Previewing and predicting this weekend's top high school basketball games

The class of the sport will converge Saturday at the annual When Sides Collide at Benet.

Four games. Eight teams. All ranked.

The event will showcase No. 1 DePaul Prep and six of the top 10 ranked teams in the most recent Super 25 with all eight ranked among the top 21 teams.

Waubonsie Valley brings an unblemished record. Superstar sophomores Davion Thompson of Bolingbrook and Jaxson Davis square off. The defending 4A and 3A state champs, Homewood-Flossmoor and DePaul Prep, meet. And Rich will get a taste of what is always a raucous home atmosphere when it faces Benet.

Here is a preview of the four games at this Saturday’s When Sides Collide, along with previews and picks for several other top games this weekend.

Last week: 8-2

Season: 17-5

When Sides Collide at Benet, Saturday

No. 5 Waubonsie Valley (21-0) vs. No. 21 Marist (19-2), 2:30 p.m.

A pair of ranked, highly-regarded teams both looking to prove their worth to the masses is the real storyline in the When Sides Collide opener.

Waubonsie Valley has rolled to a 21-0 record but has its doubters due to the so-so schedule. And it’s taken Marist some time to garner the respect it deserves with the season it has put together, which includes a big rivalry win over ranked Brother Rice earlier this week.

Waubonsie Valley has a legitimate star in Illinois State recruit Tyreek Coleman (19.5 ppg). The 6-2 point guard has elevated his game in a way that has made this year’s Warriors team even better than last year.

Plus, the long, athletic 6-5 Moses Wilson (15.6 ppg) has emerged on the wing and is one of the more underrated players in the state. Wilson impacts the game in so many different ways.

When it comes to its top six players, Marist is as balanced as they come. Take your pick among promising 6-7 junior Stephen Brown, who is healthy after missing the first month of the season, Karson Thomas, Adoni Vassilakis, Marquis Vance, TJ Tate and Rokas Zilys. This group is sky high following a comeback win over Brother Rice.

The pick: Waubonsie Valley 55, Marist 52

No. 4 Bolingbrook (20-2) vs. No. 19 Warren (14-5), 4 p.m.

This is a special matchup with two of the elite talents in the state, Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson and Warren’s Jaxson Davis, as the prize for fans to watch. They are both tantalizing talents and energizers for their respective teams, capable of putting up noteworthy performances.

With the injuries they’ve been dealt, Warren has remarkably fought off any dips in the season — until recently. The Blue Devils are just 4-3 in their last six games, losing to both Joliet West and Lake Zurich in that stretch. But Davis, who buried two late free throws to beat Maine South Wednesday night, is a maestro with the ball and leader.

Bolingbrook has dazzled at times this season and looked the part of a bonafide state title contender more often than not. Thompson has been the ringleader, putting up a whopping 24.5 points a game while shooting an incredible 53 percent from beyond the arc. The supporting cast surrounding Thompson, which includes Valpo recruit JT Pettigrew (16.1 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 blocks per game), Trey Brost and Kendall Cutler, proves to be too much for Warren to overcome.

The pick: Bolingbrook 64, Warren 56

No. 1 DePaul Prep (20-1) vs. No. 6 Homewood-Flossmoor (19-2), 6 p.m.

Last year’s two big school state champions meet again. But what makes it unique this year is they still remain legit state title contenders in their respective class.

While DePaul Prep has been on cruise control while playing a grueling schedule, H-F could use a marquee win. The Vikings don’t have a win over a team that’s currently ranked.

The battle in the backcourt of two emerging players will be a fun watch. H-F senior Jayden Tyler and DePaul Prep junior Rykan Woo have arguably been the two breakout performers this season in their respective classes.

It’s difficult to identify weaknesses for a DePaul Prep team has played arguably the best schedule in the state and has just one loss. The slate includes facing 10 teams that have been ranked this season (9-1 vs. those teams) and wins over out-of-state powers Mater Dei (Calif.) and St. Louis Vashon.

But there isn’t a lot of size which makes 6-7 junior Rashaun Porter so vitally important and a need to keep him on the floor. Porter has been a consistent force for the Rams.

H-F has great length but doesn’t boast a whole bunch of size inside. But Tyler’s terrific play in the backcourt — the Wofford recruit has been sensational at times — along with the continued rise of freshman Darrius Hawkins and senior Arden Eaves, is why the Vikings average 75 points a game.

There is a shot clock in play but who controls the tempo in this one?

The pick: DePaul Prep 58, Homewood-Flossmoor 52

No. 2 Rich (14-4) vs. No. 10 Benet (18-4), 7:30 p.m.

Rich has been locked in since a rocky 3-4 start to the season. Coach Lou Adams’ team claimed the Big Dipper title in late December with impressive wins over Kenwood and H-F while ripping off 11 straight victories.

Junior guard Jamson Coulter (13.9 ppg) and 6-8 senior Al Brooks (17.3 ppg) lead the Raptors. There is certainly an argument for listing Coulter and Brooks as the most talented combo in the state — or at the very least the most dynamic. This duo has been the key to unlocking their success, though 6-3 junior Jayden Williams (12.2 ppg) and 6-5 Nyshawn Turner are tremendous in their roles.

Rich’s length, athleticism and versatility can make life extremely difficult on both ends of the floor for most high school basketball teams. But Benet has the combination of guard play, size and experience to withstand it.

Daniel Pauliukonis is the 6-9 Division I recruit who is skilled and versatile. Colin Stack is the impactful 7-foot Division I prospect in the junior class. But senior guard Blake Fagbemi has been dynamite this year with his strength, athleticism, defense and improved court sense. Add in junior Jayden Wright, a space-the-floor shooter with terrific range, and Benet is a very balanced team.

After a tough weekend, Benet is in need of a pick-me-up and primed for a high-level performance in its home gym against a highly-ranked team.

The pick: Benet 60, Rich 58

Other top games this games this weekend

Brother Rice (17-2) at DePaul Prep (19-1), Friday

Is DePaul Prep really going to run the table in the Catholic League a second straight year? The Rams have already taken care of Loyola and Mount Carmel. Next up is Brother Rice, which is now the top contender sitting one game back.

Brother Rice can get over the sting of losing to rival Marist very quickly with a win over the top-ranked team. But finding support for the 1-2 punch of Marcos Gonzales and Jack Weigus is imperative.

DePaul Prep always seems to be laser-focused, so getting caught looking ahead to a high-profile showdown with H-F on Saturday won’t be an issue. Plus, with calm and cool point guard Makai Kvamme running the show — and weapons surrounding him — the Rams are in good shape.

The pick: DePaul Prep 59, Brother Rice 50

Mount Carmel (17-3) at Loyola (16-5), Friday

This is a new-look Loyola team with new names leading the Ramblers into the rankings, including juniors Trey Williams and Sam Golden, along with sophomore Luke Alvarez. All three average in double figures, while football stars 6-7 Brendan Loftus and guard Donovan Robinson add production and physicality.

There isn’t a team, however, that can field a trio like the Caravan. The perimeter attack of Cameron Thomas, Grant Best and Noah Mister is as potent as they come and continue to wreak havoc on opponents. Together they put up 54 points a game.

Loyola will make this close, go down to the wire and can certainly pull off the upset here at home. But the Caravan have just a little too much offensive punch to get them over the finish line on the road.

The pick: Mount Carmel 44, Loyola 42

Glenbard West (15-4) at Downers Grove North (17-5), Friday

There is a dogfight right now at the top of the West Suburban Silver. Hinsdale Central, Glenbard West and Downers Grove North all have one loss, so the winner here remains in the thick of the race.

And this promises to be a rock fight where points will be at a premium.

Glenbard West has length and depth. But it all starts with athletic junior TJ Williams. The 6-3 guard has become the ultimate disruptor — at both ends of the floor.

With just one returning starter, no one pegged DGN as a team that would be knocking on the door of 20 wins in late January. But here the Trojans are in what is a pivotal conference game. Throughout the season it’s been a different player — from Bobby Grganto to Jack Crowley to Aiden Akkawi — stepping up.

The pick: Glenbard West 45, Downers Grove North 42

Evanston (17-3) at Metamora (18-4), Saturday

Any matchup featuring quality programs from the Chicago area and other parts of the state are fun, intriguing and obviously different. This fits all three categories.

Metamora boasts one of the well-known, marquee players in the state in 6-5 Bradley recruit Matthew Zobrist. Evanston, fresh off an impressive win Tuesday over Loyola, counters with one of the more unheralded — senior guard Theo Rocca.

The pick: Metamora 68, Evanston 62