Chicago Area Celebrating Local Players In NCAA Title Game
CHICAGO (CBS) -- No matter which team won Monday night's men's basketball national title game, Chicago was going to have bragging rights as both teams have a connection to our area.
Duke's starting lineup features a CPS grad and Wisconsin's superstar represents Chicago's Catholic League, so there's a lot of celebrating going on, reports CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker.
The national NCAA championship pits CPS Whitney Young grad Jahlil Okafor of Duke against Lisle's Benet Academy graduate Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin.
Celine Shinnick, owner of Shinnick's Pub in Bridgeport, started preparing for tonight's game early this afternoon.
Cheering for Wisconsin and Kaminsky is no brainer. The AP Player of the Year has strong connections to Bridgeport, where his father grew up.
"All the years that we've watched the tournament but to watch it with someone that you know makes it a thousand times more exciting," she said.
Plus, she's watched Frank Jr. grow up.
"Very quiet kid growing up," Shinnick said. "He's the same…didn't change. I don't think any of this as gone to his head."
Whitney Young's Tyrone Slaughter coached Duke's Jahlil Okafor for four years at Young, taking him to a state championship in 2014.
Slaughter was there when Duke won Saturday and he and Young's principal plan to join others in Indy tonight.
"Most of his teammates from last year's state championship game will be there," said Duke fan Joyce Kenner.
"Rarely do you see a guy that so gifted and so talented…to be so humble and so willing to just be regular," Slaughter said.
OKafor and Kaminsky never played each other in high school, but did play against each other earlier this season when Wisconsin and Duke played.
In the end, Duke topped Wisconsin, 68-63.