He scored 21 points in the final 75 seconds of a basketball game and finished the game with 52 points. He sunk 48 points in a Super-Sectional playoff game. He scored a game-high 18 points in his final high school match-up, playing against a guy whose name you may know, Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls point guard. In 2006, he was named “Mr. Basketball of Illinois” and was a McDonald’s All-American. He led Glenbrook North to a state championship, finishing the season with a record of 32-2. He is, of course, alumnus Jon Scheyer (‘06).
GBN should honor Scheyer’s personal and school-related achievements. With the upcoming renovations to the main gym this summer, it seems like the perfect opportunity to recognize the greatness of our hometown hero by officially retiring his number and hanging it from the ceiling.
Whether you are a sports fan or not, it is hard not to admire Scheyer. Earning more fans with each performance on the court, he managed to stay as humble as ever, despite being one of Northbrook’s biggest celebrities. Scheyer is the perfect portrayal of what it means to be a Spartan.
In 2003, when our school made national news for all the wrong reasons, Scheyer’s achievements put the school back in the spotlight for something positive. Making opposing defenses look foolish seemed to be a nightly task for the former Duke guard. Sold out games could be expected at home and on the road when he suited up in a Spartan uniform.
As a young kid, I attended nearly every high school game in which Scheyer played, including the final two of his three trips downstate to Peoria, Ill. I went through elementary school and junior high just waiting for the day when I’d become a Spartan and be like the hundreds of students enthusiastically cheering at each and every game.
Even to a 7-year-old, it was obvious that Scheyer sparked an electric atmosphere that swept through the entire student section as cheers about him rang out from the stands. Current students are just old enough to remember the excitement he provided for not only the school, but for the community.
I attended a playoff game at Barrington High School between GBN and Jacobs High School. Since it was a blowout with GBN winning 77-34, the best part of the game was not the actual game itself. Throughout the game, the gym was filled with cheers and chants going back and forth between the two energized and enthusiastic student sections. By the end of the night, the two schools had befriended each other. Even though a loss for Jacobs meant elimination from the state tournament, Jacobs fans showed their desire to witness Scheyer’s talent. Their cheers demanded that Head Coach Dave Weber put Scheyer back in the game once he had been replaced by the team’s second-string players.
This exchange shows what kind of an impact Scheyer had, not only on the people of Northbrook, but on other schools and communities as well. The Jacobs crowd seemed excited to play against someone of Scheyer’s talent level and had respect for GBN and the caliber of talent and spirit the school possessed.
Upon redesigning the gym, some people may argue that hanging only one banner, Scheyer’s number 23, will look odd, but he wouldn’t need to be the only person recognized by this new feature. Similar to college sports programs and professional teams, this would be a way to distinguish elite athletes who have attended GBN and showcase them to everyone who sets foot in the Main Gym.
Renovations make the timing perfect to honor someone who meant so much to his school and community. Let’s make Jon Scheyer’s legacy last by officially retiring his number and hanging it from the ceiling, so that Spartans of the past, present and future can be reminded of his impact on our school.