Some crazy stuff so far in the first few weeks of Illinois High School basketball.
CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE IS ON BUSINESS:
I said before the season it was slated to be one of the weakest in decades. Well they are doing quite well and Kenwood Academy (Chicago) is #1 and playing very well under new coach Joe Mason. Senior transfer Terrence "TJ" Seals has made a huge difference for them. He came from Johnson College Prep (Chicago) in Noble Street League. Four teams in Top 25 (none are Whitney Young), but there are others just outside it that are very good. Young, Lane Tech College Prep, and Perspectives Leadership have had soem good performances. All are Red Shield conference teams except Perspectives which is Red Star just below Red Shield. The Red Shield teams are a combined 29-28 out of conference but the top 5 are 16-6 out of conference. I still feel a number of teams can win the Chicago Public League title. Simeon Career Academy is slumping right now, but have the talent to recover. They are the #1 seed at Pontiac Holiday Tournament, and Kenwood is the #1 seed at the Big Dipper.
FRESHMAN HANDLING THEIR OWN:
Class of 2028 has some dogs in the class and they are introducing themselves to high school basketball with authority. Here are some of them:
COLE KELLY, NEUQUA VALLEY (NAPERVILLE)
ETHAN VAHL, OSWEGO
DJ LAYE, MARSHALL (CHICAGO)
A'MARION SMITH-HOLLEY, RICHWOODS (PEORIA)
DARRIUS HAWKINS JR, HOMEWOOD FLOSSMOOR
JAYDEN DOZIE, MAINE EAST (PARK RIDGE)
BEN OJALA, EVANSTON TOWNSHIP
ORLANDO EDWARDS, PEORIA
NIGEL MOORE, PEORIA
SOPHOMORES ARE SHOWING OUT:
Class of 2027 was highly hyped and the big three are showing out as are some others:
BIG 3
JAXSON DAVIS, WARREN TOWNSHIP (GURNEE)
DAVION THOMPSON, BOLINGBROOK
DEVIN CLEVELAND, KENWOOD ACADEMY (CHICAGO)
Others who are showing out as well:
NOJUS VENKUS, LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP
JAYDEN TAYLOR, FENGER (CHICAGO)
JORDAN WORDLAW, DUNBAR (CHICAGO)
DAVION TATE, MAINE WEST (DES PLAINES)
DEREON SMOTHERS, THORNTON FRACTIONAL NORTH (CALUMET CITY)
DEMARCO KING, THORNTON FRACTIONAL NORTH (CALUMET CITY)
HAYDEN SCHROEDER, WHEATON ACADEMY (WEST CHICAGO)
HIGH SCORERS AROUND THE STATE AND PLAYER OF THE YEAR LEADERS:
Some great performances so far here are some of them:
NASIR RANKIN, MORGAN PARK (CHICAGO) 54 point game. Two sport star is consistently putting up over 30. (JUNIOR)
TYLER DIXON, DUNBAR (CHICAGO) 47 point game
DANNY LOFTUS, RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD 44 point game
DEMARION CLARK, FENGER (CHICAGO) 41 point game
DAMION PORTER JR, ROMEOVILLE 39 points game and consistent 30 point performances
LUKE SMITH, ADDISION TRAIL multiple 30 point games.
MITCHEL EDWARDS, CARMI- WHITE COUNTY 47 point game
TRAVON GOURDINE, RICHARDS (OAK LAWN) 39 point game and consistently over 30 (JUNIOR)
MARCOS GONZALES, BROTHER RICE (CHICAGO) 36 point game
RYLAN CARLTON, SHERRARD 36 point game
MARQUIS CLARK, WHITNEY YOUNG (CHICAGO) 41 point game (JUNIOR)
JOVAN THOMPSON, SHEPARD (PALOS HEIGHTS) 33 point game
All of these guys are putting in bids for player of the year
TOP MR BASKETBALL CANDIDATES:
Dietrich Richardson of Manual (Peoria) is a Bradley commit that is out injured so it has backed him up a bit. Here are some other candidates:
Leshawn Stowers, Peoria (Miami, Ohio commit)
Terrence "TJ "Seals, Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
Rykan Woo, DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (junior)
Marcos Gonzales, Brother Rice (Chicago) (Citadel commit)
Sam Donald, Columbia (Bellermine commit)
Docker Tedeschi, Benton (Colorado State commit)
Makai Kvamme, DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (Western Illinois commit)
Tyreek Coleman, Waubonsie Valley (Aurora) (Illinois State commit)
Matt Zobrist, Metamora (Bradley commit)
Lincoln Williams, Kankakee (junior)
Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee) (sophomore)
These could change but right now these look like most viable candidates. Juniors don't usually win and sophomores never win but could change this year.
TEAM ROSE SHOOTOUT WRAPUP:
Besides Gonzales 36 point game there were a lot of blowouts over the weekend but the last game on Sunday was the best. Senior EJ Mosley of St Laurence (Burbank) hit a running shot off a rebound in overtime to beat previous #2 Homewood Flossmoor.
Surprising team performance:
North (Downers Grove): It's not that they won, it's how they won. They took it to DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago) from the beginning and never let up making it a running clock game.
Most entertaining game:
Brother Rice (Chicago) vs Oak Lawn:
For awhile Gonzales and Jack Dempsey of Oak Lawn were going back and forth in a scoring battle. Oak Lawn was leading a lot of the game before Brother Rice took it to double digits in the fourth quarter. Dempsey ended up with 20 points.
Most surprising team(s) in the area:
North (Downers Grove), Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
Most disappointing team (s):
Simeon Career Academy (Chicago), Rich Township (Richton Park) and Lane Tech College Prep
Most surprising team in state:
Peoria:
I knew Miami (OH) commit Leshawn Stowers was going to be good but the freshman (Moore, Edwards) have blended in well. They were undefeated at 10-0 but will have a tough one on Saturday in Chicago Area vs Fenwick (Oak Park) at Whitney Young (Chicago)
Team to look out for downstate:
Columbia:
Southern Illinois team. They have Bellermine commit Sam Donald who's very underrated but added junior transfer Eddie Smajic (Top 200 nationally) from St Louis. Senior River Randall and junior Brody Landgraf who's a top baseball player committed to Creighton for that sport. Will be a threat for Class 2A State title.
State title favorites in each class:
Class 4A:
I still say it's open to a number of teams. Kenwood Academy (Chicago), Homewood Flossmoor, Rich Township (Richton Park), Benet Academy (Lisle), Bolingbrook, Quincy, Moline to name a few.
Class 3A:
DePaul College Prep (Chicago) is still my favorite to win a thrid straight title (2A (2023), (3A (2024)). Peoria is looking like a contender as well as Mount Carmel (Chicago), Brother Rice (Chicago), Kankakee, and Mount Zion.
Class 2A:
Manual (Peoria) if senior Bradley commit Dietrich Richardson is healthy by the time postseason hits. Columbia, Byron, Benton, and Dyett (Chicago)
Class 1A:
Looking like Pecatonica is a favorite along with Hope Academy (Chicago), Tuscola, Christian (Yorkville), Marshall (Chicago) and Eastland (Landmark)
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