Illinois State Title Contenders

Who are the favorites to win the state title coming into the season.  Here we look at the Top 10 State Title Contenders along with more teams to watch that aren't far behind them.  Teams are not in a specific order.   Simeon   Simeon has a loaded team with five prospects ranked in the top 24 of the 2023 class.  In the backcourt it is [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='994687' first='Kaiden' last='Space'].  [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] on the wing.  On the frontline they feature twins [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] and Wes Rubin.  [player_tooltip player_id='1048374' first='Michael' last='Ratliff'] is their x-factor off the bench that will provide defense and a spark.  Robert Smith has pushed all the cards to the center of the table in his final season going for state.   St. Rita The star power is off the charts for St. Rita.  They are built around the twin towers of top two 2024s [player_tooltip player_id='1157228' first='James' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'].  Nobody can come close to what they present up front.  They play so well off each other as well.  The addition of the #3 junior in Illinois [player_tooltip player_id='1157223' first='Nojus' last='Indrusaitis'] and HF transfer senior [player_tooltip player_id='1279761' first='Nashawn' last='Holmes'] will bring scoring on the wing.  They have some intriguing young guards at the point that can shoot particularly [player_tooltip player_id='1385290' first='Amari' last='Edwards'].  The x-factor is getting [player_tooltip player_id='1385285' first='Melvin' last='Bell'] back mid-season as the top 2025 in Illinois is recovering from an injury.   Whitney Young The Dolphins lost a lot, but have a nice core group returning. Princeton commit [player_tooltip player_id='939057' first='Dalen' last='Davis'] is the leader at the point and will take on a larger scoring role this season. On the wing they have [player_tooltip player_id='1048324' first='Daniel' last='Johnson'] who is one of the top uncommitted seniors in the state and will be looking to prove something. The Citadel commit Marcus Pigram is a big time perimeter defender! Class of 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'] has high-majors on him already. The freak athlete will be a versatile forward for this squad. [player_tooltip player_id='1545124' first='Damajay' last='Richardson'] is a transfer to watch. Their freshman class is the best in the state and has some guys that could contribute.   Joliet West   It is Joliet West's time!  [player_tooltip player_id='1562176' first='Jeremy' last='Fears'] has made his return that had been rumored since he left as the state's top senior will team up with his brother [player_tooltip player_id='1385291' first='Jeremiah' last='Fears'] to make the best 1-2 punch in the state in the backcourt.  Dynamic guards win games and that is what they have.  UNC Wilmington commit Matt Moore provides athleticism on both ends inside and [player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair'] is the x-factor as a third guard.   Kenwood Once again it is a loaded group of prospects at Kenwood featuring a state high six prospects in the PHI Overall Top 50 Prospect Rankings.  It all starts with Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='939050' first='Darrin' last='Ames'].  He is an electric scorer and overall player that is your classic Chicago guard.  [player_tooltip player_id='1284852' first='Chris' last='Riddle'] transferred back from Arizona.  He is a physical scoring wing that has two way potential.  Up front senior [player_tooltip player_id='1113515' first='Solomon' last='Mosley'] will be flanked by junior top 15 prospects Calvin Robins and [player_tooltip player_id='1157346' first='Jaden' last='Smith'].  Hillcrest transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1285479' first='Isaiah' last='Green'] and point-forward [player_tooltip player_id='1385283' first='Aleks' last='Alston'] will bring pop on the perimeter in addition to Leo transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1401824' first='Tyler' last='Smith']!   Moline   Coach Sean Taylor has his best squad ever here!   Pair of top 6 seniors that are both committed to Iowa in [player_tooltip player_id='989265' first='Owen' last='Freeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='989274' first='Brock' last='Harding'].  Freeman can score inside and out while rebounding at a high level.  Harding is a knock down shooter and has a Kyrie like finishing game inside.  Their fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='989276' first='Grant' last='Welch'] will be a big time shooting threat.  Vinnie Adjahoungbeta is an intriguing junior two way wing.  [player_tooltip player_id='1545132' first='Treyton' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545138' first='Braden' last='Freeman'] are versatile sophomores that will star in their roles.   East St. Louis By far and away the top team in southern Illinois heading into the season.  They are led by Kansas State signee [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'].  Powerful and athletic forward that will carry this squad, but they have more than just him.  [player_tooltip player_id='1537979' first='Antwan' last='Robinson'] is a Cal State Fullerton commit who brings three and D abilities.  Demarion Brown and [player_tooltip player_id='1371071' first='Cameron' last='Boone'] bring legit size and space eaters on the interior rebounding and on defense.  Could be a breakout season for 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1373452' first='Robert' last='McCline'] as a spot up shooter.   Sacred Heart Griffin   The defending 3A state champs!  Their 1-2 duo returns in [player_tooltip player_id='1113521' first='Zack' last='Hawkinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='989267' first='Jake' last='Hamilton'].  Hawkinson is a versatile forward that took over in the state title game with his scoring inside.  Hamilton is coming off a strong summer shooting it at a high clip and passing it well.  Can't forget Mr. Big Shot [player_tooltip player_id='1537990' first='Keshaun' last='Singleton'] who drained the game winner and is headed to Air Force to play football.  X-factor is [player_tooltip player_id='1476137' first='Will' last='Hamilton'] who brings size and versatility.   Metamora   They were so close last year.  Metamora will return quite a bit of their core from last years team led by [player_tooltip player_id='939065' first='Ethan' last='Kizer'].  The bouncy South Alabama commit and his squad are looking to use the motivation from last years loss in the title game to SHG into the big trophy this year.  He will have his running mate [player_tooltip player_id='1371068' first='Tyson' last='Swanson'] back in the backcourt along with sharp shooting sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'].   Rolling Meadows   Really like this Rolling Meadows squad!  Minnesota commit and #2 2023 prospect Cam Christie leads the way.  One of the premier players in the state that can go for 20 every night with ease.  They are much more than just Christie as this might be the deepest team they have ever had.  Versatile pieces up front in [player_tooltip player_id='1215298' first='Mark' last='Nikolich-Wilson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1371064' first='Tsvet' last='Sotirov'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1048317' first='Foster' last='Ogbonna'].  Top 10 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1385299' first='Ian' last='Miletic'] is ready for an even larger role after a solid freshman year and sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1545134' first='Jack' last='Duffer'] is a sniper from three.   More Contenders   Oswego East Burlington Central Mt. Carmel St. Ignatius Bolingbrook Evanston Peoria Notre Dame Normal Community Curie DePaul Prep Riverside Brookfield Hillcrest O'Fallon Perspectives New Trier Lake Forest Marian Catholic Lemont

Who are the favorites to win the state title coming into the season. Here we look at the Top 10 State Title Contenders along with more teams to watch that aren't far behind them. Teams are not in a specific order.