Just some random thoughts before everything gets started. Here we go:
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS:
Best players in state finals:
Lathan Sommerville, Richwoods (Peoria) (Rutgers commit)
Gianni Cobb, Homewood Flossmoor (Columbia commit)
Chris Kirkpatrick, New Trier (Winnetka) (sophomore)
Connor May, Palatine (Washington University St Louis commit)
Tyjuan Hunter, Hope Academy (Chicago) (sophomore)
Marshawn Cocroft, Christian (Aurora) (sophomore)
Antonio Flenoid Jr, Meridian (Mounds) (freshman)
EJ Horton, Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago) (junior)
Amari Edwards, Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago) (junior)
Ryan Tucker, Byron
Angelo Ciaravino, Mount Carmel (Chicago)
Lyncoln Koester, Mount Zion (junior)
Jaylan McElroy, DePaul College Prep (Chicago)
Jaheem Wheeler, Normal Community (Wright State commit)
As you can see a lot of young talent on display. The future is in good hands in the state (unless they end up matriculating to out of state prep schools).
Moline last year made consecutive weekend trips to Chicago Area. They ended up winning Class 4A. Will Normal Community do the same? They made three consecutive weekend trips to the Chicago Area.
Can Palatine be the Cinderella? Most folks did not see them getting here, thought Warren Township (Gurnee) would be here. Connor May almost took them here on his back but got some help late in the playoffs. Will they keep helping him to the top in Class 4A? Normal Community is next.
Who is Mounds Meridian and Williamsville? Meridian is tucked on the Mississippi River in Southern Illinois. No one in the Chicago Area and major newspaper areas know the players. We will find out this weekend. Looks like a freshman will have to lead them. Williamsville is in the Peoria area so those folks know about that team. They've gotten used to playing without their leading scorer for 26 games now. Can they upset Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago)?
Can Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago) continue the dominance in Class 2A of the Central (Joliet) Supersectional winner? They've won it 5 of the last 6 years with Orr (Chicago) winning three times (they were slated to win a fourth when covid hit), and DePaul College Prep (Chicago) won last year.
Can New Trier (Winnekta) finally break through? They've been to the state finals more than a few times the last 20 years. They've never gotten to the title game. Can they do it this year? Homewood Flossmoor will have something to say about it.
Can Benton make a dent? Most famous basketball alum is 1972 #1 NBA Draft pick and longtime NBA Coach Doug Collins. They were very successful when he played there under legendary coach Rich Herrin. They are in Class 2A.
Can Christian (Aurora) win Class 1A with three sophomores in their rotation? Marshawn Cocroft, Jacob Baumann, and Jalen Carter are very talented, but getting over the top will be led by senior high scorer Cam Morel. He's a recent Wisconsin Platteville commit.
Can Ronnie Fields win a title as a coach? When he played at Farragut Academy (Chicago), he and Kevin Garnett were one of the greatest shows in the history of the Chicago Area. They won the Chicago Public League title (only one bid then) and lost in the quarterfinals to a loaded Thornton Township (Harvey) team with 3 future NFL and 1 future NBA player. He's trying in his first year of coaching with Hope Academy (Chicago) in Class 1A.
Can Richwoods (Peoria) solve the pack line defense of DePaul College Prep (Chicago)? Coach Tom Kleinschmidt will never call it that but that's what it is. Pack the paint and make teams beat them from three. Most in the high school ranks can't. The only team that did was Homewood Flossmoor who's in Class 4A Semifinals. They only did it when they started hitting threes from all over the court in the third quarter of the Steve Pappas Shootout. Normal Community beat them but it was a very tight game and not a lot of shots hit by either team. By the way Normal Community is in the Class 4A Semifinals.
West Central (Winchester Coop) have won 28 straight games against Illinois competition. Can they make it 30 in a row and win the Class 1A State title?
Finally, have fun. Should be a great and exciting weekend for the players, coaches, fans, officials, and media.