As usual big time local matchups along with local teams playing against powerhouse out of state opponents. Here we go:
Friday, December 1st:
#22 Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) (1-2) vs Hillcrest (Country Club Hills) (2-2): Rematch of last years Class 3A Supersectional in this same arena. Most of the cast has changed for both sides, but look for a competitive matchup. Simeon is starting new with first year Head Coach Tim Flowers. Top players are RJ McKinnie (6'2" senior guard), Dek'won Brown (6'3" senior point guard), and Ameer Morrow (6'6" senior forward). Look out for Andre Tyler (6'4" sophomore guard). Hillcrest comes at you with Adam Page (6'4" junior guard), JayQuan Ratliff (6'0" senior guard) are the headliners.
Oak Park River Forest (3-1) vs Fenwick (Oak Park) (3-2): Battle of Oak Park happens here every year. Huge crowds of students from both schools come and cheer wildly for their team in this rivalry. Oak Park comes with Max Johnson (6'0" senior point guard), Justin Bowen (6'5" junior wing), Alex Gossett (6'5" junior wing), and Alex Vincent (6'9" junior center). Fenwick counters with Ty Macarciola (6'0" junior guard), Dominic Dupree (6'1" junior guard), Nate Marshall (6'5" junior forward), and Caleb Burgins (6'1" junior guard). Both teams are young and should be a fun game.
St Laurence (Burbank) (1-3) vs #13 Marist (Chicago) (5-0): St Laurence had some tough games at Kevin Brown Memorial Shooutout down in Washington, Il. Denver commit Josh Pickett (6'5" senior guard), Zerrick Johnson (6'3" junior guard), Caleb Lindsey (6'5" junior wing) are the top players. Marist won a Thanksgiving tournament and is off to a great start. Darshan Thomas (6'6" senior wing) has fit in seamlessly after transfer from Fenwick. Young team otherwise with Adoni Vassilakis (6'1" sophomore point guard) and Stephen Brown (6'7" sophomore wing).
Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) (3-1) vs #9 DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (4-0): Both played in Battle of The Bridge but did not face each other (would have been awkward playing each other twice in a week). Champions are led by Shaheed Solebo (6'5" senior guard), Jackson Labron (6'2" senior guard), and Daniel Scantlebury (6'7" junior forward). Rams won Class 2A last season and have a lot of guys with rings back. They have moved up to Class 3A. Jaylan McElroy (6'7" senior forward), PJ Chambers (6'2" senior guard), and Makai Kvamme (6'0" junior point guard).
Saturday, December 2nd:
Lindblom Math and Science Academy (Chicago) (1-1) vs West (Joliet) (4-1): Big time guard combination of Cleveland State commit Je'Shawn Stevenson Jr (6'4" senior guard) and Quentin McCoy (6'3" senior point guard). Kolby Capers (6'2" senior guard) is another contributor. Agsan Branch (6'4" senior forward) plays in the paint. Joliet West has Valparaiso commit Justus McNair (6'3" senior guard) is the leader. Drew King (6'10" senior center), Zion Gross (6'5" junior guard), and high flyer Aamir Shannon (6'2" sophomore guard) are other talents.
#6 Bolingbrook (3-0) vs #19 Warren Township (Gurnee) (4-1): Davion Thompson (6'3" guard) vs Jaxson Davis(6'1" guard). These are two of the top freshman in the state. Get your popcorn ready. Oh both teams have other good players. The Brook has Josh Aniceto (6'0" senior guard), DJ Strong (5'11" senior guard), JT Pettigrew (6'7" junior wing). Warren counters with Alex Daniels (6'6" wing), Javerion Banks (6'1" junior guard), Immanuel Brown (6'4" senior wing). Look for a fast paced game in this one.
Riverside Brookfield (3-1) vs #18 St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) (3-1): Riverside Brookfield has a huge center Stefan Cicic (7'0" senior center) who's a triple double threat. Cameron Mercer (6'2" sophomore guard) is one of the top players in his class. Mekhi Austin (6'0" senior guard) and Steven Brown (6'1" senior guard) are big time contributors. St Ignatius still has some player that made it to State Finals in Class 3A the last two years. They have moved up to Class 4A. Reggie Ray (6'2" senior guard), Phoenix Gill (6'3" junior guard), Justin Scott (6'5" senior forward) and Sam Horenkamp (5'10" senior point guard) are veterans.
Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) (1-0) vs Pace Academy (Atlanta, GA) (3-0): Hyde Park has Big Tim All-Area player Jurrell Baldwin (6'7" senior wing) back. He has some talent with him. Germaine Benson (6'1" senior guard), Maurice Merritt (6'5" senior wing), Marquise Merritt (6'5" senior wing). Point guard Christopher "CJ Jones (5'10" junior) runs the show. Pace Academy is Defending State Class AAAA Champs in Georgia. University of Chicago commit LJ Moore (6'7" senior wing), Central Florida commit Kyle "KJ" Greene (6'3" point guard), Eric Chatfield (5'11" junior point guard) has Division one offers. Chandler Bing (6'6" junior wing) is another playing with size on the wing.
#24 Curie (Chicago) (3-0) vs Sidwell Friends (Washington, DC) (0-0): Curie has gotten off to a great start to the year. Illinois Chicago commit Carlos Harris III (6'0" senior point guard), Will Gonzalez (6'5" senior guard), Christian Brockett (6'2" senior guard), and Taevion Collier (6'6" senior forward) are the headliners. Michael Oliver Jr (5'10" sophomore guard) is the coaches son and a knockdown three point shooter. This will be Sidwell Friends opener. Won State Champions Invitation last spring. Two time DC Athletic Association State Champs. Ranked 6th in America by Max Preps top player is Caleb Williams (6'7" senior forward). Jalen Rougier-Roane (6'5" junior wing), Jake Williams (6'4" senior guard), Caleb Gillus (junior) is the point guard. Add Joseph Amprey IV (6'5" junior wing).
#3 Homewood Flossmoor (4-0) vs Gonzaga (Washington, DC) (0-0): Columbia commit Gianni Cobb (6'0" senior point guard) and Jayden Tyler (6'1" junior guard) who has Division One offers are a great back court. Bryce Heard (6'7" junior wing), Carson Brownfield (6'3" senior wing) and Lewis commit Mac Hagemaster (6'8" senior forward) are the starting five. Gonzaga DC is ranked 10th in America by Max Preps, 14th by ESPN. Christian Gurdak (6'10" junior center) is a rim protector. Saxton Simley (6'7" sophomore wing) is a three point sniper off catch and shoot. Nikolas Lewis (6'2" junior point guard) runs the show and holds Division One offers. Derek Dixon (6'5" junior wing) has division one offers. Howard commit Blake Harper (6'5" senior combo guard) provides leadership. Alex Touomou (6'6" junior wing) provides more talent along with Malachi Terrell (6'1" freshman guard)
#11 Whitney Young (Chicago) (2-1) vs Cardinal Ritter (St Louis, MO) (2-1): Young has a young team. Damarjay Richardson (6'0" senior guard) and Sean Brown (6'2" senior forward) give some experience. Antonio Munoz (6'6" junior wing) is an athletic jumping jack who helps in the glass. Talented sophomore class with Marquis Clark (6'2" point guard), Rykan Woo (6'0" point guard), Nasir Rankin (6'1" guard), Patrick Irvin (6'5" wing), and Rico DeAlessandro (6'4" wing) and you have a deep team. Can't forget Howard Williams (6'6" freshman wing). Cardinal Ritter is a defending state champ in Missouri looking for 3rd title in last 4 years. Return all 5 starters Clayton Jackson (6'3" senior guard), Ryan Atkins (6'2" senior guard), Nashawn Davis (6'6" senior wing), Derrick Rivers (6'3" senior guard), Mekhi Barringer (6'5" senior forward).
#5 Thornton Township (Harvey) (4-0) vs #1 Kenwood Academy (Chicago) (2-0): Meanstreets vs Mac Irvin Fire. Head Coaches of both teams run these Nike EYBL Club teams. Should be intense. #1 player in State and Illinois commit Morez Johnson Jr (6'9" senior forward) will have to face some tall timber. He has some help in Meyoh Swansey (6'3" senior guard), Chae Abraham (6'2" senior point guard) and Isaiah Green (6'0" senior point guard). They will have to use their quickness and experience against the young backcourt of Kenwood. Kenwood has DePaul commit Chris Riddle (6'6" senior wing) along with Arizona State commit Jaden Smith (6'11" senior center), Calvin Robins Jr (6'5" senior wing) who can jump out of the gym. Add wing Aleks Alston (6'9" junior wing) who has multiple Division One offers and the size is there. Backcourt may be thin as Devin Cleveland (6'2" freshman guard) was injured yesterday. Not sure of his availability. Backcourt is Edwon Duling (6'1" senior point guard) and Rajon Roberts (6'0" sophomore point guard).
#7 Mount Carmel (Chicago) (5-0) vs Vashon (St Louis, MO) (2-1): Impressive start to the season for the Caravan. Have a serious shot at making it a football/basketball state title double. Northwestern commit Angelo Ciaravino (6'6" senior wing) is the leader. He is helped by Lee Marks II (6'6" senior wing), Cameron Thomas (6'3" junior guard) and Grant Best (6'2" junior guard). Christopher Uremovich (6'7" senior wing) is a transfer from Stevenson (Lincolnshire). Not sure if Kenwood Academy (Chicago) transfer Noah Mister (6'0" sophomore point guard) will be available to play? Vashon is looking for a fourth straight state title in Missouri. Christopher Williams (6'0" junior point guard) is the floor general and has multiple Division One offers. Nicholas "Butta" Randall (6'7" junior wing) is another Division One prospect. Nassir Binion (6'5" senior combo guard), Dehrio McCaskill (6'4" junior combo guard), Jordyn Richard (6'5" senior wing) are other big time talents.
See you Friday.
Comments