It's been a great season with a lot of twists and turns. All four state champs are from the Chicago Area and all are in the final rankings with preseason ranking in parenthesis. Also for returnees I will put what class they are returning as. Here we go:
1) Benet Academy (Lisle) (33-5) (2): Had this one close for the Class 4A State Champs. Betat Quincy in Supersectional, then Evanston Township in semifinals and Warren township by 1 in title game. Scheduled to return: Jayden Wright, Colin Stack, and Michael Doyle as starters. Top reserve Ryan Walsh and talent off junior varsity team.
2) DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (33-4) (1): This one was close too in preseason. Won third straight state title, back to back in Class 3A. Beat Kaneland in Supersectional, then Glenwood (Chatham) in semifinals and Brother Rice (Chicago) in double overtime in title game. Scheduled to return: Rykan Woo, Rashuan Porter, and AJ Chambers. Will move up to Class 4A on multiplier and success formula. Talent will move up from junior varsity team.
3) Warren Township (Gurnee) (27-11) (5): High preseason ranking, had a tough stretch in middle of season as Javerion Banks was out for a month. Got it back together in time for postseason. Beat Rolling Meadows in supersectional, Rich Township (Richton Park) in semifinals, and came oh so close to Class 4A State Title losing to #1 Benet Academy (Lisle) by 1. Scheduled to return: Jaxson Davis (junior), Braylon Walker as starters. Alexander Asare, Avion King as top reserves.
4) Evanston Township (31-6) (16): I was one of the few that had them preseason ranked. Finished third in Class 4A. Beat Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) in Supersectional, lost to Benet Academy (Lisle) in semifinals, beat Rich Township (Richton Park) in third place game. Scheduled to return: Vito Rocca (junior) the lone starter. Ben Ojala (sophomore), Timi Ogunsanya, Tate Schroeder (junior), Dion Lane Jr (junior) as top reserves. Talent moving up from junior varsity team.
5) Brother Rice (Chicago) (31-7) (unranked): Missed on this one. Lost a lot from the year before but recovered well. Recliner Boys came oh so close to a Class 3A State Title but lost in double overtime to #2 DePaul College Prep (Chicago). Beat Peoria in supersectional and St Patrick (Chicago) in semifinals. Lost entire starting lineup and didn't go deep into their bench. Rebuild from junior varsity team.
6) Rich Township (Richton Park) (25-10) (3): Played a tough schedule but had junior Jameson Coulter Jr only play a minute in semifinals and didn't play in third place game because of health issue. They were also missing Matthew Lesure. Beat Kenwood Academy (Chicago) in supersectional, lost to Warren Township (Gurnee) in semifinals and Evanston Township in Class 4A third place game. Scheduled to return: Coulter Jr, Jayden Williams as starters. Troy Garner, Jeremiah Weatherford (sophomore). Also just started Junior Raptors to keep the talent in the community for the future. I ook for a bunch of future appearances in state finals for this program.
7) Kenwood Academy (Chicago) (31-2) (25): Didn't know much about this team preseason but they spent much of the season ranked #1. Lost to Rich Township (Richton Park) in Class 4A supersectional. Scheduled to return: Devin Cleveland (junior) as starter. Osiris Bell (junior), Damari Stephens (junior), Prince McCord, Jumir Aguda-Batie as reserves.
8) Rolling Meadows (30-5) (8): Finishes right at where I had them preseason. Lost to Warren Township (Gurnee) in Class 4A supersectional. Lost ten seniors will be a major rebuild.
9) Dyett (Chicago) (27-7) (unranked): Beat Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin in supersectional. Beat Manual (Peoria) in semifinals and Althoff (Belleville) to win Class 2A State Title. Nine seniors graduate including all five starters. Scheduled to return top reserves Jah'Mir Brown, and Jacob Johnson.
10) St Patrick (Chicago) (29-8) (17): Beat Mount Carmel (Chicago) in supersectional, lost to Brother Rice (Chicago) in semifinals beat Glenwood (Chatham) for third place in Class 3A. Scheduled to return: RJ McPartlin as a starter. Top reserves will be players from junior varsity.
11) Mount Carmel (Chicago) (29-6) (15): Lost to St Patrick (Chicago) in Class 4A supersectional to #10 St Patrick (Chicago). Scheduled to return: Noah Mister as starter. Claude Mpouma, George Gray, Marshawn Thornton (sophomore) as top reserves.
12) Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn) (28-6) (22): Lost to Evanston Township in Class 4A supersectional. Scheduled to return: Thaddaeus "TJ" Williams, Josh Abushanab as starters. Ashton Flowers is top reserve.
13) Homewood Flossmoor (30-4) (7): Lost in Class 4A sectional final. Top reserves returning: Darrius Hawkins Jr (sophomore) and will start over with junior varsity team.
14) Marist (Chicago) (31-3) (18): Lost in Class 4A sectional semifinal to Rich Township (Richton Park). Returns most of their team. Good chance at preseason #1 or top 5 next season. Scheduled to return: Adoni Vassilakis, Roka Zilys, TJ Tate, Stephen Brown as starters. Karson Thoams as top reserve.
15) Bolingbrook (29-5) (4): Lost to North (Downers Grove) in Class 4A sectional semifinal. Scheduled to return: Davion Thompson (junior), Trey Brost, Brady Pettigrew (sophomore) as starters.
16) Waubonsie Valley (Aurora) (31-3) (19): Lost to Benet Academy (Lisle) the state champ in sectional semifinal. Scheduled to return: Kris Mporokoso as starter. Help comes from junior varsity.
17) Kankakee (25-6) (9): Lost to Metamora in Class 3A sectional semifinal. Returns most of their starting lineup. Scheduled to return: Lincoln Williams, Kenaz Jackson Jr, Myair Thompson, Cedric Terrell Jr.
18) St Laurence (Burbank) (29-6) (6): Lost to Mount Carmel (Chicago) in Class 3A sectional final. Scheduled to return: Markese Peoples (junior) as starter. Reggie Stevens as reserve. Top junior varsity players moving up: Noah Corro (sophomore), Reggie Toney (sophomore), Logan Brown (sophomore).
19) Curie (Chicago) (24-10) (unranked): Lost to Kenwood Academy (Chicago) in Class 4A sectional final. Scheduled to return: Justin Oliver, Michael Oliver Jr. Will depend on their junior varsity which once again advanced deep in city playoffs.
20) Hinsdale Central (29-4) (11): Lost to Curie (Chicago) in Class 4A regional final. No starters return and they have a good junior varsity program that replaces seniors very well.
21) Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) (21-8) (12): Lost to Kenwood Academy (Chicago) in Class 4A sectional semifinal. Scheduled to return: Kassidy Nelson, Kamari Hamlin as starters. Andre Tyler as top reserve and players from City Champion junior varsity team.
22) Hope Academy (Chicago): (28-7): (unranked). New to the poll. Class 1A State champs beating St Anthony (Effingham) in semifinals and Eastland (Lanark) in title game as Tyjuan Hunter took over the entire weekend. Scheduled to return: Tyjuan Hunter, Jaiden Simmons, Trentyn McGinnis. Could be favored to repeat in Class 1A unless they have to move up with success formula.
23) Fremd (Palatine) (27-4) (unranked): Lost to Rolling Meadows in Class 4A sectional final. Scheduled to return: Jordan Williams, Rafael Pinto as starters. Tommy Moffett as top reserve.
24) DeKalb (27-7) (unranked): Lost to Warren Township (Gurnee) in Class 4A sectional semifinal. Scheduled to return: Davon Grant as starter.
25) Waukegan (24-8) (unranked): Lost to Warren Township (Gurnee) in Class 4A sectional. Scheduled to return: Jaali "Rico" Love, Simereon Carter, Carter Newsome, Adrian Serrano as starters.
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