Top Teams, Players Showcased in Hoops Showdown at Hinsdale Central

Hinsdale Central is hosting the 2014 High School Hoops Showdown Saturday, at which several Division I prospects will be showcased, including Hinsdale Central's Matt Rafferty, Benet's Sean O'Mara, and Milwaukee-Hamilton's Kevon Looney. 

Tickets are $10 and currently available at the participating schools.

For more info on the teams and players taking the court Saturday, check out this release posted last summer by The Integrity Group Partners, who puts on the event:

The Integrity Group today confirmed the pairings for next season’s High School Hoops Showdown. The nationally known event, which has averaged close to 5,000 fans, will move from the Sears Centre Arena (Hoffman Estates) to Hinsdale Central High School. The double-header is set for Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014. 

Game 1 (6:30 tip-off) is an interstate matchup featuring top teams from Wisconsin and Illinois. Milwaukee-Hamilton will be making their first Showdown appearance, but coach Tom Diener, while at Milwaukee-Vincent, has been here before—including the Hoops Inaugural back on Jan. 10, 1998.  The Wildcats, one of the top teams in the badger state, were 22-3 last season and return several key players. They’re led by senior Kevon Looney (6-8, F - UCLA) the No. 9 rated player in the nation, according to ESPN. Their opponent is Benet Academy of Lisle. The Redwings, 27-6 last season, have been one of the top programs in Illinois over the last four years with a record of 103-18. Once again, they’ll be led by senior Sean O’Mara (6-9, C - Xavier), one of the top players in the Land of Lincoln.

In Game 2 (8:30 tip-off), it’s two of the up-and-coming teams in the western suburbs as Hinsdale Central takes on Fenwick. The Red Devils (18-7), the defending West Suburban Silver champs, return several of their top players and are led by junior Matt Rafferty (6-7, C), a top prospect in the class of 2015. The Friars (18-9), will be led by another coach with Showdown experience, as Rick Malnati (formerly of New Trier and Loyola University) takes over a program loaded with talent. He inherits four of the top five players from last season’s Marshall Regional champs, including senior Scott Lindsey (6-4, G/F - Northwestern), one of the most improved players in the state.