Once again they did a good job with the matchups. Three out of state teams will be in the event. Rankings are Big Tim's Chicago Area rankings. Here we go:
Friday, December 6th:
First night is Catholic schools vs Public League schools:
Oak Park River Forest (1-2) vs Fenwick (4-1): The annual Battle of Oak Pak is always jumping with students packed in both sections. Size vs guard play in this one. Fenwick has owned this rivalry over the last few years. Oak Park has a front line of 6'10"(senior Alex Vincent), 6'10" (senior Andre Stanton), and 6'6" (Alex Gossett). Oak Park also has sharpshooting junior Jerome Delaney (6'4" combo guard). Fenwick has 4 year varsity guards Ty Macariola (6'1"), Dominic Ducree (6'1), in addition to Deonte Meeks (5'7"). Auburn football commit Nate Marshall (6'5" senior forward) gives them some size. Fenwick is an experienced team. Oak Park's guard play will be key in getting the big men loose.
#8 St Laurence (Burbank) (2-1) vs #9 Lincoln Park (Chicago) (4-0): Catholic League vs Public League. Two top 10 Chicago Area teams in the best matchup of the first night. Point guard matchup between Purdue Fort Wayne commit EJ Mosley (5'11" senior) for St Laurence. Center matchup will be key. Senior Jeremiah Lesure (6'6") of St Laurence vs senior Keyshawn Barfield (6'9" senior) who's been a double/double machine for Lincoln Park. Lincoln Park counters with Ahmad Lee (6'3" junior). St Laurence also has an experienced senior lineup of Jacob Rice (6'4" wing), Zerrick Johnson (6'2" combo guard), and Caleb Lindsey (6'6" forward). Lincoln Park has Chayse Turner (6'4" senior wing) who's very athletic, along with junior Jaylen Dickerson (6'3" combo guard). Jumpinj Jack Larry Harris (6'4" forward) will help on the glass. Not sure Kaydin Willaims (6'2" junior guard) will be available. St Laurence brings some young talent off the bench. Sophomores Reggie Stevens (6'3" combo guard), Markese Peoples (6'2" combo guard) and freshman Noah Corro (6'0" point guard).
#22 Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago) (2-1) vs #23 St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) (4-0): Two top 25 Chicago Area teams with strong academic traditions along with their sports teams. Lane Tech is HUGE size wise and experieinced. Start with Penn commit Dalton Scantlebury (6'10" senior center) who's a double/double machine. Senior Zack Mazanowski (6'8" wing) has had a strong start to the season. Should get a lot of college interest. Senior Luke Pinto (6'5" wing) and junior Matthew Sazafoni (6'7" wing) are big time shooters. Key is senior point guard Brayden Rosenkrantz to handle pressure defenses. St Ignatius has Northwestern commit Phoenix Gill (6'4" senior combo guard) and junior Chris Bolte (6'6" wing) as their stars. Seniors point guard Ryan Cavanagh (5'10"), Alex Anaya (5'10 combo guard) and junior Nico Harris (6'2" wing).
Saturday, December 7th:
Riverside Brookfield (2-2) vs Prespectives Leadership (Chicago) (3-1): Riverside Brookfield's star is Cameron Mercer (6'2" junior combo guard) who's a two way monster. Senior Danny Loftus (6'4" forward) scores and hits the glass, Matas Slenys (6'6" wing) hits threes and slashes to the rim off the dribble. Junior guard Ben Niskupic (6'2" is a knockdown shooter. Perspectives Leadership has a new coach in Justin Rhymes (he was an assistant at Riverside Brookfield) and has transfers on the roster. Senior Phoenix Childs (6'3" wing) came from Class 2A Champ Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago). He's had a great start to the season. Senior Derrrick Dowdell (6'4" wing) came from Curie (Chicago). Senior James Amison (6'7" forward) is a rim protector. Junior Aiden Horton (6'0" combo guard) came from Class 2A Champ Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago) as a knockdown shooter.
Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) (2-0) vs #18 Marist (Chicago) (4-0): Hyde Park has gotten great starts from junior Kye Ward Owens (6'4" combo guard), seniors CJ Thomas (5'10" point guard) and Kamrin King (6'5" wing). Junior Jacobi Walls (6'5" forward) takes care of the interior. Marist has been playing without top junior Stephen Brown (6'7" wing) and is doing well so far. Juniors Adoni Vassikakis (6'0" combo guard), TJ Tate (5'10" point guard), and Rokas Zilys (6'3" combo guard). Senior Marquis Vance (6'5" forward) is a monster in the paint.
#7 Bolingbrook (2-1) vs #4 Kankakee (1-0): The Brook didn't have junior point guard Trey Brost (6'2") the first week of the season.Not sure if he'll be available for this game. They still have talent though in senior Valparaiso commit JT Pettigrew (6'7" forward) and Davion Thompson (6'2" sophomore combo guard). Freshman Brady Pettigrew (6'3" combo guard) has been starting and filling in well. Kankakee has the top junior in the state in Lincoln Williams (6'6" combo guard). Senior Eli Stitt (6'6" forward) mans the paint. Juniors Myair Thompson (6'0" point guard) is athletic and can run a team. Kenaz Jackson Jr (6'3" combo guard) is another explosive scorer.
#11 Kenwood Academy (Chicago) (2-0) vs #1 Warren Township (Gurnee) (4-0): This is a big time matchup of sophomores. Devin Cleveland (6'3" combo guard) of Kenwood is ranked Top 15 in the nation. Jaxson Davis (6'1" point guard) is the #1 sophomore in the state and slept on nationally. Kenwood also has seniors Aleks Alson (6'10" forward), Terrence "TJ" Seals (6'5" combo guard) who's filling in at all spots on the floor. Junior Prince McCord (6'7" wing) and sophomore Demari Stephens (6'3" combo guard). Warren has junior Braylon Walker (6'3" combo guard) who'll be key in this game. Senior Javerion Banks (6'1" wing) is an athletic high wire player who can shoot threes. Key is Zach Ashburn (6'8" senior center) who'll have to rim protect and grab rebounds. He's started the season very well.
#5 DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (3-1) vs Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA) (2-1): DePaul Prep started as my #1 team but took an early loss. Two time defending state champs (2A, 3A). Top players are seniors Western Illinois commit Makai Kvamme (6'2" point guard), Robert Walls II (6'2" combo guard), juniors Rykan Woo (6'2" combo guard), a transfer from Whitney Young (Chicago), AJ Chambers (6'0" combo guard). Junior Rashawn Porter (6'7" forward) is the rebounder and rim protector. Matei Dei is a perennial national powerhouse out of California has state titles in (1987, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2011, 2012 Division 1), (2003, 2007, 2008 Division 2),(2013, 2014, Open Division). All under legendary coach Gary McKnight https://www.materdei.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=120488&type=u&pREC_ID=1038338. This years team is led by junior guard Lucas Barnett (6'4" junior guard) who's averaging 26.0 points and 4.3 assists this season. Seniors Jacob Almazan (5'11" point guard) and Nevade commit Blake Davidson (6'9" forward). Sophomore Demarcus Henry (6'6" wing) leads in rebounding.
#25 Whitney Young (Chicago) (1-1) vs #2 Homewood Flossmoor: Whitney Young lost 6 talented transfers in the off season. Top players are seniors Antonio Munoz (6'6" wing), Damarjay Richardson (6'0" point guard), juniors Marquise Clark (6'2" point guard) and Alijiah Little (6'3" combo guard). Defending Class 4A State Champ Homewood Flossmoore has seniors Wofford commit Jayden "JD" Tyler, Lewis commit Arden Eaves (6'4" combo guard), Brent Taylor (6'3" combo guard), Aiden Derose (6'3" wing), and Kyle Polk (6'6" forward). Freshman Darrius Hawkins Jr (5'10" point guard) is a contributor off the bench.
#10 Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) (1-0) vs Chaminade College Prep (St Louis, MO) (1-0): Simeon is a top contender for Chicago Public League Title. Seniors Lorenzo Shields (6'2" combo guard) who's a stone cold scorer, Julien Doyle (6'6" forward) who can fill it up from three. Tamarjay Taylor (6'3" wing) who does a little bit of everything. Juniors Andre Tyler Jr (6'5" combo guard) is a highlight reel who can shoot, Kassidy Nelson (6'5" combo guard) who's running point and is a two way force, Kamari Hamlin (6'0" combo guard) who's a knock down shooter. Add in Isaiah Coleman (6'7" forward) who does a little bit of everything. Chaminade is a consistent contender for state titles in Missouri. Start with Cal State Fullerton commit Ben Winker (6'11" senior center) who rim protects and scores at the rim. The White brothers juniors Jamsion (6'5" wing) and Jahadi (6'7" forward) along with junior poijnt guard Jonny Jordan. All are Divsion one prospects. Senior Madden Irving (5'9" point guard) is a two sport star as he alos plays football.
#3 Rich Township (Richton Park) (0-1) vs Duncanville (TX) (3-3): Lost opener to a team from Michigan. Rich Township has a bunch of talent. Senior Al Brooks Jr (6'7" wing) is a do it all player and top 10 in the state. Transferred from Hansberry College Prep (Chicago). Senior bookends Nyshawn Turner and Matthew Lesure (6'6" forwards) are monsters on the glass. Juniors Jamson Coulter Jr (6'3" combo guard) and Jayden Williams (6'2" combo guard) attack off the dribble to the rim and can hit threes. Duncanville is a national power and state power in Texas. Have won state titles (1991,1999, 2007, 2019, 2021, 2022* (won on the court stripped later)). Coach David Peavy has taken it to another level as a great teacher specifically of defense. He'll need it for this years team as they are vertically challenged. Top players are senior TCU commit Kayden "Bugg"Edwards (6'2" combo guard) who's an explosive scorer with range from the parking lot. Senior Cam Smith (6'7" wing) is a lefty who can fill it up from outside. Junior wing Jordan Brooks (6'4") can hit threes and rebound. Sophomores Beckham Black (6'2" point guard) can run a team, three level scorer, and defend. Christopher "Duece" Hunt Jr (6'1" combo guard) is a lefty that can hit threes, and attack the rim to dunk on you.
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