High School Basketball's Most Anticipated Showdowns: 15 Must-See Games to Watch This Season
The high school basketball season is just around the corner, and with it comes a slew of highly anticipated matchups that will determine which teams are truly on top. From city vs. suburban showdowns to conference championships, here are 15 must-see games to keep an eye on this season.
First up is the Chicago Catholic League showdown between Loyola and DePaul Prep. With DePaul boasting a 15-1 record in league play over the past two seasons, can Loyola's high-ranked team buck that trend? The answer will be revealed when these two teams face off on Friday.
In another city matchup, Curie takes on Warren at UIC, with veteran backcourt duo Justin Oliver and Michael Oliver Jr. looking to take down Jaxson Davis and Co. Meanwhile, at the Chicago Elite Classic, Kenwood's Damari Stephens will go head-to-head against Marquis Clark, a highly touted Tennessee recruit.
In the Mid-Suburban League, Hersey faces off against Barrington in what promises to be an epic showdown between Charlie Pomis and Oliver Gray. This one could be the best of the season so far.
As we enter January, Bolingbrook and Neuqua Valley will go toe-to-toe, featuring two of the top prospects in the Class of 2028: Brady Pettigrew and Cole Kelly. And on the same day, DePaul Prep and Marist will look to make their presence felt as they take on each other.
The Benet vs. Warren matchup at the end of January is already shaping up to be a game of the year contender, with the two teams reuniting in a rematch of last season's Class 4A title game. It also marks the second meeting between these two teams, which will decide the conference title and potentially the overall top spot.
In another pivotal matchup, Kankakee takes on East St. Louis at Quincy, with Jamison White and Lincoln Williams looking to prove they're the top-ranked senior prospects in the state. And as Waukegan faces off against Warren on January 27, the second of two meetings will decide which team emerges victorious.
In late-season action, Bolingbrook meets Oswego East, featuring Mason Lockett and Brady Pettigrew. The matchup between Curie and Glenbard East at Kankakee is also a city vs. suburban clash that should give both teams valuable insights into their season.
As the season winds down, New Trier takes on Fremd in a non-conference showdown that pits two of the top seniors in the state against each other: Christopher Kirkpatrick and Jordan Williams. Finally, Evanston visits New Trier on February 13, marking one of the most passionate rivalries in high school basketball.
The season also ends with a dramatic finale as Benet and Marist face off once again in their East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown. Last season's title game came down to one point, and this year promises to be just as intense.
One final matchup that will have postseason implications is the DePaul Prep vs. Warren game on February 19. With both teams boasting Player of the Year candidates in Rashaun Porter and Jaxson Davis, this one should be a thrilling finale to the regular season.
The high school basketball season is just around the corner, and with it comes a slew of highly anticipated matchups that will determine which teams are truly on top. From city vs. suburban showdowns to conference championships, here are 15 must-see games to keep an eye on this season.
First up is the Chicago Catholic League showdown between Loyola and DePaul Prep. With DePaul boasting a 15-1 record in league play over the past two seasons, can Loyola's high-ranked team buck that trend? The answer will be revealed when these two teams face off on Friday.
In another city matchup, Curie takes on Warren at UIC, with veteran backcourt duo Justin Oliver and Michael Oliver Jr. looking to take down Jaxson Davis and Co. Meanwhile, at the Chicago Elite Classic, Kenwood's Damari Stephens will go head-to-head against Marquis Clark, a highly touted Tennessee recruit.
In the Mid-Suburban League, Hersey faces off against Barrington in what promises to be an epic showdown between Charlie Pomis and Oliver Gray. This one could be the best of the season so far.
As we enter January, Bolingbrook and Neuqua Valley will go toe-to-toe, featuring two of the top prospects in the Class of 2028: Brady Pettigrew and Cole Kelly. And on the same day, DePaul Prep and Marist will look to make their presence felt as they take on each other.
The Benet vs. Warren matchup at the end of January is already shaping up to be a game of the year contender, with the two teams reuniting in a rematch of last season's Class 4A title game. It also marks the second meeting between these two teams, which will decide the conference title and potentially the overall top spot.
In another pivotal matchup, Kankakee takes on East St. Louis at Quincy, with Jamison White and Lincoln Williams looking to prove they're the top-ranked senior prospects in the state. And as Waukegan faces off against Warren on January 27, the second of two meetings will decide which team emerges victorious.
In late-season action, Bolingbrook meets Oswego East, featuring Mason Lockett and Brady Pettigrew. The matchup between Curie and Glenbard East at Kankakee is also a city vs. suburban clash that should give both teams valuable insights into their season.
As the season winds down, New Trier takes on Fremd in a non-conference showdown that pits two of the top seniors in the state against each other: Christopher Kirkpatrick and Jordan Williams. Finally, Evanston visits New Trier on February 13, marking one of the most passionate rivalries in high school basketball.
The season also ends with a dramatic finale as Benet and Marist face off once again in their East Suburban Catholic Conference showdown. Last season's title game came down to one point, and this year promises to be just as intense.
One final matchup that will have postseason implications is the DePaul Prep vs. Warren game on February 19. With both teams boasting Player of the Year candidates in Rashaun Porter and Jaxson Davis, this one should be a thrilling finale to the regular season.
i mean de paul prep has been on fire lately but loyola is looking fierce too can't wait to see charlie pomis go head-to-head with oliver gray those two are always down to earth tho
. That's what I call real competition! And let's not forget the role of perseverance and teamwork - every single player on those teams has put in countless hours of sweat and tears to get to this moment 
. So when the ball bounces, it's not just about individual skill, but about how well that team works together towards a common goal 
. That's what I'm excited to watch - the ultimate team effort 
and some pretty intense rivalries too 
like Waukegan vs Warren on jan 27 thats got me hyped 
also kankakee taking on east st louis at quincy is gonna be so good 
jamison white and lincoln williams are gonna crush it 
does that make a difference?
And 15 must-see games?! Who has time for that?! 
Also, I'm so over these "player of the year" labels. Can't they just play well instead of being hyped up as some sort of superstar? 
I mean, seriously though, these matchups look pretty lit. The Chicago Catholic League showdown between Loyola and DePaul Prep is gonna be a real nail-biter - 15-1 record vs high-ranked team? Game on! 
And that veteran backcourt duo from Curie takes on some young guns at UIC, should be fun to watch.
. And don't even get me started on the Bolingbrook vs Neuqua Valley game - two top prospects in the Class of 2028 going head-to-head? This one's gonna be a battle royale 
. And that Benet vs Warren rematch at the end of January? Already shaping up to be a game of the year contender... bring it on! 
, especially the benet vs warren rematch at the end of january - both teams were so close last year and it'll be interesting to see how they match up again 
on february 19 - think its gonna be a real nailbiter with both teams having player of the year candidates 
! herseys charlie pomis is gonna crush oliver gray tho 
️. But seriously, I'm hyped for all these games, especially the ones that will determine conference titles and playoff spots. It's gonna be a crazy finish to the season! 
he's got a lot of hype goin on but can he deliver when it matters most?
Like who gets hyped for high school basketball? These matchups look super exciting tho 
But seriously, gotta give props to teams like Loyola and DePaul Prep that are really stepping up their game this season 
Can't wait to see how it all plays out! 