Boys Basketball: Marian Catholic overruns Providence
By Michael O’Brien mobrien@suntimes.com January 8, 2013 10:44PM
Marian Catholic's Tyler Ulis. | Patrick Gleason~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 10, 2013 5:55PM
Marian Catholic coach Mike Taylor is totally aware of the special position he’s been in the past three years coaching point guard Tyler Ulis, who game after game is making his case as the state’s top guard.
“I’m definitely spoiled. He’s just beautiful to watch,” Taylor said. “Teams win because of great players, and he’s a great player. I don’t think there is a high school kid that has done what he has all year.”
Ulis controlled Tuesday night’s game from start to finish on the offensive end and spent the second half locking down Providence’s top threat, guard Kevin Kozan. The Spartans knocked off the Celtics 54-38 in New Lenox.
Ulis totaled 25 points, five rebounds, seven assists and three steals. He shot 9-of-15 from the field.
Kozan scored 10 points in the first half, but managed only five in the second when Ulis switched over to guard him.
“I was watching in the first half when (John Oliver) was guarding him,” Ulis said. “I saw the crossover he liked to use and I was ready for it.”
Ulis twice stole the ball from Kozan in the second half.
Miles Boykin, a 6-foot-5 sophomore, had a big third quarter for Providence, scoring nine points to help get the Celtics back in the game. A three from Kozan with 7:03 to play in the game made it 41-32, but the Spartans responded with a 9-0 run.
Boykin finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Tom O’Halloran didn’t score, but grabbed 10 rebounds for the Celtics (10-7).
“Kozan just has to do so much,” Providence coach Tim Trendel said. “It’s tough when they use the box-and-1 on him. We need a couple of other guys to step up.”
Terrone Parham Jr. scored 10 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for No. 2 Marian Catholic (15-1).
Ulis is 5-10, and his size has kept the elite college programs away. According to Taylor, things are starting to pick up on the recruiting front. Ulis just returned from a visit to Oregon State. Kansas State, Tennessee, Purdue, Oregon State and Minnesota all are showing interest in Ulis.
“I hate to call major college coaches crazy, but if you don’t think (Ulis) can help you, you’re crazy,” Taylor said.
