Perhaps it’s appropriate that Evanston star guard Nojel Eastern has a directional name, because the senior’s presence is responsible for the Wildkits traveling all over the nation this season.
With Eastern, a 6-foot-6 Purdue signee, and a talented supporting cast, Evanston is expected to be one of the elite teams in Illinois in 2016-17. The Wildkits also will get an opportunity to measure themselves against some of the country’s best, playing what Wildkits coach Mike Ellis calls Evanston’s toughest schedule ever.
“The schedule will challenge us and help us find out what obstacles we have to overcome to make it downstate in March,” Ellis said.
Not only are the opponents tough, but the travel appears daunting. The Wildkits will play in eight shootouts or tournaments, which will require over 4,000 miles of travel and 11 nights in hotels. The players are not expected to miss any days of school.
Highlighting the schedule is a trip to Akron, Ohio, for the LeBron James Classic (Dec. 17-18), which will include a matchup with James’ alma mater St. Vincent-St. Mary, and a trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C. to compete in the prestigious Beach Ball Classic (Dec. 26-31), which includes schools from California, New York, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania, among others.
Even when they stay in the state, the Wildkits will have some high-profile matchups. Evanston will be part of the Chicago Elite Classic at the UIC Pavilion and play Montverde (Fla.) on Dec. 3. Montverde was ranked No. 6 nationally in the USA Today High School Sports preseason poll. Evanston also will head to suburban St. Louis for the Bank of O’Fallon (Ill.) Shootout where it will face Belleville Althoff, the defending Class 3A state champion, in the event’s showcase game on Feb. 4.
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Both the Chicago Elite Classic and Bank of O’Fallon Shootout will take place the day after a Central Suburban South game, and both involve overnight hotel stays.
“I’m pretty much putting the kids in an NBA-type schedule,” Ellis said. “In college, you get two or three days between tough games. But in the NBA, you get those back-to-back games (with travel). This will be a unique experience for all of us.”
Ellis said the goal of the schedule is improvement, exposure for some of Evanston’s unsigned players and creating memorable experiences, on and off the court, for the entire team
“It’s about the game of basketball, but also getting to see the world outside the community,” Ellis said.
Evanston athletic director Chris Livatino said many of the Wildkits play some out-of-state tournaments with their AAU teams, but the games this winter might mean more.
“Now, you’re representing your school and playing with the kids you’ve grown up with, you’re doing it for your city” Livatino said. “The community doesn’t follow (AAU) ball. But you better believe when they play (in Akron) or at the Beach Ball Classic, (people back home) will be following in some form or another.”
Livatino said representatives from all but one of the events made the initial contact with Evanston, almost certainly because of Eastern’s high profile. He is currently rated No. 78 nationally in the Class of 2017 by ESPN.com. Livatino said he reached out to Beach Ball Classic organizers last fall, and they agreed to monitor Evanston’s progress. A formal invitation to the Beach Ball Classic was extended in February of this year.
Evanston senior swingman Chris Hamil said he’s looking forward to facing Montverde, which features North Carolina commit Rechon Black, a junior forward, and forward R.J. Barrett, the No. 1 rated sophomore in the country, according to ESPN.com.
“We’re very excited for that challenge,” said Hamil, who lives in Evanston. “I feel like it makes me and the guys work harder in practice to compete against teams like that and to try to beat them.”
Through sponsorships, most of the event organizing committees cover lodging. But Evanston currently is trying to raise $10,000 for the travel, mostly for the flights to and from South Carolina. The basketball team is collecting private donations through a Facebook page, enlisting corporate sponsors and hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament on Saturday and Sunday.
“I’d say we’re on our way (to raising the money), maybe not well on our way,” Ellis said.
As exciting as this type of schedule can be, Stevenson boys basketball coach Pat Ambrose said it will be important for Ellis to keep the national games in perspective.
In 2014-15, Ambrose’s team, featuring current Villanova sophomore point guard Jalen Brunson, played a tournament in Springfield, Mass., and another in Wheeling, W.V. The Patriots lost to powerhouses Chaminade (Missouri) and Findlay Prep (Nevada), though Ambrose felt his team improved as a result.
“But those national games were low on the board (of season goals),” Ambrose said. “I would tell (Ellis), ‘Don’t wear your team out to get them one extra win against a team in Ohio, especially if it costs you two more wins or getting a player injured or sick. It’s not worth it.'”
For the record, Ambrose’s 2014-15 Patriots team captured the Class 4A state title.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press