Rockford Guilford

No. - Player, Pos., Height, Year
4 - Le'Troy Hunter, G, 5-0, So.
5 - Martavius Reynolds, G, 5-11, Jr.
10 - Alejandro Rodriguez, G, 5-8, So.
12 - Jordan Jones, G, 6-0, Jr.
13 - Nikolas Stadelman, G, 5-10, So.
15 - Sean Maurer, F, 6-1, Jr.
21 - Deleon Lewis, G, 6-0, Jr.
22 - Jamil Jones, G, 6-2, Jr.
23 - Jack Ivanic, F, 6-3, Jr.
24 - Jeffrey Larssen, F, 6-0, Jr.
25 - Samuel Stewart, F, 6-3, Jr.
30 - Joshua Williams, G, 5-10, Jr.
33 - Tyler Knuth, F, 6-2, So.
40 - Jack Holmstom, F, 6-5, So.
45 - Nicholas Albers, C, 6-5, Sr.

About Guilford

Mascot: Vikings

Conference: NIC-10

Team Colors: Blue/White

Enrollment: 1,721

Principal: Gus Carter

Athletic Director: Augie Toldo

Head Coach: Dean Martinetti

Assistant Coaches: Avery Johnson, L.C. Robinson, Greg Fiorucci, Darrin Sisk

Notes:

• Guilford finished 3-24 last season in Dean Martinetti’s fifth season as head coach.
• Guilford’s best season in program history was 1992-1993 when the Vikings finished 27-7 and second in the state.
• The Vikings have gone 1-7 in two years in the Tip-Off Classic.
• Guilford will have a young team with five sophomores and just one senior in 6-5 center Nicholas Albers.

Chicago Perspectives

No. - Player, Height, Pos., Year
0 - Lafayette Johnson, 5-11, G, Jr.
1 - Jarvin Graham, 5-5, G, So.
2 - De'Kimrick Hooks, 5-10, G, Jr.
3 - Issac McKay, 6-2, F, Jr.
4 - Shawn Watts, 6-5, F, Sr.
5 - Rakwon Roberts, 6-1, G, Sr.
10 - Carlos Cortes, 5-11, G, Sr.
11 - Russell Johnson, 6-1, G, Jr.
12 - Karson Heins, 6-1, G, Sr.
13 - Zahlik Norwood, 5-9, G, Jr.
15 - Marshawn Goodwill, 6-4, F, Sr.
20 - Marlon Young, 5-11, G, Jr.
22 - Montreal Willis, 5-10, G, Sr.
25 - Elijah Harris, 6-0, G, Jr.
30 - Justin Gayles, 6-2, C, So.
32 - Armanie Wilson, 6-4, F, Sr.
x - Osiris Johnson, 6-5, C, Jr.
x - Joshua Rowry, 6-4, F, Jr.

About Perspectives

Mascot: Wolves

Conference: Chicago Public

Team Colors: Gray/Red/Black

Enrollment: 413

Principal: Stephen Todd

Athletic Director: Tiray Jackson

Head Coach: Waybon McConnell

Assistant Coaches: Marcellus Phelps, Emanuel Tillman, Duane Bowen

Notes:

• This is the first year in the Tip-Off Classic for Perspectives, which is a charter school located on the south side of Chicago that opened in 1997.
• NBA All-Star and Kentucky Wildcat Anthony Davis is an alum of Perspectives. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
• The Wolves finished 11-15 last season in McConnell’s fourth year as head coach. Perspectives won a Class 2A regional title in his first season in 2014. 
• Issac McKay and Shawn Watts are the two starters returning from the team that lost in the regional championship to Farragut last year.

Milwaukee Bay View

No., Player, Height, Position, Grade
4 - Antwon Allen, 6-0, G, 12
5 - Breontae Hunt, 6-5, G, 12
10 - Kaleel McCray, 6-3, G, 10
11- Arius Smith, 6-0, G, 12
20 - Cordell Simmons, 6-3, G, 10
22 - Branden Strauss, 6-0, G, 12
23 - Malcolm Pickett, 6-4, F, 11
24 - Jemecko Price, 6-2, F, 12
25 - Charles Jackson, 6-1, G, 10
33 - Isiaiah Wright, 6-2, F, 12
34 - Kevin Cook, 6-6, F, 11
40 - Deonte Moses, 6-6, F, 11
42 - Darius Shaw, 6-1, F, 11
50 - Keith Turnbull, 6-3, F, 11

About Bay View

Mascot: Redcats

Conference: Milwaukee City

Team Colors: Scarlet Red/Black

Enrollment: 830

Principal: Sandra Peterson

Athletic Director: Jeffery Gaddis

Head Coach: Darryl Longley

Assistant Coaches: George Johnson, Tyson Kingsby, Isaiah Weatherall, Demetrius Boyd, Andre Cross

Notes:

• Bay View is a 103-year-old school that was founded in 1914.
• This is the second year Bay View will compete in the Tip-Off Classic. The Redcats finished 1-1 last year.
• More than 20 Division I athletes have played for Bay View.

Elgin Larkin

No. - Player, Year, Height
1 - Pierre Black, Jr., 6-0
2 - Keevon Campbell, Sr., 6-1
3 - Rolex Green, Sr., 6-0
4 - Jackson Reufer, Sr., 5-8
5 - Victor Perez, Sr., 6-1
10 - Kindrel Morris, Sr., 5-7
11 - Larenzo Coney, So., 5-10
12 - Latrell Hudson, Jr., 5-8
14 - Mattell MrCurry, Jr., 5-6
15 - Max Wiskirchen, Sr., 6-2
20 - Anthony Ramirez, Jr., 5-10
21 - Anthony Lynch, Sr., 6-3
22 - Trevell Cooks, Jr., 5-6
24 - Isaiah Talley, Sr., 6-4
25 - Chris Rose, Jr., 5-9
40 - Jalen Shaw, Sr., 6-10

About Larkin

Mascot: Royals

Conference: Upstate Eight

Team Colors: Royal Blue/White

Enrollment: 2,091

Principal: Jamie Crosen

Athletic Director: Ethan Karolczak

Head Coach: Deryn Carter

Assistant Coaches: Jon Winters, Deryl Carter

Notes:

• Larkin won a Class 4A regional championship last year. It was the third regional title in seven years under Deryn Carter.
• The Royals return most of their team, as there were only two seniors on last year’s roster. They will be particularly deep with guards led by senior Anthony Lynch, while 6-9 senior Jalen Shaw will be the team’s main force.
• This is Larkin’s fourth season in the Tip-Off Classic. The Royals finished 3-2 last year, and then junior Jalen Shaw made first-team all-tournament.

Rockford Auburn

No. - Player, Pos., Height, Year
0 - Yahmir Muhammad, PG, 5-11, Sr.
1 - Joshua Ausler, PG, 5-11, Fr.
2 - Justin Blake, SF, 6-2, Jr.
3 - Da'Quayvious Thompson, SG, 5-9, Sr.
5 - Jamus Neal, SF, 5-11, Sr.
11 - Tyshawn Whitt, PG, 5-11, Jr.
12 - Austin Sturlin, SG, 5-10, Sr.
13 - Javin Davis, SF, 6-1, So.
14 - Demonde Barmore, PF, 6-2, Jr.
21 - Terry Purifoy, C, 6-3, Sr.
22 - Markus Burd, SG, 5-9, Jr.
24 - DiMaggio Aldridge, PF, 6-0, Sr.
25 - Elliott Gary, SF, 6-1, Jr.
33 - Maurice Williams, SF, 6-0, Jr.
35 - Nikola Cuca, C, 6-5, Jr.

About Auburn

Mascot: Knights

Conference: NIC-10

Team Colors: Red/Black

Enrollment: 1,865

Principal: Janice Hawkins

Athletic Director: Brad Pemberton

Head Coach: Bryan Ott

Assistant Coaches: Hosea Harris, Joe Danforth, David Stockton, Ryan Shelton

Notes:

• Auburn is 10-2 in its three years of playing and hosting the Tip-Off Classic.
• The Knights reached the IHSA Class 4A State Tournament twice in the past six years. Auburn finished fourth in 2016 and third in 2012.
• Auburn head coach Bryan Ott has a 320-210 career record in 17 seasons leading the Knights.
• They’ve won six regional and four sectional titles in the past nine years.
• The Knights finished 17-12 last year and will be led by seniors Jamus Neal, Dimaggio Aldridge, Quay Thompson and Terry Purifoy. 

Sun-Times puts three Tip-Off Classic teams in top 13

If you go by the Chicago Sun-Times, three of the 15 teams you'll see in action next week at the 205 Tip-Off Classic are state title contenders.

Michael O'Brien's preseason rankings were released yesterday and he placed defending state champion Chicago Whitney Young at No. 4, Elgin Larkin No. 10 and Chicago St. Rita at No. 13.

Here's what O'Brien had to say about each.

Whitney Young:

"Starters Xavier Castaneda, Javon Freeman and Justin Boyd all return for the defending Class 4A champs. Junior Myles Baker and sophomore Tyler Beard both flashed impressive potential last season and will be key figures. Elliott Sieger, a sophomore point guard, transferred in from DePaul Prep. The Dolphins will be fast and fun to watch."

Elgin Larkin:

"Senior guard Anthony Lynch leads a deep group of guards but 6-9 senior Jalen Shaw is the big difference-maker. He can be a force offensively and defensively. If he finds consistency, the sky is the limit for the Royals."

Chicago St. Rita:

"The Mustangs don’t have a breakout superstar, but they have all the right pieces. Senior guard and leading scorer Jordan Matthews returns. Sophomore guard Joel Watts can play and there is plenty of size with 6-6 Jeremiah Oden, 6-8 Cam Bartman and 6-5 Landen Gladney."

Here are the days, times and gymnasiums you can go to see each:

Monday, Nov. 20 at Auburn
6 p.m.: Chicago St. Rita vs. Freeport

Tuesday, Nov. 21 at East
6 p.m.: Hollywood (Fla.) McArthur vs. Elgin Larkin
7:30 p.m.: Rockford East vs. Chicago Whitney Young

Tuesday, Nov. 21 at Guilford
7:30 p.m.: Guilford vs. Chicago St. Rita

Wednesday, Nov. 22 at East
10 a.m.: Hollwywood (Fla.) McArthur vs. Chicago Whitney Young

Wednesday, Nov. 22 at Jefferson
5:30 p.m: Chicago St. Rita vs. Belvidere
7 p.m.: Chicago Whitney Young vs. Jefferson

Friday, Nov. 24 at Guilford
1 p.m.: Chicago Whitney Young vs. Elgin Larkin

Friday, Nov. 24 at East
5:30 p.m.: Elgin Larkin vs. Rockford East

Friday, Nov. 24 at Auburn
7:30 p.m.: Auburn vs. Chicago St. Rita

Saturday, Nov. 25 at Jefferson
10 a.m.: Chicago St. Rita vs. Jefferson
1 p.m.: Jefferson vs. Elgin Larkin

Saturday, Nov. 25 at Auburn
5:30 p.m.: Auburn vs. Whitney Young

It takes a village ... to build a basketball tournament

The 205 Tip-Off Classic is in its fourth year and the competition keeps getting better, but it takes more than administrators making calls to convince teams to come to build a great basketball tournament.

Thanksgiving week is a chance for the Rockford basketball community to shine and the reason teams such as Hollywood (Fla.) McArthur and Elgin Larkin keep coming to Rockford and Chicago Whitney Young wanted to join the party is because that community is so solidly behind the tournament.






This year's tournament not only has its deepest field of teams playing, it has its deepest roster of sponsors as well. Rockford Public Schools would like to thank every organization that is involved with the tournament.

Returning as Gold Sponsor is Associated Bank, which has six locations in the Rockford area and is the No. 3 bank in Winnebago County in terms of deposits with nearly $600 million.


This year's Silver Sponsors are:

• Lowe's, which has two locations in Winnebago County and a distribution warehouse.
• The Good Run
• OrthoIllinois
• Members of the 1955 and 1956 West state champion basketball team
• Richard L. Johnson Associates
• Rockford Wildcats

The Media Sponsor is WIFR-TV.

Additional sponsors:

• Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Longtime area basketball coach Frank Cushing
• Glenwood Center
• Fleet Feet
• Larson & Darby

There are several in-kind sponsors:

• Jersey Mike's
• Beefaroo
• Jason's Deli
• Bino's Pizza
• Schiro's Restaurant & Lounge
• Subway
• Chik-Fil-A
• BSN
• Pepsi

As well as several groups and individuals that have pitched in to fill gaps:

• Rockford Park District
• Former Guilford basketball player Ben Holmstrom
• Radisson Hotel & Confernce Center
• Kollege Town
• Recognition Pros

As you can see from this list, the 205 Tip-Off Classic is a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. See you next week.