10 Things We Are Looking Forward to This Weekend
In this article:
Huge weekend of hoops ahead with the Chicago Elite Classic on Friday/Saturday at UIC followed by the Ridgewood Shootout at Ridgewood High School on Sunday. Here are 10 Things We Are Looking Forward to This Weekend! Freshman on Big…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingHuge weekend of hoops ahead with the Chicago Elite Classic on Friday/Saturday at UIC followed by the Ridgewood Shootout at Ridgewood High School on Sunday. Here are 10 Things We Are Looking Forward to This Weekend!
Freshman on Big State of CEC
The Chicago Elite Classic is a big stage. Lots of media both local and national. College arena at UIC. College coaches in the stands. We are looking forward to seeing four of the premier 2025s in the state on this stage in Bryce Heard (Kenwood), Melvin Bell (St. Rita), Damion Porter (Fenwick), and Antonio Munoz (Whitney Young). All four should have significant roles for their teams this year.
Illini Commits Battle
One of the most anticipated match ups from Saturday at the Chicago Elite Classic is Thornton vs St. Rita. This contest will feature a pair of Illinois commits in Thornton senior forward Ty Rodgers and St. Rita sophomore Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL . This will also be the first major game in Chicago for Rodgers who moved to Illinois from Michigan.
National Names Emerge for National Powers
Chaminade (MO), Vashon (MO), Gonzaga (DC), and Mater Dei (CA) are four of the premier programs in the country who have all played in CEC over the last decade. Year in and year out they produce D1 talent. This year is interesting as none of a marquee superstar, but we know they are loaded with prospects, so we are looking forward to seeing what players boost their national name.
2023s Boost Stock
With 10 of the top 17 juniors in the state on the floor at Chicago Elite Classic it will be a great opportunity for them to make a statement in front of coaches and scouts. Recruiting is starting to turn more to the 2023s and now is the time to start the buzz heading into next spring for names like Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL , Davius Loury Davius Loury 6'8" | PF Phhoenix Prep | 2024 State AZ , Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL , Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2023 State #231 Nation IL , Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL , Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL , Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL , Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL , Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL , and Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL .
First Tests for City Powers
Kenwood, Whitney Young, and Simeon will each get their first real tests of the season. The talented trio each play out of state programs in the final three games of Chicago Elite Classic on Sunday. They have plans on city and state titles late in the season and this will be a nice early measuring stick.
Glenbard West vs Glenbrook South Battle on Sunday
Two teams of the top teams from the suburbs will clash on Sunday at the Ridgewood Shootout. Glenbard West is the preseason top team in the state with their fab 5 seniors led by Gonzaga commit Braden Huff Braden Huff 6'11" | PF Glenbard West | 2022 State #58 Nation IL and Princeton signee Caden Pierce Caden Pierce 6'5" | SG Glenbard West | 2022 State IL . They will get everything they can handle from stat sheet stuffer Elon signee Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL and Cornell commit Cooper Noard Cooper Noard 6'2" | PG Glenbrook South | 2022 State IL .
Yorkville Christian Gets Another Test with St. Patrick
What a schedule Yorkville Christian has put together. They showed well overall in Washington at the TOC. The high-octane offense led by Duke recruit Jaden Schutt Jaden Schutt 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State #42 Nation IL will face a consistent program in St. Patrick who is a well-coached group that can defend at Ridgewood. Can they hold Yorkville under 90?
Unsigned Seniors to Watch
Both of these events will be attended by college coaches at the D1 and D2 levels. What unsigned seniors could help boost their stock in the eyes of coaches? Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL , AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL , Marcus Overstreet Marcus Overstreet 6'8" | C Whitney Young | 2022 State IL , and Timaris Brown Timaris Brown 6'6" | PF St. Patrick | 2022 State IL are top 50 prospects in 2022 to watch.
Mr. Basketball/Player of the Year Race Statement Time
In a two day span we will see a ton of candidates for Mr. Basketball and PHI Player of the Year in Jaden Schutt Jaden Schutt 6'5" | SG Yorkville Christian | 2022 State #42 Nation IL , Ty Rodgers, AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL , Braden Huff Braden Huff 6'11" | PF Glenbard West | 2022 State #58 Nation IL , Trey Pettigrew Trey Pettigrew 6'3" | PG Hillcrest Prep | 2022 State #143 Nation IL , Nick Martinelli Nick Martinelli 6'6" | SF Glenbrook South | 2022 State #235 Nation IL , Xavier Amos Xavier Amos 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #233 Nation IL , and Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL . Who will take the early lead in the race for the end of year awards? Could someone else jump in the mix?
Big Events are Back
Last but not least we are excited to have these two major high school basketball events which are staples of the early part of the high school basketball season back after a year off last year with an abbreviated campaign.