DePaul’s Team Championship – June 20th-21st at Quest Center

DePaul’s Team Championship – June 20^th-21^st at Quest Center

Championship Game

North Lawndale (40)- Richards (29)

The DePaul program is on the brink of assembling talent and reviving a once proud tradition of hoops hosted its annual two day event that featured programs from neighboring states: Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin which made for a competitive spirited venue.  The best player at the event was slithery 6’3” senior guard Greg Elliott of East Villiage (MI).  He gets the nod over Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park) who is rapidly rising as a highly regarded national ranked point guard in the 2018 class.  Ayo was instrumental with guiding his Morgan Park team to the semi-finals.  North Lawndale’s trio of Junior guard David Forrest, and seniors Carlos Hines (6’5”) and Montrelle Barnes (6’2”) were terrific in leading Lawndale to the tourney championship.  All possess division one ability. 

Forrest, is a big physical combo guard who can score in a variety of ways.  Jaylan Catledge (Richards) was a force on day two, after a widely debated showing on the opening day of the event, Catledge, a 6’3” senior, established himself as a low major D1 recruit spearheading his bulldog squad to an unexpected title game appearance knocking off Morgan Park in the semis.  Fenwick point guard Jacob Keller, a top 15 prospect in the 2017 class, showed explosiveness and the ability to manage his team.  Mega-athlete Raekwon Drake, a 6’5” junior for ORR, regarded as a top 5 prospect in 2018 class stood out.  Simeons 6’4” prized recruit Talen Horton-Tucker, top 4 in the 2018 class, was dominant at times.  His teammate Evan Gilyard (SR-PG) illustrated a penchant for flair in the open-court.  At some point Gilyard is going to have to demonstrate the ability to run a team.  Springfield Lanphier came to town with highly regarded 2018 guard Cardell McGee, a top 10 prospect, and he did not disappoint anyone with his play.  Yaakema Rose, a sturdy penetrating PG orchestrated Lanphiers offense effectively.  Our states 4A champion Curie strutted in with 2017 top 10 guard Elijah Joiner, a heavy Missouri valley recruit and promising 2018 front court player Treavon Martin, the 6’7” performer has his stock soaring.  Hales Franciscan, senior PG Milton Wordlow Eclipse a couple of high scoring outputs.  Wordlow, a little wild and reckless sometimes, looks like a summit league recruit.  Von Stueben’s senior play-maker Rafael Cruz was impressive, he has the academic package to go with a stellar all-around game, he very well could land himself a nice mid-major scholarship.  Evanston sophomore guard Lance Jones was silver quick and showed a wide range of offensive arsenal.  He reminds me of guards we use to develop in our once proud tradition.  Uplift HS brother tandem of Demarius Jacobs, a 6’2” senior and 5’9” high jumping 2019 gifted athlete Martise Jacobs were phenomenal.  Demarius right now is considered a legitimate mid-major recruit that could change soon.  Martise, a throwback clone might be one of the more exhilarating talents we have in our states, regardless of class.