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Mac Irvin Classic at Larkin has top lineup

Larkin on Monday announced the lineup for the first Mac Irvin Diabetes Awareness Classic, a 5-game event to be held at the high school on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The event is named in honor of Mac Irvin, a Chicago AAU pioneer who passed away in December 2011, due to complications from diabetes. Irvin was the father-in-law of Whitney Young girls basketball coach Corry Irvin, who is Larkin boys coach Deryn Carter’s sister. Proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association.

The lineup includes a matchup of two of the top girls basketball teams in the state as well as four boys games featuring three of the top-10 teams in the Daily Herald’s coverage area.

The event is capped by No. 2 Larkin against defending Class 3A state champion Morgan Park at 8:15 p.m.

“They lost a lot, but people have no idea how good they are,” Carter said Monday of Morgan Park. “They probably have the second-best frontcourt in the state and they play hard, so we’ll have our hands full. I’m not sure when the last time Larkin played a returning state champion in our gym, but we get them at home.”

The day begins with a clash between Bogan, paced by speedy point guard Luwane Pipkins, and No. 11 Huntley, led by Belmont-bound senior Amanze Egekeze, at 1:30 p.m.

The only girls game of the day features Rolling Meadows, ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 4A, against No. 3 Whitney Young at 3:15 p.m. Meadows took second in Class 4A last year and Corry Irvin’s Whitney Young team placed third.

Orr faces Providence St. Mel at 5 p.m. Orr returns 6-7 Tyqoune Greer and 6-8 Marlon Jones from a team that reached the Class 3A semifinals last March.

Proviso East, led by West Virgina commit Jevon Carter, takes on No. 3 St. Viator and Drake recruit Ore Arogundade at 6:45 p.m.

“We’re hoping to get some fans there so it will continually be in this area,” Carter said of the event. “The west suburbs don’t get to see some of the teams we’re going to have, so it should be exciting for fans. It will be a full night of hoops with the kind of athleticism and quality of games that people out here will enjoy.”

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