The 2024-25 season is just a little over two months away. With those Thanksgiving tournaments within calendar eyesight, one of the high-profile events of the season — the annual When Sides Collide, presented by the City/Suburban Hoops Report — announced its four-game lineup.
The event Jan. 25 at Benet will include four teams making their When Sides Collide debut: Marist, Waubonsie Valley, Warren and Rich.
Warren snuck up on everyone a year ago, but coach Zack Ryan has ramped up the schedule. The Blue Devils will play in premier events this season.
“Events like these are great for our program, to play against other high-level teams, coaches and players,” Ryan said. “We are excited for the challenge. I know our players are looking forward to it.”
Bolingbrook vs. Warren
Davion Thompson of Bolingbrook and Jaxson Davis of Warren took the state by storm last year as superstar freshmen. Now they’re even better — and so are their teams.
Led by Thompson, 6-7 senior JT Pettigrew, who committed to Valparaiso, and junior guard Trey Brost, Bolingbrook finished 27-5 and reached a sectional championship last year. The Raiders also added 6-9 Jayden Madden, a transfer from Romeoville.
Warren put together its best season in years, winning a school-record 31 games and a sectional title. Davis is one of the state’s elite stars, and several other key players are back, including the emerging tandem of senior Javerion Banks and junior Braylon Walker.
DePaul Prep vs. Homewood-Flossmoor
The defending state champs in Class 3A and Class 4A collide.
With the bulk of its team back, DePaul will be in the mix to be the preseason No. 1 after winning a Class 2A title two years ago and a Class 3A crown last season. Junior big man Rashaun Porter is surrounded by firepower on the perimeter in guards Makai Kvamme, Rykan Woo, AJ Chambers and Rob Walls.
H-F unexpectedly lost star Bryce Heard, who’s off to North Carolina State a year early, but Kent State recruit Jayden Tyler returns. Plus, talented Lincoln-Way East transfer Brent Taylor will provide a jolt.
Benet vs. Rich
Benet is loaded with four key players back in emerging 6-9 senior Daniel Pouliukonis, who’s a bona fide Division I prospect, senior guard Blake Fagbemi, junior scoring guard Jayden Wright and the improving and intriguing 7-foot junior Colin Stack.
Rich is chock-full of talent, starting with its catalyst, junior guard Jamson Coulter, along with 6-7 transfer Al Brooks. Coach Lou Adams’ team should be even better than the one that won 23 games last season.
Marist vs. Waubonsie Valley
These teams are fresh off big seasons. Marist won 29 games, shared an East Suburban Catholic Conference championship with Benet and captured a regional title. Waubonsie Valley ran away with the DuPage Valley Conference, finishing 27-3 and winning a regional championship.
Both are led by high-profile prospects — Marist junior Stephen Brown and Waubonsie Valley senior guard and Illinois State recruit Tyreek Coleman — and have strong supporting casts.