Always? Are you one of those guys who believe that Illinois basketball began with the Flying Illini? Take a look at some of Combes' teams or Mills' teams. Plenty of nationally ranked teams that rarely had CPS players.
I should have said in the last 40 years.
Mills coaches during a World War so not so sure what the makeup or quality of basketball was at that time.
Combes won 4 conference championships. First one had Wally Osterkorn from CPS. Second one had Irv Beromos from CPS. Third one had Red Kerr and Irv Beromos. Both stars on the team from CPS. Fourth one had Bob Starnes as a key player. He was CPS.
In the last 40 years the good Illini teams have usually had a key contributor from CPS. Not sure it really matters anymore where you get kids from as long as they are good. For years fans seemed obsessed with “locking up the state” for basketball and football. Recent results in both sports show that is less important compared to quality of players.