Simeon Career Academy officially has a stranglehold on high school basketball in the state of Illinois.
The Wolverines won their third straight –and sixth overall — IHSA title Monday night, beating Proviso East by a score of 50-48 in Peoria, Ill.
After the game, the players decided to place their shoes at the center of the Carver Arena court. Unfortunately for them, their coach, five-time champion Robert Smith, didn’t appreciate it and he suspended nine players for the first game of next season, according to Comcast SportsNet Chicago.
“They were trying to make a statement saying this was our court,” Smith told ESPN.com after the game. “To take off the shoes was out of character. I don’t think it was the time and place for that. We had already made our statement by winning three [state championships] in a row.
“As a coach, I have to set the right example for these young men,” Smith added. “They’re going to be going to college and out into the real world.”
However, no suspension was handed out to 6-foot-7 forward Jabari Parker, the No. 2 prospect in Rivals.com’s class of 2013 rankings. Parker was reportedly being interviewed by NBC when the stunt occurred.
Check out the players’ stunt in the video below, courtesy of CSN.
