3.17.08
Dunk Contest Judge Update
Two more judges have been added to judge along side Barry Temkin. Christine Bolin of the Daily Herald returns as a judge after serving as one last year. Arthur Agee from the movie Hoop Dreams will also join the panel. Two more spots still to fill, so check back for more information.
3.2.08
Check out Facebook events:: search for Chicago High School Classic.
3.1.08
I'm Going Division 1
This year's contest features 21 student-athletes that have already signed their Division I letter of intent.
College Connections
This year's contest features 3 sets of players that will be teammates in college.
- Kamil Janton (Bartlett), Banny Barnes (Oak Park) - Eastern Michigan
- Kenyon Smith (Simeon), Jeremy Robinson (Decatur Eisenhower) - Illinois State
- Tyler Storm (Geneseo), Bryan Hall (Whitney Young) - Northern Illinois
Hey, I Know You!
This year's contest features 3 sets of high school teammates.
- Carl Richard (Indiana State) and Tommie Thomas (Purdue) of Richards.
- Kenyon Smith (Illinois State) and Stan Simpson (Illinois) of Simeon.
- Josh Evans (Unsigned) and David Kushnier (Unsigned) of Niles North.
Big Ten Connections
This year's contest features two Division I football players: Supo Sanni (Homewood-Flossmoor) who has signed with Illinois and Tommie Thomas (Richards) who has signed with Purdue. Stan Simpson (Simeon) has signed to play basketball for the Fighting Illini. Thomas will have company on the West Lafayette campus as basketball signee Lewis Jackson (Decatur Eisenhower) has signed to play for Matt Painter at Purdue. This game will also feature another Big Ten signee, John Shurna (Glenbard West) has committed to play for Bill Carmondy and Northwestern.
I See Ivy
This year's game will feature two Ivy League signees, Chris Wrobowloski (Highland Park) has committed to Cornell and Peter Boehm (New Trier) has committed to Harvard. Wrobowlowski and Boehm were also AAU teammates for the Rising Stars.
Home Cooking
Ten Players in this year's game have decided to stay in state for college.
- Kenyon Smith - (Simeon) - Illinois State
- Jeremy Robinson ( Decatur Eisenhower) - Illinois State
- Bryan Hall - (Whitney Young) - Northern Illinois
- Tyler Storm - (Geneseo) - Northern Illinois
- Supo Sanni - (Homewood Flossmoor) - Illinois
- Stan Simpson - (Simeon) - Illinois
- John Shurna - (Glenbard West) - Northwestern
- Kevin Stineman - (Stevenson) - SIU Edwardsville
Hey I'm Lovin' It
This year's game features 21 McDonalds All-American nominees.
Danny Barnes (Oak Park), Peter Boehm (New Trier), Dion Dixon (Crane), Bryan Hall (Whitney Young), Ryan Hare (Marshall), Matt Humphrey (Hales Fransiscan), Lewis Jackson (Deactur Eisenhower), Verdell Jones (Champaign Central), Jake Lindfors (Driscoll), Jeremy Montgomery (Lincoln Park), John Moran (Jacobs), Chris Parrish (Riverside-Brookfield), Carl Richard (Richards), Jeremy Robinson (Decatur Eisenhower), A.J. Rompza (Whitney Young), John Shurna (Glenbard West), Stan Simpson (Simeon), Kenyon Smith (Simeon), Kevin Stineman (Stevenson), Tyler Storm (Geneseo) and Chris Wroblewski (Highland Park)
West Coast Connections
Matt Humphrey (Hales Franciscan) has signed with PAC-10 powerhouse, Oregon.
Sandy Streets
A.J. Rompza (Whitney Young) has signed with the University of Central Florida.
SEC or BIG TEN?
Verdell Jones (Champaign Central) is currently deciding between Minnesota, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Conference Call
This year's contest will feature 8 players from the Chicago Public League.
Dion Dixon (Crane), Ryan Hare (Marshall), Jeremy Montgomery (Lincoln Park), Bryan Hall (Young), A.J. Rompza (Young), Al Rapier (Perspectives), Kenyon Smith (Simeon) and Stan Simpson (Simeon).
TAKE ME THERE
Three players in this year's contest have played at Peoria Civic Center for the IHSA State Championship Series.
Ryan Hare (Marshall), Kevin Stineman (Stevenson) Kenyon Smith (Simeon), Tommie Thomas (Richards) Carl Richard (Richards), Stan Simpson (Simeon), and Verdell Jones (Champaign Central).
Hey I'm Still Available
This year's game features 6 players who have yet to sign their letters of intent.
Ryan Hare (Marshall), Verdell Jones (Champaign Central), Al Rapier (Perspectives), Josh Evans (Niles North) and David Kushnier (Niles North), Gozie Umeadi (Fenton).
AAU Connections
The Rising Stars basketball club and the Illinois Wolves basketball club have the most representatives in this year's game. The Rising Stars have 6 while Illinois Wolves will send 5.
Rising Stars
Kevin Stineman (Stevenson), Peter Boehm (New Trier), Josh Evans (Niles North), Chris Wroblewski (Highland Park), Gozie Umeadi (Fenton) and Jake Lindfors (Driscoll).
Illinois Wolves
Danny Barnes (Oak Park), John Shurna (Northwestern), John Moran (Jacobs), Kamil Janton (Bartlett) and Chirs Parrish (Riverside Brookfield).
Hey ... Where'd You Go?
Carl Richard (Richards) left Whitney Young after his sophomore year leaving teammates A.J. Rompza and Bryan Hall.
Like Brother... Like Brother
Jeremy Montgomery (Lincoln Park) is the 2nd Montgomery to play in the Chicago High School Classic. His older brother Jon Montgomery (Northern Iowa) played in last year's game.
Repeat Offenders
Only two teams that were represented in last year's event will be represented in 2008, Simeon and Lincoln Park.
2.22.08
2008 Rosters Tentatively Announced
The Chicago High School Classic is pleased to announce its tentative 2008 roster. The rosters were handpicked by Chicago High School Classic President Kevin Devitt and Vice President Scott Phillips. The 28 players were divided into teams based on their geographic region and competitive balance. We are pleased to have the head coach of two-time defending state champion Simeon, Robert Smith, as the head coach of the North Squad. Jeremy Moore, head coach of state powerhouse Decatur Eisenhower will guide the South squad. Stay tuned to the website for more information!
1.4.07
3 Division 1 point guards highlight early commitments.
Young's Bryan Hall, fresh off his teams Proviso West Holiday Tournament Championship gave his early commitment to play in the Chicago High School Classic Friday morning. Hall, who is one of the many talented guards on this year's Young squad, has distinguished himself as a player to watch for Head Coach Tyrone Slaughter and the Whitney Young Dolphins over the past two seasons. In the process he's excelled greatly in the classroom and on the hardwood earning himself a scholarship to Northern Illinois University. Whitney Young is currently parked in first place in the highly competitive CPS Red Northwest division with a 2-0 conference record and a 10-1 mark on the season. Hall and his teammates have been picked by many high school basketball experts to make a run for a class 4A state title this upcoming March.
Jacob's John Moran, who recently led his Golden Eagle teammates to a Jacobs Holiday Tournament Championship, gave his early commitment to play in the Chicago High School Classic Friday afternoon. Moran, who exploded on the AAU season this past spring for the Illinois Wolves has committed to play his college ball at Northern Iowa University, joining former Chicago High School Classic star Jon Montgomery (Lincoln Park). Moran, who was last year's Daily Herald Fox Valley area player of the year, will look to lead Jacobs to their first downstate appearance in the school's history this March. He and his Golden Eagle teammates are currently sitting atop the Fox Valley Fox division with a 12-1 mark.
Stevenson's Kevin Stineman, who exploded onto the Illinois High School basketball scene after he led his Stevenson Patriot team to a downstate appearance and fourth place finish in the 2007 IHSA Class 4A state tournament, gave his early commitment to play in the Chicago High School Classic early Friday morning. Stineman has committed to play his college basketball at division 1 Southern Illinois Edwardsville. The senior guard is also a product of the Rising Stars AAU program where he was coached by Mike Weinstein. Stineman and the Patriots are currently sitting in third place in the highly competitive North Suburban Lake conference with a 3-2 record.