Coming to the '09 Shootout: Chicago Mount Carmel

For the scoop on other Shootout teams, click here

Each Monday, we'll introduce a team participating in the IlliniHQ Shootout at the Hall presented by State Farm Insurance, our annual boys' basketball extravaganza which this year takes place Dec. 12 at the Assembly Hall. Today: Chicago Mount Carmel, home of Illinois recruit Tracy Abrams

Here's the scoop:

Mount Carmel High School

City: Chicago

Enrollment: 1,700

Nickname: Caravan

Shootout appearance: First

Three things to know about Mount Carmel High School, courtesy staff writer Paul Klee:

1.

Chicago Mount Carmel is coming off a 20-9 season, in which it finished third in the Catholic South conference. A loss to Downers Grove North in a Class 4A regional final ended the Caravan's season. It was, perhaps, a better season than anticipated, seeing as how coach Mike Flaherty felt he lost five or six of his top players from the 2007-08 campaign. More will be expected of Mount Carmel next season. Juniors Tracy Abrams and Adonis Philer and sophomore Malcolm Hill-Bey give Flaherty a talented bunch.

2.

A 6-foot point guard, Abrams is one of the Shootout's headliners. He gave a surprise commitment to Illinois in December 2008, ending what would have been a high-profile recruitment before the out-of-state hawks could make it interesting. Still, programs such as Memphis and Indiana were hard after Abrams, who has built a tight relationship with UI assistant Jerrance Howard, in particular. He's been on the UI campus twice recently, for Deron Williams' return and for the UI-Illinois State football game.

3.

It's easy to see why Illinois was enamored with Abrams. "Offensively he can get to the rim at will, especially in transition where he can be so devastating," said Joe Henricksen, veteran talent evaluator with the City/Suburban Hoops Report. "I believe he will be a scoring guard, a Leandro Barbosa type." After a freshman season where he led Mount Carmel to playoff wins against Farragut, Whitney Young and De La Salle, Abrams roughly averaged about 14 points, five rebounds and four assists as a sophomore.

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