In last week’s American, we highlighted some of the top players to watch this season in high school football. This week, it is time to take a look at some of the top teams to watch as the action begins this weekend.
Class 6: CBC, DeSmet, Eureka, Francis Howell, Hazelwood Central, Lafayette, Ritenour, SLUH
Class 5: Hazelwood East, Kirkwood, McCluer North, Parkway Central, Webster Groves
Class 4: Clayton, Gateway Tech, Ladue, Miller Career Academy, Priory, St. Charles West, St. Dominic, Westminster
Class 3: Duchesne, Cardinal Ritter, Living Word, John Burroughs, McCluer South-Berkeley, Soldan
Class 2: Brentwood, Herculaneum, Lutheran North, Maplewood
Illinois (Large): East St. Louis, Edwardsville, O’Fallon, Belleville East, Belleville West
Illinois (Small): Althoff, Alton Marquette, Columbia, Highland, Mater Dei,
Ronnie Suggs to Mizzou
Washington High basketball standout Ronnie Suggs has given a verbal commitment to attend the University of Missouri. The 6’6” Suggs will enroll in a prep school in 2014-15, then become of member of Mizzou’s 2015 recruiting class. As a junior, Suggs averaged 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists to lead the Bluejays to a 19-10 record and a Class 5 district championship. Suggs is the younger brother of former Washington High star Scott Suggs, who was Mr. Show-Me Basketball in 2008. He just finished his collegiate career at the University of Washington.
Cheaney to coach at SLU
Saint Louis University men’s basketball coach Jim Crews tabbed Calbert Cheaney as his new assistant coach. Cheaney was a former star player at Indiana and a 13-year NBA veteran. He spent the past two seasons at his alma mater as the Director of Basketball Operations. Cheaney was one of the all-time greats during his career at Indiana. He was the National Player of the Year in 1993. He is still the all-time leading scorer in the Big Ten Conference. He will be an excellent addition to the Billikens’ coaching staff.
NBA preseason game
Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming National Basketball Association preseason game between the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are expected to be contenders in the 2013-14 season. The two teams will meet on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Scottrade Center. The Grizzlies advanced to the Western Conference finals last season while the Bulls welcome back former NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose, who sat out last season with a knee injury. For ticket information, you can visit the website www.scottradecenter.com.
Still spots available
There are spots still available for the Rameybasketball.com Fall Basketball League, which will be held on Saturdays and Sundays at the Wohl Recreation Center. The league will run from September 7 through October 8 in three age group divisions. The first 40 players will be taken for the 5th/6th grade and 7th/8th grade divisions and the first 80 players will be taken in the high school division. The cost is $65 per player. For more information, visit the website www.rameybasketball.com.
Silver in Russia
Former Berkeley High track and field star Mike Rodgers came home with a silver medal from the recent IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Rodgers was a member of the USA’s 4×100-meter relay team that finished second behind Jamaica. Rodgers also finished sixth in the 100-meter dash.
