March will mark the 25th anniversary of Proviso East’s 1991 basketball state championship season, one that featured arguably the most talented, home-grown high school basketball team in U.S. history.
Its three star seniors -- Sherrell Ford, Donnie Boyce and Michael Finley-- were all selected in the NBA draft four years later.
Finley (21st selection), Ford (26th) and Boyce (42nd) were known then -- in Maywood and across Illinois -- as the “Three Amigos.”
Ford won Illinois Mr. Basketball honors. He and Finley also won the all-state tournament team.
Boyce (University of Colorado) and Finley (University of Wisconsin) both ended their college careers holding their school’s all-time scoring records.
At the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), Ford ended his career ranking second (by 13 points) in scoring, albeit playing only three seasons. But he did hold school records for rebounds, field goals made and blocks, and had his UIC number (#24) retired.
Coach Bill Hitt, a Proviso East graduate and former Pirate basketball player himself, repeated the feat in 1992, bringing back-to-back state titles to Maywood. He retired from coaching a year later at age 43.
1991 Proviso East Pirates
Team Roster
Donnie Boyce
Ray Gay
Sherrell Ford
Michael Finley
Thaddeus Smith
Jamal Robinson
Kenny Davis
Walter Flowers
Terence Horton
Dan Jefferson
Rodney Woodruff
Tony Barthelemy
Coach: Bill HItt
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