"My hope would be that we would continue forward," Slaughter said. "My personal opinion is that this is not the time for us to go into a panic. This is a time to look at this and be reflective.

"Wherever the game is going to be played, people would like to see it because it's the best of Chicago. We have to continue to show we have good kids who are doing good things and are going on to higher education. We need to show that because we have an entire group of young people who aspire to be that."

Keeping an eye out

Bridget Pollard drives her son, senior Kendall Pollard, everywhere she can — school, games, shopping, restaurants. Johnson asks that Tate check in with a text message every 30 minutes when he's out with friends.

The mothers of the Simeon basketball players went to CPS high schools and remember when the Wilson tragedy "affected the whole city," Bridget Pollard said. They now live on the South Side and do what they can to protect their sons from similar danger, but they know their sons' safety involves more than that.

Shuftan said CPS principals must ensure the games at their schools have proper security plans in place. That includes screening fans properly, ensuring that students are supervised and adults sign in to the game.

Johnson and Bankston said they hope the adults in the teenagers' lives can make a difference.

Johnson acknowledged the players should be held accountable for their actions, but also suggested the coaches and referees need to recognize when a game is getting too heated.

"If they are that in tune and in touch with what's happening during the course of the game, they can see something building," Johnson said of officials. "They will step in and be responsible and make sure they address it so it doesn't get out of hand."

Bankston wants it to start at home.

"We need to get these young parents and get them some parenting classes so we can discontinue the cycle of ignorance," Bankston said. "I think that's where it starts. Get some community resources for these kids."

ckane@tribune.com

Twitter @ChiTribKane

Mike Helfgot contributed to this report.