The kings of Class 3A are back: Morgan Park takes down DePaul Prep

One month ago the doubters were out in force, relishing the chance to proclaim that the king was dead. Morgan Park, the two-time defending Class 3A champs, were 4-3 and had lost to Bloom by eight and Curie by 32. Consider all of that talk extinguished.

Morgan Park beat DePaul Prep 62-56 on Saturday in the inaugural Steve Pappas Shootout. The host Rams, along with Bogan, are the area’s major threats to compete with Morgan Park for the Class 3A title. The Mustangs have now beaten both.

“That incident we had early in the year took our swagger away,” Nick Irvin said. But we are starting to get it back.”

Chicago Public Schools put the Mustangs on probation after an on-court fight during its first game of the season.

“It made us play differently,” Morgan Park junior Adam Miller said. “We thought about softening up. Every Chicago team plays hard. We are getting back to playing hard and having pep in our step and doing what we have to do to win the game.”

Miller scored 16 points and threw some eye-opening assists to the Mustangs’ bigs in the first half.

Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) gets a fast break and turns it into a dunk against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) gets a dunk toward the end of the game against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) gets a steal and makes his way to the basket, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) grabs a loose ball against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Adam Miller (44) puts pressure on DePaul Prep’s Tyler Johnson (2), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Adam Miller (44) pulls up a three pointer over DePaul Prep’s Tyler Johnson (2), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Deshawndre Washington (24) tries to keep control of the ball, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Marcus Watson (22) fakes a jump shoot and goes around DePaul Prep’s Tyler Johnson (2), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep coach Tom Kleinschmidt talks to his players, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) hauls in a rebound against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Marcus Watson (22) gets in the paint for two points against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) gets an open look to the basket, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Brian Mathews (33) and Morgan Park’s Lindell Miller (33) battle for position, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Brian Mathews (33) gets rid of the ball against Morgan Park, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Perry Cowan (11) stops inside the paint against Morgan Park, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Brian Mathews (33) and DePaul Prep’s Tyler Johnson (2) try to contain Morgan Park’s Adam Miller (44), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Nick Irving reacts after call by the official, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Raheem Anthony (10) gets fouled by Morgan Park’s Deshawndre Washington (24) as he drives to the basket, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s makes his way to the basket against Morgan Park’s Isaiah Burrell (10), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Raheem Anthony (10) shoots a three-pointer against Morgan Park, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Perry Cowan, DePaul Prep

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Morgan Park’s Marcus Watson (22) and Karl Jones (15) go up for a rebound, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park’s Kyel Grover (0) grabs a rebound, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Perry Cowan (11) battles Morgan Park’s Deshawndre Washington. Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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DePaul Prep’s Raheem Anthony (10) runs past Morgan Park’s Karl Jones (15), Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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Morgan Park stands for say National Anthem before its game against DePaul Prep, Saturday 01-12-19. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

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“Teams are sending four guys at me so the bigs are open every time and I have been hitting them and they come through,” Miller said. “They are getting used to my passes and my style of play.”

Junior guard Marcus Watson scored 15. Kyel Grover, 6-5 senior, scored 13 and grabbed six rebounds and 6-9 senior Karl Jones added eight points and six rebounds.

Bogan coach Arthur Goodwin referred to Morgan Park as “Adam Miller and the four blind mice” earlier this season. Those “mice” have spent the past month improving.

“When Goodie said that it made us come together as a team to prove everybody wrong,” Grover said. “We just have to play well together. Karl works every day after practice. He’s getting better, you can tell. He’s become a rim protector.”

Morgan Park (14-3) led 47-39 after three quarters. The Rams (13-4) cut it to 56-53 on a basket by Raheem Anthony with 1:46 to play. Mustangs senior Isaiah Burrell responded with a layup and then a series of DePaul Prep turnovers ended the threat.

Perry Cowan led the Rams with 22 points. He’s one of the state’s best shooters.

“Shooting in your own gym you are comfortable,” Irvin said. “That is what scared me coming over here. They are a good shooting team and can get hot at any given time.”

Lance Mosley scored 15 for the Rams and Anthony finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

“People are saying that we aren’t as good as we used to be,” Miller said. “Morgan Park isn’t just a star team. That’s not what it is about. We get out and are grimy and play hard.”

Irvin and DePaul Prep coach Tommy Kleinschmidt are legendary Chicago high school players and longtime friends. The shootout matched up five Catholic schools against five public schools.

“It’s hard to win over here,” Irvin said. “[Kleinschmidt] is one of the best coaches in the state and a great friend of mine. They are a very, very good team.”