Homewood-Flossmoor’s Gianni Cobb had done this before. Twice
As a seventh grader at Prairie-Hills in Markham, Cobb helped lead his team to an Illinois Elementary School Association state championship. He repeated that feat in eighth grade.
Four years later, Cobb hit the trifecta, leading the Vikings to the first state title in program history.
“This felt way bigger,” Cobb said, moments after H-F’s 60-48 win at the State Farm Center in Champaign. “This felt great — way higher than the other championships. It’s a bigger celebration.”
Cobb, the 2023-24 Daily Southtown Boys Basketball Player of the Year, was in the middle of that celebration for H-F. Just as he was all season long as the Vikings’ top all-around threat.
H-F (33-4) had a host of transfers come in. That included Cobb, who opened his career at Bloom and spent his junior year at Perspectives-Leadership to play with his older brother, Kamarion.
“A lot of people from the outside said that we weren’t going to be able to play together,” Gianni said. “We just blocked out the noise and showed people that we could play together.
“We showed we were the No. 1 team in the state.”
Back in November, teammate Jayden Tyler talked about how much he appreciates Cobb’s talents.
“He brings scoring and he brings creation,” Tyler said. “We play off each other.”
Cobb, a Columbia commit, averaged 15.1 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds this season for the Vikings. Some of his best work also was done in the closing minutes of big games.
He made dramatic last-second shots to beat Class 3A power Thornton twice. He also hit two free throws with 16 seconds left in a 60-58 win over Curie in a 4A supersectional to get H-F to state.
H-F coach Jamere Dismukes said he enjoyed Cobb’s heroics, but his favorite memories of the season were when the intensity actually lightened up.
“I loved just seeing him smile,” Dismukes said. “Seeing Gianni smile and seeing him happy about playing the game is big time for me. I told him that a lot early in the season. ‘I want to see you smile and I want to see you have fun with the game. I don’t want you to always overthink or over analyze. Just have fun and be a kid.’
“Seeing him smile and be happy — that’s the biggest moment for me.”
The 6-foot guard may look all business on the court, but he does have a love for the game, thanks in part to his parents, Marlon and Mari.
“My dad put a ball in my hand in second grade and I’ve loved the game ever since,” Gianni said. “And my mom has been supporting me since day one.
“I can’t explain it. I just love basketball. I feel that whenever I touch the court, I go my hardest and I like to get my team involved.”
And now it’s onto Columbia. The Lions finished with a 13-14 record this winter.
“I really love them — they are like family now,” Cobb said. “They’ve been talking to me for the whole season. They have been flying out coming to watch me. They’ve shown me a lot of love.”
Dismukes said he will miss Cobb next season, but he believes big things are coming in the future for his backcourt standout.
“I think Gianni is going to be a stellar college basketball player,” Dismukes said. “Getting an Ivy League degree is impressive for a young man. I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him.
“And I plan on being in his life the rest of my life.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
