Freshman Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley start fast, run away late to rout Yorkville Christian

YORKVILLE – Todd Sutton has coached some great players and great teams as the only boys basketball coach Neuqua Valley has ever had. He just earned his 700th career win a few weeks ago.

He’s never seen a player like his freshman, Cole Kelly.

“I think he’s the best basketball player we’ve ever had,” Sutton said. “He’s the most skilled player we’ve ever had. Never seen a more skilled player. He’s made some passes only Magic Johnson could make.”

Kelly had, by Sutton’s estimation, an off night Tuesday, two assists shy of a triple-double. Senior teammate David Taiwo, though, had a career night.

Taiwo’s 30-point outburst, and Kelly’s all-around excellence, led Neuqua Valley to a surprisingly one-sided 94-64 nonconference win at Yorkville Christian.

The Wildcats (15-10) led 46-29 at halftime and by as many as 21 in the third quarter. After Yorkville Christian (17-10) cut the margin to eight, Neuqua put it away with a 20-0 run.

Kelly finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.

Jayden Riley had 22 points and six assists and Zach Marini 17 with five 3-pointers for Yorkville Christian.

“They made shots, they got confident,” Yorkville Christian coach Aaron Sovern said. “We missed shots and it was a snowball effect.”

Kelly, a smooth 6-foot-6 freshman touted by some as Illinois' No. 1 player in the Class of 2028, had it going early.

He had 12 points and eight rebounds in the first quarter, and had his way against a Yorkville Christian team that isn’t particularly big.

“We knew that they’re not the toughest inside. I just tried to get every offensive rebound and score underneath,” Kelly said. “Every game I try to play inside-outside, go inside early and get my buckets and then go outside for 3s.”

Taiwo, a senior guard and transfer from Metea Valley, had it all going.

He scored 16 of his 30 in the second quarter, keying a 15-2 run, and missed just one shot along the way.

“I came out ready, my teammates got me the looks and I was grateful that I was able to get looks and make my shots,” Taiwo said. “They weren’t guarding me outside so my teammates kept feeding me the ball.”

It couldn’t have come at a better time for Neuqua, which lost its second-best player Whitman Charboneau to injury last Thursday.

“He had 30 the game before that,” Sutton said. “It has thrown us upside down. It’s been a major setback, like starting over.”

The Wildcats, which won for the seventh time in eight games, hardly looked it, shooting 69% (20-for-29) in the first half.

Yorkville Christian, with Riley scoring eight points in the third quarter and Brady Sovern hitting three 3-pointers, got it to 59-51 and had a 3-point attempt to draw within five.

But it got away from the Mustangs late, starting with Kelly’s 3-pointer a minute into the fourth quarter.

“Got it to eight, fell apart, went from eight to 15 in a snap,” Sovern said. “That’s the style of play we play. It can get us back into games quickly but if we’re not locked in defensively it can get us out.”

And Sovern was hardly surprised at what he saw from Kelly, but expected better from his group.

“Cole Kelly is amazing, we’ve known that, he does everything and he doesn’t force. He is way mature for him being a freshman. Seen him play a lot, he’s very good,” Sovern said.

“Nothing they did surprised us, they run great stuff. Our defense, I struggle to say the effort because the effort was fine – but our attention and focus was a struggle. When people are running a lot of stuff we’re not staying locked in."

Neuqua is locked in, and gets a second crack at state-ranked Waubonsie Valley Friday. The Warriors beat the Wildcats 49-48 Jan. 14.

“Our chemistry is much better,” Taiwo said. “Had a lot of seniors here last year, I came in, transferred, we had a freshman, Cole. We’re finally starting to bond.”