Skip to content
  • Subscribe
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Email
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Features
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
Suburban Chicagoland

Suburban Chicagoland

Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America

  • About
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Our Writers
      • Ray Hanania
      • Bill Lipinski
      • Biography: Aaron Hanania
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Reach Out
  • Sections
    • Events
    • Opinion
    • News
    • Features
    • Seniors
    • Comic Strip
  • Library
    • “MIdnight Flight” Online Book
      • Midnight Flight Book Overview
      • Midnight Flight Introduction
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 1
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 2
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 3
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 4
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 5
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 6
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 7
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 8
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 9
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 10
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 11
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 12
      • Midnight Flight Chapter 13
    • Villages, Cities & Towns
    • Federal Office Holders
    • County Officials
    • Legislators
  • Subscribe to Ray’s Columns
  • Comment
  • Podcast
    • Ray Hanania on Politics
    • Two Guys on Politics
    • Hanania on Tiktok
  • News Wire
  • Archive 2004-2013
  • Toggle search form
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown Economy
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations Civil Rights
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad News
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families Business
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat Democrat
  • Sunday, October 26, the Village of Orland Park formally rededicated its Village Hall in honor of the late former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens
    Village of Orland Park Rededicates Village Hall in Honor of Late Former Mayor Fredrick T. Owens Government
  • Fire at townhome at 13900 block of Berkhansted Court in Orland Park, just before midnight on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025
    Firefighter treated for dehydration battling townhouse fire in Orland Park – no residents injured Fire
  • Firefighters with the Orland Fire Protection District who responded to a fire in an apartment at 15200 block of Al Camino Terrace on Saturday morning said the next day that they did find a kitten that needed respiratory aid that they saved.
    FIRE UPDATE: Fire District releases photos of kitten saved from Orland Park apartment fire Saturday Features
  • two-story apartment building on the 15200 block of El Camino Terrace in Orland Park
    Orland Park apartment fire Saturday morning, no injuries Fire
  • Illinois Senator Michael Hastings addressing the Orland Township Democratic Organization Wednesday Oct. 12, 2022
    Hastings calls for bipartisan action to protect Illinois families from SNAP benefit shutdown Baby Boomers
  • Illinios Industrial Energy Consumers, information ad
    Get information on the Illinois Energy Omnibus Bill in Springfield Business
  • State Senator Mike Porfirio secured over $20 million to support infrastructure improvements and construction in the 11th Senate District.
    Senator Porfirio applauds more than $20 million in infrastructure repairs coming to the 11th District News
  • Dad and daughter reunited Lebving Law firm photo
    Little Girl Recovered and Reunited with Dad After Long Separation Dads' Rights
  • 11-03-25 OFPD Coffee living alone
    Orland Fire hosts meeting on helping Seniors who live alone Nov. 5 Baby Boomers
  • State Senator Michael Hastings introduces law to revive long dormant and degraded Tinley Park Mental Health Center into a Sports Park for the community. Photo courtesy of the State Senate President Don Harmon
    Hastings secures $250,000 grant for Easterseals Academy’s Tinley Park campus Health

All in the family

Posted on January 14, 2021January 14, 2021 By Steve Metsch No Comments on All in the family
SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  

All in the family

Niego roots run deep for Lyons boys basketball

By Steve Metsch

The unofficial first family of Lyons Township High School boys basketball is having an unusual winter.

With the high school season in Illinois on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, no games are being played in the Lyons Township fieldhouse.

Hence, for the first time in eight years, there is not a Niego playing varsity basketball for Lyons.

It began with Harrison, now 24, in the 2012-13 season. Two years later, his senior year, brother Connor, 21, and cousin Noah, 21, joined him on varsity. They were sophomores.

Nolan, 20, soon joined Connor and Noah on varsity for two years. Nolan then played one season, 2018-19, with Grant. Last season, Grant, 19, was the only Niego on varsity.

Wait for it.

Jackson, 16, would be playing sophomore basketball if not for the pandemic. Given his pedigree, he is a safe bet to be on varsity the next two seasons.

So, when Jackson is a senior during the 2022-23 season, one or more Niego will have played varsity for Lyons in 10 of 11 seasons.

The Niego family of Western Springs has many ties to Lyons Township boys basketball. Sophomore Jackson (left) will soon follow the lead of brothers Harrison (on laptop) Nolan and Grant by playing varsity ball. Mom Julie and father Joe played in high school and college. Not pictured is brother Connor and cousin Noah, who both played varsity for LT. Photo by Steve Metsch.

It’s an amazing run, one that may never be matched in school history and one that seemed meant to happen.

Father Joe and mother Julie both played basketball in high school, he at DeLaSalle and she at Schaumburg. They both played at Lewis University.

The family tradition began there as Joe and his three brothers were in the starting five at Lewis, getting national media attention. Joe was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1987, but didn’t make the cut.

While Joe and Julie may have been star athletes, but they didn’t intend on raising their own starting five.

“We didn’t want to be the screaming parents on the sideline, living their life through their kids,” Joe said. “We pulled away from sports all together. They we have one son, then another, then five boys. They’re the ones who dragged us in.”

Harrison started playing with a Little Tykes basketball game in the basement. His brothers followed. The fuse was lit.

“They gravitated toward basketball,” Joe said. “Then you have a hoop outside and, all of a sudden, they’re paying together and the rest is history.”

“That’s the one sport you can do together with smaller numbers,” Joe said.

Playing in college or making all-state was never the goal.

“It’s all secondary,” Joe said. “It’s having sports work for us, opposed to us work for sports.”

Harrison, who played at Indiana University for a year as a walk-on and then played at Hillsdale College in Michigan, said it would have been hard to not become a basketball player.

“When you have (four) brothers who are also passionate about it, it’s hard not to get into, especially how competitive we are,” Harrison said.

Nolan’s face lit up when he recalled winning a regional with teammate Grant.

“That was a special year,” Nolan said. “Not only did we have success as a team, but me and Grant got to play together. From fourth grade to eighth grade, we were on the same travel team. We knew each other’s games really well. I kind of knew what he was thinking before he did what he did.”

Grant smiled recalling their on-court connection.

“We did back-door cuts,” Grant said. “I followed him on threes. There were times I knew he was ready (for a pass). There was a connection, for sure.”

That connection carries on. Grant and Nolan are both playing this season for DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Connor, who played three years for Holy Cross, is now with Lewis University. Noah played a year at Loras.

Having older brothers play fueled Jackson’s interest.

“A lot of people look up to NBA players, which is cool and all, but watching them play it’s like, ‘I can do that. I can mimic them,’ “ Jackson said.

Julie, who often played sports with the boys, enjoys watching them play. The color-coded chalkboard calendar in the kitchen of their Wester Springs home – empty this pandemic year – was often filled with their practice and game schedules.

“We’d never be home on weekends,” Julie said. “Never.”

Julie is a part-time school teacher and Joe works in real estate. Both are busy with Chicago LockDown, a youth basketball program they started that has about 300 players.

The boys played in the program. Jackson still does.

“We put in the sweat equity to be the best we can be,” Nolan said. “It’s more of the focused goal rather than do something for a certain status. What it comes down to is we want to win. … For us it’s always been about winning, about playing with brothers.”

Harrison, who now works in the financial industry, coaches Jackson’s Chicago LockDown youth team in the summer.

“He has a well-polished game,” Harrison said. “He’s definitely on his way to achieving what he wants. If you want to get where you want to go, this is what it takes. A lot of kids need to hear that. … To play college basketball is a lot of work. I think it’s 1 percent of all high school players play in college.”

Not having a high school basketball season because of the pandemic has been tough, Jackson said.

“I’m just working out here,” Jackson said. “If we have a season, (I will) try to come back in the best shape possible.”

If he’s like his brothers, he won’t be nervous in a tie game with 0:03 on the clock.

He’ll follow Grant’s advice: “Act like you’ve done it before.” And will recall Nolan telling him to keep his cool.

“That comes from preparedness, from knowing you’ve gone as hard as you could in practice and you’ve given 110 percent to your game,” Nolan said. “So, when that crunch time comes, you’re ready. It’s hard to be flustered when you’ve played so much.”

“Basketball is a simple game at times. You’re down two and need three.

“We’ve played so many games in our lifetime,” Nolan added. “Five-on-five in a team, three-on-three out back, we’ve been through the ringer in situations, especially playing three or four games in a day in travel ball. There isn’t much we haven’t seen.”

 

newswire info
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch
Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]
Steve Metsch
Latest posts by Steve Metsch (see all)
  • Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band are still rockin’ - August 10, 2023
  • Weathering personal storms - July 20, 2023
  • Countryside solution irks some - July 20, 2023
NPV: 63
  • Tweet

SHARE THIS STORY
            
 
  
 
 
 
           
News, Suburban Chicagoland Tags:Connor Niego, first familly, Grant Niego, Harrison Niego, Jackson Niego, Joe Niego, Julie Niego, Lyons Township boys basketball, Noah Niego, Nolan Niego

Post navigation

Previous Post: ‘Violent domestic terrorists’
Next Post: Another pandemic victim

Related Posts

  • Drive-thru food pantry News
  • Devastating tondo. Photo by Nikolas Noonan on Unsplash
    Gov. Pritzker issues Tornado Disaster Proclamation for Illinois communities impacted by recent storms Illinois Legislature
  • Soccer. Photo by Md Mahdi on Unsplash
    International soccer returns to SeatGeek Stadium Cook County
  • Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman
    Suburbs lose a great leader in Liz Gorman Blogger
  • Midnight Flight: Chapter 6 — Alone in the Playground Baby Boomers
  • Orland Fire Protection District fire trucks on display at Open House Saturday Sept. 24, 2022. Photo courtesy of the OFPD
    Orland Fire District to host Evening Open House July 13 at 6:30 PM Events

More Related Articles

CDC Image of girl sneezing. Coronavirus IDHS expanding services by phone and online; 14 offices will remain open Chicago
money $20 dollar bill, dollars, cash WalletHub releases new Credit Card Debt study Economy
Cook County Commissioner Frank Aguilar Cook County Board Votes to Approve Commissioner Aguilar’s Proposal for a Helicopter  Cook County
Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty with U.S. Marine Marlin Grant. Lyons Mayor Getty given tour of President’s helicopter, “Marine One” Government
Underground transit tunnel. Photo courtesy of the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. Highspeed rail association questions Chicago-O’Hare transit plans Business
Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones challenges Rashida Tlaib in the Aug. 4, 2020 Democratic Primary. Photo courtesy of BrendaJones campaign Rashida Tlaib faces tough re-election challenge from Brenda Jones elections

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Login with your Social ID
  • OPINION
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    Your Mortgage Company May Pay Your Taxes — But You Still Need to Watch
    October 17, 2025
  • Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio Show small
    The Politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize — and Trump’s Fury Over Losing Again
    October 11, 2025
  • 06-04-25 Two Guys on Politics Background Zoom LOGO with images
    Video Podcast: Trump Kimmel Kirk Great American Divide Illegal Aliens polling and Illegal Aliens and ICE
    September 20, 2025
  • Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch speaking at a West Side affordable housing dedication
    Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, one of the best candidates to become Illinois Governor
    September 7, 2025
  • Cook County Treasurer Maria Papas
    What You’re Missing on Your Property Tax Bill
    September 5, 2025
Subscribe to Ray Hanania's column graphic

Enter Your Email to Subscribe to Ray Hanania’s Columns

  • The-Kings-Pawn-Book-300-x-300.png

Mohammed Faheem The Lightning Strike Radio

  • NEWS
  • Michael Frerichs Illinois Treasurer
    Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces $50 Million Loan Program to Help Federal Workers During Shutdown
    October 30, 2025
  • Kat Abughazaleh 9th DIstrict Congress 2026 candidate democrat
    Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Indicts Six Individuals on Charges of Impeding Federal Agent Engaged in Immigration Enforcement Operations
    October 30, 2025
  • 05-23-25 Jeffery M. Leving
    Little Girl Rescued from Feared Danger and Reunited with Dad
    October 30, 2025
  • Hastings insurance legislation
    Hastings announces legislation to ensure fair homeowners insurance rates for Illinois families
    October 29, 2025
  • Mahnoor Ahmad campaign photo
    Mahnoor Ahmad runs for DuPage County Board seat
    October 29, 2025
John Kass Columns

Order the book PoweR PR; Ethnic Activists Guide to Strategic Communications

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE TO RAY HANANIA'S YOUTUBE VIDEOS


Click here to view the video on YouTube or use the widget below.

Follow Ray Hanania at
Twitter
Facebook
TitkTok
BlueSky
RayHanania Columns

Creative Commons License
All works on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Do not edit original work. Give credit to the original source.

Categories

Copyright © 2022 Suburban Chicagoland & Urban Strategies Group

Powered by PressBook Premium theme