I know there's a few more days of games before seeding meetings next Wednesday. These are my predicions of how they will end up. Here we go:
NORMAL (ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY) SUPERSECTIONAL:
Collinsville:
1) Quincy
2) Moline
3) Edwardsville
4) Rock Island
Quincy has a good shot to get to Champaign. They have senior experience, a good backcourt in Santa Clara commit Bradley Longcor II, and Dom Clay. They have an inside force in double/double machine Keshaun Thomas. Very motivated after a heartbreaking loss in Sectional Final last season to Normal Community on a flukey play.
Rock Island is 4 over Normal Community has they have beaten them twice. I know this is a subsectional but I think these are the top four teams.
Benet Academy (Lisle):
1) Bolingbrook
2) Benet Academy (Lisle)
3) Waubonsie Valley (Aurora)
4) West Aurora
Bolingbrook has a win over Benet and a tough schedule. They have a mismatch nightmare inside in Valparaiso commit JT Pettigrew. Benet does though have an advantage as the host and revenge on their mind in a possible sectional final. Waubonsie Valley has one loss on the season but will be penalized by their soft schedule. Illinois State commit Tyreek Coleman is the best point guard in the section so that goes a long way West Aurora is on a roll since Iowa football commit Terrence Smith returned in January.
HOFFMAN ESTATES (NOW ARENA) SUPERSECTIONAL:
East (St Charles):
1) Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
2) Geneva
3) Warrenville South (Wheaton)
4) Proviso East (Maywood)
Hardest sectional to seed. A lot of below 500 teams in here. Maybe the weakest sectional in the state, defeinitely in Class 4A. Glenbard West has the most talented team with juniors TJ Williams and Josh Abushanab. Geneva is another team that could have a case for a #1 seed. Hudson Kirby is a very good player. Luca Carbonaro is very talented for Warrenville South (Wheaton).
New Trier (Winnetka):
1) Evanston Township
2) New Trier (Winnetka)
3) Loyola Academy (WIlmette)
4) Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago)
Evanston has beaten every top team in the sectional with exception of Lane Tech (have not played each other). They have a game with New Trier the day before seeding meetings that could possibly flip flop 1 and 2. New Trier has beaten every top team except Evanston and Lane Tech. Loyola Academy has lost to both Evanston and New Trier. Lane Tech gets the nod over Niles North because of a win over them, and one over New Trier. They are the wildcard as their size could cause teams problems in the sectional. Penn commit Dalton Scantlebury (6'10") is the wild card for the Champions of Lane Tech.
CHICAGO (ILLINOIS CHICAGO) SUPERSECTIONAL:
Hinsdale Central:
1) Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
2) Hinsdale Central
3) Simeon Career Academy (Chicago)
4) Lincoln Park (Chicago)
Chicago Public League Red Championships are going on right now and could flip flop Simeon and Lincoln Park. Simeon owns a victory over Lincoln Park so they get the nod here. Kenwood Academy gets the nod over Hinsdale Central. Both have three losses between them, but Kenwood has the tougher schedule. Terrence "TJ" Seals of Kenwood will have to stay out of foul trouble in the playoffs. They seem to have some trouble when he's off the floor. South Dakota commit Vincas Buzelis is a load for Hinsdale Central, along with bigs Tyler Thick and Michael Howell. Lorenzo Shields and Julien Doyle will have to keep being highly productive for Simeon. Kaydin Williams (junior) has come on late in the season for Lincoln Park. Key is Ahmad Lee (junior), he'll have to make high level decisions for them to win sectional.
Rich Township (Richton Park):
1) Homewood Flossmoor
2) Marist (Chicago)
3) Rich Township (Richton Park)
4) West (Joliet)
Defending Class 4A Champ Homewood Flossmoor is ready to make a run for a repeat with a new roster. Wofford commit Jayden Tyler has played like a Mr Basketball candidate for Homewood Flosmoor. He's one the few returning champions that played a lot last year. Marist has quietly put together a fine season. Junior laden team with addition of Rokas Zilys has lost only 2 games all year. Rich Township won the Big Dipper but has been on a roller coaster ride all season with up and down guard play. Juniors Jayden Williams, and Jameson Coulter Jr will have to step up their play. They do have home advantage for sectional play. West (Joliet) gets the slight edge over Bloom Township (Chicago Heights) for 4 seed. Both have similarly strong schedules so either could land that seed when it's all said and done.
DEKALB (NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY) SUPERSECTIONAL:
Schaumburg:
1) Rolling Meadows
2) Fremd (Palatine)
3) Stevenson (Lincolnshire)
4) Barrington
Rolling Meadows has the best player in the region in Marquette commit Ian Militec. They have had some talented teams but have not gotten out of regional. Their most talented team was grounded by COVID a few years ago. This is their best chance to get to Champaign. They have 10 seniors with a lot of experience. Fremd will be tough as they have Ryan Brown, double/double machine Jordan Williams (junior) and Samuel Hirsch (junior). Stevenson is the wildcard with talented seniors Winona State commit Aidan Bardic and double/double machine Atticus Richmond. Barrington gets the 4 seed with Chris Tacher and Oliver Gray (junior). Ian Tepas missd first part of the season and holiday tournament with an injury. They are full strength now.
Waukegan:
1) Waukegan
2) Warren Township (Gurnee)
3) Guilford (Rockford)
4) McHenry
Waukegan gets the nod as they have beaten their rival Warren Township (Gurnee) twice. They also have home advantage in the famous raucous atmosphere of the Dog Pound. Senior Xavi Granville has been a consistent scorer, and Jaali "Rico" Love (junior) has hit the glass when needed. It will still be hard to beat Warren a third time. Jaxson Davis (sophomore) is the best point guard in the state regardless of class. Javerion Banks is back after being out a month and having surgery. Guilford has a good nucleus in Branden Chatman (junior), Je'Sean Frye, and Jaden Webster. McHenry's top player Adam Anwar (junior) has been out with a broken hand. If he's back they could be a threat. Caleb Jett has taken up a lot of the scoring and rebounding slack.
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