Kenwood’s two new additions spent last season in very different environments.
Amari Edwards, who started high school with St. Rita’s star-studded group a few years ago, was the point guard on Phillips’ Class 2A championship team last season. He has played on the biggest basketball stage in the city for four years.
TJ Seals, who moved to Chicago from Minnesota in his sophomore year, played in the Noble conference at Johnson last season. Some of his games were in fieldhouses without any crowds.
‘‘Coming from the [Noble conference], Seals is getting out of the mud, as they say,’’ Broncos sophomore Devin Cleveland said. ‘‘He’s had monster stat lines this season. I know he was nervous coming into this stage, though.’’
Seals and Edwards each had monster stat lines in No. 3 Kenwood’s 61-58 victory Saturday against No. 2 Warren in the Chicago Elite Classic at Credit Union 1 Arena.
Edwards scored a game-high 26 points and was 6-for-6 from three-point range. Seals, a 6-5 senior, had eight points and 18 rebounds for the Broncos (4-0).
‘‘I was nervous at the beginning, but I locked in with my boys and just played ball,’’ Seals said.
Kenwood opened last season ranked No. 1, but the Broncos never clicked and underachieved. The talented players never settled into their roles. Edwards and Seals are comfortable with their identities on the court.
‘‘That has definitely helped,’’ Kenwood coach Joseph Mason said. ‘‘They know their roles, and it is easier for the other guys to fit in around them. And they’ve brought a level of toughness and grit. Seals brings the energy and crashes the glass.’’
Warren led by 11 points in the second quarter but never was able to take control of the game.
‘‘We couldn’t sustain the lead,’’ Blue Devils coach Zack Ryan said. ‘‘There were a lot of open looks we missed and some that went in and out. Then they turned up their defensive intensity, and Edwards didn’t miss a three. That hurt us.’’
A three-pointer by Cleveland with 4:48 left tied the score at 49. Then Edwards made a three-pointer and sophomore Damari Stephens (six points, five rebounds) scored the next two baskets to put the Broncos ahead 56-50.
Warren sophomore Jaxson Davis asserted himself at that point. He converted a three-point play, made another free throw and had a steal and a layup to pull the Blue Devils (4-2) to 58-56.
But Kenwood made three of its four free throws in the last 16 seconds to secure the victory.
The game was set up so Davis and Cleveland, two of the best sophomores in the country, could match up. Cleveland scored 17 points, and Davis finished with 17 points and seven assists.
Cleveland and Davis have been friends since they were 5 years old and play club basketball together.
‘‘We always have the best competition,’’ Cleveland said. ‘‘I’ll win one, and then he will come back and win one. Jaxson is a real good player, and that whole Warren team is phenomenal.”
Warren was without one of its top players in senior Javerion Banks. He might miss a significant part of the season because of a recent injury.
