Rich Get Richer

From the Chicago Tribune...

After two years at Plainfield East, Faith Suggs has transferred to Homewood-Flossmoor.

The 6-foot-1 junior is one of the top players in the area. Her national presence has grown, too, since she tried out for the USA Basketball U16 national team in late May.

"I'm going to miss Plainfield East," Suggs said. "I loved the teachers, principal and it was a great school. But I'm extremely excited about this change."

Suggs' history with newly hired Homewood-Flossmoor girls basketball coach Anthony Smith extends back to the seventh grade, when the two met while Suggs was playing basketball in a gym with her father, former NFL player Shafer Suggs.

Faith Suggs has played for Smith's AAU Dream Team since eighth grade.

We're making this change as a family," said Suggs, who has scholarship offers from DePaul, Kansas, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Georgia Tech, Michigan and Penn State. "Coach Smith is the best, and I want to get better."

"We were already looking to downsize, and find a smaller home," said Shafer Suggs said, who played for the Jets from 1976-80 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980. "We sold our house already. I also needed a change after my wife passed away, plus Coach Smith is a wonderful coach. I wanted to put Faith in the best situation to get her ready for the next level. Faith needs to be in an environment where she continues to develop."

Smith was 326-36 in 12 seasons at Bolingbrook. He helped lead the Raiders to four state titles and two runner-up finishes in Class 4A.

"Faith is a great kid, student and a good person," Smith said. "Her dad has been a mentor to me. Faith is the type of kid we want at H-F."

Several more players are expected to transfer to Homewood-Flossmoor, though Smith didn't name names.

"I know that I'm going to do everything I can for a kid that plays for me," he said. "Families are looking for that.

"H-F is a great academic situation. They offer so much. It's a no-brainer. Now H-F is going to have a top-notch basketball program. It's a great fit for kids. They check everything at H-F. They make sure the kids are living in the H-F district. I'm happy that the district checks things out so they make sure things are done right."