blasco (Sr., G, 5-11)
WHEELING - *Roger Wood (Sr., C, 6-11), Jim Kass (G, 5-10)
NOTES
- Three-time all-MSL selection Dave Corzine of Hersey led DePaul to the 1978 Elite Eight and averaged 8.5 ppg and 6 rpg in a 13-year NBA career with 5 teams, including the Bulls from 1982-89. Corzine is a member of the IBCA Hall of Fame.
- Prospect’s Andy Bitta became one of the most successful boys and girls soccer coaches in IHSA history at Libertyville with a combined 625 boys and girls victories, 5 top-four trophies and a girls title in 1991. He was also the top assistant to Max Sanders in the boys basketball program that took fourth in AA in 1991, reached the Elite Eight twice and Sweet 16 three times.
- Conant was the first MSL team to the reach a supersectional behind Chet Pudlosky and Bill Arkus for coach Dick Redlinger.
1972-73
ARLINGTON - Dan Donahue (Jr., C, 6-9), *Jeff Cleveland (Jr., F, 6-3)
CONANT - Roger Sander (Jr., F, 6-3), Steve Irion (Jr., C, 6-7)
ELK GROVE - *Ken Pollitz (Jr., F, 6-4)
FOREST VIEW - Don Woodsmall (Sr., F, 6-5), *Tom Mueller (Sr., G, 6-0)
FREMD - Dan Mize (Jr., F, 6-3)
GLENBARD NORTH - Marlon Brooks (Sr., G, 6-4)
HERSEY - *Dave Corzine (Jr,. C, 6-11), *John Kanellis (Sr., G, 6-0)
PALATINE - *Jim Sander (Sr., C, 6-3), Rick McCormick (Sr., G, 6-0)
PROSPECT - *Tom Bergen (Sr., C, 6-9), Will Freeman (Sr., F, 6-4)
WHEELING - *Pat Smith (Sr., F, 6-4)
HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Pat Smith (Wheeling)
HERALD ALL-AREA PICK ONLY - Bob Prince (Elk Grove, 5-11, Sr., G)
NOTES
- Tom Bergen played for Michigan in the 1976 NCAA championship game against Indiana. Bergen is one of three Prospect players who were part of Final Four teams with George Pomey (1964 and 1965 Michigan) and Erik Faust (2000 Wisconsin).
1973-74
ARLINGTON - *Dan Donahue (Sr., C, 6-10), *Jeff Cleveland (Sr., F, 6-3)
CONANT - *Steve Irion (Sr., C, 6-8), *Roger Sander (Sr., F, 6-5), Dave Sutherland (Sr., F-G, 6-4)
ELK GROVE - *Ken Pollitz (Sr., F, 6-5)
FOREST VIEW - Mike Meyer (G), Kurt Haaland (Sr., F, 6-3)
FREMD - Randy Weber (Sr., G)
HERSEY - *Dave Corzine (Sr., C, 6-11), Tim Conard (Jr., G-F)
PALATINE - Mark Mara (Jr., F, 6-2)
PROSPECT - Paul Withey (Jr., F, 6-9), Al Black (Jr., G, 6-3)
WHEELING - *George Kaage (Sr,. C, 6-4½), *Bill Pickler (Sr., F, 6-4½), Scott Keenan (Sr., G, 6-1)
HONORABLE MENTION - Ray Kralicek (Schaumburg), Brian Allsmiller (Buffalo Grove), Doug Mize (Fremd), Jim Arden (Palatine), Pat Geegan (Rolling Meadows)
HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAINS - Dave Corzine (Hersey), Ken Pollitz (Elk Grove)
NOTES
- Hersey, with Dave Corzine and Tim Conard for coach Roger Steingraber, got rolling in the second half of the season to become the first MSL team to reach the Elite 8 in Champaign. The Huskies built an early double-digit lead on favored Bloom before falling 56-51. Corzine was a rare first-team all-tourney pick whose team didn’t reach Saturday’s semifinal/final day.
- Wheeling’s George Kaage was also an all-MSL and all-area baseball standout who was taken in the 26th round of the 1976 MLB draft by the Dodgers out of Kankakee CC and played 3 years in the minor leagues.
1974-75
ARLINGTON - *Dennis Gaare (Sr., F, 6-4), *Jerry DeSimone (Sr., G, 6-0), Terry Donahue (Sr., F, 6-6), John Yeazel (Sr., G, 5-9)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Brian Allsmiller (Soph., F, 6-7)
ELK GROVE - Greg Kelley (Sr., 5-10, G)
FOREST VIEW - Mark Russo (Sr., F, 6-4), Tony Donile (Sr., F, 6-4)
HERSEY - Clyde Glass (Jr., F, 6-5)
PALATINE - *Mark Mara (Sr., F, 6-5)
PROSPECT - *Mike Quade (Sr., G, 5-11), *Al Black (Sr., G, 6-3), Paul Withey (Sr., F, 6-9), *Doug Bonthron (Sr., C., 6-8)
ROLLING MEADOWS - *John Hogan (Sr., G, 6-0)
WHEELING - Keith Schildt (Jr., F, 6-5)
HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Mike Quade (Prospect)
HERALD ALL-AREA PICK ONLY - Mike Brzuszkiewicz (Wheeling, 6-3, Sr., G)
NOTES
- Prospect’s Mike Quade was also all-MSL baseball and football and has had a long career in professional baseball. He managed the Cubs in 2010-11, was a coach for the A’s and Cubs and managed 19 seasons in the minors. He also played 5 seasons in the minors.
- Buffalo Grove’s Brian Allsmiller joined Dave Corzine and Roger Wood as three-time all-MSL picks and was the MSL’s career scoring leader until his record was broken in 2021 by Rolling Meadows’ Max Christie. Allsmiller played at Vanderbilt.
- Hersey’s Clyde Glass started for the 1974 Elite Eight team as a sophomore. He played professionally in Scotland.
- Arlington and Prospect were the first teams to have four all-MSL selections in one season.
1975-76
ARLINGTON - Jim Grandt (Sr., G-F, 6-1)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Brian Allsmiller (Jr., F, 6-8), Mike Ledna (Jr., G, 5-8)
CONANT - Pete Scaffidi (Sr., G, 6-0), *Ron Sulaski (Sr., C, 6-5)
ELK GROVE - Dave Hornacek (Sr., C, 6-4)
FOREST VIEW - Nate Adams (Sr., G, 6-3)
FREMD - Rick Kolze (Sr., G, 6-0)
HERSEY - *Clyde Glass (Sr., F, 6-5), *Jay McDermott (Sr., C, 6-8)
PALATINE - *Kevin McKenna (Jr., F, 6-7)
PROSPECT - Chris Etter (Sr., F, 6-2)
ROLLING MEADOWS - Bill Wissen (Sr., C, 6-7)
SCHAUMBURG - *Ed Chmiel (Sr., G, 6-3), John Chmiel (Soph., C, 6-6), Jon McIlraith (Sr., G, 6-3)
WHEELING - *Keith Schildt (Sr., F, 6-5)
HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Brian Allsmiller (Buffalo Grove)
NOTES
- Kevin McKenna starred at Creighton (where he also pitched in baseball) and is the only player to win Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament, NBA and Continental Basketball Association titles. McKenna averaged 5.4 ppg for 4 teams in 6 NBA seasons and was a rookie with the 1982 NBA champion Lakers. His long college coaching career includes a stint in charge at Indiana State and he has been an assistant at Oregon since 2010.
- Mike Ledna played one season of rookie ball in the White Sox organization in 1981.
1976-77
ARLINGTON - *Greg Kloiber (Sr., C, 6-4)
BUFFALO GROVE - *Brian Allsmiller (Sr., F, 6-8), *Scott Groot (Sr., G, 6-0), Mike Marshall (Jr., F, 6-3)
CONANT - Rob Totten (Sr., G, 5-11)
ELK GROVE - *Mark Smith (Sr., C, 6-5)
FOREST VIEW - Jeff Martinski (Jr., F, 6-3)
FREMD - *Dale Hallberg (Sr., F, 6-4), Craig Rawlins (Sr., F, 6-4)
HOFFMAN ESTATES - Ron Warring (Sr., C, 6-6)
PALATINE - *Kevin McKenna (Sr., F, 6-7)
PROSPECT - Brad Millar (Sr., F, 6-3)
ROLLING MEADOWS - Kent Walker (Jr., G, 6-3), Kevin Kiley (Sr., C, 6-8)
SCHAUMBURG - *John Chmiel (Jr., C, 6-7)
WHEELING - *Brian Begrowicz (Sr., G, 6-0)
HERALD ALL-AREA CAPTAIN - Brian Allsmiller (Buffalo Grove)
NOTES
- Rolling Meadows’ Kevin Kiley and his 6-9 brother Bill moved to California in the summer before the 1975-76 season. The family returned before Kevin Kiley’s senior year.
- Elk Grove’s Mark Smith had a long coaching career in high school and at Harper College. Smith led the Burlington Central girls to fourth in the 3A state tourney in 2014 and was still an assistant coach with the Hersey girls in 2025.
- Buffalo Grove’s Mike Marshall was one of the MSL’s best all-around athletes in baseball, basketball and golf. Marshall was a sixth-round pick of the Dodgers after his senior season. He went on to an 11-year MLB career where he hit 148 HR, made the 1984 NL All-Star team and played on World Series’ champions in 1981 and 1988 with the Dodgers.
1977-78
ARLINGTON - *Chris DeSimone (Jr., G, 6-1)
BARRINGTON - *Ike Person (Jr., C, 6-6), *John Tomlinson (Jr., F, 6-5)
BUFFALO GROVE - Mike Marshall (Sr., F, 6-4), *Fred Kruse (Sr., G, 6-3), Chris Molenaur (Jr., C, 6-10)
ELK GROVE - Bill Norwood (Jr., G, 6-1), Jay Carman (Sr., C, 6-3)
FOREST VIEW - *Jeff Martinski (Sr., F, 6-3), *Bob Cameron (Sr., C, 6-5)
FREMD - Dave McKinney (Sr., F, 6-4)
HERSEY - Jim Thomas (Sr., F)
PALATINE - Chris Plazak (Sr., G, 6-1)
ROLLING MEADOWS - *Kent Walker (Sr., G, 6-3)
SCHAUMBURG - John Chmiel (Sr., C, 6-7)
WHEELING - Jim Lockefeer (Sr., F)
NOTES
- As sophomores, Ike Person and John Tomlinson were part of Barrington’s second trip to the Elite 8 in school history (the other in 1954) in its final year in the North Suburban Conference. Person came to Barrington after Rockford’s public schools shut down sports for the 1975-76 school year because of financial issues. Person played at Michigan, was chosen in the 10th round of the 1983 draft by Detroit, had a successful career overseas and was a beloved figure in Sweden basketball when he passed away in 2022 at age 61.
- Bill Norwood’s father Bill Sr., spent 31 years with United Airlines and was their first African American pilot.
1978-79
