Press Archive
May 2012
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Elite Classic To Return Next Season
December 16, 2012The Elite Classic will be back in Chicago next year.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office announced Tuesday the high school basketball showcase pitting Chicago area teams against nationally renowned programs will return in 2013.
The brainchild of Simeon coach Robert Smith and Young coach Tyrone Slaughter, the inaugural event drew better than 10,000 to UIC Pavilion on Dec. 1.
"From Isiah Thomas to Derrick Rose, from Kevin Garnett to Jabari Parker, when sports fans and student-athletes from around the country think of great high school basketball, they think of Chicago," Emanuel said in a released statement. "This annual event will highlight Chicago's commitment to high school basketball, which unites our city and showcases the community and competitive spirit that make Chicago's student-athletes so successful." -
2012 Chicago Elite Classic Recap
December 11, 2012The inaugural Chicago Elite Classic showcased numerous highly regarded players, while featuring top Chicago area teams against nationally recognized programs from across the United States. Fans at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion were treated on December 1st to some stellar performances, but unfortunately only one of the five match-ups turned into a competitive game.
Dominant Performances
Whitney Young (IL) and their top ranked center, Jahlil Okafor (2014) dominated their match-up with DeMatha Catholic (MD) in a 72-58 victory. Okafor easily won his showdown with senior big-man Beejay Anya (signed with the NC State Wolfpack) to the tune of 34 points and 8 rebounds. With the maturity of Young along with his other well-known junior teammates Paul White and transfer L.J. Peak, this Whitney Young team will challenge Simeon for the Chicago Public School and state crowns.
Lone Peak big man Eric Mika (2013) dominated down low, while guards T.J. Haws (2014) and Nick Emery (2013) led the way from the perimeter with 24 and 19 points, respectively. All three will be playing at BYU in the near future. Lone Peak won 84-46 against a Proviso East team that lost to Simeon (IL) in last year’s state championship game 50-48. Needless to say, everybody in the arena was clamoring for a Lone Peak vs. Simeon match-up.
Simeon dominated an over-matched Milton (GA) squad 56-35 in the events last game of the night. Star senior wing and Sports Illustrated cover boy Jabari Parker made a surprising return to the court and finished with six points. Parker hurt his foot in June and it will take him several weeks at least to work his way into basketball shape. While Parker was obviously a bit rusty, the other Simeon stars came to play. Point guard Jaylon Tate had several pin-point passes to big man Russell Woods along with his future Illinois Fighting Illini teammate, Kendrick Nunn. -
Chicago Elite Classic to be Annual Event
December 10, 2012Following a well-attended inaugural event earlier this month, the Chicago Elite Classic basketball tournament will return to Chicago next year with the intention of making it an annual staple, Mayor Emanuel announced on Monday.
The event, which pitted six of the top high school basketball teams from the Chicago area (including Simeon Career Academy, Whitney Young High School and Proviso East High School, among others) against some of the best programs from around the country, drew more than 10,000 fans to the UIC Pavilion on Dec. 1.
“This annual event will highlight Chicago's commitment to High School basketball, which unites our City and showcases the community and competitive spirit that make Chicago's student-athletes so successful,” the mayor said in a statement. -
Chicago Elite Classic highlights big weekend
November 29, 2012Talk about kicking off the season with a bang.
When you combine the Chicago Elite Classic on Saturday with the McGinnis Jump-Ball Showcase on Sunday, the high school scheduling gods put together a stacked opening weekend.
Here is the Hoops Report's look at both of those upcoming weekend events.
CHICAGO ELITE CLASSIC • Saturday, Dec. 1 • UIC Pavilion
Hoops Report's Five 2 Watch
• No. 1 Simeon. This will be the first look at the state's top-ranked team -- and MaxPreps' No. 1 team in the country -- looking for its fourth straight state championship. Simeon games have become an event.
• Jahlil Okafor vs. BeeJay Anya. Yes, Whitney Young and DeMatha Caholic is a heck of a matchup. But the 6-11 Okafor, the nation's top junior, will go head-to-head with the 6-9, 275-pound Anya, who has signed with N.C. State and is one of the top big men in the country in the Class of 2013.
• Stanley Johnson. The 6-5 junior is Rivals.com's No. 14 player in the country. He's ranked No. 21 by ESPN.com and No. 25 by Scout.com. Those high accolades and offers from the likes of UCLA, Arizona and Kentucky are a result of Johnson being a versatile and advanced scorer.
• Keita Bates-Diop. No, it's not fair, but downstate prospects always have a little extra to prove to Chicago area basketball enthusiasts. The Ohio State commit will have a chance to showcase why he's considered one of the top 25 players in the country in the Class of 2014.
• Nick Emery. Fans will love Emery, a BYU recruit and younger brother of former Cougar Jackson Emery who averaged 22 points a game as a junior. The green light is NEON green for Emery. The smooth 6-2 lefty guard is a big-time scorer with in-the-gym range and brings visions of -- who else? --Jimmer Fredette. -
Mayor Teams Up with Simeon, Young to Promote CEC
November 15, 2012Rahm Emanuel, Jabari Parker and Jahlil Okafor were in the same gym Wednesday, which happens more than one might think.
The mayor loves him some high school basketball, and he was on hand at Simeon to help promote the inaugural Chicago Elite Classic on Dec. 1.
The six-game event at Illinois-Chicago will pit Chicago-area teams against elite programs from throughout the country. An estimated 30 to 40 Division I prospects will be showcased.
The 6-foot-11 Okafor, among the top juniors in the country, will lead a loaded Young team against DeMatha of Maryland at 6:30 p.m. -
Local Leaders Get Behind Chicago Elite Classic
November 8, 2012When several of the top teams and players in the state of Illinois take the floor in the Chicago Elite Classic to take on five of the nation's top prep teams on Dec. 1, it will take Don Jackson down memory lane.
While Whitney Young coach Tyrone Slaughter is the brainchild behind this inaugural event, and Simeon coach Robert Smith has partnered up with Slaughter and Whitney Young, the Chicago Elite Classic wouldn't be exciting hoop fans around the Chicago area if not for Jackson and many other local leading business and community leaders.
Jackson is the co-founder and past president of the Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs. The Chicago group, recognized as ABLE, is an organization of a select group of approximately 25 leading African-American CEOs. -
U-High Basketball Play Chicago Elite Classic
November 8, 2012NORMAL — University High School’s basketball team will play in the inaugural Chicago Elite Classic on Dec. 1 at the Pavilion on the campus of the University of Illinois-Chicago.
The Pioneers and highly touted junior Keita Bates-Diop will take on St. Vincent-St. Mary of Akron, Ohio, the alma mater of NBA star LeBron James. The game is at 11 a.m. and among six on the day.
The 6-foot-7 Bates-Diop is rated among the top 25 juniors nationally. He is among several high-profile players slated to play in the event, including top-ranked Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon. -
Chicago Elite Classic 1 Month Away!
November 5, 2012It is one month away! The Chicago Elite Classic on December 1 at the UIC Pavilion will be one of the biggest high school basketball events to come to the state in a long time. It will feature many of the state’s top teams and prospects against nationally ranked opponents from across the country. The match-ups are set for this major event.
9:00 AM Phillips vs. Chicago De La Salle
11:00 AM Normal U-High vs. St. Vincent's St. Mary's (OH)
12:45 PM Proviso East vs. Lone Peak (UT)
2:30 PM St. Joseph's vs. Mater Dei (CA)
6:30 PM Whitney Young vs. DeMatha (MD)
8:00 PM Simeon vs. Milton (GA)
The list of prospects featured in these six games is endless. -
HRDMV w/ DeMatha's Mike Jones, W. Young Ty Slaughter
October 27, 2012Join us for Hoopz Radio DMV Monday, October 1st at 12 Noon EST for another great HS feature show with DeMatha HS(MD) Head Coach Mike Jones & Head Coach Tyrone Slaughter of Chicago's powerhouse program, Whitney Young HS. We'll discuss their upcoming seasons, Players, and December's 1st Annual Chicago Elite Classic.
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Must-See High School Basketball Showdowns
October 27, 2012Look at lineups for some of high school basketball's premier showcase events this winter.
Chicago Elite Classic
Dec. 1 – University of Illinois-Chicago – Chicago
Lineup (times to be determined)
De La Salle (Chicago) vs. Phillips (Chicago)
University (Normal, Ill.) vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) vs. Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.)
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) vs. St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.)
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. Whitney Young (Chicago)
Milton (Ga.) vs. Simeon (Chicago) -
Hoops Tourney to Showcase City, Kids
October 27, 2012Chicago has given birth to some of the best basketball players in the country — Derrick Rose, Isiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade — and that tradition hasn’t changed.
Now two Chicago Public High Schools and local business leaders have teamed up to bring top-rated players across the country to create a holiday tournament for outstanding high school players.
The Chicago Elite Classic will feature five of the best high school basketball teams from the metro Chicago area against five nationally ranked high school basketball teams from California, Georgia, Maryland, Ohio and Utah.
“Chicago has a long history of great basketball players from the city of Chicago and I want people around the city to see we not only do well on the court, but in the classroom and in the community,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said after a breakfast meeting with the coaches and local business leaders that was hosted by Ariel Investments. -
Monster Match-Ups Set for Chicago Elite Classic
October 17, 2012The powerhouse lineup of prep teams and talent, both locally and nationally, is complete. The inaugural Chicago Elite Classic, a joint venture between Whitney Young and Simeon high schools, is set for Dec. 1 at the UIC Pavilion.
Chicago Elite Classic organizers have announced its official six-game lineup. A collection of top prep programs from around the country will square off against Chicago area and state powers, which includes three-time defending state champion Simeon.
"I'm proud of the fact that two Chicago Public League coaches and programs are able to get on board with one another, work together and put on an event of this magnitude," says Whitney Young coach Tyrone Slaughter. "It's also great to see elite, national programs take a chance with us. I think the ability to put together a field of teams like this speaks volumes of the respect there is for Chicago high school basketball."
The Lineup (order of games with times still to be set)
De La Salle vs. Phillips
Normal U-High vs. St. Vincent - St. Mary (Akron, Ohio)
Proviso East vs. Lone Peak (West Highland, Utah)
St. Joseph vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Whitney Young vs. DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.)
Simeon vs. Milton (Milton, Ga.) -
City/Suburban Hoops Report
August 27, 2012Some leftovers from the week that was ... By Joe Henricksenon July 27, 2012 9:51 AM By Joe Henricksen ? The Chicago Elite Classic set for Dec. 1 in Chicago will be loaded with big-named power programs like Simeon, Whitney Young, Mater Dei, DeMatha and others, but one fun team to watch that day will be Lone Peak High School out of Utah. The Utah Reign AAU team, made up of Lone Peak players, impressed in Milwaukee. They know how to play, are fundamentally sound and play well together. Plus, they are talented, led by the duo of shooting guard Nick Emery and 6-8 Eric Mika, who have both committed to BYU. It's going to take a lot for the Illinois team matched up with Lone Peak on that December day to come out with a win.
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Chicago Elite Classic finalizes power lineup
August 27, 2012Go ahead and mark Dec. 1 on the calendar. The city of Chicago will showcase five of the top teams in the Chicago area, including three-time defending state champion Simeon, and match them up with five out-of-state prep powers in what promises to be an elite event.
The Chicago Elite Classic, which was created by both the Whitney Young and Simeon basketball programs, has officially announced all 10 teams that will be competing in this high-profile national event next season.
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Chicago to host tourney vs. nation's best
August 20, 2012Chicago-area teams have often traveled elsewhere to play nationally-ranked opponents, but next season that will change. The inaugural Chicago Elite Basketball Winter Classic, which is the creation of Simeon coach Robert Smith and Whitney Young coach Tyrone Slaughter, will pit five of the Chicago area's top teams against five of the nation's top squads on Dec. 1.
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Groundbreaking hoops event headed to Chicago
August 20, 2012The state of Illinois and city of Chicago has a long and storied basketball history. And with the arrival the inaugural Chicago Elite Basketball Winter Classic, a unique and ground-breaking event coming this December, the city of Chicago continues to add to the state basketball lore.
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Chicago Hoops Against the Nation
August 20, 2012This December, basketball fans will have a new local event to watch: the Chicago Elite Basketball Winter Classic, which will pit some of the country's best high school teams against the best locally, including Simeon, Whitney Young and De La Salle.
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Simeon, Southwind to headline inaugural Chicago hoops event
August 20, 2012The Windy City will try and flex its high school basketball muscle against a field of national powers at the inaugural Chicago Elite Basketball Winter Classic in December. Three-time defending Class 4A state champion Simeon (Chicago) and Whitney Young (Chicago) are teaming to host the event Dec. 1. Simeon, led by top junior Jabari Parker, is a contender to earn the preseason national No. 1 ranking after going 33-1 in 2011-12.
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