Big Tim's Super 25 in Chicago Area after Week 6!!!!

Skipped a week as it was in the middle of the holiday tournaments which are over now. Back to regular season battles, but we have a New #1. Three of top 5 won holiday tournaments which resulted in Curie dropping more than usual. Lincoln Way Central (New Lenox) and Evanston Township enter, Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) and Geneva drop out. Here we go:

1) Benet Academy (Lisle) (17-1) (4A): Won two tournaments running through the Hinkle Holiday Classic and won prestigious Pontiac Holiday Tournament for the first time. Three straight runners-up finishes, and Head Coach Gene Heidkamp was 0-5 in title games before breaking through. AC Williamson Award winner Eastern Illinois commit senior guard Jayden Wright made huge plays in the tournament. Twin tower bigs North Dakota commit Colin Stack and junior Edvardas Stasys wrecked havoc on opposing teams. Friday host Marian Catholic, Saturday vs #10 Loyola Academy (Wilmette) at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

2) DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (14-2) (4A): Runners-up at tough Pontiac Holiday tournament. Seniors Toledo commit Rashaun Porter, Brown commit Rykan Woo, and Michigan Tech commit AJ Chambers are playing high level basketball. Friday at DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago), Saturday host Bishop O'Connell (Arlington,VA) at Steve Pappas Shootout.

3) Marist (Chicago) (13-1) (4A): Won Centralia Holiday Tournament beating Central (Champaign), West (Belleville), new #25 Evanston Township, and host Centralia in title game. Senior Charles Barnes was MVP. Beat St Rita (Chicago). Today vs Crete Monee, Tuesday host Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago), Saturday vs #22 Waukegan at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

4) Kankakee (11-1) (3A): Won it's own large school holiday tournament surviving new #21 Lincoln Way Central (New Lenox). Blew out #22 Waukegan at New Years Extravaganza at Hope Academy (Chicago). Tuesday at Thornwood Township (South Holland), Friday host Crete Monee.

5) Warren Township (Gurnee) (11-1) (4A): Won Big Dipper Holiday Tournament at Rich Township (Richton Park) with over 30 point blowout wins over Whitney Young (Chicago) and #15 Kenwood Academy (Chicago) as Mr Basketball junior Jaxson Davis scored a tournament single game record of 51 points. Beat West (Joliet). Tuesday host Mundelein, Friday host Stevenson (Lincolnshire), Saturday vs Vashon (St Louis,MO) at Highland (IL) Shootout.

6) Curie (Chicago) (12-1) (4A): Third place at Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Beat #11 New Trier (Winnetka) for third place. Seniors Justin Oliver and Michael Oliver Jr received all tournament honors. Beat #19 St Patrick (Chicago) at New Years Extravaganza at Hope Academy (Chicago). Thursday at Manley (Chicago), Friday vs Marshall County (Benton, Kentucky) at Mustang Madness Shootout (Kentucky). Saturday vs #13 Bolingbrook at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

7) St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) (15-2) (4A): Lost to #6 Curie (Chicago) then Won Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York Township (Elmhurst) largest Holiday tournament in the state. Senior Yale commit Chris Bolte was MVP and scored his 1000th point. Beat Niles West (Skokie). Seniors Napoleon "Nico" Harris IV, and Duke Ross made all tournament. Friday at Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago), Saturday host Maine South (Park Ridge) at their own shootout.

8) St Laurence (Burbank) (14-1) (4A): Won Hinsdale Central Holiday Tournament as junior Markese "Peep Show" Peoples was tournament MVP. Junior Reggie Stevens played very well in the tournament. Today vs Richwoods (Peoria), Tueday vs Hancock (Chicago), Friday vs St Francis (Wheaton), Saturday host Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) at their own shootout.

9) Kaneland (Maple Park) (13-0) (3A): Won Plano Holiday Tournament as senor Grand Valley State commit Marshaun Cocroft was MVP for second year in a row. Junior Jeffrey Hassan was all tournament. Only undefeated team in Chicago Area. Wednesday host Winnebago, Friday at Sycamore, Saturday host Central Catholic (Aurora).

10) Loyola Academy (Wilmette) (15-2) (4A): Lost in Florida to Lake Highland Prep. Followed it up by beating Seminole (FL). Friday host Mount Carmel (Chicago), Saturday vs #1 Benet Academy (Lisle) at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

11) New Trier (Winnetka) (12-3) (4A): Fourth place at Pontiac Holdiay Tournament. Played it without Big Tim two time All-Area player Princeton commit Chris Kirkpatrick (knee). Will keep them here as injury could be long term which would affect a lot. Senior High Point commit Danny Houlihan and freshman Denym Wallace both made all tournament. Tuesday at Glenbrook South (Glenview), Friday at #24 Evanston Township.

12) Homewood Flossmoor (13-1) (4A): Fifth place at Pontiac Holiday Tournament. Sophomore Darrius Hawkins Jr made all tournament. Junior Danny Ruffin played at a high level. Tuesday at Carl Sandburg (Orland Park), Friday host Lincoln Way East (Frankfort), Saturday host Thornton Township (Harvey).

13) Bolingbrook (8-4) (4A): Lost to Nicolet (WI) at New Years Extravaganza at Hope Academy (Chicago). Tuesday at Central (Plainfield), Friday at Minooka, Saturday vs #6 Curie (Chicago) at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

14) Neuqua Valley (Naperville) (14-1) (4A): Won Chuck Dayton Holiday Classic at DeKalb. Sophomore Cole Kelly won MVP, junior Mason Martin received all tournament honors. Friday vs North (Naperville),

15) Kenwood Academy (Chicago) (10-2) (4A): Runners-up at Big Dipper Holiday Tournament at Rich Township (Richton Park). Juniors Osiris Bell and Damari Stephens led the way. Tuesday host Crane Medical (Chicago), Thursday Host Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago), Saturday at Richwoods (Peoria) at Peoria Showtime Classic

16) Glenbard East (Lombard) (12-2) (4A): Third at Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York Township (Elmhurst). Seniors South Dakota commit Michael Nee and Danny Snyder made all tournament. Today vs Rich Township (Richton Park) at New Years Extravaganza at Crane Medical (Chicago), Tuesday at Elmwood Park, Saturday host #21 Lincoln Way Central (New Lenox).

17) Palatine (12-3) (4A): Went 2-2 at Jack Tosh Holiday Classic at York Township (Elmhurst). Senior Illinois football commit Tony Balanganayi was all tournament and scored his 1000th point. Thursday at Prospect (Mount Prospect), Saturday vs Warrenville South (Wheaton) at Lake Park (Roselle) Shootout.

18) Fremd (Palatine) (12-1) (4A): Won Wheeling Hardwood Classic as senior Illinois State commit Jordan Williams was MVP. Senior Rafael Pinto received all tournament honors. Beat York Township (Elmhurst) at West Suburban/Mid Suburban Challenge. Monday at Wauconda, Thursday host Rolling Meadows.

19) St Patrick (Chicago) (13-2) (4A): Runners-up at Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament. Seniors RJ McPartlin and Maurice Neely played well. Lost in overtime to #6 Curie (Chicago) at New Years Extravaganza at Hope Academy (Chicago). Saturday vs Hyde Park at St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) Shootout.

20) East (Oswego) (11-3) (4A): Lost to Morgan Park (Chicago) at Hinsdale Central Holiday Shootout Quarterfinals. Tuesday at Central (Joliet), Friday at Oswego, Saturday at Metea Valley (Aurora).

21) Lincoln Way Central (New Lenox) (11-3) (4A): New to the poll. Top players seniors Alex Panos, Micah Evans, and junior Nick Brzezniak. Runners-up in large school Kankakee Holiday Tournament. Friday at Carl Sandburg (Orland Park), Saturday at #16 Glenbard East (Lombard).

22) Waukegan (11-4) (4A): Won Elgin Holiday Tournament as seniors Rico Love and Trey Roberts made all tournament. Lost to Kankakee at New Years Extravaganza at Hope Academy (Chicago). Tuesday host Libertyville, Thursday at Lake Forest, Saturday vs #3 Marist (Chicago) at Steve Pappas Shootout at DePaul College Prep (Chicago).

23) Hersey (Arlington Heights) (13-1) (4A): Runners-up at Elgin Holiday Tournament as big 3 of seniors Charlie Pomis, Logan Luxem, and junior Jack Nawrot played well. Beat Oak Park River Forest and Mundelein. Thursday at Barrington, Saturday vs Glenbard North (Carol Stream) at Lake Park (Roselle) Shootout.

24) Evanston Township (11-3) (4A): New to the poll. Third place at Centralia Holiday Tournament. Top players are juniors Vito Rocca, Dion Lane Jr, and sophomore Ben Ojala. Dribble drive offense affords a lot of threes shot off penetration kickouts, and plays man to man defense. Tuesday at Maine South (Park Ridge), Friday host #11 New Trier (Winnetka).

25) Lincoln Park (Chicago) (11-3) (4A): Fourth place at Big Dipper Holiday Tournament. Talented team still trying to find an identity. Senior Jaylen Dickerson has been their most consistent performer. Thursday host Whitney Young (Chicago), Saturday vs Mount Carmel (Chicago) at St Laurence (Burbank) Shootout.