Henricksen: Complete guide to the Chicago Elite Classic

The Chicago Elite Classic, now in its fifth year, continues to be a must-see, circle-the-date event for any basketball fan in the Chicago area.

Where else in Illinois will you find a high school event with 50-plus Division I prospects all playing in one venue over a 28-hour period?

Where else will you find the state’s top senior prospect, the nation’s No. 2 prospect in the sophomore class, a three-time national champ, the defending state champs and current No.1 team in Illinois?

How about a matchup featuring two top 10 teams? How about a local rivalry played on a bigger stage? How about nine of the top 12 teams in the current Chicago Sun-Times rankings –– and 11 of the top 25 –– all playing in the event?

Here is a complete breakdown for each of the 10 games that will be played this Friday and Saturday at the UIC Pavilion.

Friday, Dec. 2

Loyola Academy vs. Niles Notre Dame • 6:00 p.m.

Player to watch: Ramar Evans, the 6-2 senior headed to Division II Maryville, is the heart and soul of the Ramblers and a stat-sheet stuffing guard. He’s poised, under control and leads; Evans is an easy player to appreciate.

What to watch: A pair of strong north suburban programs meet up in the opening game of the event. Notre Dame, behind the senior trio Jeameril Wilson, a versatile 6-6 wing with continued upside, 6-5 Chris Heinichen and guard Matt Stritzel, is off to a 4-0 start.

Curie vs. East St. Louis • 7:30 p.m.

Player to watch: The state’s top prospect, Illinois recruit Jeremiah Tilmon, makes his only appearance in the Chicago area. The 6-10 post player is among the top 25 prospects in the country.

What to watch: Arguably the most anticipated game of the two-day event. It’s a chance to see the defending state champions take on the state’s best prospect. Curie, led by Tulsa recruit Elijah Joiner and junior big men Tyree and Trevian Martin, is the No. 1 team in the Chicago area. In addition to Tilmon, keep an eye on East St. Louis’ highly athletic sophomore Terrence Hargrove.

Oak Park-River Forest vs. Fenwick • 9:00 p.m.

Player to watch: Jacob Keller is fresh off the football field after leading Fenwick to a state semifinal berth as the quarterback of the football team. There may be some rust, but the physical and athletic 6-3 guard is one of the state’s overlooked basketball prospects.

What to watch: A fun rivalry being played out in a big venue and under an even bigger spotlight. The Huskies have a nice blend of productive seniors (6-5 Cameron Gross and 6-6 Jared Scott) and rising young talent, headed by sophomore guard Dashon Enoch.

In addition to Keller, Fenwick boasts four-year varsity performer Jamal Nixon, a jack-of-all-trades 6-4 senior who has signed with Division II Minnesota State.

Is this the year Oak Park gets Fenwick, which has won the last four meetings between the two? The last Oak Park win over Fenwick came in December, 2011.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Orr vs. Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) • 10:30 a.m.

Player to watch: The raw athleticism of Orr junior Raekwon Drake brings instant excitement and above-the-rim fireworks.

What to watch: How good is this Miller Grove program? How about seven state championships in the past eight years good? Is this junior-dominated Orr team, led by Drake, guard Brian Hernandez and Tyron Mosley, ready to face a perennial out-of-state power?

Uplift vs. Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) • 12 noon

Player to watch: There is a lot of hype surrounding sophomore guard Markese Jacobs of Uplift after committing to blue blood Kansas this fall. The 5-10 guard is an explosive weapon with the ball in his hands. And if one Jacobs isn’t enough, there is SIU recruit Demarius Jacobs, a 6-3 senior guard and Markese’s older brother.

What to watch: Uplift has dreams of winning a Class 2A state championship. But the bigger picture for coach David Taylor’s team includes chasing titles at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament in late December and in the Chicago Public League playoffs in February. And it may start with a great showing on this big stage this weekend.

While Chaminade isn’t quite the national power it was last year with superstar Jayson Tatum, it’s still a terrific measuring stick for Uplift. Chaminade is led by Karrington Davis, one of the top 150 prospects in the country in the junior class.

U-High vs. Hyde Park • 1:30 p.m.

Player to watch: Jameel Alausa of U-High, a 6-6 Yale-bound big man, has blossomed into one of the better players in the senior class.

What to watch: This is a neighborhood showdown that should include a nice turnout from the respective fan bases of these two programs. In addition to Alausa, keep an eye on U-High’s 6-6 senior Oliver Maciak.

Hyde Park has a first-year head coach in highly-respected Javon Mamon and a big man in the middle in massive 6-9 Anthony Cameron.

Sunrise Christian (Wichita, Kan.) vs. Gray Collegiate (West Columbia, S.C.) • 3:00 p.m.

Player to watch: Gray Collegiate’s Jalek Fulton is arguably the most talented player in the event. The 6-3 senior guard is among the top 25 players in the country and headed to North Carolina.

What to watch: There is some serious superstar talent that headlines this Gray Collegiate team. In addition to Fulton, junior Juwan Gary, a 6-5 shooting guard, is one of the top 20 players nationally in the the Class of 2018.

Joliet West vs. North Lawndale • 4:30 p.m.

Player to watch: When it comes to most improved players in the lllinois senior class, there are few who have made bigger strides in the past four years than Teyvion Kirk. The Joliet West 6-3 point guard, who has signed with Drake, sets the tone at both ends of the floor.

What to watch: This is a big-time matchup between two unbeaten teams ranked among the top 10 and have realistic hopes of playing in Peoria this March. North Lawndale’s Carlos Hines is poised to be a breakout star this season. Among Illinois teams playing one another, the potential one-on-one matchup between Hines and Kirk could be as good as it gets from an individual standpoint.

Evanston vs. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) • 6:00 p.m.

Player to watch: Although he’s young, there isn’t a more highly thought of player in the Chicago Elite Classic than R.J. Barrett of Montverde. The long, thin and versatile 6-6 sophomore is a dynamic perimeter talent and is the No. 2 ranked player in the country in the Class of 2019.

What to watch: Yes, Evanston is the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s No. 2 ranked team. And, yes, the Wildkits do have a high-major college player in Purdue-bound Nojel Eastern. But …

This is clearly a David vs. Goliath matchup.

Montverde, off to a 4-0 start, is a national powerhouse on the prep school scene. The amount of size and depth at Montverde’s disposal is alarming, and the list of Division I prospects in the program is endless.

In addition to Barrett, Montverde boasts an embarrassment of riches, including: 6-5 junior guard and North Carolina commit Rechon Black; 6-9 power forward Sean Mobley, who is headed to VCU; Pitt-bound senior point guard Marcus Carr; and 6-2 sophomore Andrew Nembhard, who is among the top 25 players in the Class of 2019.

But the local high school will get its shot at the national prep school power, winners of three consecutive national championships that produced the likes of DeAngelo Russell and Ben Simmons.

Simeon vs. Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.) • 7:30 p.m.

Player to watch: Chris Lykes is a tiny one, but he’s an electric little point guard who constantly disrupts and is dazzling with the ball in his hands. The 5-6 senior is headed to Miami-Florida.

What to watch: How well will the solid perimeter balance of Simeon, headed by senior Evan Gilyard (UTEP), junior Kezo Brown and sophomore Kejuan Clements, contain Lykes? If Lykes wasn’t enough, Gonzaga also boasts junior Prentiss Hubb, a top 50 prospect nationally in the junior class. Simeon counters with a promising junior of its own in 6-4 Talen Horton-Tucker.

Young vs. Kenwood • 9:00 p.m.

Player to watch: OK, Xavier Castaneda, it’s your time. The 5-11 point guard is a junior now and has received plenty of attention. The ultra-talented Castaneda has to be on the floor, healthy, and a consistent presence if Young wants to reach the heights it believes it can reach.

What to watch: Something to keep in mind is the fact Kenwood has already played four games, including a few games against quality competition. That’s four more than Young, who will be opening their season Saturday night. Ask any coach how they feel about the very first game. Watch any team play its first game. It’s a crapshoot.

Kenwood and Young both have known senior commodities who remain uncommitted in 6-7 Manny Patterson and 6-4 Lucas Williamson, respectively.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the City/Suburban Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport