This has become one of the premier holiday tournaments in the area. Joe Spagnola is working his magic just as he did with Proviso West Holiday Tournament for years. Defending champ and host Hinsdale Central will try to repeat. Here we go:
CO-FAVORITE: Brother Rice (Chicago): Recliner boys look to add a holiday tournament title to their great start. Senior laden team plays well together on both ends of the court. Senior wing Zavier Fitch has stepped up his game lately. Senior guard Lewis commit Cale Cosme is trying to break out of a shooting slump. Have a feeling it will happen in this tournament. Senior Caden Workman lives up to his last name as he gets key rebounds and makes big plays scoring and passing. Junior guard Marcos Gonzales just received his first D1 offer and is getting a piece of the paint off penetration. Senior Ty Wooten is giving them scoring when needed. Possible collision course with fellow Catholic school power DePaul College Prep (Chicago) in title game. Speaking of....
CO-FAVORITE: DePaul College Prep (Chicago): Class 2A Champs last season have moved up to Class 3A and not missed a beat. Have won 18 straight games coming from last season. Leads the state in scoring defense allowing only 27.5 points a game. Senior guard PJ Chambers has been steady on both ends of the court. Senior wing Jaylan McElroy is holding down the interior and scoring in multiple spots. Junior point guard Makai Kwamme has been steady running the offense. Junior wing Jonas Johnson is knocking down threes on the wing. Junior guard Robert Walls is using his speed and quickness to get out on the break. Possible collision course with fellow Catholic school power Brother Rice (Chicago) in title game.
DARKHORSE: Niles North (Skokie): Junior laden team but has a lot of variety experience. Junior guards Yaris Irby, Reid Olson, and Dylan Lam can all shoot and run the offense. Junior Kaidan Chatman is an X factor as he can score from mid range and attacking the paint. Best defender on the team. Junior forward Hunter Gawron handles everything in the paint. Exiciting team to watch as they will push the pace. Possible title game vs the only team that has beaten this season DePaul College Prep (Chicago).
East (Oswego): They have the best player in the tournament in senior Wyoming commit Jehvion Starwood. Explosive off the bounce as he will attack the rim, can dunk on you (WATCH YOUR HEAD), and can hit the three point shot. He can help his team make a run on his own. He dos have help though in senior wings Noah Mason, and Army football commit Andrew Wiggins. Have a couple of young talented guards in Mason Lockett IV and Michael Rembert. Senior forward Brayden Murphy is big time off the bench.
UNKNOWN QUANTITY: Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights) Dr Jekyl/ Mr Hyde team. Beat ranked Marist (Chicago) and Carmel Catholic (Mundelein). Yet they lost to Evanston Township and Neuqua Valley (Naperville). Will the real Spartans please stand up? Have played a tough schedule and has talent in senior James Bullock Jr, Jonah Weathers and junior Zack Sharkey. Bullock Jr can be the best player on the floor as he's that talented. They could make some noise, or lose their first game.
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