3A powerhouse North Chicago added to 205 Tip-Off Classic lineup

Elgin Larkin and North Chicago, the defending IHSA 4A and 3A fourth-place finishers, will be playing in the 205 Tip-Off Classic, the Rockford School District announced today.

Elgin Larkin is a familiar foe. The Royals have played in the Tip-Off every year, compiling a 10-7 record against usually the best competition. Under coach Deryn Carter, Larkin has won more than 20 games and regional titles in four of the past five seasons. 

North Chicago will be playing in the Tip-Off for the first time. Gerald Coleman will be entering his 14th season as coach. Under his direction, the Warhawks have topped 20 wins in a season seven times, won 10 regional titles, advanced to the 3A state tournament three times, finishing second once and fourth twice. Last season, the Warhawks knocked off Boylan in the 3A supersectionals.

Chicago Perspectives is the other Chicago-area school entering the Classic. Perspectives went 9-18 last season and last won an IHSA regional in 2013-2014.

Locally, Rockford's four public high schools will be in the Classic as well as fellow NIC-10 school, Freeport. This will be the third Tip-Off Classic for the Pretzels. They've compiled a 3-9 record so far. District 205 will release the preliminary schedule next week.

Indianapolis Pike returning to 205 Tip-Off Classic

Indianapolis Pike, the Indiana powerhouse that has produced players such as Jeff Teague and R.J. Hunter, will return to Rockford for the 205 Tip-Off Classic after a one-year hiatus.

Pike played in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Tip-Off Classics, going 5-1. Last year's Red Devils were 13-11, according to MaxPreps.

Two other out-of-state programs are coming back as well. Milwaukee Bay View will be playing in Rockford for the third straight year. The Redcats are 3-1 in the Tip-Off Classic, including going 2-0 in 2017-2018.

McArthur High School from Hollywood, Florida, also is back for the third straight year. The Mustangs went 3-1 in the 2016 Tip-Off Classic, but then went 0-4 in 2017. The schedule makers did McArthur no favors. The Mustangs played Auburn, East, Elgin Larkin and Chicago Whitney Young. Each of those schools went on to win 20 games last year. McArthur rebounded to go 15-15 on the season.

Tip-Off Classic to welcome its first West Coast team

The 205 Tip-Off Classic will feature its first entrant from California this November with Marina High School from Huntington Beach, California, coming in for the week-long showcase.

The Vikings went 16-12 in 2017-2018 and are led by coach Nick Racklin, in his eighth season.

"We like to travel to different parts of the country so that our players can see what else is out there outside of California," Racklin said in a news release Tuesday morning. "These trips are great for our team to bond, and represent our school and our state well by playing some good basketball. We look forward to competing against some very solid teams from Chicago and the surrounding areas.

"Illinois basketball has a great reputation and we welcome the challenge. We also hope to explore some local colleges when we are there that our players would not normally get to see on their own."

Marina opened in 1963 and has produced a number of outstanding athletes across several sports, including Adam Hayward and Tony Parrish in football, several major league baseball players and Cherokee Parks in basketball. Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson actually coached there from 1964-1969.

With the addition of Marina, the Tip-Off Classic, which is in its fifth year, will for the first time feature schools from five states. The other non-Illinois teams will be announced tomorrow.