Point taken: Unsigned Bryce Tillery heats up as Hillcrest rolls to 11-1 record under senior point guard. ‘He’s our leader.’

Hillcrest’s Bryce Tillery has blossomed into one of the state’s most dependable, productive point guards.

But the senior has long felt overlooked, especially by college recruiters. At 5-foot-9, Tillery is accustomed to being underestimated because of his size.

“Everybody’s going to look at you and think you’re not supposed to be able to do this or that or you’re not going to be able to succeed in this game,” Tillery said. “It definitely gives me a chip on my shoulder.”

Tillery is showing there isn’t much he can’t do for the Hawks (11-1).

He’s averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.8 steals, showcasing the versatility he feels he can bring to a program at the next level.

“I think I can make an impact anywhere I go,” he said. “Offensively, defensively, anything coach needs me to do, I can do.”

Just as importantly, Tillery is the glue that holds his team together. A four-year varsity player, Tillery is the one his teammates turn to for guidance.

“I’ve been working on my leadership skills a lot,” Tillery said. “My teammates make it easy. They give it to me. They give me the confidence to do it. They trust me. They’re going to follow me, too.”

For Hillcrest coach Don Houston, Tillery is like having an assistant coach on the court running his offense.

“It’s good to have a kid that’s been on varsity all these years,” Houston said. “They come in, they know what you want, they know how to be poised under tough circumstances. Bryce brings so much toughness and leadership for us.

“I’m proud to have him and lucky to have him.”

Senior forward Quentin Heady certainly feels fortunate to have Tillery on his side.

“He does so much for us,” Heady said. “He’s a great passer. He gets me open shots. He plays great defense. He’s our leader and he helps everyone else on the team get better.”

Hillcrest lost two expected starters to transfers over the summer, but the Hawks have not missed a beat. Their only loss was a 68-63 defeat to downstate power East St. Louis.

Aside from Akron-bound Darrion Baker, the Hawks are doing it without highly recruited superstars.

“We’ve got no egos,” Tillery said. “Everybody’s got something they’re playing for and they’re all hungry. We’ve got one of us signed and we’re trying to get the rest of us signed, too.

“I’m just trying to show what I can do every day. I’m not trying to look too much at all that other stuff. I know coaches are going to text me or call me. I’m just trying to win as much as possible.”

Sophomore success: With an all-sophomore starting lineup, St. Laurence (7-4) is showing it can compete against older teams and how bright its future is.

The Vikings’ only losses are to Oak Lawn, Marist, St. Rita and Mount Carmel, with the defeat to the Mustangs being the only noncompetitive one.

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Forward Jacob Rice is averaging 16.5 points, with guard EJ Mosley contributing 13.2 points and guard Zerrick Johnson 12 points and five rebounds a game.

“I think our potential is very high,” Mosley said. “We’ve been sticking together the past couple years, playing AAU together. I think we’re a team that can make it to state in the next couple years.”

Holiday hoops: The Southland’s top teams will spread out all over the state for holiday tournaments.

Locally, Hillcrest leads the field at Rich Township’s Big Dipper, which also includes Thornton, Thornwood, the host Raptors and Tinley Park.

Lemont (10-0) is among the favorites at the 32-team Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York, where St. Laurence, Stagg, Andrew and Leo are also entered.

St. Rita (6-3) and T.F. North (7-0) will contend with some powerful teams at Proviso West, while the remaining top 10 teams are headed to various downstate tournaments.

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.