Derrick Rose was at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena on Saturday to watch Simeon take on St. Louis Chaminade in the Chicago Elite Classic.
UIC was the site of one of Rose’s greatest prep moments. On Jan. 18, 2007, Rose led Simeon to a massive upset of national No. 1 Oak Hill, Va. It was Oak Hill’s only loss of the season and the first high school game ever televised by ESPN. Rose had 28 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.
The Wolverines lost 57-55 on Saturday. Rose left after the game, and La Lumiere, Ind. took the floor to play top-ranked DePaul Prep.
Times have changed. Instead of the local hero attempting to knock off the prep school powerhouse, the local boy is now playing for the prep school powerhouse. Devin Cleveland, who starred at Kenwood the past two seasons, transferred to La Lumiere in May for his junior year.
Cleveland received a warm welcome from the crowd and scored the first bucket of the game.
“It was awesome, seeing the fans back at home and everyone screaming my name,” Cleveland said. “I love Chicago. It has a special place in my heart.”
Derrick Rose (center, in grey) looks on during the game between Simeon and Chaminade at the Chicago Elite Classic.
Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
Cleveland scored six points in the Lakers’ 66-44 win over DePaul Prep. Rykan Woo led the Rams with 18 points.
“I wanted to see how my game matched up against the best of the best,” Cleveland said. “Man, is it different [at La Lumiere]. Going from 2,000 people to about 150 students. The good thing is that everyone knows each other. Everyone has a relationship. And the campus is so original. It’s like being in a movie. Everyone came to the game. The whole school came out to support us today. It’s a community for real.”
Curie roars back to beat Warren
No. 9 Curie knocked off No. 2 Warren 65-60 in the biggest matchup of local teams at the event.
The Blue Devils (2-1) led 52-38 after Jaxson Davis opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer. Curie surged back behind senior guard Justin Oliver, who scored 13 in the fourth and finished with 24 points, nine rebounds and five steals.
“This game has been marked on my calendar since they told us about it,” Oliver said. “[The comeback] was just defense and getting easy fast break points. All of our points in the first half were hard. We had to fight for them.”
Curie’s Justin Oliver (4) reacts after beating Warren at the Chicago Elite Classic.
Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times
Saquan Commings added 17 points while guarding Davis and Mike Oliver Jr. scored 11 with four assists for the Condors (2-0).
“The guys just fought hard and kept grinding,” Curie coach Mike Oliver said. “I’m proud of these guys because they never quit. That’s what seniors do, they keep fighting.
Davis, who finished with 15 points, five assists and five rebounds, fouled out with 32 seconds left and Warren trailing by one.
Lincoln Williams paces Kankakee
There are large expectations on Kankakee this season, and star senior Lincoln Williams is rising to the challenge. He set the school single-game scoring record on Friday against Thornridge with 44 points.
Then, a few hours later in a noon tip-off at the Chicago Elite Classic, Williams had 28 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks in a 59-49 win against Pace, Ga.
“We’ve been having conversations about him stepping up his energy consistently no matter who we play, and he has accepted the challenge,” Kays coach Chris Pickett said. “He has some personal goals this season, like winning Mr. Basketball and Player of the Year and getting us to Champaign. And he’s off to a good start.”