If NIU were to be blackballed by the Public League, as some coaches have suggested, it would lose its main source of players in the last few years.

Of the Huskies’ rostered players entering this season, six players had Chicago Public League ties, including the five seniors that were the driving force behind the Huskies’ 25-6 season and NCAA Tournament bid.

All-time leading scorer Donnell Thomas, Andrew Wells, Donald Whiteside, Stacy Arrington, Antwon Harmon, the five seniors, and Brian Banks, a junior, attended Chicago Public League schools.