Today’s conference spotlight is on the Chicago Public League. A few of the traditional powers should stand out in the preseason but there are also some smaller schools who should make some noise.

Curie

UIC commit Carlos Harris will be one of the better guards in the entire state, let alone in Chicago. He had a big junior year and is a true gamer who is known to deliver some late-game heroics. Outside of Harris, there will be a bevy of talented guards who can also play on both ends. Riverside Brookfield transfer Will Gonzalez (6-foot-5) gives them both length and intriguing skills on the wing. After a summer with Meanstreets, he should be able to adjust to the CPL and should remain on the scholarship-level college track.

I think more needs to be said about Christian Brockett. Another senior for Curie, he’s a shutdown defender who can get his own shot as needed but plays within the offense. A pair of sophomores and AAU teammates, Mike Oliver Jr. and Latrell Kelley, will play significant roles. Oliver has deep shooting range and doesn’t seem to be affected by tight defense. Kelley, by way of Farragut, had a huge freshman year and projects as a dynamic creator for a team that should live in the open floor.

Hansberry Prep

Al and Ikee Brooks had two of the better statistical seasons in recent memory for Hansberry. At 6-foot-6, Al is a dominant force on the defensive end as a premier shot-blocker, on-ball defender, and rebounder. He should have another monster year offensively with his ability to attack the rim. Ikee Brooks excels in space with deceptive change of pace and will run the show. He should finish among the state leaders in assists once again. Oak Forest transfer Jaylen Harris and Zaire Tobar should provide floor spacing.

Hyde Park

A very good senior group departed, but all is not lost. Their team may have looked a little different had Jurrell Baldwin stayed at prep school. But the 6-foot-7 wing was one of the breakout players in the city a year ago and seemingly excels both as a spot-up shooter and interior scorer. He holds a couple of Division 1 offers and will be the center of attention this year.

Point guard Germaine Benson is another talented returner, but maybe not as well-known outside of the area. Benson is the traditional pitbull guard with a strong frame, good feet, and the versatility to affect winning as a downhill driver, defender, or playmaker. Bryant offered Benson this summer. There will be some opportunities for newcomers to step-up.

Kenwood

Kenwood brings back some of the most talent in the CPL. 6-foot-6 wing Chris Riddle is going to step into a leadership role and should be an impact two-way player. The strength and agility that he brings is complemented by a steadily improving outside shot that looked good this summer. I’m looking forward to seeing Calvin Robins Jr. back. He is a rare player with supreme athleticism, a high motor, and a willingness to give everything he has to help his team win. Some program will be lucky to add him. 6-foot-11 center Jaden Smith is another uncommitted D1 prospect who can change games as a rim protector and flashed pick-and-pop ability.

The expectations are high for 6-foot-9 swingman Aleks Alston, who has become one of the more heavily recruited players in the state. You don’t find players at his size who can handle it, shoot the three, and utilize his length the way he does. A big-time transfer in sophomore Rajan Roberts is just what this current group needed. A shifty ball-handler who can also be a volume scorer, Roberts has a chance to be special. EJ Duling can take away the other team’s best guards and will be a crucial piece to take pressure off the younger guards. Add in sophomore Noah Mister, a knockdown shooter and crafty guard, and Devin Cleveland, among the top freshmen in Illinois, and city championship hopes are valid.

Lane Tech

This Lane Tech group should have the pieces to compete to be near the top of the CPL. Senior guard Shaheed Solebo makes the game easy for those around him and is an explosive scorer. Look for plenty of winning plays from him. After breaking out as a sophomore, 6-foot-6 forward Dalton Scantlebury should take another step forward. He protects the rim, goes above the rim in traffic, and has promising ability to operate from the mid post. Scantlebury is a scholarship-level prospect who is still pretty under the radar. Senior point guard Jackson Labkon will be a steadying force to make sure everyone gets involved. At 6-foot-2, the smart floor general looked like a quality high-academic D3 recruit this summer.

6-foot-4 junior Drew Bartolai is very athletic and is refining his perimeter game to add to his dribble-penetration and transition game. I’d also keep an eye out on 6-foot-7 Zach Mazanowski, a rangy wing shooter with a ton of upside. 6-foot-6 sophomores Nico Wright and Matt Szafoni are going to be good.

Lindblom

The dynamic duo of Je’Shawn Stevenson (Cleveland State) and Quentin McCoy is back to cause havoc on both ends. Stevenson is taller, stronger, and more efficient than he was last year, which is going to be a scary sight for opposing teams. During the June live periods, he had his way against some high-level teams and carried that over to EYBL play in July. McCoy, while lesser-known, can score in bulk from the three-point line and gets to the lane well. He plays a lot bigger than his 6-foot-2 listing and has plenty of game to lead the way if teams focus solely on Stevenson. Kolby Capers and Agsan Branch (6-foot-4) both return after playing significant roles as juniors. The senior-laden group has a chance.

Simeon

They lost their top six from the state runner-up team and one of the best coaches in state history in Rob Smith. It will obviously be a new-looking group, but Tim Flowers has a good guard group to lean on in his first season at the helm. DeKwon Brown was a huge addition after transferring in over the summer while making waves in AAU with DeNard Bros. The talent and playmaking prowess is there for him to go at any of the top guards in the area. Fellow senior RJ McKinnie is the main returner from the downstate team, brining constant defensive energy, physicality, and an increased scoring responsibility.

Look for St. Rita transfer Andre Tyler to open some eyes. Long, athletic, and confident as a 6-foot-4 guard, Tyler has a couple of “wow” plays a game. As he gains consistency, his presence will be felt more on both ends. Jashon Liggett is another senior guard who will get up and guard the ball to add to the backcourt.

Walter Payton

Coach Reggie Bates takes over for a team that should be on the upswing quickly. Larkin transfer Jakob Blakley (Le Moyne) is a master in the mid-range with elite P&R instincts. He is a legitimate All-State caliber player whose game translates well to the space and speed in the conference. Defensively, he’s going to take the challenge in a league full of gifted ball-handlers. Myles Townsend is a tough, gritty returner who plays bigger than his size. Like Blakley, he can defend his position and has attacks the basket with force. 6-foot-6 forward Connor McGourty, an emerging D3 prospect, will provide reinforcement inside with his rebounding and inside-out game.

Westinghouse

DJ Bolden had a standout junior campaign that should set him up nicely to continue that upward trajectory this year. The scoring off of the dribble is the easiest thing to see, but Bolden’s on-ball defense helps set the tone as well. Backcourt mate Askia Bullie is another leader who is coming back to provide stability with their playmaking. Lanky and savvy, Bullie has multiple years under his belt and could be a college basketball player as well if he chooses to do so. While Westinghouse will lack some height on paper, the scrappy, hard-nosed nature of past years should remain with Bullie and Bolden leading the way.

Whitney Young

The 2023 class was terrific for Young, led by Dalen Davis and Daniel Johnson. It’ll be a younger group, but they have ample talent and Coach Slaughter’s guidance to get them in the right direction. 6-foot-7 junior Antonio Munoz is going to show out this year, using his athleticism to dominate games. Damajay Richardson is going to be a breakout player after learning from Davis. He is smart, tough, has the ball on a string, and pushes the pace well.

The sophomore class is stacked. Marquis Clark can play on or off the ball with his court vision and size but could be more of a scorer for them at times. Rico D’Alessandro is about 6-foot-5 and has the power and elevation to impact games as a rebounder, finisher, and versatile defender. Nasir Rankin is a showtime athlete and has shown glimpses of being a well-rounded star down the road. His upside is crazy as an attacking guard. Super-skilled point guard Rykan Woo is going to be a problem as well considering how smooth, intelligent, and creative he is with the ball. Versatile freshman Howard Williams, who has a varsity-ready frame, will likely see time in the frontcourt as well.