Catholic League boys basketball is reaching heights it hasn’t seen in several years, most notably with its postseason success:
DePaul Prep won back-to-back state titles and is a favorite to win a third.
Mount Carmel played for a state title last season, won 59 games the last two years and produced Division I recruits Angelo Ciaravino (Northwestern) and DeAndre Craig (Denver).
St. Ignatius has made two trips to the Class 3A state finals in three years, finishing third and fourth.
Brother Rice has won a combined 61 games over two seasons while reaching sectional title games in Classes 3A and 4A.
Although Thanksgiving week was a tiny sample size, the success seems to be continuing this season. Even quiet Immaculate Conception made its presence felt, going 4-0 in winning the Coal City/Manteno Tournament behind one of the best-kept secrets in the area, 6-6 senior Andrew Hill. Playing limited minutes because of IC’s dominance and some running clocks in the second halves, Hill averaged 16.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He also had seven steals and seven three-pointers in the four victories.
The league’s bigger powers also took care of business. Mount Carmel, St. Ignatius, Brother Rice and DePaul all won Thanksgiving tournaments, with some logging impressive wins. Brother Rice picked up a 61-47 victory over ranked Joliet West, DePaul beat ranked Niles North and talented Lane, and Mount Carmel came back from the north suburbs with wins over two quality teams, Lake Forest and New Trier.
St. Ignatius and star senior guard Phoenix Gill, unranked when the season began, also jumped out to a 4-0 start and beat No. 5 Benet in the title game of the Windy City Turkey Classic at De La Salle for perhaps the biggest league win of opening week.
“It’s definitely a confidence-builder, for sure,” St. Ignatius coach Matt Monroe said of topping the Redwings.
Monroe knows the Wolfpack were flying under the radar a bit after an inconsistent
16-15 season. He liked what he saw coming out of last year and in the offseason.
“Internally, we felt real good about our team and our chances,” he said. “At the same time, we need to take it day-by-day. Our intention is not to have one great week.”
It’s reassuring to have Gill to lean on. The Northwestern recruit is a seasoned veteran who brings production and intangibles.
“What separates Phoenix from others is who he is as a person,” Monroe said. “He’s one of the best young men you will ever coach. He’s a tremendous natural leader and a calming force for us.”
Gill surpassed 1,000 points last week, reaching the milestone on an impressive “and one” dunk, and scored 24, 31, 18 and 18 points in the four tourney wins. Although it’s still early, he and emerging 6-6 junior Chris Bolte form a duo that can elevate St. Ignatius to a level most didn’t expect.
The Wolfpack will resume that effort Friday when they ride their hot start into a showdown with Lane in the Chicago Elite Classic.