Fresh Look, Tough Schedule Doesn’t Deter Boys Basketball

While Parker students and staff enjoy their Thanksgiving Recess, the Parker Boys Basketball team is hard at work preparing for their opening slate of games.

On Monday, November 24, a nearly all-new team tips off against Aurora Central Catholic High School at the Elmwood Park Thanksgiving tournament.

“I'm definitely looking forward to having almost a completely new team," said senior Zan Jones. “We worked a ton during the spring all the way through the fall so I think the chemistry is great, but it's nice to have a fresh group of guys.”

Junior Matthew Oppenheimer shared that same sentiment: “I am looking forward to this season and seeing what this group can become after losing a lot of guys from last year. I want one of our goals to be learning how to work together.”

Leading the team into the season is Head Coach Jarrick McGee, whose goal is to develop his young team find their identity and play their best basketball throughout the season, leading up to a tough 2A Regional.

“2A in our area is very tough when you focus on regionals,” said McGee. “Hope Academy has been bumped up to 2A after winning 1A State last season and reaching State the previous season. Christ the King finished third in State last year for 2A. You have Crane and Clark who won Regionals last year in 2A. There’s no easy 2A path around this area.”

In addition to a difficult road in the playoffs, the regular season schedule is filled with successful 3A and 4A programs from around the state.

Parker will face off against perennial Illinois basketball powerhouses Notre Dame on Tuesday, December 9; St. Rita on Tuesday, January 6; and St. Pat’s on Wednesday, February 18, as well as facing their usual conference rivals.

Junior Brady Harris said, “I’m really excited to play Ignatius, St. Pat’s, St. Viator and Latin. It’s an action-packed schedule that I am sure we can handle.”

Despite the difficult schedule and new faces on the team, the goal remains to win basketball games and compete for conference and regional championships.

“Obviously people want to beat Latin, but I think the focus is ISL,” said Jones. “It’s the most open it's been in a while, and I think this team is the one to win it.”

Harris concluded, “Some goals I have for the team are winning the ISL, a Regional and making it to Sectionals. The sky is the limit for this team. I expect us to have a 20-win season and move the ball like no Parker team ever has.”