In 2023, then-sophomore basketball prospect Stephen Brown made what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown catch in a football game against Brother Rice.
After the game, he told reporters, “I’m a basketball player who plays football.”
No more.
Last week, the 6-foot-7 Brown announced he would attend North Carolina State for football.
He attended N.C. State’s 48-36 home stunner over Georgia Tech earlier this month and made the verbal commitment. He still plans to play basketball for the RedHawks this season.
In other recruiting news, Marist had some other athletes make their commitments official in recent weeks.
RedHawk Division I signees from the two-time state Class 4A volleyball champions were Elayna Davidson (Maryland), Cassidy Cage (Mississippi State) and Elise Bocanegra (Loyola Maryland). Tessa Dowling was also on the team and is heading to Coastal Carolina for lacrosse. Softball player Ellie Holmstrom is heading to Saint Louis.
Lyons had a batch of D-I signees, including swimmers Jack Hannon (Eastern Illinois), Kylie Thompson (Bowling Green), Maeve Collins (UC Santa Barbara), Lindsay Foebaugh (Dartmouth) and Anna Pansing (Brown).
The Lions also saw soccer players Anna Bigenwald (Loyola), Carolina Capizzi (DePaul) and Zibby Michaelson (Mercer) sign DI letters as well as baseball players Jack Slightom (Cincinnati) and Tommy Georgelos (Eastern Illinois). Wrestler Griff Powell is heading to Illinois.
At Sandburg, softball player Zoe Trunk signed with Dayton, volleyball player Morgan Begley with IU Indianapolis and golfer Brooke Adams with Wichita State.
Mother McAuley had Lucy Maloney sign with Clemson and Cayla Prohaska with Campbell from the volleyball team.
Nazareth’s Jake Cestone is heading to Illinois State for football and basketball star Stella Sakalas to Brigham Young.
Stagg baseball player William Houston signed with Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Riverside-Brookfield lacrosse player Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus will head to Mercyhurst.
TCC women’s hoops canceled
The remainder of Trinity Christian’s final women’s basketball season has been canceled because of a reduced roster size. The school announced earlier this month it will close in May.
Athletes on the team will continue to receive their scholarships through the school year and will not be charged a year of eligibility, school officials said.
The Trolls were 0-6 including two forfeits. Their last game on the court was a 92-50 Nov. 15 setback to Taylor in Palos Heights.
Carcione named T-Bolts manager
Tom Carcione was named manager of the Windy City Thunderbolts. He has held many positions in his 35 years of professional baseball including hitting coach with the T-Bolts in 2015.
He replaces interim manager Toby Hall, who is now the manager for Florence. Hall took over for Bobby Jenks, who died in July.
Sports bits
St. Xavier fell in the NAIA Women’s Volleyball Championship Opening Round 25-13, 25-11, 25-15 to Northwestern College on Nov. 22 in Orange City Iowa. Sandburg grad Jenny Jensen had six kills and four digs for the Cougars (18-11).
· Morton College men’s basketball player Jordan Brooks scored 30 points as the Panthers stunned Milwaukee Area Tech 88-80 on Nov. 22. Milwaukee was ranked eighth in the nation in NJCAA Division II and was averaging 108 points per game.