I photographed all of Illinois’ best high school basketball gyms from the ground, but last month I got to shoot a few from the sky.
The United Center isn’t a typical high school basketball venue, but the home of the Chicago Bulls has hosted more than a few games over the years, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Proviso East High School’s campus is seen in the foreground, with the city of Chicago looming in the background to the east, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The red brick building between the baseball and football field is the Proviso Township Fieldhouse, where the Pirates play their varsity basketball games. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Proviso East High School in Maywood, on July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Proviso West High School
Proviso West High School’s campus, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The gym is the building towards the right with multiple skylights on the roof. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Oak Park-River Forest H.S.
Oak Park-River Forest High School’s campus is beautiful and historic. The OPRF field house can be seen in the right area of the photo. The slightly arched roof with the skylights. At about 250-feet long, it is possibly the largest high school venue for basketball in the state. On Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Also, Oak Park-River Forest would be making a book on the state’s best high school football fields too.
Wish I had a better photo. This one is so old I took it on film, but the stadium, yes it should be called a stadium, was designed by Dwight H. Perkins and his firm. They were responsible for a handful of gyms that made the book.
York High School
Home of the Dukes and the Jack Tosh Basketball tournament, York High School in Elmhurst see a lot of fans over the holidays. Photo from Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Addison Trail High School
I haven’t talked a lot about which high schools did not make the final cut for the book, but sadly out of 850 high schools, 750 of them weren’t going to make. Addison Trail High School, does not have a page, but they do get a photo here, from Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
Providence-St. Mel School
Providence-St. Mel School on Chicago’s far west side might have one of the most scenic surroundings of any school in the book. On the edge of Chicago’s Garfield Park, the area is a reminder we used to build beautiful areas to live in. Photo on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
The golden-domed Garfield Park Conservatory shines at sunset with its lagoons and green space around it, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)What might actually be the highest court in the state that sees regular varsity games, Providence-St. Mel’s gym is the raised area surrounded by its L-shaped facade. It’s on the 4th floor and fans can only watch from the 5th floor balcony, photo from, July 18, 2024. Part of the photo series Illustrious: The Best High School Basketball Gyms in Illinois. (Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson)
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