Big Tim's Preseason Super 25 teams in Chicago Area!!!!

Sixth annual and it's always fun and an exciting part of the season. As usual it was hard to cut to 25. I see record movement in the rankings this season because so many are close to each other. As far as predictions for state this is the year IHSA moves everything around, so will be interesting to see where folks are put at in Sectionals. Road to Champaign is long and arduous. Rankings will have classification beside them (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A). Here we go:

1) DePaul College Prep (Chicago) (4A): Nationally ranked. Looking for fourth straight state title and fifth straight state finals appearance. This is all in three different classifications. Here's the writeup on preseason #1: https://tim1coleman.wixsite.com/website/post/introducing-the-1-team-in-chicago-area-preseason-depaul-college-prep-chicago-1.

2) Benet Academy (Lisle) (4A): Defending Class 4A State Champ (I predicted early last season they'd win a state title within three years, did it in the first year).

Benet Academy (Lisle):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Colin Stack

Class of 2026 Jayden Wright

Class of 2026 Ryan Walsh

Class of 2026 Ethan Macdermott

Class of 2026 Grant Bergmann

Class of 2027 Edvardas Stasys

Class of 2027 Perry Tchiegne

Defending Class 4A state champ has a great shot at running it back and repeating. Three starters back (Stack, Wright, Walsh). Wright is committed to Eastern Illinois and scores from the parking lot. Size with Stack (7’1”) who is a North Dakota State commit and Stasys (6’8”) to rim protect In the paint. Macdermott is an import from Australia whos a do it all guard. Has a bunch of three point snipers in Wright, Walsh, Stack, Macdermott, and Bergmann. Others even deeper off the bench. Tchiegne is an attacker off the bounce whi can create for himself and others. Oh and the lefty can hit the three. Has a good Junior Varsity system that helps them reload. Well coached with one of top three coaches in state in Gene Heidkamp.

3) Warren Township (Gurnee) (4A):

Warren Township (Gurnee):Top players:

Class of 2027 Jaxson Davis

Class of 2026 Braylon Walker

Class of 2026 Avonn King

Class of 2026 Joel Paasch

Class of 2026 LeBron Massey

Class of 2028 Haze Massey

Class of 2027 Cashius Collins

Class of 2027 Tayte Cordova

Starts with returning Mr Basketball Davis. First sophomore in the 46 year history to win the award. One of the top 50 players in the country in his class. Team was one Davis slip on drive to the basket from possibly winning the Class 4A state title. Walker is running beside Davis for third straight year. Team is guard heavy and size challenged. King and Collins will be key in the interior rebounding and scoring in the paint. Paasch is a knock down three point shooter who can get hot at anytime. Massey brothers come over from Cristo Rey (Waukegan). Lebron was a big time scorer there and Haze is a run/jump athlete. Cordova is back after a year at Brentwood (TN). Will have to go through rival Waukegan again to get to Supersectional.

4) Marist (Chicago) (4A):

Top players:

Class of 2026 Stephen Brown

Class of 2026 Karson Thomas

Class of 2026 Adoni Vassilakis

Class of 2026 TJ Tate

Class of 2026 Charles Barnes

Class of 2027 Kendall Meyers

Class of 2027 Jayden Bullock

So much talent, experience, 3 and 4 year varsity performers. Lots of wings (Brown, Thomas, Barnes, Meyers). Senior laden team that had won 29 and 31 games the last two years. This is the year for them to make a dent in a tough Class 4A environment. Brown is a top 5 talent in the senior class. Vassilakis, Tate are experienced guards. Thomas does the dirty work at the rim. Athletes all over the place. If that wasn’t enough Barnes transfers in from DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago). Meyers is a talent and Bullock is a good guard backing up the experienced players. Can they get to Champaign through likely a loaded sectional?

5) Kankakee (3A):

Top players:

Class of 2026 Lincoln Williams

Class of 2026 EJ Hazelett

Class of 2026 Myair Thompson

Class of 2026 Kenaz Jackson Jr

Class of 2026 Cedric Terrell III

Class of 2026 Eli Cunningham

Class of 2027 Phillip Turner

Class of 2028 Isiah Robinson

Class of 2028 Chris Clark

A favorite in Class 3A along with MacArthur(Decatur ). Experienced team with a bunch of 3 and 4 year varsity performers. Williams is one of the top three players in the state. Hazelett is a transfer from Indianapolis, IN and was one of the top players in that state. Committed to Indiana State. Thompson, Jackson Jr, and Terrell III are experienced guards. Williams snd Hazelett will have to use their size and athleticism to crash the glass. Cunningham will help on the glass. Terrell III and Cunningham are football standouts. Turner, Robinson, and Clark add depth and youth. Will be motivated by the letdown in last 3 minutes of sectional semifinal vs Metamora last winter.

6) St Laurence (Burbank) (4A):

Moves up from Class 3A to 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2027 Markese Peoples

Class of 2027 Reggie Stevens

Class of 2027 Sean Rice

Class of 2028 Noah Corro

Class of 2028 Jeremiah Toney

Class of 2028 Logan Brown

Class of 2029 Evan Lemons

Lost a lot of seniors with 3 and 4 year varsity experience. Team is very young as best players are juniors and sophomores. Reins will be let loose on Peoples a Top 3 talent in his class. Unstoppable on offensive end do everything talent. Can play all over the court. Stevens is a long scoring wing. Rice is a two sport athlete who’ll help on the glass. Corro takes over at point guard and can knock down threes. Toney is a slashing lefty athletic wing. Brown is a long (6’5”) lefty shooter from long range. Incoming freshman Lemons is an athletic wing who can help on glass.

7) Curie (Chicago) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Justin Oliver

Class of 2026 Michael Oliver Jr

Class of 2026 Kendall Holiday

Class of 2026 Keith Collins

Class of 2026 Joshua Hurley

Class of 2026 Gabriel Taylor

Class of 2027 Tobyus Banks Jr

Class of 2028 Amir Green

Favorite to win Chicago Public League title for second time in three years. Have been to title game three out of last four years. Experienced backcourt returning. J Oliver is one of the top point guards in the Chicago Public League. A guard eith serious bounce. Oliver Jr is a three point sniper and coaches son. Holiday is a King of Bounce wing who can shoot from deep. Collins is a transfer from Hyde Park Academy (Chicago) will rebound and rim protect. Hurley is a gritty two way forward who rebounds. Taylor is a two sport athlete (football) will provide guard depth. Banks Jr is a wing who can shoot and defend. Green will help in the interior.

8) Waukegan (4A):

Top players:

Class of 2026 Carter Newsome

Class of 2026 Simereon Carter

Class of 2026 Jaali “Rico” Love

Class of 2026 Adrian Serrano

Class of 2026 Jeremiah Edwards

Class of 2026 Cameron McKay

Class of 2026b Ryan Brown

Lots of experience and senior laden. Newsome and Carter are 4 year varsity performers. Carter missed the entire spring and summer with shoulder injury. Should be back in time for start of season. Love is athletic and plays all over the court. Rebounds and rim protects. 4 year varsity performer. Serrano can hit the three and defends at a high level. Edwards provides guard depth and McKay will be huge on the interior. Brown is a late transfer from Homewood Flossmoor, talented athletic wing. Beat rival Warren Township (Gurnee) twice in regular season, but lost in double overtime in sectional final at the Dog Pound in Waukegan. Can they turn the tables this year and win the big one? Will likely play three more times this year. Familiarity breeds contempt?

9) New Trier (Winnetka) (4A):

Class 4A: Top players:Class of 2026 Christopher Kirkpatrick

Class of 2026 Danny Houlihan

Class of 2026 Max Vogel

Class of 2026 Maks DePalo

Class of 2026 MJ Burns

Class of 2027 Elton Jaegerskog

Class of 2027 Matthew Logue

Class of 2027 Ryan Ritchie

Class of 2027 Owen Foster

Class of 2027 Benji Veber

Class of 2029 Denym Wallace

Favorite to win Central Suburban South. Shooters all over the place. All can hit threes. 2 time Big Tim All-Area player and Princeton commit Kirkpatrick leads the way. 4 year varsity performer. Floor general gets his own or passes out to shooters. Houlihan (layup) is a lefty sniper from three and High Point commit. Vogel hits threes but can attack off the bounce. Committed to Colby College. DePalo bring size at 6’8”. Burns is another sniper. Logue brings versatility and rim protection at 6’5”. Ritchie is another sniper. Well you get the point. Foster is an athletic rim protector who’ll dunk on you. Veber is a lefty who can fill it up. Wallace will get a lot of time in the interior as an incoming freshman at 6’7”.

10) Lincoln Park (Chicago) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Ahmad Lee

Class of 2026 Jaylen Dickerson

Class of 2026 Larry Harris

Class of 2026 Jalil Amous

Class of 2026 Ashton Flowers

Class of 2027 Jaylen Townsend

Class of 2028 Alvin Robinson III

Might be the most talented team in the Chicago Public League. Has experience, athletes, shooters, and floor generals. This is the year to get over the hump in Chicago Public League and State Playoffs. Lee is one of the best players in CPS. Dickerson is a two sport athlete and three level scorer. Harris is a King of Bounce who’s a double/double threat. Amous is a smooth scoring wing. Flowers is a point guard who transferred from Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn). Townsend is a talented athletic forward in the paint. Robinson III is an up and coming talent at the perimeter spots. Season will come down to how deep they go in the playoffs. Could be a banner season on the Norh Side.

11) Bolingbrook (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Trey Brost

Class of 2026 TJ Williams

Class of 2026 Joey Aniceto

Class of 2026 Travis Marks

Class of 2026 Jeremy McCullom

Class of 2026 Jayden Madden

Class of 2026 Elijah Anderson

Class of 2027 Isaiah Rogers

Class of 2028 Brady Pettigrew

Class of 2028 Marlon Williams

Class of 2028 Mason Williams

Lots of talent as usual at The Brook. Guards, wings, and bigs galore. Brost (Coach’s son) is the point guard to run the ship. Michigan Tech commit. Williams is a combo guard transferred in from Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn). Aniceto gives guard depth as does Marks. McCullom does the dirty work inside, Madden is a rim protector at 6’9”. Anderson (6’8”) can step outside and crash the glass. Rogers is another athletic big who can change ends. Look for a huge jump from Pettigrew who’s a consensus Top 15 player nationally in his class. Williams twins are two point guards who are jet quick.

12) Fremd (Palatine) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Jordan Williams

Class of 2026 Rafael Pinto

Class of 2026 Tommy Moffett

Class of 2026 Charlie Chlan

Class of 2026 Chase Nelson

Class of 2026 Ricardo Requena

Class of 2028 Tyler Chlan

Experienced team. Senior laden. Defending Mid Suburban West Champs. Sectional Finalist. Should be best team in Mid Suburban Conference. Illinois State commit Jordan Williams is a double/double machine. Inside/out force. Pinto is a tall guard (6’5”) who can shoot the cover off the ball from three. Moffett is another big wing (6’6”) who can knock down threes. Charlie Chlan is a three level scorer. Nelson is one of the point guards along with Requena. Tyler Chlan is the future. Can tun point and score from all over the court.

13) Neuqua Valley (Naperville) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Darlin Aghomi

Class of 2027 Mason Martin

Class of 2027 Eli Poulakidas

Class of 2027 Byron Thomas

Class of 2027 Arshii Khimani

Class of 2027 Marcus McGee

Class of 2027 Carter Coviello

Class of 2028 Cole Kelly

Young team but a great 1-2 punch in Kelly and Martin. Kelly is one of the top sophomores in the country. Kelly does it all on both ends. Deadly going to his left. Three level scorer at 6’7”. Martin will make a jump as he’s developed a two dribble mid range jumper to go with his three point sniping and attacking the rims. Sixe to get shot off (6’5”). Aghomi can help on interior with size (6’10”) and rim protection. Poulakidas can run point and score from three. Thomas is a wing scorer. Khimani gives guard depth. McGee helps on glass. Coviello will run point but can shoot from deep.

14) East (Oswego) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Mason Lockett IV

Class of 2026 Michael Rembert

Class of 2026 Marc Sanchez-Giron

Class of 2026 Antonio Warren

Class of 2026 Zayn Manalodi

Class of 2026 Noah Smith

Class of 2027 Dshaun Bolden

Class of 2027 Jacsen Tucker

Besides Lockett IV, a DePaul commit, and Rembert this is a young and inexperienced team with size. Lockett (6'4") can run point or any other position on the court. Rembert is a knockdown shooter with experience. Sanchez-Giron (6'7") mans the paint, Warren can run point. Manalodi can shoot or run point. Smith is a talented wing. Bolden is a King of Bounce with an improving jump shot. Tucker gives them more size at 6'5" but not much varsity experience.

15) St ignatius College Prep (Chicago) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Chris Bolte

Class of 2026 Napoleon Harris III (Nico)

Class of 2026 Grant Poorman

Class of 2026 Chase Honore

Class of 2027 Chris Chittaro

Class of 2027 Duke Ross

Class of 2028 Amir Tucker

Class of 2028 Josiah Hall

Class of 2028 DJ Caldwell

Clas of 2028 Walker Ross

Good mix of experience and youth. Bolte is a Yale commit that is an inside/out three with lefty stroke. Harris is son of former NFL player of same name does it all on the court. Poorman can hit the three and score at the rim. Honore is a force inside and a two sport athlete (football). Chittaro has a nice lefty stroke. Duke Ross hits the glass and can step out to hit threes. Sophomore class is loaded with Tucker, son of former NBA player Alando Tucker will be the point guard. Hall is a dangerous three point sniper, Caldwell is a smooth operator and tall point guard (6’4”). Ross is a combo guard with nice size (6’3”).

16) Kenwood Academy (Chicago) (4A):

Kenwood Academy (Chicago) is trying to load up for a repeat run at the Chicago Public League (City) Red Title.

Senior Prince McCord

Senior Jumir Aguda-Batie

Junior Damari Stephens

Junior Osiris Bell

Have a new Head Coach in Mohammad Cookbey. McCord is a returner who helps on the glass. Aguda-Batie is a King of bounce who crashes the glass, and has an improved mid range jumper. Stephens is one of the top point guards in the Chicago Public League. Big boned with size (6'4"), tight handle, and can get where he wants off the dribble. Bell is a knockdown shooter who can run a team.

17) Homewood Flossmoor (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Maurice Douglas

Class of 2027 Danny Ruffin

Class of 2027 Jeffrey Cade

Class of 2028 Darrius Hawkins Jr

Class of 20287 John Brown IV

New Coach in alum Brandin Brown. Team lost a lot of talent but Douglas is a talented wing looking to step up in leadership role. Ruffin is an undersized athletic strong player who can score in the paint and crash the glass. Cade is a talented King of Bounce who can hit the jumper. Hawkins Jr will be the point and brings back a lot of varsity experience and is a clutch performer. Brown IV is a lanky tall wing (6'7") who can shoot it from deep and hit the glass.

18) Glenbard East (Lombard) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Michael Nee

Class of 2026 Danny Snyder

Class of 2026 Jacob Marynowski

Class of 2026 Brandon Johnson

Class of 2026 Keenan House

Preview from Head Coach:

Here is a preview for Glenbard East basketball.

The Rams bring back 8 of their top 9 players who won the Upstate 8 and a regional title a year ago. The senior laden group is led by 6'3 South Dakota commit Michael Nee who is the reigning conference player of the year. 6'2 sniper Danny Snyder and 6'3 Jacob Marynowski are returning all conference players. 6'6 senior Sam Walton provides size and 6'3 Brandon Johnson adds athleticism on the perimeter. Bolingbrook transfer Keenan House will be a jack of all trades and be a huge boost. A sectional title and beyond is realistic for this group.

19) Lockport Township (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Gavin Anderson

Class of 2026 Trace Schaff

Class of 2026 Kajus Zubelis

Class of 2026 Owen Nemecek

Class of 2027 Nojus Venckus

Class of 2027 Nedas Venckus

Class of 2027 Nate Munson

Class of 2027 Jayden Desoto

Top players are juniors. Potential to be one of the best teams in South Suburbs. Big three of Venckus twins aka bucket boys who can fill it up from deep. Munson is the third of the crew who penetrates and distributes. Anderson is another wing scorer. Schaff is a two sport star (baseball) who gives them size. Zubelis is another player that gives them size as does Nemecek. Desoto is another guard who can run a team and shoot from deep.

20) Kaneland (Maple Park) (3A):

Class 3A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Marshaun Cocroft

Class of 2026 Evan Frieders

Class of 2026 Connor Kimme

Class of 2026 Isaiah Gipson

Class of 2026 Grayson Smith

Class of 2026 Jake Buckley

Class of 2027 Jeffrey Hassan

Class of 2027 Chase Kunzer

Class of 2027 Bryce Goss

Only lost two games all year. Won first Sectional title in decades. Contender for trip to Champaign in 3A. Cocroft is a big time scorer at point guard position. Committed to Grand Valley State (Division 2). Frieders is a big (6’5”) shooting wing. Kimme is a knockdown three point shooter. Gipson is an athletic guard (6’1”) who hits tge glass. Smith gives guard depth. Buckley is a two sport athlete (football) who gives them rebounding snd toughness in paint. Hassan is an athletic rim protector and double/double threat. Kunzer is a three point threat. Goss is an athletic attacking guard off the bounce.

21) Deerfield (3A):

Class 3A:Top players:

Class of 2026 Jake Pollack

Class of 2026 Evan Nagler

Class of 2026 Ethan Weiner

Class of 2026 Jack Sterzik

Class of 2026 Chase Arenberg

Class of 2027 Tommy Donahue

Class of 2028 Charlie Yellen

Class of 2029 Zach Newman

Won a regional title last season. Contender to win Central Suburban South title. Lots of experience and multi sport athletes on team. Start with Dartmouth commit (Division One) Pollack (6’9”) and inside/out versatile talent. All conference last year along with Nagler who can shoot it. Weiner and Sterzik are football standouts. Arenberg also plays baseball. Donahue is a versatile guard who can hit threes and attack the rim. Yellen is an outstanding outside shooter. Incomibg freshman Newman could help Pollack in the paint on the glass.

22) Loyola Academy (Wilmette) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Trey Williams

Class of 2026 Sam Golden

Class of 2026 Brody Muney-Johnson

Class of 2026 Danny Lee

Class of 2027 Luke Alvarez

Experience back in returning backcourt of Williams (Cornell commit), Golden (Dennison commit) and Alvarez. Williams is an athletic point guard who can get downhill to the basket, run an offense and make nice passes to shooters. Golden is a knockdown three point shooter, as is Alvarez. Muney-Johnson will rebound on the interior and rim protect. Lee is another shooter from three. All are good defenders.

23) Lyons Township (LaGrange) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Owen Carroll

Class of 2026 Tommy Sloan

Class of 2026 Braden Sullivan

Class of 2026 Dylan Holcer

Class of 2026 Grant Pinta

Class of 2026 Tommy Blyth

Class of 2027 Timmy Sloan

Class of 2027 Ty Smith

Class of 2027 Nate Woods

Class of 2028 Grant Smith

Senior laden team but best players are underclassmen. Lots of 6’5” players (Both Sloans, Blythe, Woods, Smith). Carroll is a long range knockdown shooter. Tommy Sloan is a wing who can rebound. Sullivan is a combo guard. Holcer is the point guard. Pinta does the dirty word on the glass as is Blyth. Timny Sloan is a big point guard who can get to the rim and finish. Smith is a combo guard. Woods is a big knockdown shooter from three. Smith is the most talented player in the roster. Will get his first real varsity minutes this year.

24) St Patrick (Chicago) (4A):

Top players:

Class of 2026 RJ McPartlin

Class of 2026 Maurice Neeley

Class of 2026 Joseph Costanzo

Class of 2027 Omar Ajanovic

Class of 2027 Steven Quach

Class of 2027 Jimmy Czeslawski

Class of 2027 Gael Gutierrez

Class of 2027 Josiah Smith

Coming off first ever state finals appearance in Class 3A. Lost a lot of seniors and is moving up to Class 4A. McPartlin is a monster in the paint a double/double machine. Neely will man a backcourt position and Costanzo will run point. Ajanovic is a King of Bounce who’ll dunk on anyone and can step out to hit threes. Quach can run point and hit threes. Czeslawski is a three point shooter, as is Gutierrez and Smith. Will play the usual 1-3-1 zone that longtime Coach Mike Bailey deploys.

25) South (Downers Grove) (4A):

Class 4A:

Top players:

Class of 2026 Adam Flowers

Class of 2026 Erik Vagonis

Class of 2026 Sean Day

Class of 2027 Dimitri Letsos

Class of 2027 Tony Evans

Class of 2027 Fredrick Bowers

Class of 2027 Brennan McNamara

Favorite to win another West Suburban Gold division. Might be the best team in entire West Suburban Conference. Tall guards and lots of three point shooters. Flowers is one of the most underrated guards in the area. Tall point guard at 6’4”. Vagonis is tough in the paint and hits both backboards. Day is a tall and long lefty wing shooter at 6’5”. Letsos is another knockdown three point shooter. Evans gives guard depth as does Bowers. McNamara hits threes off the catch and the bounce.