After helping lead Grant Park to a rare 20-win season in 2022-23, John Kveck thought he found the perfect college at Trinity Christian in Palos Heights.
“I came from a small environment, and I wasn’t looking to go to a big school – that’s not where my heart was at,” he said. “When I found this place and found out I could get a basketball scholarship, I fell in love with it.
“It’s small with a Christian environment and community and that’s what sold me on it.”
Kveck is still in love with the school. But on Nov. 4, Kveck, along with the rest of the students on campus heard the stunning news: the campus was closing after the 2025-26 school year.
The 6-foot-6 junior forward heard it was a possibility even before the announcement. But when it became official, it hit home.
“It was a shock for sure,” he said before a Dec. 2 practice. “It’s still a shock. It’s still weird thinking about not being here next year. As a junior, I was thinking about being here one more year. Even if I was a senior, it would be weird thinking I won’t be coming back and watching games.”
What’s next for Kveck?
He is scrambling to try to find a school and it’s fuzzy if basketball will be a part of the equation.
Kveck is a finance major who is minoring in marketing, and he is hoping to finish his academic career at either Olivet Nazarene, St. Xavier or another school close to home.
Basketball is a secondary consideration.
“I would love to still play because I would love being on a team,” he said. “But in a moment like this, it’s kind of in the back of my mind. I’m just trying to figure out how to finish my degree and what school to go to, to give me the best opportunity to do that.
“But if I can still play, I would take that opportunity.”
While Kveck doesn’t get much playing time with the Trolls, he said he loves being a part of the team and still has some great memories of the sport.
According to IHSA records, Grant Park started playing basketball in 1927 and in nearly 100 years, the Dragons had won 20 or more games just three times before posting a 22-11 record his senior season.
“We were a (Class) 1A school and had a winning record against bigger schools,” he said. “Being a part of that team was a big deal for me.”
Meanwhile, through 10 games, the Trolls were 5-5 and owned a 3-2 record in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Coach Dave Osborn is trying to make this final season as normal as possible for Kveck and Company.
“I want to finish strong here and put the guys in the best possible spot that they can be in,” Osborn said. “How we write the final chapter and how we finish strong is important. We want to send Trinity basketball out on the right note.”
But saying goodbye will be sad for Kveck.
“I call these guys ‘brothers for life’ and I wish I had another year with them,” he said.