DePaul College Prep has dominated the last three years at times. They've had injuries in the middle of the last two seasons, but got those players back right before playoff time. They have won back to back state titles, one in Class 2A, then moved up to Class 3A and won it. They have players that contributed heavily to the title team last year, and some have two rings. No brainer they start out as BIg Tim's #1 team preseason. Some reasons for it:
1) Experience: Start with 6'2"senior point guard Western Illinois commit Makai Kvamme. Floor general who's contributed to two title teams, one as a reserve, and the other as the one who makes the team go. Add Robert Walls II (6'1" senior combo guard) another two title contributor, Rashaun Porter (6'7" junior forward) who's an inside force, and AJ Chambers (5'11" junior point guard) who can run a team and shoot the ball. All of these guys have championship rings.
2) Got deeper at the guard position in the off season. Rykan Woo (6'2" junior point guard) transferred in from Whitney Young (Chicago). He's a cerebral floor general who can shoot the three pointer at a high rate. Could start or come off the bench and will make a huge impact.
3) X-Factor: Jonas Johnson (6'6" senior wing) has missed a lot of time the last two years but picked up championship rings. He can fill it up from the three point line, either off the dribble or off the catch. Will give them some size to hit the defensive glass. DePaul University commit as a preferrred walk-on. If he's healthy that give a team with a bunch of shooters one more weapon.
4) Pack line defense: I know Head Coach Tom Kleinschmidt doesn't call it that, but that's what it is. It stangles opposing teams as it forces them to hit three point shots, and they pack the paint with bodies (hence the name of the defense). They box out well out of it and get defensive boards. He'll coach this year with a heavy heart as he lost his father last month.
5) Shooters, ball handlers, quick hands and feet defenders all over the court: Kvamme, Walls II, Woo, Jonas Johnson, Chambers, and sophomore Gus Donahue (6'3" senior guard) can all fill it up from three. All but Jonas Johnson can run the offense, get to the basket on penetration, and pass the basketball.
WHAT GIVES ME PAUSE:
6) They will need some help for Porter on the glass with Gus Johnson (6'6" sophomore forward) who'll probably rotate in and out with Porter. Only real weakness I see with this team, frontcourt depth. Also they are not the best catchup team if they fall behind by double digits. They are good at getting an early lead and controlling the tempo of the game.
CONCLUSION:
This team to me is the obvious favorite in Class 3A. They have depth in the backcourt, which usually wins games in high school basketball. This team is slightly smaller than last year so they can go up tempo and give teams problems. If a team can somehow pound the offensive glass and get second shots they could be vulnerable. They have a tough schedule in the Chicago Catholic League Blue, but don't see much issues when they get to the state playoffs. I believe they'll have a three peat in championships. Not many young men have three championship rings in Illinois. This would be their fourth straight trip to Champaign as they finished third in 2022. These seniors have seen state finals every year of their high school careers for this program. State finals experience coming back is huge on this level. I think this will be their last year in Class 3A as success formula will take them to Class 4A after this season.
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