This all-boys, mostly African-American Catholic high school was located in the Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago’s near south side. Falling enrollment as the last Millennials graduated prompted a closure and then restart as a co-ed school, but the writing was on the wall and Hales graduated its last class in 2017. Then permanently closed in 2019.
The Spartans were not a traditional powerhouse in basketball for the first 30-years of the school, winning just 3 regionals before placing 2nd in 1993 in single-A. Hales would go out on a high note though, finishing four times in the Final 4. Head coach Gary London helped the Spartans bring home the school’s first of two titles in his first year on the job in 2003 and again in 2011 in class 3A.
It wasn’t an exactly a fairy-tail ending for Hales Franciscan, who actually had won its second state title before 2011. The Spartans won Single-A in 2005, but had to forfeit due to not being an accredited school in the state. They remain the only boys basketball team that has had to forfeit after winning state. Several schools have had to forfeit playoff runs, but none higher than 2nd. Hales also had some issues in 2004, forcing them to not be eligible for the playoffs and missing what could have been one of the few three-peats in IHSA basketball history.
Notable Hales Franciscan basketball alum are:
- JaVale McGee (2006) – NBA player with several teams since 2008. Was still active in the 2023-24 season.
- Jerome Randle (2006) – Played college ball at Cal. Was in European pro-leagues from 2010-2023.
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