Parham Perspective: Holiday Preview Pt 2
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** Written by Steve Parham With most of the early season shootouts over this week we now get prepared for a bevy of Holiday Tournaments across the state. I breakdown some of the top Chicagoland tournaments, teams, and players to catch…
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Continue Reading** Written by Steve Parham
With most of the early season shootouts over this week we now get prepared for a bevy of Holiday Tournaments across the state. I breakdown some of the top Chicagoland tournaments, teams, and players to catch next week. We look at Proviso West, The Big Dipper, and Pontiac in Parham’s Perspective: Holiday Preview Part 2!
Hinsdale Central
Best Team
Oswego East is a really tough squad who recently dealt with some injuries. Should be back and ready for Hinsdale. East has good guard play and size with this team.
Dark Horse
Marian Catholic has a chance at any game with the duo of Quentin Jones Quentin Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL and Tre Davis Tre Davis 5'9" | PG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL . Jones athletic slasher and Davis court savvy PG that can score. Could be a scary out for teams.
Best Player
Mekhi Lowery Mekhi Lowery 6'5" | SF Oswego East | 2023 State IL (Oswego East) is the Swiss army knife on the court. The Towson commit can do many things well and is capable of playing multiple positions. Look for Mekhi to have a good showing over the next four games.
Player to Watch
Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State #262 Nation IL (DePaul) is a player that DePaul Prep needs back in the lineup soon. At 6’7 Jaylan is skilled forward who can impact the game on both sides of the ball. He missed early season games due to injuries. Fingers crossed that he’s able to make a return at Hinsdale.
Unsigned Senior
Vincent Davis Vincent Davis 6'5" | SF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL (Homewood Flossmoor) is a tough senior who was under the radar and has a chance to make a name for himself during this tournament. Davis plays with a motor constantly and always seems to be around the ball or able to make a play. Could become a solid D2 pick-up.
Jack Tosh (York HS)
Best Team
Rolling Meadows is maybe one of the better teams in the state. They dropped a tough match up a few weeks ago when starter Tsvet Sotirov Tsvet Sotirov 6'7" | PF Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL went down. But a load front court of Sotitov, Mark Nikolich‐Wilson, and Cameron Christie Cameron Christie 6'4" | SG Rolling Meadows | 2023 State #76 Nation IL . Could be just all they need to walk into a championship and win.
Dark Horse
Lemont has that Castillo brothers and they have been on a roll to start the season. Matas Castillo Matas Castillo 5'11" | PG Lemont | 2023 State IL and Rokas Catillo have been a favorite duo for me to cover since they were sophomores. Now these two are bringing an undefeated but yet underrated squad to Jack Tosh. And on a good day, these two can give any team a run for their money.
Best Player
Cameron Christie Cameron Christie 6'4" | SG Rolling Meadows | 2023 State #76 Nation IL (Rolling Meadows) & Asa Thomas Asa Thomas 6'6" | SF Lake Forest | 2023 State #91 Nation IL (Lake Forrest). Both of these guys have committed to high major universities. Both of these players are capable of exploding for 30+ or even 40+ games at York. Both of these players are due for a major high school moment this season.
Player to watch
Austin Kulig Austin Kulig 6'7" | SF Victor J Andrew | 2023 State IL (Andrew) is a very skilled player that we saw at our showcase in the fall. He has had a rather slow start to the season but can easily put it together because he’s so talented. Kulig is athletic and can shoot really well at 6’7. He and teammate Nathan LaPlant Nathan LaPlant 6'6" Victor J Andrew | 2023 IL are a formidable duo for Andrew. Let’s see how Austin asserts himself over the span of 5 days.
Top Unsigned Senior
Mark Nikolich-Wilson Mark Nikolich-Wilson 6'7" | C Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL (Rolling Meadows) is maybe one of the better passing bigs in the state since Cam Krutwig left. Mark is a big forward who has slimmed down a little but is still very skilled as a passer and playmaker for his team. He knows the game and would think many D2s should be out trying to catch him this week.
State Farm Classic
Best Team
Sacred Heart Griffin as the defending state champions will get a little taste of some city flavor in Bloomington for the State Farm Holiday Tournament. With all the key players returning Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL and Zack Hawkinson Zack Hawkinson 6'4" | PF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL are the top guys for this squad with help from guards Bryce Musgrave and Will Hamilton Will Hamilton 6'3" | SF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL .
Dark Horse
Romeoville after seeing this team for the first time last week they have some pieces to upset teams out in Bloomington. Guard Meyoh Swansey Meyoh Swansey 6'3" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL is a skilled player who can score from all three levels and is a solid athlete. Troy Cicero Troy Cicero 6'2" | PG Romeoville | 2023 State IL (Loyola MD commit) has an above average IQ of the game and can lead this team in tight games. Forward Aaron Brown Aaron Brown 6'4" | PF Joliet West | 2023 State IL handles the dirty work for this team.
Best Player
Ahmad Henderson Ahmad Henderson 5'10" | PG Brother Rice | 2023 State #291 Nation IL (Brother Rice) can become the talk of the town with some huge scoring performances at the Shirk Center. Henderson has proven he’s not afraid of big moments and has already had some early season success in big match ups.
Player to Watch
Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'4" | PG Simeon | 2024 #273 Nation IL (Peoria) has always been one of the better prospects in the state. Brown is a volume scoring guard that can take over a game in spurts. He will be a talent that the locals would gladly pay to watch.
Top Unsigned Senior
Khalil Ross Khalil Ross 6'6" | SF Brother Rice | 2023 State IL (Brother Rice) is player who still has upside to his game. Very long and agile player who is exceptional on the boards. Ross has improved his shot and has shown more determination to block shots when playing defense.