CHAMPAIGN — Mount Carmel’s Angelo Ciaravino closed out his high school career in style.
The Northwestern-bound senior guard scored 24 points Saturday against DePaul Prep.
To put that in perspective, the defense-minded Rams have allowed 24 points or less against opposing teams 10 times this season. Ciaravino scoring two dozen points was pretty impressive.
“Angelo is an ultimate warrior,” Mount Carmel coach Phil Segroves said afterward. “That’s how he practices. That’s how he runs sprints. That’s how he lifts weights.
“There was no doubt in my mind, win, lose or draw, that’s how I thought he was going to finish.”
Despite Ciaravino’s game-high scoring effort, the Caravan ended up dropping a 49-41 decision in a rematch with DePaul Prep for the Class 3A state championship at the State Farm Center.
The 6-foot-7 Ciaravino is looking forward to returning to this arena to face Illinois over the next four years. As a prelude, he made six 3-pointers for Mount Carmel (32-6) against DePaul Prep (35-2).
“I got accustomed to the rims this weekend,” Ciaravino said. “I’ve never been here before. I have to get used to it because Illinois is a rival now, so I’m looking forward to it.”
DePaul coach Tom Kleinschmidt said Ciaravino is a tough out.
“I think we did a great job on him in the first half, but he got a little loose in the second half,” Kleinschmidt said. “He’s a (Catholic League Blue) Lawless Player of the Year. We know him well.
“We’re all from the same neighborhood and the same league, and he made good plays. He’s going to Northwestern for a reason. He was a Lawless winner for a reason.”
Ciaravino said his career at Mount Carmel, which included three years on the varsity, went by fast.
“It flew by,” he said. “I took every second of it in. I made the most of it, and I would come back another year if I could. It was awesome.”
Segroves can’t grant Ciaravino an extra year of eligibility, but he will be keeping close tabs on him.
“The great thing is I get a chance to watch him play about an hour away from my house,” Segroves said. “I can’t wait to see him play in college.”
Fan of the Vikings
DePaul Prep lost just two games this season, both coming against Homewood-Flossmoor and Normal Community, the teams that played Saturday night for the Class 4A state championship.
As DePaul’s players and Kleinschmidt wrapped up the press conference, H-F and Normal Community were on the floor warming up for final game of a long weekend.
When Kleinschmidt was asked who was going to win, he went with the Vikings.
“I’m going with H-F because JD (coach Jamere Dismukes) is my guy,” Kleinschmidt said. “I love Normal, but I have to ride with those Chicago guys now.”
Kleinschmidt was right on target as the Vikings won the first state championship in program history with a 60-48 victory.
Southland coaching moves
Some notable coaching changes took place during state finals week, including a shakeup at St. Laurence. On Friday, the Vikings named Roshawn Russell to replace Byron Burt as head coach.
Russell was an assistant this season at St. Laurence. He coached at St. Rita, his alma mater, and had a 72-42 record from 2019 to 2023 while playing a national schedule.
Russell also brought in several players with Division I pedigrees, including Illinois recruit Morez Johnson, who finished his senior season this winter at Thornton.
Under Burt’s watch, the Vikings finished 59-52 from 2020 to 2024. This season, they won the Catholic League White title with an 8-0 record.
Eisenhower coach Neil Miguez also announced Tuesday he was stepping down but will stay on staff as an assistant.
Miguez had a banner season, being named the conference’s coach of the year in the South Suburban Red. The Cardinals won 24 games, one shy of the program record.
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Jeff Vorva , 2024-03-10 04:37:48
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