Sophomore forward Markese Peoples wears it pretty well for St. Laurence.
And it’s not just off the court. The 6-foot-3 Peoples likes making things happen.
“I really like clothes and fashion,” he said. “I try to play with a different style and swagger in showing what I can do out there. I noticed other guys don’t always want to play like that.
“It’s how you can score a lot of points and get rebounds.”
Peoples got plenty of those Tuesday, picking up 20 points and nine rebounds in a 69-64 win over Downers Grove South in the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic consolation championship game.
Senior guard Zerrick Johnson scored 12 points for the Vikings (13-3), while senior guard Bradley Stratton added 11 points. Six of Peoples’ game high in rebounds came on the offensive end.
Peoples finished 10-of-10 from the floor, scoring 12 points in the second half as St. Laurence fought back from a nine-point deficit. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds in the tourney.
“I’m aggressive in my style, going hard, finishing strong,” Peoples said. “I use my body to get to the rim and crash the boards. I go up against guys who might be bigger or stronger, so I like to attack the rim.”
In his second season on the varsity, the first-time starter has made a spectacular statement.
Actions over words.
“He’s a quiet storm,” St. Laurence coach Roshawn Russell said of Peoples. “He doesn’t say a lot, but he’s very competitive. Markese is really tough, and he’s really creative around the basket.
“Sometimes, he hits shots and we wonder how he did it.”
Senior forward Jacob Rice said Peoples’ emergence has brought energy to the Vikings, who went 4-1 in the tournament.
“He doesn’t play like a sophomore,” Rice said. “He has stepped up ever since he came in the starting lineup. We don’t have a lot of size, so he has really rebounded and played very strong.
“He’s really shifty, a good rebounder, and he’s very good around the basket.”
If his last name rings a bell, it’s because Markese is the nephew of Jonathan Peoples, a standout forward at St. Joseph who played at Notre Dame.
Markese, who was only 2 when his uncle was a senior for the Irish, has heard the stories.
“I never really saw him play,” Markese said. “He lives in Arizona now, but he comes back home and has watched me play. When I was growing up, my uncle really motivated me.
“Really my whole family did, and I just grew up watching basketball.”
In St. Laurence’s egalitarian system, he has the freedom to impact the game in different ways.
“He can do a lot on the floor,” Russell said. “He gets a lot of credit for making shots, but he also makes players for others. At times, he is like a point forward.”
After an injury-marred freshman year last season, Peoples is fully healthy. He has shown off his athleticism and ability to play bigger than his size.
“I have more opportunities now,” he said. “I can get loose out there and be able to show what I can do. I had a lot of injuries with my ankle last season. I just put in the work, and I have a better role.”
His New Year’s resolution was to go to another level.
“Success has really motivated me because a lot of players my age are not playing up right now the way I am,” he said. “I want to get even better. I have to take this opportunity while I have it.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
