Tuesday: #1 Morgan Park(Chicago) at #7 Bogan(Chicago)- A big time rivalry now since Bogan knocked Morgan Park out of the Class 3A State Playoffs in the Sectional Final last season. It ended Morgan Park's title run at 2. Morgan Park pretty much owned Bogan before that game. Morgan Park has their Division 1 back court tandem returning in Illinois commit Adam Miller(6'3" senior guard) and Wake Forest commit Marcus Watson Jr(6'0" point guard). Bogan counters with Long Island University commit Kyndall Davis(6'6" guard) and top uncommitted Antoine Bloxton(6'2" senior guard) who can explode scoring at any time. The back court matchups will be great, but to me the key to the game will be Brandon Weston(6'5" junior wing) of Morgan Park and Tremear Fraley(6'8" senior center)of Bogan. Weston is a match up nightmare on the wing against any team Morgan Park plays in state. Fraley will need to take advantage of the weakness of Morgan Park which is inside play. He will have to stay out of foul trouble. Bogan has the home court advantage on their small court which gives visiting teams fits. I predict Morgan Park wins this one by double digits.
Thursday: #13 Glenbrook South(Glenview) at New Trier(Winnetka)- Glenbrook South will be the favorite here but New Trier could be tough with their no big time recognizable players on their roster. GBS has Dom Martinelli(6'5" senior forward) who is averaging over 30 points a game and scores in a number of ways. He's a tough cover as his deceptive speed and quickness allows him to sliver through crack in the defense and score. This is an intriguing match up because Martinelli will need some scoring help against the Trevians team oriented game. I say the GBS star gets just enough help to get by this tough road game in Winnetka.
Friday: #5 Notre Dame College Prep vs #8 Evanston Township at Chicago Elite Classic- The marquee match up at the CEC and most intriguing. Louis Lesmond(6'6" junior wing) of NDCP going up against his former Evanston teammates who he helped to a State Class 4A runner up finish last season. I have talked to people in the community and there is some bad blood here with this transfer. You have Daeshawn Hemphill(6'1"junior guard) of Evanston who transferred from NDCP at end of the summer. Players transferring each way. In addition: Anthony Sayles(6'3" junior point guard) of NDCP who is from Evanston and grew up playing with some of the Evanston players. Evanston has ended NDCP's post season hopes the last two seasons. It won't happen this year as NDCP has dropped to Class 3A, so this is the closest thing to revenge that NDCP can get. NDCP has two other returning starters in Troy D'Amico(6'6" junior forward) and Joe Bergstrom(6'6" senior forward). Evanston counters with Jaylin Gibson(6'4" junior wing)and Blake Peters(6'1" junior guard) as returning starters. My prediction is Notre Dame College Prep wins this game by 8 points. Size, shooting, and running solid offense will give this decision to the Dons.
#10 Fenwick(Oak Park) vs Oak Park River Forest at Chicago Elite Classic- The Battle of Oak Park once again at CEC. Fenwick pulled the upset last season. Louisville commit Bryce Hopkins(6'7" wing) of Fenwick is a match up nightmare. He's already put 44 points on Westinghouse(Chicago) this season. Trey Pettigrew(6'3" sophomore point guard) is the 2nd scoring option with a nasty three point shot. Gabe Madej(6'5" sophomore guard) will have to help in the scoring load. Oak Park counters with Isaiah Barnes(6'5" junior guard) and his three point shoting. He is supported by Justin Cross(6'8" senior wing) and Javary Germany(6'5" senior wing). Both teams have losses already so both are trying to turn it around. I would not be surpsrised if Oak Park's overall talent wins out here, but I'm picking Fenwick.