Dedric Lawson and Hamilton of Memphis face four-time defending Illinois 4A state champ Simeon on Saturday at the Chicago Elite Classic.
Photo by Jim Redman
Our first regular season Xcellent 25 was released Monday, setting the stage for another big weekend of showcases and tournaments throughout the country.
Events in Georgia Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland and Utah are among those worth keeping a watchful eye on. Read on for a breakdown of this weekend's biggest games:
Chicago Elite Classic – Chicago (Saturday)Storylines: This event provides a first glimpse at four-time defending Illinois state champ
Simeon (Chicago) in the post-Jabari Parker era as well as the team that many think could unseat the Wolverines this season in national No. 6
Whitney Young (Chicago). Simeon faces
Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.) and its star brother duo of
K.J. and
Dedric Lawson while Whitney Young takes on
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Other intriguing matchups include No. 23
Etiwanda (Calif.) vs.
Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights, Ill.),
Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.) vs.
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) and No. 4
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. a
Cliff Alexander-less
Curie (Chicago) squad.
DMVelite High School Tip-Off Classic Showcase – Springdale, Md. (Saturday-Sunday)Storylines: There won't be any nationally-ranked teams in action at Flowers High School this weekend, but there are a few who could play their way in before as the season progresses. Headliners include
Clinton Christian (Upper Marlboro, Md.),
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and
West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.).
Great Western Shootout – Orem, Utah (Thursday-Saturday)Storylines: Defending Xcellent 25 national champ
Lone Peak (Highland) and several other top Utah teams welcome
Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.),
Denver East (Denver, Colo.),
Foothill (Henderson, Nev.) and
Overland (Aurora, Colo.) to the Beehive State for the weekend. New-look Lone Peak provides the most intrigue. Can
T.J. Haws keep the Knights in the national picture despite heavy losses? Bishop O'Connell and Denver East are two more teams looking to make a move on the X25. Overland could be a dark horse with 6-foot-9 sophomore
De'Ron Davis and junior guard
Austin Conway.
Marshall County Hoopfest – Benton, Ky. (Thursday-Saturday)Storylines: There will be two games pitting nationally-ranked teams against one another at the Hoopfest and both involve No. 5
Prime Prep (Dallas). Friday night Prime takes on No. 15
Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.), who owns early-season wins over No. 20
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and
The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.). On Saturday, the Dallas program faces No. 8
White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) – who has already slayed one Texas dragon this season in
DeSoto. Other top teams participating in Benton include aforementioned Oak Hill Academy (a mainstay at the event),
Arsenal Technical (Indianapolis),
Ballard (Louisville, Ky.),
Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.),
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) and
Moss Point (Miss.).
Nike Explosion – Marietta, Ga. (Saturday)Storylines: Georgia's regular season game of the year will go down Saturday as No. 13
Wheeler (Marietta) battles No. 18
Miller Grove (Lithonia), who owns the nation's longest current run of consecutive state titles at five in a row. Justin Young of HoopSeen.com has Miller Grove ranked ahead of Wheeler in his
latest Power Poll but the Wildcats get the champs on their home floor.
