Pekin Holiday Tournament (mostly Chicago Area teams) preview!!!!!

I’ll admit a lot of these teams outside the Chicago Area I haven't seen but I'll do my best with these favorites and dark horses as as well as top players. Here we go:

FAVORITE: Simeon Career Academy (Chicago): #25 ranked in Chicago Area. Came here from being at Pontiac for a number of years. Top players are seniors Kayden Williams, Isaiah Coleman, and Kamari Hamlin. Play the Simeon system controlling tempo may help in this setting.

SECOND FAVORITE: Crane Medical (Chicago); Top shot blocker in the state in senior Brad Blackman. Will be interesting to see who challenges him at the rim. Could break tournament records for blocks. Junior Jamier "Middie" Montgomery has become a three level scorer, not just the mid range. Quick step to get to the rim. Senior guard Simond Chambliss runs the team, and big wing Evan Harris (6'5") is dangerous on corner threes.

DARK HORSE: Richwoods (Peoria): One of the top sophomore guards in the state in Amarion Smith-Holley. Senior Kaden Johnson takes turns running point with Smith-Holley. Sophomore wing Anfernee Moore is a much improved versatile inside/out player. Senior Tony Bradford transferred from Manual (Peoria) and has given them some quality guard play.

SECOND DARKHORSE: Leo Catholic (Chicago): Only three seniors on the team. Very young but could make noise here. Junior point guard Asa Harris is an assist machine, can effect a game without scoring. Junior Karon Shavers is a nasty catch and shoot three point shooter, works well together with Harris. Freshman Elon Henderson (inside/out force), Kierrr Brooks, and Andre Tucker are big contributors.

OTHER TOP PLAYERS:

Brady Welch, Moline (junior)

James Johnson, Washington

Ayden Kneer, Washington (sophomore)

Brayden Hairald, Minooka

Jack Dempsey, Oak Lawn

Marc Harvey, Oak Lawn

Logan Wessel, Mount Carmel (Chicago) (junior)

Ronald Johnson, Mount Carmel (Chicago) (freshman)

Alex McKie, Morton

Brendan Petty, Morton (junior)

Freddy Battaglia, Lake Park (Roselle)

Luca Stella, Lake Park (Roselle)

Elijah Wade, Springfield

Logan Peach, Springfield