This is one of the top summer shootouts in Illinois and in the country. It has gone to a new level since the NCAA has made two live periods in June. It goes from Friday, June 17th to Sunday, June 19th, 2022. Lots of top players and college coaches will be in attendance. Lots of transfers that we will see on their new teams, though the portal isn’t far from over yet. Here's my preview of what to watch:
Teams:
St Rita (Chicago): They have added junior wing Nojus Industraitis (6'5") from Lemont. This gives them the top three players in state of Illinois in that class (James Brown 6'9", Morez Johnson Jr. 6'9"), on a monster front line. Question will be if the guards can get the ball to the front court players, and take the many open shots they will get, and make them. Sophomore Melvin Bell (6'3") is out for summer with an injury.
Kenwood Academy (Chicago): Let's see how this team does with #2 senior point guard Darrin Ames (6’2”) playing with a bunch of younger players(unless they get some veteran transfers in late). Juniors Craig Robins (6’5”), Jaden Smith (6’9”) along with sophomore Bryce Heard (6’5”) and possibly some incoming freshman. Class of 2025 Solomon Mosely (6’5”) will give them some rugged play in the paint.
Whitney Young (Chicago): Class 4A runners up will have a veteran backcourt coming back seniors Dalen Davis (6'0") and Marcus Pigrim (6'3"). Senior wing Daniel Johnson (6'7") has to step up as a scorer. Will the Dolphins have quality inside play or are there transfers in the hopper we haven't heard about yet?
Simeon Career Academy (Chicago): Will be loaded as they have veteran seniors in Jalen Griffith (5'10"), Twins Miles and Wes Rubin (6'9") retuning from Class 3A fourth place team. Add transfers Kaiden Space (6'2" St Rita), and Sam Lewis (6'6" Oak Park) will be wing scorers. Great start to legendary coach Robert Smith's last season at the school.
Brother Rice (Chicago): Seniors Ahmad Henderson (5'9"), Khalil Ross (6'7"), and Nick Niego (6'2") return as veterans of the tough Chicago Catholic League gauntlet.
Rolling Meadows: Will be a heavy favorite to get to the Class 4A State Finals with veteran seniors Cameron Christie (6'6"), Mark Nikoltich-Wilson (6'8"), Foster Ogbonna (6'6"), and Tsvet Sotirov (6'7") all back. Look out for sophomore Ian Militch (6'6").
Rich Township (Richton Park): Head Coach James Dismukes comes over from Hyde Park(Chicago) back to his home area. He has two transfers from Leo(Chicago) seniors JaKeem Cole (6'0"), Chicago Catholic League Player Of The Year, and Jarrod Gee (6'5").
Evanston Township: ETown has four players that have transferred in: seniors Josh Thomas (6'6" Stevenson), Hunter Duncan (6'2" St Viator(Arlington Heights)), Nikola Raic (6'8" Libertyville), and Ephraim Chase (6'2" Sullivan(Chicago)). Holdovers senior Prince Adams (6'5") and sophomore Yaris Irby(5'9") makes for a talented lineup. Junior guard Brandon Watson( 5'9") moves up from sophomore level. How soon can they gel as a unit?
Lincoln Park(Chicago): Lots of young talent could still be a year away. Here's my writeup from a few weeks ago: https://www.bigtimshsbballrevue.com/post/lincoln-park-chicago-looking-to-make-some-noise-this-season-in-chicago-public-league-red-north-west.
Riverside Brookfield: Host school. Could have a three headed monster of senior Arius Alijosius(6'3"), junior William Gonzalez(6'5") and junior transfer Stefan Cicic(6'10" Notre Dame College Prep(Niles)). It's a great start to a possible contending team in the Chicago Area.
Hillcrest (Country Club Hills): Has a ton of talent back seniors Bryce Tillery (5'9"), Matthew Moore (6'8"), Darrion Baker (6'8"), Quentin Heady(6'5"), and junior Isaiah Green (6'0"). Might be the top team in the South Suburbs.
Curie(Chicago): Veteran team returning led by seniors Jeremy Harrington Jr( 6'5") Chikasi Ofoma(6'7") and junior Carlos Harris(6'2"). Nice big three to build around.
Players to watch besides the ones mentioned with their teams. Seniors unless noted, juniors*, sophomores**:
Joshua Pickett, West Aurora*
Richard Barron, St Ignatius (Chicago)
Jackson Kotecki, St Ignatius (Chicago)
Mekhi Lowery, East (Oswego)
Shaheed Solebo, Lane Tech (Chicago)*
Asa Thomas, Lake Forest
Drew Scharnowski, Burlington Central (Hampshire)
Jeremiah Fears, West (Joliet)**
Macaleah Rich, East St Louis
Xavier Suliaman, Oak Lawn
Mekhi Cooper, Bolingbrook
Donovan Younger, Bolingbrook
George Wolkow, North (Downers Grove)*
Ethan Thulin, North (Downers Grove)
Rodell Davis, Glenbrook South (Glenview)
Ryan Cohen, Glenbrook North (Northbrook)
Nikola Abusara, Benet Academy (Lisle)
DJ Porter, Fenwick (Oak Park)**
Evan Jackson, DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago)
Payton Kamin, DePaul College Prep (Chicago)*
Robert Walls Jr, DePaul College Prep (Chicago)
Jaylan McElroy, DePaul College Prep (Chicago)*
Nik Polonowski, Lyons Township (LaGrange)
Askia Bullie, Westinghouse (Chicago)*
Isaiah Giles, Westinghouse (Chicago)
David Douglas Jr, Christian (Yorkville)
Jack Fiegen, New Trier (Winnetka)
Tyler Van Gorp, New Trier (Winnetka)
EJ Breland, St Patrick (Chicago)**
Deandre Craig, Mount Carmel (Chicago)
Angelo Ciaravino, Mount Carmel (Chicago)*
Jaloni Johnson, Proviso East (Maywood)
JJ Hernandez, Glenbard North (Carol Stream)*
Raeshom Harris, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights)
Vincent Rainey, Thornton Township (Harvey)
Just a round robin shootout no tournament play but should be fun.
When are we going to start talking about middle school transfers? This is getting crazy.