20 questions and answers

There is more talent in the area this year than there has been since 2006, when Derrick Rose, Sherron Collins and Jon Scheyer dominated the high school hardwood. The senior class is among the best in state history, the sophomore class is full of explosive talent and the freshman class is as tall and promising as any in recent memory. The juniors leave a lot to be desired, but that can change quickly. Expect a number of talented juniors to emerge in the suburbs this season. Here's a primer on all the action ahead over the next five months:

1. Who is the area's best player?

It's Morgan Park's Wayne Blackshear. Yes, Perspectives-MSA's Anthony Davis has the loftier national ranking, but he hasn't proven it on the court yet. Despite all the hype behind it, club basketball success isn't a reliable indicator of how a player will perform during the high school season. The future is bright for Davis. He has all the tools to be an NBA player within the next four years. Blackshear is the dominant high school player right now, though. He led the Mustangs to the city championship last season and will have his eye on state hardware this year.

2. Who is the best player not in the Chicago area?

For the second year in a row it's Rock Island's Chasson Randle. A 6-2 guard, Randle has signed with Stanford.

3. Which players are on the preseason All-State team?

Ryan Boatright, East Aurora, Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park, Mycheal Henry, Orr; Jabari Parker, Simeon, Anthony Davis, Perspectives-MSA

4. Which teams are the favorites to win Class 4A?

Simeon, Benet and Young. Simeon and Young are perpetual powerhouses. One of the schools has played for a state title every year since 2006, and last year they met in the Class 4A title game. Benet is the new arrival. Led by Northwestern-bound point guard David Sobolewski and Wisconsin-bound center Frank Kaminsky (both juniors at the time), the Redwings advanced to the supersectional last season, losing to Simeon in overtime.

The second tier of contenders include De La Salle and Homewood-Flossmoor. It's difficult to see any other team besides for those five grabbing the trophy at the end of the season.

5. Who are the favorites in 3A?

Morgan Park, Orr, Hillcrest, Brooks and Rock Island. All five teams have top-flight talent and experience. Rich South, Marshall and Crane are three teams with an outside shot.

6. Who is the favorite in 2A?

Hales is the runaway favorite. Its size and athleticism advantage of the other teams in the class will be significant.

7. Which players improved the most since last season?

In the history of this question, there has never been a better answer than Perspectives-MSA's Anthony Davis. He went from a complete unknown on a Blue Division team with a sub.-500 record to one of the top five players in the national class of 2011. Simeon's Steve Taylor and Evanston's James Farr also elevated their level of play over the summer.

8. What are the top teams outside the area?

O'Fallon is the best 4A team outside the area. The Panthers finished second in the state in 2007 and in fourth place last year. They return Butler recruit Roosevelt Jones, a truly dominant high school player, along with Charles Joy, Roy Bullock and Josh Buie.

Rock Island, with Randle and Royce Muskeyvalley, is the best team outside the area in 3A.

9. Who are the key transfers?

After years of several major transfers every summer, things have settled down. No top-tier players transferred and there were only two notable moves: Palatine guard Michael Orris to Crete-Monee and Austin Angel leaving Rockford Boylan for New Trier. The most significant transfer came from out of state. Cully Payne's younger brother Quenten has arrived at St. Charles North. The 6-4 sophomore was one of the top freshmen in Florida last season.

10. What are the weaknesses of the top five teams?

Simeon's offense always runs best with a traditional low-post scorer. The Wolverines have plenty of size with 6-6 Ahman Fells and Rashawn McElrath, but neither player fits the Tim Flowers/DeShaun Walker mold of low-post banger. Jabari Parker also needs to prove he's a go-to scorer.

Depth and the front court will be a big issue with Morgan Park. The Mustangs simply don't have the size or the bench to match Young or Simeon at this point; they are relying too much on Blackshear's dominance.

Young's backcourt is suspect. Besides Derrick Randolph, there just isn't a lot of experience or top-level talent at the most important positions on the court.

Benet will have to be ultra-disciplined to make for its lack of depth and athleticism. No player in the state will be counted on as much as senior point guard David Sobolewski. He needs to run the show and score enough to keep the Redwings in games against much taller, deeper and athletic teams.

De La Salle has had the same problem for the last three seasons: guard play. It takes a special level of talent at the guard positions to win a state title. That just hasn't been the Meteors' strength of late. Sophomore Jaylon Tate seems to have the ability to break that streak. If he does, it's hard to find another weakness with De La Salle.

11. Who are the most underappreciated players in the area?

Hillcrest's Juice Brown is certainly the most underappreciated. He was the point guard and dominant force on the Hawks' state championship team last season. Things are also awfully quiet around Joliet West's Morris Dunnigan, despite the fact that the sophomore guard basically led Joliet to the supersectionals last season as a freshman. When Tracy Abrams did the same for Mount Carmel three years ago, it created a minor media frenzy.

12. Which teams were overlooked in the preseason Super 25?

As usual, there were multiple contenders for the final five spots. Those left out include St. Joseph, Marshall, Joliet West, Curie, Carver, St. Rita, St. Ignatius and St. Patrick. Expect them all to make an appearance in the Super 25 at some point this season.

13. What is the must-see game of the year?

Simeon and Young were originally scheduled to play on Jan. 29, but at this point it looks like that may not happen. Even if it does, Simeon's game at Morgan Park on Jan. 13 is even more enticing. Can Blackshear and sophomore guard Markee Williams knock off mighty Simeon? Get there a few hours early if you want to see this one. Morgan Park has one of the smallest gyms in the state.

14. Which team is a dark horse candidate to reach the state finals?

Waukegan. Jereme Richmond is gone, but plenty of familiar names return, including Akeem Springs, Aaron Johnson and Denocchio Pierce. Most importantly, the road to Peoria is significantly weaker in the Lake County area than it has been in past years. The Bulldogs' biggest competition will be a very talented, but inexperienced Warren team.

15. What is the area's strongest conference?

The Red South has no peer. Simeon, Morgan Park and Brooks are all ranked in the Super 25. And that's not all. The second-tier teams (Carver, Bogan and Vocational) are all capable of beating any team in the state. Harlan should also be competitive.

16. Who are the area's top shooters and dunkers?

Shooters: Morgan Park's Jerome Brown and Geneva's Dan Trimble. Dunkers: Crete-Monee's Jamee Crockett and Rich South's Macari Brooks.

17. Who are the area's top five freshmen?

Young's Jahlil Okafor and Paul White, Providence-St. Mel's Tevin King, Zion-Benton's Malik Yarbrough and Curie's Cliff Alexander.

18. Who are the area's top five point guards?

Hillcrest's Brown, Evanston's Garrett Jones, Morgan Park's Markee Williams, Benet's Sobolewski and Mount Carmel's Tracy Abrams.

19. Who are the area's best big men?

Perspectives-MSA's Anthony Davis, Young's Okafor, St. Ignatius senior Nnanna Egwu, Benet's Frank Kaminsky and Young's Thomas Hamilton Jr.

20. Who are the coaches to watch?

Mike Ellis, the new coach at Evanston, will be under heavy scrutiny. David Chatman will be expected to win at Proviso East. And it's always fun to see what Lamont Bryant is up to. He takes over at Hyde Park this season.

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