MaxPreps 2014-15 Preseason Top 25 Basketball preview: No. 10 Stevenson

It's a great time to be a Patriot from Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.).

Not only is the school's basketball team ranked No. 10 nationally going into the 2014-15 season by MaxPreps, the Stevenson football team is 10-0 heading into a big Class 8A state playoff game this weekend.

"It's an exciting time," Stevenson head basketball coach Pat Ambrose said. "We are riding a little bubble, an upswing. We have had very good teams in both sports over the years but the current group of athletes here has been tremendous."



The success stories of the two teams are very much connected. Several football players will join the Patriot basketball team once their duties on the gridiron are complete, including standout wide receiver/forward Cameron Green (609 receiving yards, nine touchdown receptions) and lineman/forward Nick Dillon.

While football players will provide valuable contributions for Ambrose this winter, the guard combination of seniors Jalen Brunson and Connor Cashaw is the biggest reason for the buzz surrounding the basketball program.

Brunson, a 6-foot-1 Villanova verbal commit, is already Stevenson's all-time leading scorer with over 1,900 career points. He averaged over 25 points per game as a junior and dropped 56 in a state semifinal loss to nationally ranked Whitney Young.

The son of former NBA guard Rick Brunson, Jalen is regarded as a Top 25 Class of 2015 prospect by 247Sports.com.

Cashaw was also highly productive in 2013-14, averaging over 17 points per game and leading the team in rebounding. The 6-4 senior is committed to Rice.

View gallery of Stevenson preseason photo shoot



Matt Johnson, a 5-11 senior, is a third double-figure scorer back for the Patriots.

While Stevenson doesn't possess the top-to-bottom, elite-level talent that some of its nationally ranked counterparts enjoy, experience and chemistry shouldn't be overlooked. Seven of the team's top eight scorers from a year ago are back and 13 juniors were on the 2013-14 playoff roster.

Stevenson's last five years:
2013-14 – 31-2, Class 4A semifinals
2012-13 – 29-5, Class 4A runner-up
2011-12 – 17-11
2010-11 – 15-13
2009-10 – 21-8 {PAGEBREAK}

State Association/Classification:
Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A

Enrollment:
3,857

Head coach:
Pat Ambrose

Career record:
301-134, 16th year as head coach at Stevenson



Former Patriots in college/pro basketball:
- Tamika Catchings, Tennessee/WNBA
- Chris Coleman, Northern Illinois
- David Simon, Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne/European professional
- Andy Stempel, Illinois Wesleyan

Other notable alumni:
- Kyle Brandt, MTV Real World alum, Jim Rome Show producer
- Brad Cieslak, former Buffalo Bills tight end
- Rex Ryan, New York Jets head coach
- Rob Ryan, New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator {PAGEBREAK}


Jalen Brunson (6-1, Sr., G)
Villanova verbal commit led Stevenson in scoring at 25.8 points per game to go along with 4.8 assists in 2013-14.

Connor Cashaw (6-4, Sr., G)
Rice verbal commit averaged 17.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a junior.

Nick Dillon (6-2, Sr., F)

Cameron Green (6-3, Sr., F)



Justin Hill (6-5, So., F)

Matt Johnson (5-11, Sr., G)
The third double-figure scorer back for the Patriots after contributing 10.5 points per game last season.

Parker Nichols (6-5, Sr., F)

Ryan Rosenbaum (6-3, Sr., G/F)

Justin Smith (6-6, So., F)

{PAGEBREAK}

Circle the date: Stevenson will be involved in four showcase games that will have a profound impact on how they are viewed nationally. On back-to-back nights (Jan. 2-3) at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia, the Patriots will take on preseason No. 20 Chaminade and perennial Washington Catholic Athletic Conference contender Gonzaga.



Ambrose's team will then travel to the prestigious Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts to take on No. 3 Findlay Prep on Jan. 17.

And finally in a bit of a budding local rivalry, Stevenson will face No. 13 Simeon for the third time in the last three years at the City-Suburban Showdown on Feb. 21. The teams met for the 4A state title in 2013 (won by Jabari Parker and Simeon) and also squared off at the same event last season.

Tournament time: The Proviso West Holiday Tournament is arguably the most prestigious high school basketball event in the state of Illinois. Entering its 54th year of existence, names like Mark Aguirre, Kevin Garnett, Juwan Howard, Marcus Liberty and Isaiah Thomas have taken the floor at the event over the decades.

Stevenson beat Morgan Park in the title game last season and will be back to defend its title Dec. 22-27.