The Most Underrated High School Back Court In Illinois? It's At Bloom!

By Roy & Harv Schmidt

January 2, 2012

10:15 A.M. CST

We have long said that both high school and college basketball have become guard's games.  The strength of a team's back court will often determine if they have what it takes to win either a state or national championship.  While there are several high school basketball programs in Illinois that can lay claim to sporting talented back courts, none has gone more unheralded and perhaps more disrespected than Bloom Township's combination of 5'11 2012 point guard Donald Moore and 6'2 2012 2-guard Lejavius Johnson.

Both Moore and Johnson were models of consistency at the McDipper Holiday Tournament.  They were the catalysts in leading Bloom to the tournament championship at McDipper.  Moore was named tournament MVP, while Johnson was also named to the all-tournament team.  Bloom is currently undefeated with a 13-0 record and is hands down the #1 team in Chicago's south suburbs.

Moore is a jet-quick point guard with great speed from end line to end line.  He consistently blows by defenders en route to the basket, makes good decisions with the ball and can also keep defenses honest from 3-point land.  Since the beginning of the season, Moore has either outplayed or stayed even with most all of the other top guards in the south suburban region, including Homewood-Flossmoor's Tyrone Sherman, Marian Catholic's Tyler Ulis and Crete-Monee's Michael Orris.

Recruiting-wise, Moore's lone D1 offer at this time is from Chicago State.  He has also received interest from Indiana-Purdue-Ft. Wayne, Florida A&M and Loyola-Chicago.  Moore is also being recruited by several D2 schools.

Johnson, meanwhile, is an off-guard who has good scoring capability.  He is adept at converting pullup jumpers along the baseline and out to the 3-point arc and also finishes well on the break.  In addition, Johnson has a strong upper body which he utilizes especially well at the defensive end, where he bodies up his opponent and converts a number of baskets off of turnovers.

To top everything off, Johnson is an academic qualifier and has a tremendous work ethic.  With that in mind, we are amazed that no scholarship offers have come his way as of yet.  He does have quite a few D3 schools vying for his services.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Moore and Johnson's games is that they have shown that they can play at any tempo.  That is a big reason why they compliment one another so well.  In fact, each of them seems to know the other's game inside-out.

Not only have Moore and Johnson gone relatively unnoticed by most analysts, but the Bloom coaching staff which consists of head coach Jasper Williams and assistants Pete McGuire and Job Gunderson also doesn't get the credit it deserves.  Simply put, the Bloom staff does an outstanding job, plus they do things the right way and are first-class.  Moore and Johnson will be tested yet again right after the New Year, as Bloom will play Bogan at the Bob Hambric Memorial Shootout at T.F. North High School in Calumet City, IL on Saturday, January 7.  Based on their performances thus far, we have a feeling that Moore, Johnson and company will definitely be up to the task. 

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