HIGHLAND MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES
Mark Wilson ready for debut at High Point
By Graham Couch, The Journal-Standard
FREEPORT -- The last time Mark Wilson played college basketball, Sauk Valley stunned Highland with a
last-second shot in the 2003 Region IV championship.
Twenty-one months and two colleges later, Wilson, who starred at Highland from 2001-2003, is scheduled to
make his debut for Division-I High Point (N.C.) at 7 p.m. Saturday against Mount St. Mary's.
"I'm ready to play, to get it on," Wilson said Wednesday. " ... It's been real hard to watch. But I've stuck it out
and kept my grades up."
Wilson originally signed with North Texas after graduating from Highland. In late October 2004, he left the
team and school, citing family problems in Chicago. In January, he enrolled at High Point, where he had to
sit out two semesters. Final exams for the fall semester end today, making Wilson eligible for Saturday. He
will be eligible for the remainder of this season and the 2005-06 season in its entirety.
"I'm happy he's hung in there and gotten back on track. That's good news," said Highland coach Pete
Norman. "I'm sure it hasn't been easy for him to sit out almost a year-and-a-half. I give him a lot of credit and
I'm proud of him and happy for him."
Wilson averaged 22.2 points and 9.4 rebounds, earning second-team All-American honors while leading
Highland to a 28-5 record in 2002-03. Fellow 2003 Highland graduate Jerry Echenique plays for High Point.
He averages 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds for the 2-7 Panthers.
Norman wary of Bear field
Since Highland has won the William R. Bear tournament each of the last two seasons, the tendency is to
consider the host Cougars the favorite. Norman hardly looks at it that way.
"It's very challenging. For the most part it's the last game of the semester and then there's quite a break.
You mix in finals and Christmas break and three games in 24 hours, and a lot of times the top team doesn't
win the tournament," Norman said. "And it's a very good field."
The 37th Annual William R. Bear tournament includes perennial powers Lincoln Trail, Iowa Central and
DuPage. Parkland and Sauk Valley are also considered threats. Rock Valley and Elgin round out the field.
Highland opens with Elgin, which it handled easily in an early-season scrimmage, at 6 p.m. today.
"We'd be making a big mistake if we look past Elgin," Norman said. "They're pretty much all freshman, so
they're going to get better as the year goes on. You better take one game at a time in this or you'll find
yourself on the wrong side of the bracket."
A Highland win this evening would set up a matchup with the winner of DuPage and Parkland (8 p.m. today)
at 1 p.m. Saturday. The championship is at 9 p.m. Saturday.
The Cougars are familiar with one of the teams at the Bear tourney. Highland beat Lincoln Trail 63-59 on
Nov. 12 at the North/South tournament in Olney.
Lincoln Trail opens with Rock Valley, for which Dakota graduate Brent Webster plays, at 1 p.m. today. Sauk
Valley plays Iowa Central at 3 p.m.
Highland has only won the tournament six times in 36 years. For a complete schedule, see B2.
Former Cougar update
McNeal Thompson had a career-high 19 points for Boise State in the Broncos' 90-77 loss at Brigham Young
on Dec. 8. On Wednesday, Thompson, a 2003 Highland graduate, scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting
from beyond the arc in a 78-67 win over Eastern Washington.
Thompson is averaging 5.0 points for the 5-3 Broncos.