As Deion Sanders said, “I’m ba-aaaack!” Sorry for the layoff. Think of the return of this blog like Family Guy being cancelled by Fox after 3 seasons then picked up and better than ever 3 years later. So it hasn’t been 3 years, but I’m sure the anticipation of who my final team in Chicago that can contend for a state title is. Talking about this team as a possible state title contender would be like talking the actress from ‘Precious’ winning a Ms. Universe contest. However, there is some talent on this veteran roster; enough so that they might just raise some eyebrows. The conference they play in might hold them back, but from the success from last year should make this an exciting season…
Hales Franciscan Spartans- In a conference that includes De La Salle, Mt. Caramel, and Brother Rice, being one of the top teams is quite a feat. The window might be closing on the Spartans as the majority of their impact players and starters are seniors, so this season will have to end well because the next couple of season, the expectations will be lower. Size is not one of the strong suits of this team with no player over the height of 6’8. However, the Spartans have some good wings with great athleticism that can compete with most backcourts in the state. Star power is lacking but there are a couple players that make this team worth watching.
This team belongs to Sr. SG Aaric Armstead (6-4, 195 lbs, offered from Colorado State, Valparaiso, Fairfield). Aaric was the most exciting player on last year’s team due to his high flying abilities and lock down defense. His jump shot is not as sharp as it can be, but with his size and leaping ability, Armstead makes an ideal shooting guard. Teamed up with his older brother, then senior Aaron, a Wisconsin- Green Bay recruit, made a dynamic 1-2 punch that ended up falling short in the playoffs. Like the Molinas in baseball, there are more brothers that seem to show up each year. Jr. SG Adam Armstead (6-3, 175 lbs, no offers yet) is the next in line to be a division 1 athlete in the Armstead house. Adam is not quite where Aaric was as a junior, but he does possess some of the same qualities like good defense and the ability to stuff the ball down the basket. By the way, thank you to the Armstead parents for making the names of their kids so similar, kind of like George Forman’s kid’s name George III, George IV, and Georgetta.
A player to keep an eye on is Sr SF Eddie Alcantara (6-5, 200 lbs, no high major offers). The New York native has been an impressive sidekick to the Armstead family tree. Alcantara has a developing jump shot and will mix it up with the big guys down low, but Alcantara lacks a superior move to make him an elite talent. If his jump shot has improved over the summer has improved, and playing with one of the best AAU teams in Chicago, Mac Irvin Fire, definitely helps that, than Alcantara should see some attention from small conferences schools like a Fairfield or Manhattan. Both Alcantara and Armstead should be a major factor in the success of the Spartans.The experience is their but the skill and talent are not quite what you’ll find on the elite Chicago-area teams. Watch for Armstead, the older one, to have a big season as the man on the state’s top 10 team. Like Alcantara, if Armstead can develop a more consistent jump shot paired with his great athletic ability, a better mid major program will be asking for his services. The lack of frontcourt depth will ultimately hurt this team but the wings should help the Spartans be a threat to win most of the games they participate in.
NEXT WEEK: THERE IS BASKETBALL OUT OF COOK COUNTY
