The Chicago Elite Classic is back for its 14th year. The annual early-season event at UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena this weekend is bigger than ever with 13 games and 26 teams.
Plus, the event features players at or near the top of every class in Illinois, including Kankakee’s Lincoln Williams, Warren’s Jaxson Davis and Bolingbrook’s Brady Pettigrew.
Here is the Chicago Elite Classic’s two-day lineup, including a preview of the top six games:
Friday, Dec. 5
Crane vs. Perspectives-Leadership, 4:30 p.m.
Oak Park vs. Fenwick, 6 p.m.
No. 10 New Trier vs. Lane, 7:30 p.m.
Hyde Park vs. No. 13 Lincoln Park, 8 p.m.
Both of these teams are off to strong starts but would love to add another in the win column on a big stage — and against a city foe. Ranked Lincoln Park has impressive pieces in senior guard Ahmad Lee, rugged athlete Larry Harris and Jaylen Dickerson.
Don’t sleep on a Hyde Park team that is balanced with point guard Amare LeFlore, wing Kye Ward Owens and 6-6 Jacobi Walls.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Julian vs. King, 9 a.m.
No. 6 Bolingbrook vs. Homewood-Flossmoor, 10:30 a.m.
Both of these teams have questions that need to be answered after losing superior talent from last year’s team. But Bolingbrook’s Brady Pettigrew is arguably the best sophomore prospect in the state, while Homewood-Flossmoor point guard Darius Hawkins is another talented and polished sophomore.
Pace, Ga. vs. No. 4 Kankakee, noon
No. 9 Curie vs. No. 2 Warren, 1:30 p.m.
How good is the upper echelon of the Public League this year? This will be an early indicator for Curie, arguably the best in the city. How it fares with Jaxson Davis and No. 3 ranked Warren will be telling.
No. 17 Simeon vs. Chaminade, Mo., 3 p.m.
A couple of historic programs in their respective cities meet up. Simeon is off to a quick start to its season and doing it a little differently — without any marquee names. But maybe one is on the horizon? Keep an eye on freshman Jalonny Billingsley.
Chaminade boasts a whole bunch of young talent, but it’s senior point guard Jonny Jordan, who has signed with Omaha, who leads this team.
No. 1 DePaul Prep vs. La Lumiere, Ind., 4:30 p.m.
Devin Cleveland, the former Kenwood star and consensus top 50 player in the country, is back in Chicago after transferring to La Lumiere in Indiana over the summer.
Cleveland’s loaded La Lumiere team, which features two Division I seniors — 6-2 point guard Jonathan Sanderson (Notre Dame) and 6-6 Jacob Webber (Purdue) — faces the top-ranked team in Illinois.
No. 19 Young vs. No. 7 St. Ignatius, 6 p.m.
An intriguing matchup. A Public League vs. Catholic League tussle with two programs a mile apart. St. Ignatius, led by senior Chris Bolte, is off to a terrific 4-0 start, including an opening weekend win over Benet. Tennessee recruit Marquis Clark of Young is the headliner.
No. 3 Marist vs. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C., 7:30 p.m.
A big test awaits a balanced and highly-ranked Marist. Sidwell Friends, which won a Geico national title in 2022-23, is a young, talented group with a senior, Mississippi State recruit Jay Collingwood, leading the way.
Marist’s seasoned and balanced team, led by 6-7 Stephen Brown, newcomer Charles Barnes and veteran guards TJ Tate, Karson Thomas and Adoni Vassilakis, welcomes the opportunity.
No. 23 St. Laurence vs. Rich, 9 p.m.