Conference Preview: Top 4 Teams in the Red South Central Conference
Simeon
Coming off a down season last year, where their record hovered around .500 all season, Simeon is looking for a bounce back season and look to pick back up on the dominance they displayed for the majority of the 2010’s. Quick service announcement to “Simeon Nation”, those days are over. 2021 Ahmad Bynum (Black Cat) is the big name returning to the team this year. He impressed this spring/summer on the Travel circuit playing with Mac Irvin Fire, picking up a couple of Division 1 offers. He can light it up and score from anywhere on the court, but he doesn’t like sharing the ball as the only thing he passes is his test at school, as we heard he is a very good student.
While St. Laurence transfer 6’3”Jeremiah Williams, talented freshmen Jay Griffin and Davious Laury, along with returning guard Jalen Drake all will make this team competitive and fun to watch, they are 2-3 players away from challenging the likes of Morgan Park and Bogan for conference dominance.
Losing potential McDonalds All-American in 2022 6’8” AJ Casey will just be hard to replace.
Coach Rob Smith has proven himself to be one of the best coaches in the state over the last decade so we expect a superior effort from this team, but due to their youth and lack of size and talent, this teams ceiling is only a couple of floors high. Though we at ChiScoops won’t totally throw in the towel on this squad yet, as they keep a trick under their sleeve. Don’t be surprised if they somehow get a 6’8” transfer from out of town before the season starts.
This team is a fringe top 25 team at the moment.
Prediction:
Record- 21-10
Conference- 4th place
City Playoffs- Elite 8
State Playoffs-Sectional semi-finals
Curie
The defending City Champs and Class 4A Third Place team comes back this year looking to defend their city crown and challenge for State again. They return one of the city’s best players in SEMO commit Ramean Hinton, a solid contributor from last years team in Elijah Pickens, and heady junior point guard in Nick Owens. Their top defensive player from last years team (Ahmad Williams Jr.) returns as well.
This team has the look of a team that will be able to compete on a high level again this year, but the question comes down to, how do they replace Kansas State signee Dajuan Gordon? While they had many contributors last year, his presence and leadership is a void that this years team will have a hard time filling.
While their JV had a level of success, as they lost in the city championship game last year, they aren’t moving up any players from that team that are worth mentioning in this article.
They will still be a team worth watching this year, due to their fast paced and trapping defensive style, their lack of having a go to player will ultimately be their undoing. ChiScoops is lukewarm about this team, though they are in our Top 25. It will be highly unlikely that they reach the pinnacle of success due to their depth, or lack thereof, lack of leadership, and overall talent deficiencies behind their top 6 players.
Prediction:
Record- 22-7
Conference- 3rd place
City Playoffs- Elite 8
State Playoffs-Sectional Finals
Bogan
Bogan was able to do something last year it had only done once in the past 7 seasons, beat Morgan Park, this time in the Class 3A sectional championship. After surprising the city, and even themselves in winning that game, Bogan continued to roll all the way to the championship game. All that was for nought as the team, full of talent and short on discipline failed to box out at the free throw line while up 2 points with 4 seconds left in the state championship game. East St. Louis tip dunked the rebound and eventually won in OT, denying Bogan and coach Goody their first ever basketball state championship.
After losing 2 all-city players and 4 other seniors/transfers, coach Goody has reloaded and may have even more talent on this team than last years state runner-up. With a boatload of transfers (too many to name) and speed and size to play with any team in the state, Bogan seems primed for another long postseason run.
This team is sure to be a top 10 team and a team that is capable of winning the city and state championship.
Prediction:
Record- 25-5
Conference- 2nd place
City Playoffs- Final 4
State Playoffs-Sectional Finals
Morgan Park
This team comes into the 2019-2020 season with unfinished business on their mind. After losing the sectional final to Bogan last season, Adam Miller declared “we’re going to come back strong next year and I swear to God people are going to feel us next year. They’re going to remember my name for sure.” No matter how this season ends for Morgan Park, Adam Miller’s name will be ringing nationally.
However one of ChiScoops top players and teams in the state look poised to make Adam look like a prophet.
With the addition of one of the top players in the state in Lake Forest transfer Brandon Weston (first full year), return of Wake Forest commit Marcus Watson, Isaiah Burrell, and a couple of transfers, this team looks like the top team in the state, regardless of class. The loss of 6’8” Syree Lewis won’t be easy to shake off, but by November 20th, we here at ChiScoops are sure his replacement will be in place and ready to roll.
With one of the best coaches in the state leading the way, big things are expected out in Beverly! Though it has eluded him since 2010, this might possibly be the year he wins his second Public League basketball championship.
This is hands down a top 2-3 team in the city and potentially one of Nick Irvin’s best teams yet.
Prediction:
Record- 27-3
Conference- 1st place
City Playoffs- City championship game
State Playoffs-State Championship game
Chihighsportsscoops 