Here are some burning questions for the season:
GAME OF THE YEAR:
There's a lot I could pick but I'll go with:
#3 Rich Township (Richton Park) at #2 Benet Academy (Lisle) in the When Sides Collide January 25th, 2025.
Both are state title contenders in Class 4A. Rich is deep in talent goes 10 deep. Senior Al Brooks Jr is one of the Top 10 players in his class. Transfer from Hansberry College Prep (Chicago). Junior guards Jamson Coulter Jr and Jayden Williams (coming off two injury filled seasons) will kake them go. Coulter Jr is a Top 10 player in his class. Benet has senior Southern Illinois Carbondale commit Daniel Pauliukonis and junior big man Colin Stack. Guards senior Truman State commit Blake Fagbemi and junior sharpshooter Jayden Wright. Big time guard matchup between these teams.
MOST UNDERRATED TEAMS:
These teams just missed my Top 25. Lemont, Curie (Chicago) (I know they could prove me wrong again), Niles North (Skokie), Kaneland, Metea Valley, Barrington, Riverside Brookfield, Bloom Township (Chicago Heights).
PLAYERS JUST OUTSIDE BIG TIM'S TOP 50 RANKINGS:
Zion Gross, West (Joliet)
Noah Mister, Mount Carmel (Chicago) (junior)
Adoni Vassilakis, Marist (Chicago) (junior)
TJ Seals, Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
Derek Bishop, Mundelein
Kaidan Chatham, Evanston Township
Theo Rocca, Evanston Township (Wash U St Louis commit)
Docker Tedeschi, Benton (Colorado State commit)
Tough putting together the Top 50 list. Tedeschi is probably the biggest omit, then Seals and English.
TOP FIVE IN EACH CLASS (THIS IS STATEWIDE):
TOP FIVE INCOMING FRESHMEN:
This has so far shown to be a very deep class but I can only put five:
Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley (Naperville)
Ethan Vahl, Oswego
Brady Pettigrew, Bolingbrook
Kayden Turner, Metamora
Darrius Hawkins Jr, Homewood Flossmoor
TOP FIVE SOPHOMORES:
Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee)
Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook
Devin Cleveland, Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
Jacob Fuller, Glenbrook South (Glenview)
Demarco King, Thornton Fractional North (Calumet City)
TOP FIVE JUNIORS:
Lincoln Williams, Kankakee
Ben Okoro, O'Fallon
Andre Tyler, Simeon Career Academy (Chicago)
Stephen Brown, Marist (Chicago)
Mason Lockett IV, East (Oswego)
TOP FIVE SENIORS:
Dietrich Richardson, Manual (Peoria) (Bradley commit)
Ian Militec, Rolling Meadows (Marquette commit)
Antonio Munoz, Whitney Young (Chicago)
Aleks Alson, Kenwood Academy (Chicago)
Tristan Ford, Chi Prep Academy (Chicago) (Murray State commit) (doesn't play in IHSA)
Phoenix Gill, St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) (Northwestern commit)
CHICAGO PUBLIC LEAGUE TITLE IS WIDE OPEN:
#10 Lincoln Park, #12 Simeon Career Academy (Chicago), #20 Lane Tech College Prep (Chicago), #23 Whitney Young (Chicago), and #25 Kenwood Academy (Chicago) are five teams that could win the title. Unranked Curie (Chicago), and Perspectives Leadership (Chicago) could work their way into the picture. In saying this teams outside the league will not be scared to play any of those teams. Suburbs are very strong this year and not a foregone conclusion any of these teams make it to the state finals. Should be an interesting season.
BIG TIM'S STATE TITLE PICKS FOR CLASS 1A-4A: I went 0-4 last season so these are definitely not etched in stone.
CLASS 1A: Meridian (Mounds): Finished runners-up last season. They have senior Antonio Flenoid Jr who's a double/double machine coming back. Senior Colin Monan transferred back to Mounds from Collierville,TN. Juniors Javionne Ransom (two time all stater) and Max Russell transferred from Massac County.
CLASS 2A: Manual (Peoria) was upset in Sectional play losing a 17 point fourth quarter lead in Sectional Semifinal to Macomb. Was favored last season. They have the best player in the state in senior Bradley commit Dietrich Richardson and a bunch of talented junior guards.
CLASS 3A: DePaul College Prep (Chicago): Overwhelming favorite to repeat as champs. A bunch of experienced talented guards returning. Senior Western Illinois commit Makai Kvamme is a 4 year varsity performer. Senior Robert Walls II is quick on quick. Senior wing Jonas Johnson should be finally healthy. Juniors AJ Chambers, Rashaun Porter, and Whitney Young transfer Rykan Woo are all talented.
CLASS 4A: Benet Academy (Lisle): Has a great blend of senior experience and junior talent to take it all and give Head Coach Gene Heidkamp his first title. Synopsis is in the top game of the year section up top of this page.
TOP SLEEPERS:
AJ Morgan, Vernon Hills
Kassidy Nelson, Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) (junior)
Luke Smith, Addison Trail
Mitchel Edwards, Carmi- White County
Dustyn Collins, Centralia
Semaj Stampley, Alton
Oliver Gray, Barrington (junior)
Should be a wide open season as I could go 0-4 on my predictions again lol.
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