Oldest holiday tournament in the United States. Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) is usually the prohibitive favorite. They have won this tournament more than anyone in history. Not expected to contend this year. Here we go:
FAVORITE: Curie (Chicago): Have not lost to an Illinois opponent. Senior laden team. They do not excite you offensively. They get into you defensively and make you do things you do not want to do. They have a couple of scorers in seniors Will Gonzalez and Christian Brockett. They are getting double/doubles from senior Taevion Collier. Get strong play on both ends from Illinois Chicago 4 year varsity player Carlos Harris III.
SECOND FAVORITE: Benet Academy (Lisle): Very talented but very young. Great group of sophomores but are they too young to win 4 games in 3 days? Gabe Sularski is considered the top sophomore in the state. Point guard tandem of sophomore Jayden Wright and junior Blake Fagbemi can pass. shoot from deep and at the basket, quick hands to get steals. Yet another sophomore 7 foot Colin Stack gets rebounds, rim protects, and even steps out for threes. Key to winning the tournament will be seniors Parker Sulaver, and Patrick Walsh.
DARKHORSES: New Trier (Wnnetka): They have players from five spots on the floor that can shoot threes, or spread you out and take you off the dribble to score at the rim. Sophomore point guard Chris Kirkpatrick is the key to running the offense. Seniors Carnegie Melon commit Ian Brown and Johns Hopkins commit Logan Feller can shoot, pass and dribble. Senior William LeeMaster hits the glass and rim protects. Junior Colby Smith scores at all three levels.
Bloom Township (Chicago Heights): They are the #2 seed but I see them as a dark horse. Elijah Allen has a continuous motor and is a double/double threat everytime he steps on the court. Junior point guard Elijah Lovemore is a gifted passer but will need to look for his offense more.Junior Payton Edwards and senior Jayden Clark will have to hit some outside shots for them to win the tournament.
UNKNOWN QUANTITY: West (Joliet) could surprise. They have the talent to make a deep run. Valparaiso Justus McNair can explode scoring. Junior Zion Gross is an x factor on both ends. Senior Drew King will have to score inside and rim protect. Sophomore Aamir Shannon is a high riser who can get the crowd buzzing with a nasty dunk.
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