Preview: Chicago Elite Classic

The inaugural Chicago Elite Classic kicks off this Saturday featuring top teams from the Chicago area versus various top teams from throughout the country. While this event features numerous standout teams, there are also highly regarded players from the 2013-2016 classes participating (even with Jabari Parker missing the event due to an injury).

Top Match-Ups:

Whitney Young (IL) vs. Dematha (MD)

Jahlil Okafor

Chicago vs. DC. Whitney Young is rated #8 in the country by Max Preps while Dematha is one of the top teams in the DC metro area and ranked #20. The match-up of the day will also feature the most anticipated mano y mano match-up as well. A combined 500 lbs will be doing battle down low as both teams are led by their beefy big men. Whitney Young is led by one of the top juniors in the country, Jahlil Okafor (#3 – 2014), while Dematha is led by one of the top senior big-men in the country in Beejay Anya (#45 - NC State). Whitney Young also returns a top junior in Paul White (#43 – 2014) and welcomes another top junior from the state of South Carolina, LJ Peak (#46 – 2014). Last year, the 6’7” White was one of the primary ball handlers for the Dolphins as the young team was lacking in play making guards. The addition of the 6’4” Peak could provide Whitney Young with their missing piece. Dematha comes in as one of the most prestigious squads in the country and while Anya and Okafor are battling down low, future VCU commit, Jairus Lyles will look to put the pressure on the Whitney Young backcourt. 

Proviso East (IL) vs. Lone Peak (UT)

Lone Peak - Best Utah team ever?

A tough and gritty Proviso East squad will battle one of the top teams to ever come out of the state of Utah. Proviso East went 32-1 last year with their only loss coming to Simeon in the state championship game 50-48. This year Proviso East already dropped one game, but still features future SMU commit, Sterling Brown (#78 – 2013) along with the Illinois State point guard of the future in senior Paris Lee. A random observer might believe that a squad from Utah would be intimidated by a 32-1 Chicago squad, but not this one. Lone Peak went 22-3 last year while winning the 5A state championship game in a 30 point blowout. This team features three future BYU Cougars in guards Nick Emery (#81 - 2013) and T.J. Haws (#65 - 2014) along with big man Eric Mika (#72 – 2013). The Lone Peak squad also played as the Utah Reign on the Under Armour summer AAU circuit. Despite having an entire AAU team from the same high school, Emery, Haws, and Mika were extremely competitive in every tournament they played in including a top 8 finish at the NY2LA Summer Jam in Milwaukee. Lone Peak is currently ranked #6 by Max Preps, while Proviso East is ranked #13.

Don’t Forget:

·         The number 1 team in the country, Simeon, plays in the night cap against Milton from Georgia. While this game will not bring the excitement that it did last year, Simeon still features future Illinois guards Kendrick Nunn and Jaylon Tate.

·         Mater Dei faces off against St. Joseph in a legendary coaching match-up between Gary McKnight of Mater Dei and Gene Pingatore of St. Joe’s (Hoop Dreams). Mater Dei travels all over the US for basketball tournaments and this year they have made Chicago their first stop. Mater Dei features 6’7 Stanley Johnson (#25 – 2014), while St. Joe’s features junior guard Paul Turner.

·         In an early morning match-up, one of the top freshman in the country V.J. King gets to go up against junior Keita Bates-Diop (#27 - 2014), a recent Ohio State commit. V.J. King will look to show the nation that he is the new king of Akron as he plays for Lebron’s old team, St. Vincent’s / St. Mary’s.

·         Other top freshmen making their debut include M.J. Cage (Mater Dei), Jayce Johnson (Mater Dei), Joe Hampton (Dematha), and Ben Coupet (Simeon).