BASKETBALL PREVIEW
Here are 20 questions and answers for the upcoming season:
1. Who is the best player in the Chicago area?
Morgan Park senior Ayo Dosunmu. The Illinois recruit has risen to elite status since being an afterthought in the White Division. Simeon’s Talen- Horton Tucker is his top challenger.
2. Which players are on the preseason All- State team?
Dosunmu, Talen Horton- Tucker, Hinsdale South senior Zion Griffin, Belleville West 6- 7 junior EJ Liddell and 6- 9 junior Francis Okoro of Normal West.
3. Which teams are the favorites to win Class 4A?
Simeon and Young, followed closely by Curie. It’s a Public League- heavy season.
4. Is there a team that could make a Cinderella run?
Larkin and West Aurora are experienced, balanced squads that could go on big runs in March.
5. Who are the favorites in Class 3A?
Morgan Park is the overwhelming choice. Bogan and Farragut are the only other local Class 3A teams that could pose a challenge. Decatur MacArthur, East St. Louis and Mount Vernon are solid.
6. What’s the most interesting development for this season?
The Public League Red now consists of two 10- team conferences, the Red South- Central and Red North- West. Each team plays every conference opponent only once.
7. Which players have improved the most since last season?
Griffin and Corliss big man George Conditt. Griffin picked up an offer from Kansas and eventually signed with Iowa State. Conditt, a 6- 9 center, was unknown when the season ended but picked up 40 Division I offers this summer.
8. Which players are worth traveling to see?
Dosunmu is the star attraction. His decision to stay home and attend Illinois has made him a beloved figure across the state. Two sophomores, Morgan Park’s Adam Miller and Fenwick’s DJ Steward, are top- 50 national talents.
9. Which freshman is a budding superstar?
The early buzz is about Simeon guard Ahmad Bynum and Schaumburg big Chris Hodges.
10. Who is the most important transfer?
Maurice Commander leaving Marist for Curie could be the biggest. Xavier Pinson switching from St. Patrick to Simeon and Chase Adams going from Marian Catholic to Orr are major moves. Stay tuned for eligibility rulings on all the transfers.
11. Who are the most underappreciated players in the area?
Farragut junior Aaron Strong is vastly underrated based on his terrific sophomore season. Tyrek Cooper, a tremendous shooter, is a virtual unknown at North Chicago.
12. Which teams were overlooked in the preseason Super 25?
Lake Zurich, St. Joseph, Leo, Geneva, Bloom, Hillcrest, New Trier, Batavia, North Lawndale, Joliet Central, McHenry, St. Charles North, Libertyville, St. Viator and Joliet West all have a chance to crack the rankings at some point.
13. What are the must- see games of the year?
Simeon vs. Morgan Park on Dec. 7. Young at Orr on Jan. 12. Fenwick faces Young at Navy Pier on Nov. 26, plays Morgan Park at Glenbard East on Jan. 20 and will host Simeon on Jan. 15.
14. What is the strongest conference in the area?
The Red South- Central. The Upstate Eight River is strong from top to bottom.
15. Who are the top shooters?
St. Charles North’s Justin Hardy, Wells senior Antwone Lampkin, Cooper, Steward and junior Teon Nesbitt of Butler.
16. Who are the top freshmen?
Bynum, Hodges, Morgan Park’s Boopie Miller, Evanston’s Jaylin Gibson, Carmel’s Kamahri Wilson and Niles North’s Jalen Butler.
17. Which sophomores will emerge as stars?
Expect Farragut point guard Reggie Strong, Young’s Tyler Beard and Orr’s Demarius Splunge to break out this season.
18. Who are the area’s best big men?
Larkin’s Jalen Shaw, Curie’s Treavon Martin, Conant’s Ryan Davis, Morgan Park’s Tamell Pearson and Simeon’s Messiah Jones.
19. Who are the top point guards?
Commander, Dosunmu, Pinson, Strong and Young’s Xavier Castaneda.
20. Who are the new coaches to watch?
Kevin Clancy takes over at Notre Dame. Brian Zyrkowksi is the new coach at Libertyville. The Wildcats have Drew Peterson, one of the best seniors in the state.
Follow me on Twitter @ michaelsobrien.