12 games worth watching
Attention basketball fans, here are a dozen regular-season games worth circling on the calendar for the 2018-19 season:
Uplift vs. Brother Rice, Dec. 8
This Public League vs. Catholic League battle, part of the Team Rose Shootout at Mount Carmel, features two of the elite guards in the state: DePaul recruit Markese Jacobs of the Titans and Loyola recruit Marquise Kennedy of the Crusaders.
Bloom vs. Morgan Park, Dec. 8
This Team Rose Shootout matchup at Mount Carmel features four of the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s top 10 junior prospects (and five of the top 20): Morgan Park’s Adam Miller and Marcus Watson, and Bloom’s Martice Mitchell, Keshawn Williams and Dante Maddox, Jr.
Leo at DePaul Prep, Dec. 21
DePaul Prep and senior star Perry Cowan are the favorites in the Chicago Catholic League. Class 2A title contender Leo features the inside-outside tandem of Fred Cleveland and DeChaun Anderson.
Curie at Bogan, Jan. 8
The Public League’s new conference alignment last year brought Red-South power Bogan and Red-Central Curie together. These top-10 teams feature deep rosters full of talent, led by Curie’s DaJuan Gordon and Bogan’s Jeremiah Washington and Rashaun Agee.
Orr at Young, Jan. 11
The clashes between Young and Orr, the reigning conference and Class 2A state champs, have been good ones in recent years. Though heavily favored, this will be one of Young’s toughest tests in the Public League’s Red-North/ West.
Morgan Park at Simeon, Jan. 24
It doesn’t get much better than this. In addition to the obvious talent on display and the history with these two programs, there is typically drama and intensity, and the stakes are high.
Simeon vs. Bolingbrook, Jan. 26
This is the featured game of the When Sides Collide Shootout at Glenbard East. A fun city vs. suburbs showdown between two perennial powers on a neutral floor.
Simeon vs. Belleville West, Feb. 2
The state’s premier program against the defending state champs and the state’s best player, EJ Liddell, in front of a raucous crowd at the O’Fallon Shootout.
Evanston at New Trier, Feb. 15
Arguably the best rivalry in the area, this game really could mean something this late in the year as the top two teams in the Central Suburban League South go at it.
Downers Grove North at Oak Park, Feb. 15
Loaded Oak Park has dominated the West Suburban Silver the last two years. Can the talented Trojans, who are off to a 4-0 start and boast the terrific guard tandem of Trey Boston and Semaj Henderson, be in position this late in the season to create some havoc?
Homewood-Flossmoor at Bolingbrook, Feb. 15
This will receive a lot of attention late in the season. H-F is ranked and the defending Southwest Suburban Blue champ. Bolingbrook’s senior guard tandem of Tyler Cochran and Joseph Yesufu will be looking to unseat the champs.
St. Viator at Benet, Feb. 20
Could this game, the final one on the ESCC slate for both teams, decide the conference title? St. Viator’s Division I duo of Trey Calvin and Jerry Hernandez are looking to repeat in the ESCC.