For the past 7 summers, the Northridge Basketball Varsity Knights have taken a team trip to compete against top high school teams from other parts of Illinois and surrounding states. Besides tough competition, the Knights visit college campuses and meet some of college basketball's best coaches who usually take time to share their thoughts on a variety of topics with them. Past trips have taken NRP Hoops to various locations in southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This year the Knights traveled to Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and to St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. Below are pictures from both trips.
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The Knights crossed the Mississippi River on their way to the St. Louis University Billikens' Shootout. Above is a picture of the famous "Gateway to the West" Arch taken from one of the NRP vehicles as the Knights approach the
St. Louis Metro area. |
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| Facing the toughest summer competition in NRP Basketball history, the Knights played 2 of their 4 games on the Chaifetz Arena main court. Chaifetz Arena is a recently constructed state-of-the-art basketball facility that seats 10,600 fans and serves as the basketball home to the St. Louis University Billikens. |
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| After a brisk 75 minute practice in the Billikens' practice gym, the Knights toured Chaifetz Arena and the Billikens' Locker Room where SLU head coach Jim Crews spoke to the team. Coach Crews drew on his experiences as a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion at Indiana University (1976 and 1981) and his highly successful 30-year coaching career to share with the Knights his thoughts on Team-Building and Character Formation through Team Sports. Coach Crews played for and later assisted Naismith Hall-of-Fame coaching legend Bob Knight at Indiana University. Coach Crews was the head coach at the University of Evansville for 17 seasons and West Point for 7 years before taking over at SLU last season. |
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| Featuring the unique Memphis-style BBQ taste, Pappy's Smokehouse located near SLU was the choice for dinner after Friday afternoon's practice. Pappy's Ribs, pulled pork, and beef brisket are rated among the best in the country! Although customers normally wait 60-90 minutes to be served, the Knights' timing was nearly perfect as they avoided a long wait (thanks to good planning by Coaches Lukens and Hunt) and were seated within 20 minutes of arriving at Pappy's. |
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| After enjoying St. Louis' best burger at The Range in the downtown area on Saturday after the games, the Knights walked to Archway Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. The Knights are pictured above with the amazing 630-foot stainless steel Gateway Arch structure looming overhead. The Gateway Arch is the world's tallest arch; construction costs reached nearly $13 million in 1965 (the cost to build the Arch in 2013 is estimated at $94 million!) |
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An interesting tid-bit inside the Billikens' Locker Room. A list of all the defensive charges taken by their players this past season. Senior forward (#24) Cody Ellis took an incredible 45 charges in 35 games!!! The Knights established an "Iron Knight Award" after the 2012-13 season to honor the player who takes the most charges during the season (minimum of 10 charges required for the award). The first recipient of the "Iron Knight" was forward/center James Stoll '13. James took 27 charges in 29 games his senior year and a total of 60 charges throughout his 3-year NRP varsity career!
Who will be this year's "Iron Knight" winner??? |
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| A special thanks to the SLU coaches, trainers, players, and other staff for their hospitality during this tournament. Pictured above are long-time friends, SLU Coach Crews and NRP Coach Rey. Coach Crews was the 2013 Sporting News National Coach-of-the-Year as he led the Billikens to a school-record 28 wins, an A-10 Conference Championship, a 16th AP national ranking, and the third round of the NCAA tournament. Coach Rey was the ISL Coach-of-the-Year as he led the Knights to a 23-6 record, a conference championship, and Grant tournament championship. Coaches Crews and Rey worked together at the University of Evansville from 1985 to 1989. |
