A look at the action ahead this week at Proviso West and Wheeling.
Dates: Dec. 23, 26, 27, 28
The favorite: Warren
A year ago the Blue Devils burst on the scene with a tournament title and MVP performance from Jaxson Davis. The team and sophomore star are both better. Now coach Zack Ryan’s poised and confident team comes in with a bullseye on its back as true headline attraction. Can it hold off the Public League to win back-to-back titles?
Top contenders: Young and Lincoln Park
Young, fresh off an impressive win over Simeon on the road, features an impactful duo in junior guard Marquis Clark and 6-6 athlete Antonio Munoz. In what is bizarre bracketing in this 16-team tournament, the Dolphins would get Warren in a second-round game.
Lincoln Park, which has notched impressive wins over Young, Curie and St. Laurence thus far, has a wide open path to the title game. Look for Ahmad Lee, Chayse Turner and the Lions to take full advantage of it.
Sleepers: Perspectives-Leadership and Rockford Guilford
Coach Justin Rhymes is in the infancy stage of making his Perspectives-Leadership program relevant. With high-scoring senior Phoenix Childs, a semifinal appearance is doable and anything more would be a statement.
Keep an eye on Guilford. The Vikings jumped out to a fast 8-1 start that included wins over several Chicago area teams, including Neuqua Valley, West Aurora and Hinsdale Central.
Storyline: Could this be the true coming-out party for Lincoln Park?
Yes, it’s a bonafide top 25 team that will flirt with top 10 status all season. But last year the Lions were walloped by Warren at Proviso West. There were also more puzzling losses to Lane, Payton and Westinghouse a year ago.
This year should be different — coach Josh Anderson’s team is older and better defensively — and a win over a team like Warren in the final would be a significant step in showing that.
Dates: Dec. 23, 26, 27, 28
The favorite: Downers Grove North
The fact Downers Grove North is even a slight favorite in this tournament is a credit to the winning mentality this program has established and the job coach Jim Thomas has done with this team.
The Trojans, who returned just one starter from a year ago, have already exceeded early-season expectations, though a lopsided loss to Hinsdale Central Friday night has cooled the momentum. Players like 6-5 Bobby Grganto and 6-4 Jack Crowley played small roles a year ago but have risen to the occasion and impressed as seniors.
Top contender: Fremd
First-year coach Mike Brown has Fremd humming along nicely, thanks to senior guards Samuel Hirsch and Ryan Brown who are long on experience and wingspan at 6-4. But promising 6-6 junior Jordan Williams is the player who can take this team to another level.
Sleepers: Stevenson and Libertyville
Although it’s been a bit of a bumpy start for Stevenson with three losses, the Patriots, who are led by veteran point guard Aidan Bardic, are more than capable of putting four wins together.
No one has been talking much about Libertyville — yet. The Wildcats, however, have a senior guard in Liam Hanson and an emerging junior in 6-7 Bryce Wegrzyn that have propelled them to a fast, impressive start to the season.
Storyline: Which team goes unscathed at Wheeling and establishes itself as a legit contender? There are a handful of quality teams who with four wins here would move the needle from pretender to contender in their respective conference.
