Big Tim's Holiday Tournament Wrap-up and Nuggets!!!!

I went to four holiday tournaments and I'll have some observations on all of them. I'll always believe Illinois is the place to be for the best holiday tournaments of anywhere in America. Lots of choose from and I'll start from order I matriculated to. Here we go:

JACK TOSH HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT AT YORK (ELMHURST):

I always start here and made it parts of three days. I'd like to thank the AD Vince Doran, who ran the tournament. Best tournament top to bottom in top teams and talent. Metamora was the first team from outside the Chicago Area to play in the tournament. Defending Class 3A State Champs ended up winning it in an exciting overtime final with Bolingbrook on Iowa commit Cooper Koch's game winning three. Some of the top players I saw:

MVP: Tyler Mason, Metamora is a division one talent at the point guard position. Winona State is getting a steal at the division two level. Knows how to run a team and scores on all three levels. Makes clutch plays for his team at the right time.

Cooper Koch, Metamora: Iowa commit made all tournament ended it with a BANG with the game winning three. Was consistent on both ends the entire tournament.

Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook: He wins tournament MVP if Bolingbrook would have won. Just a freshman he had 31 points in title game against an experienced defending championship team. He was consistently the entire tournament.

JT Pettigrew, Bolingbrook: Another consistent double/double machine in the paint and on the perimeter. The junior is a big time rim protector on this level.

Others:

Ian Militec, Rolling Meadows (junior): 6'7" wing was a double/double machine and knock down three point shooter.

Grantas Sakenis, Andrew (Tinley Park): 6'10" monster on the interior can score on the block.

Bradley Stratton, St Laurence (Burbank) (junior): Wing was a knockdown three point shooter

Mike O'Connell, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) (junior): 6'7" center was a rebounding machine in the tournament.

Jason Jakstys, Yorkville: Illinois commit was consistent in the paint on both ends the entire tournament as well as scoring in that area.

Luke Williams, North (Naperville): Purdue football commit scored at consistent numbers.

Nate Marshall, Fenwick (Oak Park): Junior is a power 5 division one football player who scored in the paint and on drives to the basket.

Dominick Ducree, Fenwick (Oak Park): Scored from three point range in the game I saw.

Yusuf Cisse, Conant (Hoffman Estates): Hit threes and ran the team in impressive run. Committed to Washington University St Louis after the event.

Camden Lathos, Conant (Hoffman Estates): Senior wing scored inside/out the entire tournament. Versatile player on both ends.

Nick Taylor, Glenbrook South (Glenview): Senior Winona State commit used his athleticism to score at the rim and on step out three pointers.

HINSDALE CENTRAL:

Once again Joe Spagnolo did an outstanding job as did his staff having an intersection of different type teams in the event. He has turned this into a premier event in Illinois.

Hunter Gawron, Niles North (Skokie): The junior was doing his thing in the paint, scoring on rim runs, put backs and rim protecting.

Kaidan Chatham, Niles North (Skokie): Junior combo guard came alive this tournament. Had a couple of double/double's and took charges. Name to watch.

Cale Cosme, Brother Rice (Chicago): Senior Lewis commit did a little bit of everything in the tournament.

Zavier Fitch, Brother Rice (Chicago): Senior double/double machine continued his versatile ways scoring on mid range jumpers and step out threes.

Kevin Tchoffa, East (Plainfield): Senior wing is a knockdown shooter from three especially off the catch.

Rakim Chaney, Auburn (Rockford): Senior is a two end force who is a very underrated prospect.

Amir Danforth, Auburn (Rockford): Has went from just a knockdown three point shooter that has added a drive and finish game at the rim to his arsenal. One of the top sophomores in the state.

Makai Kvamme, DePaul College Prep (Chicago): Junior point guard led his team to the title with his floor general type play.

Jaylan McElroy, DePaul College Prep (Chicago): Senior was Tournament MVP was rim protecting, scoring on finishes running the floor, and posting up on the block.

Zack Sharkey, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights): Junior is the mid range king in his scoring. Consistently hit the two dribble pull-up jumper.

James Bullock Jr, Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights): Senior consistently showed the entire scoring arsenal in the tournament.

PONTIAC:

What is there to say? Oldest holiday tournament in America in the center of Illinois. Tournament organizers as usual were excellent and it's a homey atmosphere at the tournament. Always a joy to go down there and the ice cream is RIDICULOUSLY GOOD!!!!

Curie ended up winning and it's been 13 consecutive years that either they or Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) has won the tournament. Gutsy defensive team that gets into physically without fouling, and makes it tough to score upon.

Carlos Harris III, Curie (Chicago): AC Williamson award winner is one of the gustiest competitors I've ever seen on the high school level. Fought through an ankle injury, hit three HUGE free throws in first overtime of title game to tie it in the last seconds. Oh yeah to add he's an Illinois Chicago commit.

Dietrich Richardson, Manual (Peoria): Junior point guard is a jumbo one at 6'7" and went nuts in the tournament. Announced his presence with authority to the rest of the state. Scored 30 and 25 points in his last two games to lead team to consolation title. Just came back from injury.

Will Gonzalez, Curie (Chicago): Senior had a couple of nice scoring games and the game he did not in the semifinals against New Trier, he hit 2 clutch threes in the second half.

Terrence Smith, Aurora (West): Junior two sport star exploded in the event. His athleticism, dunks, drives to the lane, and hit a couple of threes had the fans jumping out of their seat. He was very assertive on both ends as he rim protected at a high level.

CJ Savage, Aurora (West): Senior point guard ran the team, hit a few threes, and scored on powerful drives to the rim and finishes.

Jayden Wright, Benet Academy (Lisle): Sophomore point guard is just fearless and hits threes from 25-30 feet. Hit a three at the buzzer to send semifinal to double overtime.

Gabe Sularski, Benet Academy (Lisle): Sophomore wing showed he's the best player in his class in Illinois. Scored on threes, strong drives and finishes at the rim. Drew fouls to get to the free throw line.

Chris Kirkpatrick, New Trier (Winnetka): Sophomore ran the team, hit threes, and mid range pull-ups to lead team deep in the tournament.

Ian Brown, New Trier (WInnetka): Senior Carnegie Melon commit showed his ability to knock down three point shots consistently off the catch.

PROVISO WEST HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT:

They have to straighten out their procedures for media requests. This post is to help them improve the process. There are people I know in the media that will not come back and cover the event. This is not good for the young men in your event that may need that coverage. This USED to be the most prestigious event in the state, people do not consider it that right now. There are good people in place that can fix this issue. It does help you have Warren (Gurnee) in the event outside what I call the Chicago Public League Invitational. This time of year teams want to play a variety of opponents they don't see all year. Just a heads up to you guys. Here we go:

Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee): First freshman in the history of the event to win the Tournament MVP award. What else to say here? 36 points 5 assists 3 steals in title game. Just dominant all the way around.

Alex Daniels, Warren Township (Gurnee): Senior wing has to play inside for his team but hit more than a few mid range jumpers in title game. Efficient player whom colleges better check out.

Semaje Howard, Lincoln Park (Chicago): Senior guard came off the bench and was very productive. Came close to getting 10 rebounds in title game.

Damian Pearson Jr, Lincoln Park (Chicago): The other bright spot in title game as he scored a couple of threes and had nice drives to the basket.

Aleks Alson, Kenwood Academy (Chicago): Junior jumbo wing (6'9") had a productive tournament and filled the stat sheet in third place game.

Devin Cleveland, Kenwood Academy (Chicago): Freshman had 15 points in third place game working his way back from wrist injury. Three level scorer.

Another freshman entering the mix:

He plays in the Chicago Public League White Central and is putting up numbers there. I was told he played well in the Small School tournament at Julian (Chicago) High School. Made all tournament. Name is Demarco King (6'2" combo guard) of King College Prep (Chicago). Tell the young man to get a Twitter account as he will be talked about for years to come.