Henricksen: Nine takeaways from Chicago Elite Classic

After one of the biggest events on the high school basketball calendar, here are nine takeaways from this past weekend’s 2015 Chicago Elite Classic.

1. The Chicago Elite Classic is …

… great for high school basketball in Chicago.

It’s no easy task in putting together and scheduling an event as massive as the Chicago Elite Classic. The organization and logistics alone are endless, right up until the final game is finished and the visiting teams have headed back home. The matchups, along with the times and order of games played, will never please everyone. And opinions will differ regarding the interest in out-of-state teams in this crazed basketball state and city.

But this event, which just completed its fourth year, shines a bright light on high school basketball in this state and the city of Chicago.

The Classic isn’t simply to enhance and showcase future pros of tomorrow, like Simeon product Jabari Parker, Young alum Jahlil Okafor, Mater Dei grad Stanley Johnson (Detroit Pistons) and this year’s star attraction and likely one-and-done phenom Jayson Tatum of St. Louis. This event provides an opportunity for high school programs and players from around the Chicago area –– not just the Simeons and Youngs –– to be seen and recognized, to be able to play in a big-time atmosphere, in a college arena and with a whole lot of eyes on them.

2. The best Public League point guard and prospect in the Class of 2017 is …

… Evan Gilyard.

The Simeon junior not only puts pressure on opposing teams at both ends of the floor, the jet-quick 5-9 jitterbug is really evolving into a point guard who’s starting to understand the position and his role in it. Gilyard can break defenses down in the open court and off ball screens, while also showing enough shooting and scoring potential to keep any defender honest.

Gilyard demanded the attention of the City/Suburban Hoops Report this past summer while playing with Meanstreets on the club circuit. He will do the same for everyone else in the city this winter as the catalyst at point guard for Simeon. Although he will have to continue to prove doubters and skeptics wrong because of his size, Gilyard is capable of playing in a high-major conference due to his tough, competitive demeanor, evolving point guard skills and scoring ability.

3. The best prospect on the floor in the Simeon-Young game was …

… Xavier Castaneda

Even with Gonzaga-bound Zach Norvell on the floor and all the Division I talent in the Simeon program, Young’s Castaneda is the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s best college “prospect” from these two power-packed programs.

While plenty of others in the Class of 2018 have been hyped at much greater levels, the Hoops Report continues to be steadfast in its appreciation and belief of what Castaneda, the sophomore point guard, is and will be going forward. The 5-11 Castaneda has a chance to be a special lead guard and will be a high-major recruit. At the end of the day, Castaneda may very well push Champaign Central’s Tim Finke as the top prospect in the class. Yes, go ahead and put Castaneda in that “Hoops Report favorite” category.

4. If Morgan Park gets any substantial interior production …

… the Mustangs will easily punch their ticket to Peoria for a fourth consecutive season.

While this isn’t earth-shattering news –– the Mustangs were expected to be a giant again in Class 3A –– coach Nick Irvin’s team shows so much potential firepower on the perimeter, it’s now just a matter of getting some help inside. With Charlie Moore leading the way at point guard, along with shooter Jarrin Randall, promising sophomore point guard Ayo Dosunmu and 6-2 Jamal Burton, Morgan Park is stacked with talent and production on the perimeter.

But it’s scary to think what this team could become if even just one of the following emerge as consistent producers inside and around the rim: 6-6 senior Alonzo Chatman, 6-8 junior Lenell Henry or 6-6 junior Melo Burrell.

5. The Chicago Elite Classic’s biggest sleeper was …

… Jamal Burton of Morgan Park.

All evaluators and college coaches can just quit trying to figure out what position the 6-4 Burton is on the basketball court. Regardless of what he is –– a wing? a 2-guard? a player? –– he impacts games on multiple levels and in ways coaches love.

Toughness spans far beyond just physicality. And Burton’s measurements in this area are off the charts, particularly on the defensive end. Burton’s a certified warrior and tough-minded player who brings it every game and in every practice. The 18-point, 10-rebound, 5-steal performance in the win over Evanston opened eyes Saturday night. It’s time low-Division I schools start knocking on this kid’s door.

6. Fenwick’s complementary perimeter attack …

… is what makes this team so dangerous.

When you start a season with a four-year varsity player at point guard, a team is in good hands. That’s Mike Smith and Fenwick. The 5-10 senior and consummate point guard makes this team go. He is trusted by coach Rick Malnati and learned his way over the past three-plus seasons.

But when you add a physically tough Jacob Keller as a slash-to-the-basket 6-2 guard and Mike Ballard, a proven perimeter scoring threat with shooting range, you have some ideal complementary pieces.

While Ballard had an uncharacteristic off night in the win over rival Oak Park-River Forest, he was impressive enough in the second half of last season to show his value. Smith, meanwhile, was his rock solid self and Keller showed he’s more than just a sidekick to bigger-named teammates. Keller, who impressed the City/Suburban Hoops Report so much with his progress this summer on the club circuit, is one unsung junior. He finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the OPRF win.

7. For Larkin to reach its greatest potential …

… it needs consistent support for star Christian Negron.

In a Saturday afternoon game, Larkin, the Hoops Report’s preseason No. 18 team, faced a good but likely not great East St. Louis team. The “great” potential was taken from the Flyers when the state’s top junior prospect, 6-9 Jeremiah Tilmon, left the school for a prep school in Indiana this past fall.

But it took a monster performance from the 6-6 Negron –– scoring, on the glass and defensively –– to hold off that East St. Louis team. While high-level production and occasional dominance is expected from Negron, one of the top half dozen prospects in Illinois in the junior class, consistent guard play is going to be needed to play with and beat the area’s best. Coach Deryn Carter had that two years ago in veteran senior guards Kendale McCullum and Derrick Streety.

Larkin did have a quick turnaround after beating Elgin Friday night, but so did East St. Louis. And the Flyers had to travel five-plus hours through the middle of the night to make the game on time.

The good news for Carter is the potential in his three senior guards: A.J. Hunter, Keyvon Kyles and Trell Mardis, a high-level defender. They have a lot of varsity experience under their belt and offensive potential. Larkin needs the consistency from those three to go along with the difference-making Negron provides.

8. Figuring out Simeon’s minutes and rotation …

… is going to be a tall and lengthy task.

In pure numbers, Simeon is loaded with talent. We know this. But after an opening-season win over Young in the Chicago Elite Classic, you couldn’t help but wonder who is going to be able to work their way into the puzzle — uh, rotation — for the Wolverines.

In the end, the players will maybe make it easy for coach Robert Smith. Their attitude, production, willingness to buy in and defend will get them their minutes and on the floor. But there was a dizzying amount of talented players outside the backbone of this team, which is Zach Norvell, Josh Thomas and Evan Gilyard, playing in the opener. And that didn’t even include the likes of sophomore returner Kezo Brown, 6-8 Al Raby transfer Terrell Phipps and talented 6-6 sophomore Devonire Glass, who all sat out the season opener for various reasons.

9. The out-of-state talent at the Chicago Elite Classic …

… was far superior to that of the in-state talent –– both in individual and team play.

The top prospects and the best teams that played in this year’s Chicago Elite Classic were from outside Illinois. Part of that is a direct reflection on the senior class here in Illinois. Veteran senior stars make a difference, and the Class of 2016 in Illinois is severely lacking in Division I talent and star power.

Chaminade Prep out of St. Louis, Miller Grove from Georgia, Maryland’s DeMatha Catholic and Gonzaga College High School in D.C. were arguably the four best teams in the event, though both Simeon and Morgan Park may be able to argue that at some point this season.

And you could easily argue the five best prospects in the Chicago Elite Classic, led by the wonderfully talented Jayson Tatum of Chaminade and dynamic guard Alterique Gilbert of Miller Grove, were all out-of-staters.

Speaking of Tatum, the 6-8 do-it-all is put on a show, scoring 40 points in a win over Miller Grove. It’s that type of star power that helps make the Chicago Elite Classic special, as Tatum will undoubtedly be the fourth Chicago Elite Classic participant who will go on to be a NBA lottery selection.

Follow Joe Henricksen and the Hoops Report on Twitter @joehoopsreport