Lemont’s PJ Pipes Signs National Letter of Intent to Play Basketball at Green Bay

LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School senior PJ Pipes has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay beginning in Winter 2017.

A 6-foot-1 guard, Pipes is a two-year varsity letterwinner for head coach Rick Runaas and one of the most prolific scorers in school history. Over his two varsity seasons, the Indians have posted a composite record of 34-21 and twice finished among the top four teams in the South Suburban Conference.

Pipes will become just the third Lemont graduate to play NCAA Division I men’s basketball, joining Don Laketa ‘50(University of Wichita; now Wichita State University) and Tom Leffler ‘75 (Murray State University).

Career Highlights
• Two-time all-conference and all-area honoree
• Has averaged 15.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 60 career games
• Led the area in scoring as a junior in 2015-16, averaging a career-high 20.1 points per game in 27 contests
• Earned All-SSC accolades, and was tabbed as an all-area selection by the Daily Southtown and Joliet Herald News
• Led the team and set career bests in assists (67) and steals (49)
• Knocked down a team-high 48 3-pointers
• Reached the free throw line more than 200 times, and shot .814 from the line (166-204)
• Helped Lemont to a 17-10 record (10-3 SSC) and a runner-up finish in the conference standings
• Assumed a starting role as a sophomore in 2014-15 and was second on the squad with 13.6 points per game in 28 games
• Cited as an All-SSC and Joliet Herald News all-area player
• Was second on the team in assists (61) and steals (36)
• Helped the Indians to a 17-11 record (9-4 SSC) and a fourth-place finish in the conference standings
• Made his varsity debut as a freshman, averaging 1.2 points per game in five outings
• Twice has been named to the Romeoville Christmas Classic All-Tournament Team (2014, 2015), and also earned WJOL All-Tournament honors (2015)
• Plays AAU Basketball for the Illinois Stars, and was named the program’s 2016 MVP
• Honor roll student
• Will play for head coach Linc Darner at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, an NCAA Division I institution located in Green Bay, Wis., and a member of the Horizon League. The Phoenix went 23-13 last season and won four Horizon League Tournament games in as many days to advance to the NCAA Tournament.