All Eyes on St. Louis

The long-awaited matchup between two of the top teams in the St. Louis area had all of the ingredients of a big-time college basketball game, even before players of Chaminade and walked onto the floor at the Robert F. Hyland Arena on the Lindenwood University campus in St. Charles.

Fans were in the parking lot almost two hours before the 4 p.m. tipoff looking to buy tickets for the sold-out game; however, signs were posted in the Hyland lobby windows stating the game was sold out. 

Long-time friends Bradley Beal and B.J. Young, both headed to play college basketball in Florida and Arkansas, respectively, were at halfcourt before the game posing for pictures and camera shots for photographers and ESPNU cameramen.

The Chaminade student cheering section had several choreographed chants that big-time college basketball might copy. The most amusing came with a few minutes remaining in the game: "Key time … key time … key time,” the fans shouted as they took out car keys and shook them above their heads.

However, the impressive homemade sign in the Chaminade section stated the obvious and best described the day for fans: "Beal is the real deal."

Beal displayed to the crowd of 3,400 why he is the best player in the area. He finished with 40 points, six assists, six steals and was credited one blocked shot, but he probably had four.

"I have known Brad since we were 8 or 9," Young said. "We have played together and against each other for a long time. He proved today why I think he is the best high school player in the nation."

The Beal-and-Young battle had been talked about for months since the prep schedule was released. ESPNU jumped in and put St. Louis in the spotlight, and it was a great call.

The game was the first prep event broadcast by the network since Parkway North met Parkway West in football four years ago when West featured quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

"This was great for the city of St. Louis," Beal said. "People don't realize how many great athletes there are around here."

The ESPN Rise High School Showcase featured two of the top teams in St. Louis and a terrific venue in Lindenwood.

"We have played in big games before, like this, over the past three years," said Chaminade coach Kelvin Lee. "Some of these guys were freshmen and sophomores when we won state two years ago. But we had been waiting for this game for a long time."

Beal won the battle against his childhood pal, but the smooth guard is in a class by himself, and it was no disgrace being on the losing end this time.

He showed to a national audience why he is the most complete player to come out of St. Louis in quite sometime. That class includes Larry Hughes, David Lee, Steve Stipanovich and LaPhonso Ellis, and if I am leaving out anybody else I apologize.

Beal rarely misses a shot, plays well without the ball, hits the open man under the basket and runs the floor well. He is rated as the seventh best player in the nation by ESPNU.

"This was great for St. Louis and great for the rest of the country to see two great teams," Young said. "I think this is one of the best games in St. Louis history."

This could have been a warm-up game for a possible playoff rematch in about three weeks.

"Chaminade was the heavyweight, and we were the lightweight today," said North coach Randy Reed. "This was a great showcase for both programs and St. Louis."

Well after the game had ended, Beal was signing autographs for fans outside of the Red Devils dressing room. This was yet another sign the game was special and that Beal is a special talent.