Some of the nation’s most highly recruited high school hoopsters to descend on O’Fallon

Another premier high school basketball event will take center stage in the metro-east this weekend.

Beginning with three games Friday and another four Saturday, the Bank of O’Fallon Shootout at O’Fallon High School again will feature a star-studded cast of players and teams.

After a couple uneven years, Cory Patton, who has been shootout director since the event’s first year in 2015, is excited about the 2023 edition.

“We’ve had a couple odd years ... with COVID in 2021, we didn’t have the event. Last year, on Friday, we had an ice storm and were unable to have it Friday night (but games took place Saturday),” he said. “Now, it’s back to a regular, normal year. We’ve got multiple teams ranked nationally in the country, multiple players ranked nationally in the country. We’re really, really excited about it.

“It’s shootout week. There’s a lot of energy around here right now.”

The shootout has an impressive alumni list, including Althoff’s Jordan Goodwin, Belleville West’s EJ Liddell, CBC’s Caleb Love, Chaminade’s Jayson Tatum and many more.

And the 2023 version will add to that collection with the inclusion of 2023 McDonald’s All-Americans Xavier Booker from Indianapolis Cathedral and Jeremiah Fears of Joliet West, ranked No. 3 in the latest AP Class 4A poll. Those two teams will lock horns at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Booker and Fears will be future teammates in college as they both have signed with Michigan State.

Patton noted the only other McDonald’s All-American to participate in the shootout was Tatum, who is now a member of the NBA’s Boston Celtics.

“How cool is that — two Michigan State commits going against each other,” said Patton, who has been the associate athletic director at OTHS the past 14 years. “Both players are ranked in the top-20 in the country. That’s pretty cool for us. We’re tickled to death.”

Fears’s younger brother, Jeremy, the state’s No. 1 rated sophomore, also is a highly coveted recruit.

“He’s phenomenal,” Patton said.

Another high profile Saturday match-up pits Vashon against Chicago Simeon at 6:30 p.m, with both teams sporting several Division-I caliber players. Simeon is ranked No. 1 in the latest AP Class 3A poll and 12th in the country and coached by the iconic Robert Smith, who recently secured his 500th win and will retire after this season.

“Simeon vs. Vashon, those two programs speak for themselves,” Patton said. “We called coach Smith and asked him to come down this year and said ‘absolutely.’ They’ve beaten multiple nationally-ranked teams. Both teams play a national schedule. It’s the No. 1 team in Illinois vs. the No. 1 team in Missouri.

“We’re very very excited about that. It will be an energetic, up and down game. There’s lots of college players ... both teams are fun. Those are two teams that are going to be really really electric.”

Looking back, the shootout started as a one-day, seven-game event in 2015. It stayed that way until shifting to a two-day format in 2018, which Patton favors.

“We enjoy it. I think that brings a little more of an energy and atmosphere with the Friday night games,” he said.

Here is a brief look at the games involving metro-east teams:

O’Fallon vs. Cardinal Ritter (girls)

The O’Fallon girls team will make their first shootout appearance and face Cardinal Ritter at 5 p.m. Friday. The Panthers are having a tremendous season, boasting a 25-4 overall record and 10-1 mark in the Southwestern Conference, along with a No. 6 ranking in the latest Associated Press Class 4A poll. O’Fallon recently knocked off previously undefeated Alton — ranked No. 4 in Class 4A — 51-38 as well.

“Our girls program is excited to be a part of this shootout now for the first time. And I’m grateful to see the girls side getting some recognition that they deserve,” Panthers coach Nick Knolhoff said. “Cardinal Ritter will be very athletic and brings great defensive pressure. Our girls are ready for the challenge and we can’t wait for the great atmosphere this shootout provides.”

Leading the Panthers are Illinois State recruit Shannon Dowell (22.1 points per game) and Indiana State recruit Jailah Pelly (8.7 points per game).

Added Patton, “We’re very excited about having our girls play. They’re a heck of a program. They’ve had a heck of a year. We’re excited to have them. It will be a great start to the event Friday night.”

Belleville East vs. Lanphier

Led by SIUE recruit Jordan Pickett’s 19.7 points per game, the Lancers head into Friday night’s game at Edwardsville at 22-3 overall and 5-2 in the Southwestern Conference..

Antwine Wilson helps complement Pickett averaging 14.1 points a contest. All in all, East coach Jeff Creek and his team look forward to facing Lanphier at 1:30 p.m. Saturday and competing in the event.

“We are excited to be playing in the O’Fallon Shootout,” said Creek, whose team was ranked No. 10 in the latest AP Class 4A poll. “The O’Fallon Shootout is a special event with many great teams. We look forward to playing Springfield Lanphier. We expect a hard-fought, fast-paced game. Playing great competition only makes us better come playoff time. This is our second time playing in the O’Fallon Shootout and we are honored to be a part of it.”

This is the second premier shootout event for the Lancers this season as they defeated Hillcrest 65-59 at the Highland Shootout in January.

O’Fallon to face Whitfield, Chaminade

The host Panthers get two for the price of one, as they face Whitfield at 6:30 p.m. Friday and then Chaminade at 5 p.m. Saturday.

O’Fallon carries an overall record of 17-6 into the shootout, while stationed at 7-2 in the SWC. Panthers coach Brian Muniz said his team undoubtedly is excited about competing in the event.

“The shootout is an event our team, school, and community look forward to every year,” he said. “Our shootout committee has done an amazing job of bringing in top line high school basketball players. Our players are always excited to play in this premier event. Every year we get to see and play with players who will be playing on TV at some of the top colleges in the nation. It’s a great event for all.”

Needless to say, Muniz expects a tough tussle with both Whitfield and Chaminade.

“Whitfield and Chaminade will be a challenge,” he said. “Whitfield is one of the better small school teams in the area. They have had a tough schedule so this should be a good game. Chaminade has played an incredible schedule and will be a big challenge for us. We will need to play well to beat both teams.”

Like with the girls, Patton is excited to have the OTHS boys compete.

“Our boys having a very good season again,” he said. “O’Fallon-Chaminade is going to be a heck of a game. We really enjoy having Chaminade every year. They’re always competitive and bring a good crowd.”

Shootout schedule

Friday, Feb. 3

5 p.m. O’Fallon girls vs Cardinal Ritter girls

6:30 p.m. O’Fallon vs. Whitfield

8 p.m. Nashville vs. Bloomington Central Catholic

Saturday, Feb. 4

3:30 p.m. Belleville East vs. Lanphier

5 p.m. O’Fallon vs. Chaminade

6:30 p.m. Vashon vs. Simeon

8 p.m. Joliet West vs. Indianapolis Cathedral

“Obviously on Saturday, we’re extremely, extremely excited about our four games. That’s as good of a four-game stretch as we’ve had,” Patton said.

Ticket information

People can purchase a Friday-only ticket for $7 or a Saturday only/two-day pass for $15, which includes all seven games both days. However, there is no Saturday-only ticket option.

Tickets are available at the Bank of O’Fallon, 901 S. Lincoln Ave., during normal business hours. The main lobby is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

People also can purchase tickets online at https://gofan.co/app/school/IL24049.

Players to watch

Here is a list of players competing in the shootout who have committed to/signed with D-I programs. Also listed is which high school they attend.

• Xavier Booker: Indianapolis Cathedral/Michigan State

• Jake Davis: Indianapolis Cathedral/Mercer

• Kennard Davis Jr.: Vashon/Southern Illinois University

• Shannon Dowell: O’Fallon/Illinois State

• Jeremiah Fears: Joliet West/Michigan State

• Matthew Moore: Joliet West/UNC Wilmington

• Jailah Pelly: O’Fallon/Indiana State

• Jordan Pickett: Belleville East/Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

• Miles Rubin: Chicago Simeon/Loyola of Chicago

• Wesley Rubin: Chicago Simeon/Northern Iowa

• Jalen Smith: O’Fallon/Lindenwood (football)

• Kaiden Space: Chicago Simeon/Stony Brook

• Jaron Tibbs: Indianapolis Cathedral/Purdue (football)

• BJ Ward: Chaminade/Southeast Missouri State

Patton ready for Friday-Saturday

With the event on tap, Patton praised the entire team who helps make the shootout possible.

“We’ve got a big committee of about six-seven people ... our athletic department plus the coaches help out,” Patton said. “Along with the guys from the Bank of O’Fallon; they help out a ton with organizing the event and getting sponsors. And we cannot hold these events without our sponsors. We thank them all so much.”

Patton is now ready for tip-off.

“We’re really excited about it,” he said. “It continues to grow each and every year. What’s fun for us is teams want to come back. I feel like teams hear positive things about our event. That’s kind of our motto: Treat people right and they’ll come back.”