Previewing the weekend’s top high school basketball games

Joe Henricksen previews and predicts this weekend’s best games.

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Young’s Dalen Davis (20) dribbles in the front court against Morgan Park.

Young’s Dalen Davis (20) dribbles in the front court against Morgan Park.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Thanksgiving week is over. We jump right into conference play and the shootout season, starting with the Chicago Elite Classic Friday and Saturday at Wintrust Arena. 

Here is the first City/Suburban Hoops Report Weekend Forecast of the season. 

Westinghouse (2-2) at No. 10 Lincoln Park (4-1), Friday 5 p.m.

This should be a fun one in the Public League’s Red-North/West. The West Side school vs. the North Side school on a Friday night in an intimate setting. 

Westinghouse’s big weekend includes a showdown Saturday night when Stevenson comes to town. But first, the senior guard tandem of high-scoring Devin Davis and hard-nosed Ryan Brown, along with emerging 6-6 sophomore Martell Webb, must go on the road and play in a tough environment.

In what should be a tight one, Lincoln Park, rides its backcourt of Julio Montes and Ismail Habib to the win. 

Hoops Report pick: Lincoln Park 67, Westinghouse 65

Niles North (4-1) at Deerfield (3-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

A change in the Central Suburban League brings these two CSL North foes back together –– and with a lot on the line for an early December game. These are the two teams to beat, so this one could very well set the tone going forward. 

Both Niles North, fueled by exciting senior guard Aquan Smart, and Deerfield, with size and productivity from 6-11 senior Brandon Lieb and 6-7 junior Walter Mattingly, are off to quick starts. Both have one loss but both came to ranked teams –– Niles North losing to DePaul Prep and Deerfield to Mundelein.

Niles North will combat that Deerfield size with its quickness and athleticism –– and Smart, who will be the most talented player on the floor. But if Deerfield can control tempo and effectively play transition defense, the Warriors’ length within its 1-3-1 defense can slow down always-fast Niles North. 

Deerfield gets some revenge for its two losses to Niles North last season and pulls off a mild upset. 

Hoops Report pick: Deerfield 60, Niles North 58

No. 16 Hillcrest (2-2) at No. 22 Oak Lawn (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m.

You know all about Hillcrest but did you also know Oak Lawn is 4-0. And ranked?

Yes, Oak Lawn, led by the unheralded Sami Osmani, is ranked in the top 25. But if it wants to stay in the top 25 and, more importantly, move into the same gated south suburban basketball community as Hillcrest, it needs a signature win. Here is a golden opportunity to do just that. 

Hillcrest is still without junior guard Mar’Keise Irving, who is such an important piece for this team, but the size, length and athleticism of the junior trio of Julius Rollins, Jakobi Heady and Hamahrie Bowers will pose Oak Lawn just enough problems for the Hawks to survive on the road. 

Hoops Report pick: Hillcrest 63, Oak Lawn 56

Hinsdale South (4-0) at Morton (3-2), Friday, 6:30 p.m.

The West Suburban Gold kicks off the season in a big way as these two contenders collide in a key early-season conference matchup. 

Morton’s 1-2 punch of Kendell Nichols and Manny Rodriguez impressed at the Riverside-Brookfield Thanksgiving Tournament with their scoring ability But Hinsdale South, which figures to be one of the most improved teams in the area from a year ago, is riding high with its quick 4-0 start. Wiry and active big man Aaron Tims and high-energy guard Billy Durkin lead the way for the Hornets. 

Hoops Report pick: Hinsdale South 60, Morton 54

New Trier (3-1) vs. Lane (2-3) at Wintrust Arena, Friday, 6 p.m.

The opening game of the Chicago Elite Classic. New Trier may be better than a lot of people anticipated. The Trevians went 3-1 over Thanksgiving, losing only to a strong Loyola team, as senior John Carragher was an all-tournament selection. 

Lane is still searching with so many pieces in place. Lane returns just one starter from a year ago, but he’s a good one –– 6-4 Louis Perona –– along with last year’s sixth man Eric Stemper. Lane is still searching with so many pieces in place. 

Hoops Report pick: New Trier 50, Lane 42

No. 9 Evanston (4-0) vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (5-0) at Wintrust Arena, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

The game with the most local interest in the Chicago Elite Classic. Both teams are unbeaten, highly ranked and will be major players all season. Plus, both teams are fueled by an array of players who are among the very best in Illinois in the Class of 2021.

Notre Dame’s impressive junior group includes highly-regarded Anthony Sayles, Troy D’Amico and Louis Lesmond, while Evanston is led by the 1-2 punch of juniors Blake Peters and Jaylin Gibson. All five are among the top 25 prospects in the Class of 2021.

Hoops Report pick: Notre Dame 67, Evanston 61

No. 19 Fenwick (3-1) vs. Oak Park (2-2) at Wintrust Arena, Friday, 9 p.m.

Over the years this crosstown rivalry, with competitive games and energized student sections, has become one of the highlights of the Chicago Elite Classic. 

Fenwick’s Bryce Hopkins is one of the state’e very elite players. The ultra-skilled, big-bodied wing has committed to Louisville and already scored 44 points in a game this season in a win over Westinghouse. 

Oak Park comes in scuffling, going just 2-2 in the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout. But the talent is there –– keep an eye on juniors Isaiah Barnes and Josh Smith –– and the slow start would be erased with a win over Fenwick. 

Hoops Report pick: Fenwick 58, Oak Park 55

No. 5 Stevenson (4-0) at Westinghouse (2-2), Saturday, 6 p.m.

Quite an opening two weeks for Westinghouse as it plays Fenwick, Benet, Lincoln Park and Stevenson. At least this one is finally on its home court. But it’s the biggest and toughest test yet. Stevenson’s always feisty team defense should make things difficult for Westinghouse’s high-scoring guard Devin Davis. 

Hoops Report pick: 55, Westinghouse 47

Kenwood vs. No. 10 Lincoln Park (3-1) at Wintrust Arena, Saturday, 2 p.m.

There will be a quick turnaround for a Lincoln Park team that must bounce back from a Friday night tussle with Westinghouse. The junior backcourt of Ismail Habib and Julio Montes leads the Lions. Explosive senior guard Roland McCoy is the headliner for Kenwood.

No. 1 Bloom (5-0) vs. Atlanta Pace, Ga. (6-2) at Wintrust Arena, Saturday, 3:45 p.m.

The No. 1 team gets to strut its stuff on the Chicago Elite Classic stage. Are Bloom’s Martice Mitchell, Keshawn Williams, Donovan Newby, Dante Maddox, Justin Moore and Christian Shumate ready for it? This game provides another opportunity for this senior group to continue to impress. 

Coach Dante Maddox’s team will be tested with this out-of-state opponent as Pace Academy is led by highly-regarded 6-6 guard Matthew Cleveland, who is ranked among the top 35 players in the country in the Class of 2021. 

No. 4 Simeon (1-0) vs. Baltimore St. Frances, Md. (5-0) at Wintrust Arena, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

The 1-2 punch of junior Ahamad Bynum and newcomer Jeremiah Williams, a talented transfer from St. Laurence, lead Simeon into the Chicago Elite Classic.

St. Frances is a powerhouse, winning 37 games a year ago and capturing the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament and regular season championships, and remain loaded. 

Guard Ace Baldwin (14.1 points, 5.6 assists), a VCU commit, 6-6 Jamal West (12.9 points), an Alabama State commit, and athletic Jordan Toles, who is headed to LSU to play football, are ones to watch.

Plus, a pair of big-time talents –– 6-3 senior Jahmal Banks and 6-1 junior Byron Ireland –– have transferred in. 

No. 3 Young (2-1) vs. Duncanville, Texas (5-2) at Wintrust Arena, Saturday, 7:15 p.m.

DJ Steward and company face a Duncanville team that features four returning starters, began the season ranked among USA Today’s top 25 high school teams in the country and has already played seven games. 

Last year Duncanville won a state championship. This year the Panthers are off to a 5-2 start, though the losses came to a pair of top 10 national teams –– No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 8 Sierra Canyon.

The headliner is Micah Peavy, a 6-7 wing who is ranked among the top 40 players in the country and has double-digit high-major offers. The trio of 5-8 senior Ja’Bryant Hill, 6-3 senior Derek Luna and 6-4 junior Damon Nicholas all return.

No. 2 Morgan Park (2-1) vs. St. Louis Christian Brothers, Mo. (2-1) at Wintrust Arena, Saturday, 9:00 p.m.

Arguably the state’s best backcourt, seniors Adam Miller and Marcus Watson, will have its hands full with the Missouri powerhouse at the Chicago Elite Classic.

The marquee name for Christian Brothers is Caleb Love, a five-star prospect who has signed with North Carolina. The 6-3 point guard is among the top 25 players in the country and a lethal scorer after averaging 19 points a game as a junior. He scored 30 and 29 in two games last week.

Wheaton-Warrenville South Shootout, Saturday

Schaumburg vs. Huntley 1:30
York vs. Naperville North, 3
Batavia vs. Downers Grove South, 4:30
Wheaton North vs. Benet, 6
Wheaton-Warrenville South vs. Riverside-Brookfield, 7:30

The opener of this shootout that hopes to raise awareness of Crohn’s disease and Colitis is an intriguing one. It’s a nice test for both Schaumburg, led by 6-8 Wisconsin-bound junior Chris Hodges, and unbeaten Huntley. 

Wheaton North is off to a surprising unbeaten start. But even with Benet missing top player Colin Crothers, the stakes will be raised for the Falcons in a test against a ranked team. 

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