City-Suburban stars get their final shots

The Chicago area's two top players, Eric Anderson of St. Francisde Sales and Ray Thompson of Argo, didn't participate in Saturdaynight's annual City-Suburban all-star games at Loyola's Alumni Gym.So several unheralded and unsigned seniors got opportunities toimpress college scouts.

Tony Ciaravino and Rob Pelinka did just that.

In the opener of the doubleheader, De La Salle's Ciaravinoscored 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead the City to a 100-72victory over the Suburbs.

In the main attraction, Lake Forest's Pelinka, who was notheavily recruited prior to the season, scored 27 in leading theSuburbs to a 134-116 victory.

Pelinka is committed to Michigan, but was not considered aDivision I player until late in the year. He proved he belongs.

"I wanted to show I belong on the same floor with many of thepeople I will be playing against throughout my college career,"Pelinka said. "I felt I had something to prove."

"He proved tonight he belongs in the Big Ten," said Suburbancoach David Kaplan, one of many college scouts who had underestimatedPelinka. "A lot of people questioned his ability because of theconference he played in. He scored points around the basket andcoaches questioned his perimeter game."

No one questioned his perimeter game Saturday as the 6-5swingman converted 5-of-7 three-pointers.

Pelinka was supported by Tinley Park's Chris Dillard (22points, 4-of-5 three-pointers) and Alonso Verge (20 points).

Ciaravino has a dilemma. The 6-2 guard must decide whether toplay basketball or baseball in college. Ciaravino, who hit .464 lastyear in baseball and averaged 16.2 points this season in basketball,is trying to parlay both of his talents into a college scholarship.

"It's going to be a tough decision on what I am going to do incollege," said Ciaravino, who was All-Catholic in both sports lastyear. "I'm confused and you can't imagine how much unless you areinvolved in the situation."

Ciaravino paced a balanced scoring attack with Schurz' MichaelHill (13 points), Hirsch's Robert Franklin (12), and Westinghouse'sElvin Florez (10).

Ciaravino has talked to Texas-El Paso for basketball and Miami(Fla.) for baseball and has a third option on the horizon. Majorleague baseball scouts have been evaluating him for the June amateurdraft.