Previewing and predicting this weekend's top games
We can expect a wild few days as results of so many high-stakes clashes take place over the long weekend. There are shootouts and events across the state.
Here are just a few of the best individual matchups, starting with a monster Catholic League battle Friday night and the Game of the Weekend in a Monday matinee.
Last week: 4-1
Season: 9-3
Friday
DePaul Prep (16-1) at Mount Carmel (15-2)
These two are getting quite familiar with each other when it comes to high-profile games. They have both won big over the past few years and played each other very tough along the way.
Mount Carmel won in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. DePaul won 41-28 during the regular season a year ago. This is their first meeting since DePaul knocked off the Caravan 49-41 in last year’s Class 3A state championship game.
They are back at it again as the No. 1 and No. 12 ranked teams in the Super 25.
You will be hard pressed to find a more potent, all-around trio than the Caravan’s Grant Best, Cameron Thomas and Noah Mister. They put pressure on you in a number of ways — Thomas as a superior scorer, Mister as a complete point guard and Best with an all-around impact that goes even beyond his solid numbers.
DePaul has been operating as a machine behind point guard Makai Kvamme, junior big man Rashaun Porter and the emergence of Rykan Woo. The Rams have an impressive list of wins on the résumé, including Mater Dei (Calif.) and seven teams that have been ranked this season.
But it actually gets tougher. Some heavy lifting is required for the Rams as they are in the midst of a brutal stretch. Coach Tom Kleinschmidt’s last five games — all wins — have come against Joliet West, Curie, Benet, Warren and Loyola Academy. Now they get Mount Carmel, St. Louis Vashon, Brother Rice and Homewood-Flossmoor in the next eight days.
The pick: DePaul Prep 48, Mount Carmel 44
New Trier (15-4) at Deerfield (13-4)
While New Trier has been the class of the north suburbs and the Central Suburban League South the past few years, Deerfield is quietly sneaking up on some people and has cracked the rankings. This is a big one in the CSL South.
Big man Jake Pollack is a player in the junior class who has emerged. The 6-7 Pollack is putting up 18.1 points, eight rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game. He’s also getting to the line where he’s a 90 percent free-throw shooter.
This Deerfield team is also one with an endless list of experienced varsity players who are ready for the moment.
Christopher Kirkpatrick is the catalyst for Trevians. He’s an absolute weapon with the ball in his hands. Colby Smith is putting together a rock solid senior campaign and Danny Houlihan is a high-level shooter for the Warriors to worry about on the perimeter.
New Trier can’t get caught looking ahead to what is a huge weekend. They play at Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena on Saturday and then host one of the state’s best, Kenwood, on Monday.
The pick: New Trier 57, Deerfield 50
St. Patrick (14-4) at Benet (17-2)
Balanced Benet gets its production collectively with each one of its big four — guards Blake Fagbemi and Jayden Wright, 7-footer Colin Stack and SIU recruit Daniel Poulikounis –– all in double figures.
As the record indicates, St. Patrick has been a consistent winner. But that has not included a signature win. The Shamrocks, led by steady veteran scoring guard EJ Breland, have fallen short in their four toughest games (Hinsdale Central, Lake Forest, Glenbrook South and Marist).
Here’s a big opportunity for St. Pat’s in this key East Suburban Catholic Conference game, though on the road at Benet is not ideal. Benet has had its way with St. Pat’s the past two years, going 4-0 with an average victory margin of 25 points a game.
The pick: Benet 60, St. Patrick 49
Saturday
Rolling Meadows (16-2) vs. Mount Carmel (16-2) at Glenbrook South
What kind of toll will a battle with DePaul Prep on Friday night impact Mount Carmel in this afternoon matinee? Regardless, the key is the Caravan still have that mighty trio in Grant Best, Cameron Thomas and Noah Mister with microwave scoring potential.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Rolling Meadows is on quite a roll. The Ian Miletic-led Mustangs have won five in row, including wins over Lake Forest, Downers Grove North, Hersey and Evanston.
The pick: Mount Carmel 59, Rolling Meadows 55
Joliet West (13-5) vs. Peoria Manual (13-5) at Northwestern
A fun one with one of the state’s best talents, Peoria Manual’s Dietrich Richardson, making an appearance in the Chicago area.
In fact, it’s a fun day at Welsh-Ryan arena as this is the opener of a three-game event which also includes Lemont-Bolingbrook and Lane-New Trier matchups.
Richardson, the Bradley-bound senior, is a long, rangy 6-6 guard with as much versatility as anyone in the class.
Joliet West has built some momentum — and confidence — with a win over Warren last weekend. Zion Gross played like a Division I talent in that win, while talented junior Ethan Hillsman showed why he’s been hyped as a potential difference-maker.
The pick: Joliet West 65, Peoria Manual 58
Sunday
Lemont (14-5) vs. Niles North (13-5) at Homewood-Flossmoor
A pair of teams that came into the season with high expectations — and still have them — but are really in need of a marquee win.
It’s been nearly five weeks since Niles North knocked off Simeon. Since then the Vikings have fallen to Hinsdale Central, Rich Twp. and, most recently, a 68-64 Tuesday night loss to Evanston.
Lemont can score points. The trio of Gabe Sularski, Alanas Castillo and Matas Gaidukevicius are all capable of scoring 20-plus and why they’ve scored 70 or more points in six of their last seven games. But they scuffled in late December with three losses and lost a tough one last weekend to St. Ignatius, so a win here would be just what’s needed for a team with a ton of potential.
Niles North has a potent, high-scoring perimeter punch in Reid Olson and Yaris Irby to go with ultra-consistent and productive Hunter Gawron. The 6-6 Gawron goes about his business in a way that’s easy to appreciate, yet he’s one of the most underappreciated players in the state.
Niles North gets buckets. So does Lemont. There should be no shortage of shots taken or points scored in this one.
The pick: Niles North 76, Lemont 70
Bloom (12-5) vs. Lincoln Park (16-3) at Homewood-Flossmoor
Lincoln Park has just two in-state losses — by a total of two points — to Simeon and Warren. And the experienced Lions have played in a whole bunch of tight games with six games decided by four or less points.
Chayse Turner is a regular force for Lincoln Park, while Jaylin Dickerson and Larry Harris have been a productive pair. But when point guard Ahmad Lee is going good, Lincoln Park looks like a different team and changes the trajectory of the Lions.
Bloom has been tested. The Blazing Trojans have faced the likes of H-F, Benet, New Trier and Kankakee. But they’ve lost all four of those matchups. Can stat-sheet-stuffing guard Elijah Lovemore, who just surpassed 1,000 career points, and often-overlooked Payton Edwards claim its most impressive win of the season?
The pick: Lincoln Park 65, Bloom 59
Monday
Benet (17-2) vs. Bolingbrook (17-2) at New Trier
The game of the weekend. It’s the No. 4 and No. 8 ranked teams squaring off with plenty of Division I talent on display.
These two have proven to be two of this year’s elite teams. Bolingbrook is a one-point loss to Brother Rice and a two-point overtime defeat to Peoria from being a perfect 19-0. Since being upset by St. Ignatius at Thanksgiving, Benet’s lone loss came in a 59-56 defeat to No. 1 DePaul.
How do you slow down Bolingbrook guard Davion Thompson, especially when it matters most? How much help will Benet send in helping rein in the sophomore star? The Raiders are far from a one-man show with JT Pettigrew as an inside-outside threat, Trey Bost’s steady play and the steady rise of Kendall Cutler.
Benet has some size in 7-footer Colin Stack and 6-9 Daniel Poulikounis to create some problems for the Raiders. Plus, the strong, athletic Blake Fagbemi will be a key in trying to contain Thompson.
This is a rematch of last year’s sectional game (a Bolingbrook win) and quite possibly a preview of a potential sectional showdown this March.
The pick: Bolingbrook 62, Benet 61
New Trier (15-4) vs. Kenwood (17-1) at New Trier
For all the well-deserved rave reviews newcomers TJ Seals and Amari Edwards have received, along with more impactful play from 6-9 senior Aleks Alston, the star of the show is sophomore guard Devin Cleveland. And he’s only getting more comfortable in that star role.
New Trier has a star of its own: Christopher Kirkpatrick. The 6-2 junior guard sets the tone with his savvy skill and shooting and scoring ability. He’s averaging 21 points, six rebounds and six assists a game and shoots 41 percent from beyond the arc. Danny Houlihan (13 ppg) is a significant threat shooting the basketball and Colby Smith (18 ppg) is in the midst of a standout senior year.
For the most part, it’s been an impressive, smooth sailing run of a season for Kenwood. It could get a little rocky as New Trier will be primed and ready for a headline team on its home floor. If the Trevians get hot and shoot the ball well, they’ll reel in an upset and biggest win of the season.
The pick: New Trier 58, Kenwood 56
Homewood-Flossmoor (16-2) vs. Joliet West (13-5) at Homewood-Flossmoor
This is the final game of a monster MLK weekend event at Homewood-Flossmoor, and it’s another opportunity for Joliet West to keep its momentum going in what will be a major test.
With Zion Gross, Ethan Hillsman, Aamir Shannon and Mickeis Johnson, the talent is there to hang with the defending state champs. Can Joliet West now take it to the next level?
H-F’s Jayden Tyler has turned into one of the most impactful players in the state, while freshman Darrius Hawkins continues to have a more striking effect on this team by the week.
The pick: H-F 68, Joliet West 61