We continue our 2013-14 team previews with an in-depth look at St. Rita (Chicago), the defending Chicago Catholic League champion looking to end its season on a high note. Throughout October, we’ll preview many of the top teams from across the country as a countdown to the release of our preseason 2013-14 Student Sports FAB 50.
Note: All information that follows came from a questionnaire that was sent to and returned by the school’s head coach. If you would like your school to be profiled, please return the questionnaire that was mailed out earlier this month or it can be filled out online.
The information can also be emailed to editor Ronnie Flores: ronnie@studentsports.com. StudentSportsBasketball.com thanks the programs that have submitted information.
Team Name: St. Rita (Chicago)
Head Coach: Gary DeCesare (348-88, fourth year at St. Rita)
2012-13 Record: 19-8
Final Ranking: NA
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Lettermen: 8
Players Most Deserving of Preseason Honors: SG Charles Matthews 6-6 2015 (No. 14 Hoop Scoop Top 100, 11 ppg, 7 rpg), W Victor Law 6-7 2014 (No. 50 Hoop Scoop Top 100, 14 ppg, 9 rpg, Northwestern commit), G Dominique Matthews 6-2 2014 (16 ppg, 3-year starter), F Myles Carter 6-8 2015 (6 rpg, 4 bpg), PG Armani Chaney 5-10 2015 (6 apg).
Newcomers Who Could Make An Impact: C Meshach Obafemi 6-9 2016, G Chris Williams 6-4 2016.
Coach’s General Outlook: When I took over at St. Rita four seasons ago, we didn’t have a D1 player and this year we have six. I do believe we have the best team in Chicago this season. We don’t have a top ranked player like Jahlil Okafor or Cliff Alexander, but I don’t feel anyone has a better team than us. We gained valuable experience playing as a unit in grassroots events such as the Las Vegas FAB 48. With five returning starters, I feel we’ll win the close games this year. When I was at St. Raymond’s (Bronx, N.Y.) we were consistently nationally ranked so I wouldn’t feel so good about this team if it couldn’t play at the level I feel it can. I feel we’re a top 15 team this year.
Events Scheduled To Play In: Chicago Elite Classic (Chicago), Iolani Prep Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii), Timberwolves Shootout (Minneapolis, Minn.), Burger King Classic (Erie, Pa.).
Team(s) On Schedule Deserving of Ranking: Curie (Chicago), De La Salle (Minneapolis, Minn.), Villa-Angela St. Joseph (Cleveland), Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), Mt. Vernon (Mt. Vernon, N.Y.), White Station (Memphis), West Linn (West Linn, Ore.), Westchester (Los Angeles), Milwaukee Hamilton (Milwaukee, Wis.)
StudentSportsBasketball.com Comments: Last season St. Rita lost in a Class 4A regional final on a last second jumper and the team is hungry to make amends. All five starters are not only returning, but all of them have D1 ability. Coach DeCesare also has good depth and that should help the Mustangs navigate their strong schedule. St. Rita has excellent length on the perimeter and Meshach Obafemi gives them needed size and ability on the frontline in aid of shot-blocker Myles Carter. The newcomers will have to be ready right off the bat because St. Rita opens against Chicago Currie and Cliff Alexander on December 1 and then plays in the Chicago Elite Classic the following week. Last season, the Mustangs lost five games by five points or less and with its experience and depth, most of those types of games should be “W’s” this season.
Fast Fact: After leaving St. Ray’s, DeCesare coached for three years as an assistant coach at the University of Richmond and four years at DePaul. In 16 seasons at St. Raymond’s, he compiled a 282-142 record, won two New York State Federation titles (1993, 2001) and four CHSAA titles (1991, 1993, 2000, 2001). He also coached three McDonald’s All-Americans: Kareem Reid ’94 (Arkansas), Majestic Mapp ’99 (Virginia), and Julius Hodge ’01 (N.C. State).
Send corrections or comments to ronnie@studentsports.com and be sure to leave a comment that others can check out.
RELATED: FAB 50 Consideration Form
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