CHAMPAIGN—Dyett’s journey from Public League afterthought to state champion in less than a decade is remarkable.
“We started out in 2016 with just freshmen,” Eagles coach Jamaal Gill said on Tuesday. “We just made up our own schedule, weren’t given the opportunity to to be in a conference by CPS. Then we won the blue 2 years in a row [and kept moving up].”
Dyett was saved from closure in 2015 by a hunger strike. Now the Eagles are state champions after knocking off Belleville Althoff 52-41 on Saturday at State Farm Center to win the Class 2A state title.
The game swung back and fourth until early in the fourth quarter. Dyett senior Jayden McKinnon drained a three-pointer with 7:32 left in the game and kissed his shooting hand as he ran back on defense.
That sweet shot gave the Eagles a 28-25 they never relinquished.
“McKinnon is a deadly shooter,” Gill said. “He’s carried us throughout the season. He leads us in the classroom and on the court. I’m very proud of him.”
McKinnon led Dyett (27-7) with 17 points. Ricky Coleman added 10 points and seven rebounds. Aramis Brown Jr. chipped in with five points and seven rebounds.
This was the first state tournament appearance for the Eagles.
The Chicago Public League hasn’t won a big school (Class 3A or 4A) state championship since 2018.
It’s the fifth time a Public League team has won 2A in the past seven tournaments.
Dyett played in the mighty Red-South/Central last season and won just three games but opened some eyes with competitive scores. The Eagles lost by one point at Simeon
Althoff (31-6) won the Class 3A title in 2016 and finished second in Class 3A in 2015.
Check back later for more reaction from players and coaches.