HOLIDAY WRAP-UPS

• PONTIAC – Curie’s two-year dominance at Pontiac has solidified their squad as one of the top 2 or 3 programs in the city. Many of us locals have been impressed with their continued growth throughout the last 5 years. The Condors got by No.1 Bloom 72-67 in the title game capturing back to back titles. Southeast Missouri recruit Ramean Hinton finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals in the final, landing him MVP/sportsmanship honors. Joliet West loss to Curie 68-58 in the semi-finals, but indicated a statement to hoop followers around the state that come March they will be a serious threat at challenging for a sectional title. January 20th will be a big test for the 12-2 Tigers when they face off against highly regarded Lincoln Park in the Spot-Liter’s MLK Classic. 

• HINSDALE CENTRAL – Homewood-Flossmoor captured the title, knocking off DePaul Prep in overtime 53-48. Tournament MVP RJ Ogom was a force. DePaul’s junior leader/point guard Ty Johnson continues to draw rave reviews with his productive floor game. He’s listed as one of the top playmakers in the 2021 Class. 

• YORK – Bolingbrook won the prestigious Jack Tosh Holiday Classic getting pass the host team. Elon recruit Darius Burford was the tournament MVP, averaging nearly 23 markers in five games. York’s Nate Shockey (North Dakota signee) was stellar throughout the event averaging 23. The state’s No.2 prospect, junior Max Christie of Rolling Meadows, had a terrific showing as did Wisconsin recruit Junior forward Chris Hodges (Schaumburg). 

• PROVISO WEST – Bogan regularly recognized as one of the elite programs in the Chicago area, has already notched victories over Morgan Park & Simeon, won the West tournament for the second consecutive year. Senior Antoine Bloxton scored 33 points in the Bengals route of Morton 71-52. Bogan received strong performances from senior swingman Kyndall Davis (Long Island recruit) and junior playmaker Darrion “DJ” Jones. Most of the tournament conversation centered around Proviso charted the “jaw dropping” performance of the state’s No.3 prospect, Fenwick junior Bryce Hopkins. He averaged 29 per outing, Bryce is becoming a special talent. 

• WHEELING – Niles Notre Dame was the marquee squad at this ritzy venue. Evanston transfer Louis Lesmond has established himself as a top 5 prospect in the 2021 class. The six-foot five snipper had several exhilarating moments where he electrified the sometimes-snooty audience. Notre Dame should be regarded as one of our area’s top teams, most folks do not know they bounced Bogan at the D Rose Classic with its lone defeat a few weeks ago. The North Shore program will be dangerous and difficult to derail come March, especially behind the play of juniors Troy D’Amico and Anthony Sayles, while senior forward Jason Bergstrom (Illinois-Springfield recruit) gives them the necessary leadership and outside shooting they need. Glenbrook South standout Dom Martinelli sparkled and was named to the All-tourney team, along with Niles North high scoring guard Aquan Smart, the top un-signed senior in the state.

• CENTRALIA – Evanston ventured down to Southern Illinois and forged together just enough unity to run out of there with astonishing championship victory over the host team. The Wildcats are off to 14-0 start, fueled by the play of juniors Jaylin Gibson, Blake Peters, and slippery general Isaiah Holden.

• JACOBS – The Hinkle Holiday Classic held out in northwest suburban Algonquin watched Waubonsie Valley win the title behind senior forward Marcus Skeete’s 41 points and the play of junior standout Ben Schwieger to get by Cary Grove 78-65. Cary’s Beau Frericks (Lewis University) had 24 points and Belmont recruit Frank Jakubicek tallied 16. Payton’s un-signed senior forward Jabari Chiphe impressed landing All-tourney honors. 

• BIG DIPPER – Tai Streets has his Thornton program off to a hot start. The Wildcats had some traction heading into the Holidays, brandishing victories over Bloom and Bolingbrook before running the tide on opponents at Rich South where they seem to steam roll everyone by a twenty-point margin. Junior guard Brandon Hall is emerging as a budding stand-out.

• COLLINSVILLE – Mundelein made the trek to the metro east area of our state and ran into tournament MVP RaySean Taylor. The six-foot one Collinsville’s guard is a legitimate assassin as he illustrated during much of the event. This Southern Illinois Edwardsville recruit is worth the price of admission and is primed to garner first team all-state votes in a couple of months.