Team Rose Classic and a Hall of Famer

By Joe Henricksen

We are still six months away from the start of high school basketball practice, but the schedule of high-profile events continues to come together as we look forward to the 2012-2013 season.

This week the Team Rose and DaBullz Foundation Basketball Classic was announced. The two-day event, which is run by Curie coach Mike Oliver and will be held at Malcolm X College, will include eight games Dec. 8-9. Here is the event’s 2012 schedule for this December, which will feature a blend of city, suburban and even a downstate team among the 16 participants.

Saturday, Dec. 8

Morton vs. Von Steuben @ 12 noon

Riverside-Brookfield vs. Westinghouse @ 1:30 p.m.

Niles Notre Dame vs. Crane @ 3:00 p.m.

Chatham Glenwood vs. Farragut @ 4:30 p.m.

Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Curie @ 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 9

Mundelein vs. Providence St. Mel @ 12 noon

St. Rita vs. Orr @ 1:30 p.m.

North Chicago vs. Marshall @ 3:00 p.m.

In addition to the Team Rose and DaBullz Foundation Basketball Classic, the 16th annual High School Hoops Showdown at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates was recently announced. The traditional event is slated for Jan. 26 with another tripleheader. The opener will feature Niles Notre Dame taking on St. Viator in a key East Suburban Catholic Conference game. Neighboring schools Naperville Central and Benet Academy will tangle in the middle game, while two legendary coaches — West Aurora’s Gordie Kerkman and St. Joseph’s Gene Pingatore — go at it in the finale.

The Chicago Elite Classic, hosted by Simeon and Whitney Young, will be a special event with five area powers taking on five powers from across the country on Dec. 1. Among the local and national powers, all of which are traditional high schools, are Simeon, Whitney Young, Mater Dei out of California and Dematha Catholic out of Maryland among others.

Oliver inducted into Hall of Fame

Curie’s Mike Oliver, an often overlooked coach of an often underappreciated program, was inducted into the Chicago Public League Basketball Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame earlier this month. Oliver was inducted with 13 former Public League players, including King’s Efrem Winters and Hubbard’s Reggie Rose.

Oliver has built Curie into one of the most respected programs in the city. This past year the Condors finished 25-3 and reached the city title game and the Pontiac Holiday Tournament championship game for the first time in school history. In 20 years, Oliver has led Curie to 11 seasons of 20 or more wins and will welcome back another loaded team next season, highlighted by 6-9 sophomore Cliff Alexander.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport