The first varsity matchup between Chicago’s elite sophomore big men 6’9 Cliff Alexander and 6’11 Jahlil Okafor was a defensive battle. Alexander and the visiting #3 Curie Condors (17-1) defeated the Whitney Young Dolphins (8-7) 59-47 to close the 2012 Whitney Young Shootout.
Curie’s season scoring leader, breakout senior Devin Foster (#5) led with 20 points while Alexander fouled out with 10pts, 7 rebounds + several blocks. Big Cliff Alexander’s impact reached beyond his stat line, and his baseline spin move around the bigger Okafor for a 3-point play was a game-changer.
Tied after 3 quarters, Curie’s senior guards #5 6'3 Devin Foster and #3 5'10 Malcolm Hill-Bey, and #1 5'8 Jibreel Jackson dominated Whitney Young’s young guards at both ends in the final quarter, even blocking and picking Okafor’s pocket multiple times to cement the victory.
Jahlil Okafor finished with 9pts, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks with his sophomore teammate 6’8 Paul White scoring 12pts, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks in a point-forward role.
There were college coaches in the gym from North Carolina, Arizona, Illinois, Wisconsin, Florida State, Iowa, Ohio State, Illinois State, Indiana State, UIC, Colorado State, Univ of Chicago, and South Florida, among others.
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