Twelve schools, including all four Rockford Public Schools and fellow NIC-10 member Machesney Park Harlem, will be playing at Guilford and Auburn high schools from November 21 through Nov. 26.
Nine of the 12 schools had winning records in 2021-2022. Seven of the schools won more than 20 games. Six of the schools won regional championships.
This year's showcase features the return of Chicago Whitney Young, a nationally known high school basketball power that's made it to the IHSA state tournament in three of the past five seasons, and East St. Louis, which went 28-6 last year, including a perfect 4-0 in its first Tip-Off Classic.
This year also features the debut of Frederick Douglass High School of Memphis, Tennessee. Douglas went 22-5 last season and won a regional championship. In the past, the Tip-Off Classic has drawn teams from Florida, California, Indiana and Wisconsin. Douglass is the first Tennessee team to make the trip.
Also returning is Elgin Larkin, which is coming off a 30-4 season. The Royals have played in every 205 Tip-Off Classic. Larkin will open the Tip-Off Classic against Harlem on Monday, Nov. 21, and close it against Auburn on Sunday, Nov. 26.
The week is an excellent yardstick for the Rockford Public Schools programs. Auburn is coming off a 26-6 season with a regional title, the eighth in the last 14 years under coach Bryan Ott. Rockford East went 24-10, also winning a regional. The E-Rabs are 111-38 in the past five seasons under Roy Sackmaster. Guilford had its first winning season in the NIC-10 in 15 years under second-year coach Chris Dixon. Jefferson, however, struggled to a 5-24 season. It was the J-Hawks first losing season since 2011-2012 and Jefferson turned to L.C. Robinson, a former star J-Hawks basketball player, to return the program to prominence.
Another part of the fun is getting to watch future college stars. Prep Hoops is one of the more respected ranking systems. According to them, these are the players to watch this year:
* Whitney Young: Guards Dalen Davis, Marcus Pigram, Sean Brown-Coley and Damon Davis and forwards Daniel Johnson, Tyler Tharpe and Kevin Iverson.
* Whitney Young: Guards Dalen Davis, Marcus Pigram, Sean Brown-Coley and Damon Davis and forwards Daniel Johnson, Tyler Tharpe and Kevin Iverson.
* East St. Louis: Guard Robert McCline, forwards Macaleab Rich and Antwan Robinson and center Cameron Boone.
* Memphis Douglass: Forward Tyler Johnson.
* Guilford: Guards Mekhi Doby and Malachi Johnson.
* Auburn: Guard Adrian Agee.
* East: Forward Matthew Hoarde.
* Chicago Clark: Guard Katrell Weekley.
* Auburn: Guard Adrian Agee.
* East: Forward Matthew Hoarde.
* Chicago Clark: Guard Katrell Weekley.
* Elgin Larkin: Guard Jacob Blakley.
* Jefferson: Forward Randy Johnson.
