||| CITY/ SUBURBAN HOOPS REPORT No shortage of talent in big matchups
The Chicago Elite Classic and the When Sides Collide Shootout, two high- profile high school basketball events in the area, are once again loaded and recently released their lineup of games.
Here is a snapshot of a few of the top basketball days on the calendar for the 2017- 2018 season.
Chicago Elite Classic at UIC, Dec. 1- 2
Best matchup: Oak Park vs. Fenwick, Dec. 1.
From a local perspective, this one offers a whole lot and has become a Chicago Elite Classic fixture. Over the last few years, this rivalry game has delivered, including a terrific early- season crowd and atmosphere.
Other top matchups
St. Rita vs. Bloomington, Dec. 1: Led by 6- 6 Chris Payton, one of the top five junior prospects in the state, Bloomington is fresh off a 27- win season and third- place finish in Class 3A. St. Rita will be a Catholic League contender.
Morgan Park vs. Champaign Central, Dec. 2: Ayo Dosunmu of Morgan Park is the frontrunner for player of the year, and Central’s Tim Finke is one of the top 10 senior prospects in Illinois.
Whitney Young vs. Vashon ( St. Louis), Dec. 2: The defending Illinois state champs square off with the defending Missouri state champs.
Simeon vs. Chaminade ( St. Louis), Dec. 2: Loaded with Division I talent, Simeon faces Chaminade, led by Jericole Hellems, a talented 6- 6 senior with high- major offers.
Sunrise Christian Academy ( Kansas) vs. La Lumiere School ( Indiana), Dec. 2: A couple of national powerhouses filled with top100 talent in multiple classes meet in Chicago.
When Sides Collide Shootout at Glenbard East, Jan. 20
Best matchup: Morgan Park vs. Fenwick.
This is a tantalizing matchup of the teams that met in last year’s Class 3A championship, where Morgan Park edged Fenwick in overtime.
The talent on display includes the state’s top senior prospect, Illinois commit Ayo Dosunmu of Morgan Park, and two of the most talented young players in the state — Morgan Park’s Adam Miller and Fenwick’s D. J. Steward.
Undercard: Young vs. Bloomington.
The defending Class 4A state champs, led by the Division I tandem of Xavier Castaneda and Javon Freeman, will meet Class 3A power Bloomington. Chris Payton, a 6- 6 junior who has committed to Illinois State, leads the way for a Bloomington team that finished third in the state last year in Class 3A.
Other top matchups
Romeoville vs. West Aurora and Evanston vs. DePaul Prep: There are big expectations for a Romeoville team that returns a wealth of talent, led by guard Deandre Heckard, and welcomes a huge addition in Joliet West transfer Ed- die Creal. West Aurora returns a host of players, including four- year varsity player Camron Donatlan.
The top two juniors in the Class of 2019 — DePaul Prep’s Perry Cowan and Evanston’s Lance Jones — also will meet. DePaul Prep won a regional title last year in Class 2A, while Evanston won regional and sectional championships in Class 4A.