Illinois State Title Contenders
In this article:
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…
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Continue ReadingWho 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 Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL and Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL . Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL on the wing. On the frontline they feature twins Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL and Wes Rubin. Michael Ratliff Michael Ratliff 6'2" | SG Simeon | 2023 State IL 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
James Brown
James
Brown
6'9" | C
Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024
#66
Nation
MO
and
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#33
Nation
IL
. 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
Nojus Indrusaitis
Nojus
Indrusaitis
6'5" | SG
Brewster Academy | 2024
State
#79
Nation
NLG
and HF transfer senior
Nashawn Holmes
Nashawn
Holmes
6'1" | SG
Corliss | 2022
State
IL
will bring scoring on the wing. They have some intriguing young guards at the point that can shoot particularly
Amari Edwards
Amari
Edwards
5'8" | PG
Phillips | 2025
State
IL
. The x-factor is getting
Melvin Bell
Melvin
Bell
6'4" | SG
La Lumiere | 2025
#109
Nation
IN
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
Dalen Davis
Dalen
Davis
6'0" | PG
Whitney Young | 2023
State
#167
Nation
IL
is the leader at the point and will take on a larger scoring role this season. On the wing they have
Daniel Johnson
Daniel
Johnson
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2023
State
#231
Nation
IL
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
Antonio Munoz
Antonio
Munoz
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2025
State
#194
Nation
IL
has high-majors on him already. The freak athlete will be a versatile forward for this squad.
Damajay Richardson
Damajay
Richardson
5'11" | PG
Whitney Young | 2025
State
IL
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!
Jeremy Fears
Jeremy
Fears
6'1" | PG
Joliet West | 2023
State
#31
Nation
IL
has made his return that had been rumored since he left as the state’s top senior will team up with his brother
Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah
Fears
6'1" | PG
AZ Compass Prep | 2025
State
#31
Nation
AZ
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
Justus McNair
Justus
McNair
6'3" | SG
Joliet West | 2024
State
IL
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
Darrin Ames
Darrin
Ames
6'1" | PG
Kenwood | 2023
State
#99
Nation
IL
. He is an electric scorer and overall player that is your classic Chicago guard.
Chris Riddle
Chris
Riddle
6'5" | SF
Kenwood | 2024
State
#204
Nation
IL
transferred back from Arizona. He is a physical scoring wing that has two way potential. Up front senior
Solomon Mosley
Solomon
Mosley
6'8" | C
Kenwood | 2023
State
IL
will be flanked by junior top 15 prospects Calvin Robins and
Jaden Smith
Jaden
Smith
6'10" | C
Kenwood | 2024
State
IL
. Hillcrest transfer
Isaiah Green
Isaiah
Green
6'1" | PG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
and point-forward
Aleks Alston
Aleks
Alston
6'9" | PF
Kenwood | 2025
State
#170
Nation
IL
will bring pop on the perimeter in addition to Leo transfer
Tyler Smith
Tyler
Smith
6'2" | SG
Wheaton Academy | 2025
State
IL
!
Moline
Coach Sean Taylor has his best squad ever here! Pair of top 6 seniors that are both committed to Iowa in Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL and Brock Harding Brock Harding 6'0" | PG Moline | 2023 State #222 Nation IL . 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 Grant Welch Grant Welch 6'3" | PG Moline | 2023 State IL will be a big time shooting threat. Vinnie Adjahoungbeta is an intriguing junior two way wing. Treyvon Taylor Treyvon Taylor 6'4" | PF Moline | 2025 State IL and Braden Freeman Braden Freeman 6'6" | SF Moline | 2025 State IL 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
Macaleab Rich
Macaleab
Rich
6'5" | SF
East St. Louis | 2023
State
#261
Nation
IL
. Powerful and athletic forward that will carry this squad, but they have more than just him.
Antwan Robinson
Antwan
Robinson
6'5" | SF
Vashon | 2023
State
MO
is a Cal State Fullerton commit who brings three and D abilities. Demarion Brown and
Cameron Boone
Cameron
Boone
6'8" | C
East St. Louis | 2023
State
IL
bring legit size and space eaters on the interior rebounding and on defense. Could be a breakout season for 2024
Robert McCline
Robert
McCline
6'2" | SG
East St. Louis | 2024
State
IL
as a spot up shooter.
Sacred Heart Griffin
The defending 3A state champs! Their 1-2 duo returns in
Zack Hawkinson
Zack
Hawkinson
6'4" | PF
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
and
Jake Hamilton
Jake
Hamilton
6'3" | SG
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
. 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
Keshon Singleton
Keshon
Singleton
6'2" | PG
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
who drained the game winner and is headed to Air Force to play football. X-factor is
Will Hamilton
Will
Hamilton
6'3" | SF
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
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
Ethan Kizer
Ethan
Kizer
6'6" | SF
Metamora | 2023
State
IL
. 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
Tyson Swanson
Tyson
Swanson
6'2" | SG
Metamora | 2023
State
IL
back in the backcourt along with sharp shooting sophomore
Matthew Zobrist
Matthew
Zobrist
6'5" | SG
Metamora | 2025
State
IL
.
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 Mark Nikolich-Wilson Mark Nikolich-Wilson 6'7" | C Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL , Tsvet Sotirov Tsvet Sotirov 6'7" | PF Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL , and Foster Ogbonna Foster Ogbonna 6'4" | PF Rolling Meadows | 2023 State IL . Top 10 2025 Ian Miletic Ian Miletic 6'5" | SF Rolling Meadows | 2025 State IL is ready for an even larger role after a solid freshman year and sophomore point guard Jack Duffer Jack Duffer 6'1" | PG Rolling Meadows | 2025 State IL 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