FIVE NEW TEAMS JOIN HINSDALE CENTRAL HOLIDAY CLASSIC

The 2023 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic will have a new feel next December as five new teams will join the event for the first time.  Brother Rice, Lane Tech, Niles North, Plainfield East and Schaumburg will be making their first appearances in HC Squared history when the event tips off on December 27, 2023.

Brother Rice was the runner-up this year in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division.  The Crusaders won 27 of 31 regular season games in 2022-23.  Head Coach Conte Stamas is no stranger to the Hinsdale hardwood, as he served as assistant coach for the hometown Red Devils from 2016-2022.

Lane Tech represents the Chicago Public League Red-West/North Division.  The Champions return five of their top seven players, including scoring machine Shaheed Solebo, for Coach Nick LoGalbo.

Niles North was the champions of the Central Suburban North this year.  The Vikings went 24-7 in the regular season and will return three sophomores who earned All-Conference honors in Hunter Gawron, Yaris Irby and Reid Olson.

Plainfield East becomes the first team from the Southwest Prairie East to play in the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.  Junior Ehi Ogbomo is one of the leading scorers in the southwest suburbs.

Schaumburg will become the first Mid-Suburban League team in history to play in the HCHC.  Super sophomore Jordan Tunis was named to the MSL’s All-Conference Team.  Coach Jason Tucker returns to the Hinsdale Classic after being an assistant coach at Stevenson in the 2021 and 2022 holiday editions.

The new teams will be part of a sixteen-team field that represents fifteen different conferences.  The complete listing of the teams that will compete in the 2023 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic include:  Brother Rice, DePaul Prep, Hinsdale Central, Lane Tech, Lincoln-Way Central, Maine South, Marian Catholic, Morgan Park, Morton, Niles North, Oswego East, Plainfield East, Rockford Auburn, Schaumburg, Saint Charles East, and Stevenson.

The 2023 Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic will be played on four consecutive days, from December 27-30  in the Hinsdale Bank Gymnasium.  Additional information on the event will be posted on the tournament website at: www.hcholidayclassic.com and on the tournament’s social media pages.