Top 12 Holiday Tournaments Pt 1
In our Top 12 Holiday Tournaments Series we dive into twelve of our favorite holiday events to attend during what would be one of our favorite times of the year upcoming! We examine the atmosphere at each event, favorite memory,…
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Continue ReadingIn our Top 12 Holiday Tournaments Series we dive into twelve of our favorite holiday events to attend during what would be one of our favorite times of the year upcoming! We examine the atmosphere at each event, favorite memory, and top team/sleeper for mythical 2020 tournament. Here is Part 1!
Centralia
Atmosphere
One of the fun things about each event is how much pride each takes in their tournament. Centralia is home of the winningest basketball program in the nation. They are also very proud of their holiday tournament. You can’t sit down five minutes without a local telling you about it. Centralia has one of the nicest gyms in the entire state as well.
Favorite Memory
The first thing that jumps to mind is watching BJ Young and Jordan Granger blow up right in front of our eyes for McCluer North back in the day. Also EJ Liddell completely dominating the event for multiple years with Belleville West.
Top Team in 2020
Based on last years bracket the favorite coming in would have been Evanston. Blake Peters and Ola Ajiboye would have brought star power to the event this year.
Sleeper in 2020
Mt. Vernon would have been one to watch. They have senior standouts Quani Rudd and Carson Prost along with emerging 2022 big man NJ Benson.
Collinsville
Atmosphere
Collinsville is an event I have gone to for years. It attracts a lot of the top metro east teams along with central Illinois powers and a few Chicago teams. Cool gym and place to watch a game.
Favorite Memory
The matchup between Belleville Althoff and Edwardsville in the championship game in 2016. That was the year of the metro east dominance. Althoff was LOADED with talent including superstar Jordan Goodwin who put on a show as always. He was matched by the hottest name in the state at the time in Mark Smith of Edwardsville. That night Illinois was in to see him and offered on the spot after an epic performance in a win. Also in the third place game top ranked 2017 Jeremiah Tilmon went to work. What a night of hoops!
Top Team in 2020
Mundelein coming from the northern suburbs of Chicago would probably have taken the crown. Their 1-2 punch of Missouri Valley Conference commits Conor Enright (Drake) and Scottie Ebube (SIU) would have been too much along with the outside shooting of Trey Baker.
Sleeper Team in 2020
Quincy would have been an interesting team to watch here. They have a pair of standout wings in Jeremiah Talton and Jermaine Knaff that would have given teams in the event problems!
Breese Mater Dei
Atmosphere
Tiny gym that is packed with locals that love small school basketball in the state of Illinois!
Favorite Memory
I have attended a couple times. I remember going with two of my close friends Tyson and Tierney Moore from Nashville about five years ago and seeing a great championship game with several players that would go on to play in college. Also got my first look at Evansville standout Noah Frederking at this event.
Top Team in 2020
Mascoutah would have been the favorite here led by their backcourt of Justin King and Darien Singleton. King is the top 2022 in southern Illinois and when he is locked in can take over a game with his athleticism at the lead guard spot.
Sleeper Team in 2020
Metro East Lutheran would have been a team to watch here. Senior AJ Smith has the physicality at the guard spot impose his will. Damarkus Beane up front would have been a match up problem.
Pontaic
Atmosphere
I don’t think the atmosphere here can be matched. It is a small town about an hour and a half south of Chicago. The people absolutely live for these three days of basketball. Star players are treated like rock stars and the hospitality is off the chain!
Favorite Memory
Too many to choose from here. Overall I would say the dominant runs from Simeon and Curie in this event. Players like Cliff Alexander, Dajuan Gordon, Ramean Hinton, Elijah Joiner, Jabari Parker, Kendrick Nunn, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Zach Norvell. All shined brightest on the big stage.
Top Team in 2020
Simeon might have been the preseason #1 overall so they would have been at Pontiac as well. The Wolverines boasted senior star power in Ahamad Bynum and Isaiah Barnes. They also have a dynamic sophomore and junior backcourt of Avyion Morris, Jalen Griffith, and Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL .
Sleeper Team in 2020
Danville would have been one to watch. Senior duo Tevin Smith and Nathanael Hoskins have the talent to put a team on their back and carry them to an upset or two.
Jack Tosh
Atmosphere
The Jack Tosh event is held at York High School. It is unique because of the set up. It is 32 teams with two gyms that are going at the same time. Fans can jump back and forth between both of them to watch basketball literally all day with no break!
Favorite Memory
A lot of good memories here. One that jumps to mind is the first time seeing current ranked top senior and Michigan State bound Max Christie. He showed high-major talent as a freshman. Another was watching Max Strus from Stagg absolutely light up the event. I sat with a D2 coach asking him “Isn’t that kid a D1 player? What am I missing!” Well a lot of D1s missed out because he was a superstar at Lewis before transferring to DePaul.
Top Team in 2020
This is among the toughest to predict year in and year out. Our pick would probably have been Bolingbrook. Before transfers Kai Evans and Isaiah Stafford moved out of state because of no season this would have been such a dynamic 1-2 punch along with elite perimeter defender Kyonte Thomas. Throw in one of the top posts in 2023 Donaven Younger and you have the favorite.
Sleeper Team in 2020
St. Ignatius could have made a deep run here. They are young with most of their talent being in the 2022 and 2023 classes, but they have some experience as well in Parker Higginbottom at the point. AJ Redd, Kolby Gilles, Richard Barron, and Jackson Kotecki could have combined to overwhelm teams with their talent.
Jacobs
Atmosphere
The Hinkle Holiday Classic is an event that I have only ever attended in person one time. It is a tournament that is mainly focused on the north and northwest suburb teams.
Favorite Memory
The year I covered it the event had some of the best talent it ever had in Rapolas Ivanauskas, Admiral Schofield, Christian Negron, Matty Smith, and Cameron Krutwig. That was five D1 guys spread out over multiple classes.
Top Team in 2020
Kind of like what Rockford Jefferson could have done in this event. They have an inside force in Antonio Leavy that would have been tough to contain.