The Evanston, Loyola and Maine South boys basketball teams are playing at the Chicago Elite Classic at UIC Pavilion this weekend.
The Wildkits, led by junior guard Nojel Eastern, are in a high-profile, Chicago-area matchup against three-time state champion Morgan Park, which placed third last season in Class 3A. The two teams are scheduled to play at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
Mustangs guard and Memphis signee Charlie Moore, a senior, is one of the best players in Illinois.
“It’s always a good matchup to play city teams like that because of how fast they can move,” Evanston junior forward Elyjah Williams said. “It’s a fun pace to play. I think it’s going to be real exciting and very fun. And we’re at UIC, so that’s even better.”
While the Ramblers and Hawks don’t have any major Division I recruits on their rosters, it shouldn’t diminish the quality of play when they meet at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. It’s the first meeting between the two teams since Loyola’s 42-37 win in the 2014 Class 4A Maine South Sectional final.
Maine South entered this week 4-0 after capturing the championship at Maine West’s tournament, winning every game by at least 16 points. Senior guard Jon Arenas, the lone returning starter, averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals in the victories. In his first season as a starter, senior Brad Perry, a 6-foot-11 center, averaged 14.3 points and 14.0 rebounds.
“Our players are really excited about being able to play in the premier basketball shootout in the state and one of the best in the country,” Loyola coach Tom Livatino said. “Maine South presents a bunch of different challenges for us. They are hard to prepare for with their matchup zone and what they do offensively. It will be a good test.”
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Chicago Elite Classic schedule
All games at UIC Pavilion
Friday, Dec. 4
6 p.m. Oak Park-River Forest vs. Fenwick
7:30 p.m. Marian Catholic vs. Mater Dei (Calif.)
9 p.m. Maine South vs. Loyola
Saturday, Dec. 5
1 p.m. Larkin vs. East St. Louis
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2:30 p.m. Riverside-Brookfield vs. Gonzaga (Washington D.C.)
4 p.m. DeMatha (Md.) vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary (Ohio)
5:30 p.m. Morgan Park vs. Evanston
7 p.m. Chaminade (Mo.) vs. Miller Grove (Ga.)
8:30 p.m. Simeon vs. Young