MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 1 Simeon

Unlike their counterparts at the college and professional levels, high school basketball programs don't typically need to hold a preseason media day.

For most high school teams, attention from writers, photographers and website operators is more than welcome and seen as an opportunity to promote the program and student-athletes. It might even help put a few fans in the stands.

But Simeon (Chicago), Illinois' three-time defending Class 4A state champion, doesn't need help doing that. At this point, the media attention – especially that revolving around star senior Jabari Parker – has become almost burdensome.

That's why the Wolverines hosted a media day Nov. 12, inviting local and national media to do their thing so the Chicago powerhouse can lock in on a pair of big goals – a fourth-straight state title and high school basketball's mythical national title.



Both are well within reach for the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25. The Wolverines are led by a head coach with a handful of state championships already and one of the nation's top senior prospects in Parker, a 6-foot-8 small forward that Sports Illustrated famously featured on its cover.

What makes this team potentially special, however, goes far beyond Parker.

Simeon has a roster that features 10 Division I prospects, including guards Kendrick Nunn (6-2, Sr.) and Jaylon Tate (6-1, Sr.), who are already committed to Illinois. Big man Quron Davis has made a pledge to Chicago State and Kendall Pollard to Dayton. Ricky Norris, Russell Woods and Sean Moore Jr. could also be off to Division I programs next fall.

A potential distraction is the recruitment of Parker, who is still deciding between BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State and Stanford. He hopes to end things by December, allowing him to focus on finishing off one of the storied runs in Chicago high school basketball history in style.

Over the past two seasons, Simeon is 62-3 and 87-12 since Parker arrived on campus as a freshman. The Wolverines will be heavily favored to become the first Illinois team since Manual (Peoria) from 1994-97 during the dual-classification days to win four state titles in a row.

Simeon's last five seasons:
2011-12 – 32-1 (Robert Smith), Class 4A state champions
2010-11 – 30-2 (Robert Smith), Class 4A state champions
2009-10 – 25-9 (Robert Smith), Class 4A state champions
2008-09 – 16-10 (Robert Smith)
2007-08 – 29-4 (Robert Smith)



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Classification/Division:
IHSA Class 4A

Enrollment:
1,544

Head coach:
Robert Smith

Career record:
230-37 (ninth year), state titles in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012

Former Wolverines playing college/pro basketball:
Nick Anderson (former NBA standout)
Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)
Bobby Simmons (former NBA player)
Brandon Spearman (Hawaii junior guard)
Steve Taylor (Marquette freshman forward)
Deon Thomas (Maccabi Haifa, Israel)

Other notable alumni:
Martez Wilson (New Orleans Saints)
Prolyfic (So So Def producer)



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Key returners:

Jabari Parker (6-8, Sr., G/F), Class of 2013 Top 100 prospect

Kendrick Nunn (6-2, Sr., G), Class of 2013 Top 100 prospect, Illinois commit

Jaylon Tate (6-1, Sr., G), Illinois commit

Kendall Pollard (6-5, Sr., G/F), Dayton commit

Quron Davis (6-8, Sr., F), Chicago State commit



Ricky Norris (6-2, Sr., G)

D.J. Williams (6-6, So., G/F)

Newcomers:

Sean Moore Jr. (6-2, Sr., G), transfer

Russell Woods (6-8, Sr., F), transfer

Ben Coupet (6-5, Fr., G/F)



Circle the date:
Take your pick. The Wolverines didn't schedule softly in hopes of padding their record for a national title run. Simeon's biggest challenge could come Jan. 21 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic against defending Academy national champ Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). The Chicago power will be out for redemption at that event after getting thumped by Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) a year ago. Other big games come against Julius Randle and Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) in December, then Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Southwind (Memphis) in January.

Tournament time:
Simeon is a regular at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament south of Chicago and admirably isn't abandoning the event this season. The Wolverines have won the last two titles in Pontiac and 10 crowns since 1996. Curie (Chicago) and Waukegan are among the other perennial powers in the field. The tourney has a history that dates back to 1926.

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