Big 3 have inside track to title
Kenwood favored; Young, St. Rita have talent to contend
The Proviso West Holiday Tournament is no longer the state’s top holiday destination, but three of the area’s best teams will compete for the championship.
A Kenwood-Young rematch or a Kenwood-St. Rita matchup for the title likely would draw big crowds. The tournament begins Monday and wraps up Thursday. Here’s a primer on all the action.
Team to beat: Kenwood. The loaded Broncos have yet to lose to an in-state team. The impressive start includes wins over Joliet West and Young. This is a deep team with size, length and athleticism, and it starts with Kansas State recruit Dai Dai Ames, a dynamic scorer in the backcourt. From top to bottom, Kenwood is arguably the most talented team in the state.
Top challengers: St. Rita and Young.
St. Rita and Young are on a collision course and should meet in the semifinals. The winner will get a crack at Kenwood.
Everyone’s perception of St. Rita seems to be a topic of conversation over the first third of the season. We already have seen St. Rita face Public League giant Simeon, and it didn’t go so well. The Mustangs were drilled by 27 points.
The Mustangs should be extremely motivated for the possibility to play two more of the top teams in the city and state.
A strong showing at Proviso West will enhance their prospects. The Mustangs are led by the bigman tandem of 6-8 Morez Johnson and 6-9 James Brown. Nojus Indrusaitis, the highly regarded prospect and transfer from Lemont, appears to be settling in.
Young relies heavily on talented point guard Dalen Davis. But when senior Daniel Johnson produces, it provides a big boost for the Dolphins.
Dark horse: Proviso East. No one expects any of the other 13 teams to put much of a scare into the Big Three: Kenwood, Young and St. Rita.
But the best of the bunch beyond them is Proviso East, led by guard Jaloni Johnson and 6-6 Bryce Coleman.
Five players to watch: Dalen Davis, Young; James Brown and Morez Johnson, St. Rita; Darrin Ames, Kenwood; Jaloni Johnson, Proviso East Underrated player to watch: Jevon Warren, TF North.
No one has taken notice, but TF North is 7-0 heading into Proviso West. And a big part of that has been the play of senior guard Jevon Warren.
Veteran coach Tim Bankston calls Warren “the most athletic kid I have ever coached.” The 6-2 Warren is averaging 16.7 points, eight rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.
Storyline to follow: Will another Kenwood-Young showdown materialize?
This isn’t a rivalry, right? Or is it? If this battle does materialize, it will be the fifth matchup between the two in the last 12 months.
Kenwood beat Young in last year’s Proviso West Holiday Tournament final. Then Young beat Kenwood in the city semifinals and again in a Class 4A supersectional. Kenwood came from behind to knock off Young in the season opener a month ago.
Title game pick: Kenwood over St. Rita.