Pontiac is the one remaining top-tier vacation event within the state. Proviso West is a shell of its former self, the Big Dipper is on life help and Hinsdale Central nonetheless hasn’t caught on with followers.
Centralia, Pekin and Bloomington proceed to roll on efficiently, however no event within the state comes near matching the sphere at Pontiac.
Part of the issue is that many of the elite Public League applications don’t have any allegiances to in-state vacation tournaments. Curie and Simeon are fixtures at Pontiac and Proviso West has held on to Bogan however Young, Orr, Lincoln Park and Morgan Park are all leaving Illinois for the vacations.
The neighborhood and a sensible event director has saved Pontiac thriving. The event started in 1926 and was the primary highschool basketball vacation event within the state and sure the nation.
The native followers give the event a novel really feel. One facet of the fitness center is stuffed by season ticket holders that watch each recreation. Tournament director Jim Drengwitz has additionally resisted the urge to show the occasion right into a money seize, regardless of its significance to the native financial system. He stands out as the solely man in Illinois highschool basketball to ever flip down a Nike sponsorship.
There are 5 Super 25 groups on this yr’s discipline: No. 1 Bloom, No. 6 Curie, No. 16 St. Charles North, No. 21 Oak Park and No. 25 Simeon. Two different groups, Benet and Joliet West, have cracked the rankings sooner or later this season.
The favorites
Bloom (9-1): The stress is on. Anything lower than a title will likely be a disappointment for the Blazing Trojans. All 5 starters are future D-I gamers. Guard Dante Maddox Jr. and ahead Christian Shumate are each critical contenders for Player of the Year. Shumate’s mixture of shot blocking and dunking make him maybe the world’s most feared participant. The street to the title gained’t be straightforward. First-round opponent Lockport (6-4) is on a five-game successful streak and a resurgent Oak Park will seemingly be ready within the quarterfinals.
Curie (7-0): Once once more the Condors have arrived at Pontiac undefeated and extra highly-regarded than they had been within the preseason. Ramean Hinton has been dominant the season and his supporting solid is filled with heady, gritty, guards that defend and make pictures. Keep a watch on Saiveon Williams, a 6-6 senior that starred final week in a win at Simeon.
The contenders
Simeon (4-4): Forget the file and the rating. The Wolverines have the expertise to show their season round by successful Pontiac. DePaul recruit Ahamad Bynum is a dynamite scorer. If St. Laurence switch Jeremiah Williams finds his footing in the course of the event something is feasible for Simeon.
Oak Park (5-3): It was a tough begin to the season for the Huskies, with losses to Morton, Riverside-Brookfield and Fenwick. But a win towards Stevenson erased plenty of doubts and showcased simply how harmful guards Isaiah Barnes and Josh Smith are.
The darkish horses
St. Charles North (9-1): The North Stars all the time appear to play properly within the event and this yr’s workforce is off to the varsity’s best-ever begin. Guards Luke Scheffers and Christian Czerniak have earned raves this season and Connor Linke, a 6-9 Bradley recruit, is one the few high quality large males within the discipline.
Joliet West (9-1): New coach Jeremy Kreiger has the Tigers hungry. Guard Jamere Hill is having a breakout senior season and junior Jaiden Lee is a harmful scorer.
First Round, Dec. 26
Benet vs. Danville, 9 a.m.
Manual vs. Warren 10:30 a.m.
Bloom vs. Lockport, 1
Oak Park vs. Plainfield North, 2:30
St. Charles North vs. New Trier, 4
Curie vs. West Aurora, 6
Simeon vs. Pontiac, 7:30
Joliet West vs. Bloomington, 9