5 Must See Chicago Games on Thanksgiving Week
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With the beginning of the season just a week away. I have some opening week must-see games I think high school basketball fans should have on their to-do list. Monday Kenwood v Hansberry @ Rich Township (Crosstown Classic Holiday Shootout)…
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Continue ReadingWith the beginning of the season just a week away. I have some opening week must-see games I think high school basketball fans should have on their to-do list.
Monday
Kenwood v Hansberry @ Rich Township (Crosstown Classic Holiday Shootout)
An exciting opening contest with the upstart Hansberry Prep featuring the Brooks Brothers ( Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr and Ikee Brooks Ikee Brooks 5'11" | PG Hansberry | 2025 State IL ) taking on a new look Broncos squad that’s a heavy contender for state again this season. What a match-up of top 2025 forwards in 6’10 Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL (Kenwood) vs 6’7 Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr. (Hansberry) as a focal point. The Broncos will be heavy favorites with DePaul signee Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL and Arizona State commit 6’10 Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL ‘s up front along with recent transfer Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2026 State IL who will be a huge scoring threat. You will also get the highly anticipated debut of freshman phenom Devin Cleveland Devin Cleveland 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2027 IL . Should be a fast-paced game with Ikee Brooks Ikee Brooks 5'11" | PG Hansberry | 2025 State IL and Roberts going at each other. Excited to see the return of Calvin Robbins Jr. who missed the travel season with injury.
Young v Lanphier @ Rich Township (Crosstown Classic Holiday Shootout)
A sneaky first game for both teams. The Dolphins come in with a talented “young” group of players led by junior
Antonio Munoz
Antonio
Munoz
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2025
State
#194
Nation
IL
and a trio of sophomore guards.
Marquis Clark
Marquis
Clark
6'2" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
,
Nasir Rankin
Nasir
Rankin
6'2" | SG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
, and
Rykan Woo
Rykan
Woo
6'1" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
look to keep the Dolphins among the elite for years to come as top ranked sophomore guards. This will also be the debut of
Howard Williams
Howard
Williams
6'5" | SF
Whitney Young | 2027
IL
who is a 2027 highly touted prospect. Springfield Lanphier has their own athletic workhorse in
Shaunassey Hatchett
Shaunassey
Hatchett
6'4" | SF
Springfield Lanphier | 2025
State
IL
. 6’4 wing player who gets after it on both ends of the court and guard Jaiquan Holman can catch fire with his shooting ability which can make this a tough opening game.
Wednesday
Kankakee v Christ The King @ Christ The King
I consider this a Thanksgiving Eve gift. South suburbs takes a trip to the west side of Chicago for an afternoon game. A very skilled and talented Kay’s led by senior guard Lorenz Walters and Damonte May are the savvy veterans in the backcourt but wing 2026 Lincoln Williams Lincoln Williams 6'5" | SF Kankakee | 2026 State IL is the prospect who will catch a dunk or two and change the whole moment of a game. Christ The King is a 2A favorite this year behind the steady play of 6’6 post CJ Worsham CJ Worsham 6'7" | PF Christ the King | 2024 State IL . A physical forward who has guard like handles when it’s necessary for him to dribble. Worsham has an inside-out game that’s tough to prepare for. The Gladiators also have a very athletic forward in 2025 Aaron McClure who is a bouncy prospect that is a hound on the glass and has great timing on blocking shots. This will be a great early-season game for both teams.
Lane Tech v Niles North @ Lane Tech (Battle of the Bridge)
In a game that will be a contrast of styles but filled with talent Lane has the four year varsity starter Shaheed Solebo Shaheed Solebo 6'4" | SF Lane Tech | 2024 State IL a 6’4 wing who can also play possessions at guard. Strength inside with the ability to hit shots on the perimeter. He also has size on his side with a formidable front court of 6’8 Jr. Dalton Scantleberry and a very active and bouncy 6’5 Nico Wright Nico Wright 6'5" | PF Lane Tech | 2026 State IL . Niles North has a dynamic scoring duo in the backcourt with 2025s Yaris Irby Yaris Irby 5'10" | PG Niles North | 2025 State IL and Reid Olson Reid Olson 6'0" | PG Niles North | 2025 State IL . Irby is a quick and stocky guard who can score from three levels. His counterpart Olson is a dead-eye shooter from three. This game has the makings of a good early-season matchup.
Marian Catholic – Homewood Flossmoor @ Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights Classic)
This game is a South Suburbs fixture before Thanksgiving. Pack the house to watch the new improved Vikings. 2025 Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State #86 Nation IL and 2024 Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL will lead the team in its first competitive game. With help from 6’8 senior Mac Hagemaster and junior guard Jayden Tyler Jayden Tyler 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State IL . Marian Catholic will have a home-court advantage and looks to have a strong performance from 2025 Zack Sharkey the steady guard can do it all and is primed for a big season. Also, look to James Bullock James Bullock 6'7" | PF Marian Catholic | 2024 State IL 6’8 big man who can step out on the perimeter for threes and is a terrific shot blocker on defense. Marian plays stingy defense and can be in any game at their house.
Friday
Brother Rice v Joliet West @ Riverside Brookfield
What a game to close out the week with both teams having a several college prospects to boast about. Brother Rice led with senior Cale Cosme Cale Cosme 5'7" | PG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL . The Lewis commit runs the show better than any guard in the state and he has help with fellow senior Tyler Wooten Tyler Wooten 6'5" | SG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL who transferred in this season He’s a terrific shooter who doesn’t need much room to knock a shot down. Look for 2025 Marcos Gonzales Marcos Gonzales 6'3" | SG Brother Rice | 2025 State IL to be a big factor as a smooth guard who is very savvy around the bucket and has a good touch from mid-range. Also watch for 6’7 froward Zavier Fitch Zavier Fitch 6'7" | PF Brother Rice | 2024 State IL who has been much improved in the fall league. Joliet West is led by Valpo commit Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL an athletic scoring guard who gets to become the #1 scoring threat with Fears leaving the state. In addition to Justus, West has 6’10 Drew King a dependable rim protector and space eater. They were also gifted transfer in 6’4 Zion Gross Zion Gross 6'5" | SG Joliet West | 2025 State IL an efficient wing player who has a skillset and playmaking ability in the open court. A game this early with so much talent would be a great reason to get outside and burn off some of that holiday food.