2A Tournament Preview

The state tournament starts up next week so we wanted to dive into the brackets to look at storylines, top prospects, predictions, and more about each field.  Here we examine the 2A bracket in 2A Tournament Preview!

Who Are the Favorites?

Honestly it is a pretty open field with several contenders for a state title.  Our friend Aaron Britton (NestoHoops.com) has on his Feb 6 poll the top teams as Columbia (who is actually a 2 seed in sectional) as the top team in the state for 2A.  Fairbury, Normal University, Princeton, and Breese Central round out the top 5.

Which High Seeds Have Difficult Paths?

I am going to look at Phillips as they could have to beat Dunbar at Dunbar in a regional, then the hottest prospect in state right now Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State IL from Hansberry, and then Perspectives in the sectional final all just to reach the super.

What are the Top Storylines?

Top teams vs star players.  This could be the theme of this tournament over the next several weeks as we will see several matchups of highly ranked teams against a highly ranked individual prospect.  Who will come out on top could determine which teams we see in Champaign.

Which Sleeper Team Can Pull Off An Upset?

I like Carterville as a team that can pull off some damage in this field.  Caden Hawkins Caden Hawkins 5'11" | PG Carterville | 2023 State IL is a senior scoring guard that is primed to breakout on a state wide stage along with running mate Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL .  Nashville is another squad to pay attention to as they are playing their best basketball of the season now.

Where is the Toughest Sectional?

It might not be the most difficult, but I think the toughest to predict might be the Pinckneyville Sectional.  This one has as many as six teams that could conceivably if things go their way come out of it including Massac County, Columbia, Pinckneyville, Breese Central, Nashville, and Carterville.

Who are the Top Seniors?

Illinois State signee Ty Pence Ty Pence 6'4" | SG St. Joseph Ogden | 2023 State IL from St. Joseph Ogden headlines the list of best seniors in the field.  He checks in at #12 overall and has the ability to take his team deep in this tournament.  Other top 100 seniors to watch include James Stevenson James Stevenson 6'6" | SF Momence | 2023 State IL (Momence), Kade Lustenberger Kade Lustenberger 6'5" | SF Carterville | 2023 State IL (Carterville), Jakeem Cole Jakeem Cole 6'0" | PG Perspectives | 2023 State IL (Perspectives), JK Woods JK Woods 6'5" | PF Perspectives | 2023 State IL (Perspectives), Walter Hill Jr (Rockford Lutheran), Dylan Schmidt Dylan Schmidt 6'4" | SG Johnsburg | 2023 State IL (Johnsburg), Caden Hawkins Caden Hawkins 5'11" | PG Carterville | 2023 State IL (Carterville), and Dylan Murphy Dylan Murphy 6'6" | PF Columbia | 2023 State IL (Columbia).

Any Breakout Juniors to Watch?

The obvious choice here is the state’s top uncommitted junior and #3 overall Cole Certa Cole Certa 6'4" | SG Bloomington Central Catholic | 2024 #127 Nation FL .  He has been on a tear scoring the basketball from all three levels including a 47 point outing over the holidays and 43 points at the O’Fallon Shootout.  Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL is a top 25 senior that has a chance to make a name for himself with a strong tournament.  Explosive guard with speed from Perspectives!  DePaul Prep has a duo of potential D1 prospects in big man Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State IL and wing Payton Kamin Payton Kamin 6'8" | SG Worcester Academy | 2025 NLG who have both missed time due to injury this season.  Other top 100 juniors in the field include Thon Bill Thon Bill 6'8" | C Timothy Christian | 2024 IL (Timothy Christian), CJ Nichols CJ Nichols 6'6" | C Chicago Christian | 2024 State IL (Chicago Christian), Mason Shubert Mason Shubert 6'2" | SG Breese Central | 2024 State IL (Breese Central), Colin Hayes Colin Hayes 6'6" | PF Bloomington Central Catholic | 2024 State IL (Bloomington Central Catholic), and Vontez Dent Vontez Dent 6'4" | SF Rockford Lutheran | 2024 State IL (Rockford Lutheran).

Which Sophomores Could Make Biggest Impact?

There are a pair of top 10 sophomores who recently made their debuts in the 2025 rankings.  El Paso Gridley five man Jonah Funk Jonah Funk 6'9" | C El Paso Gridley | 2025 State IL has game changing ability on both ends as a big man that can score, board, and block shots.  Hansberry small forward Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State IL Jr who has posted monster numbers and stock is soaring right now can take over a sectional.  DePaul Prep duo Jonas Johnson Jonas Johnson 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL and Robert Walls Robert Walls 6'2" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL along with Rockford Christian point guard Christian Cummings Christian Cummings 5'11" | PG Rockford Christian | 2025 State IL are all top 20 prospects.

Best Potential Matchups Before State?

Rockford Christan vs Rockford Lutheran (Sectional Final)
Bloomington Central Catholic vs Normal U-High (Sectional Final)

What are PHI’s Picks to Click?

Sectional Finals

Teutopolis over Lawrenceville
Columbia over Carterville
DePaul Prep over Christ the King
Perspectives over Phillips
Rockford Christian over Rockford Lutheran
Princeton over Rockridge
St. Joseph Ogden over Fairbury
Bloomington Central Catholic over Normal U-High

Super Sectionals

Columbia over Teutopolis
Perspectives over DePaul Prep
Rockford Christian over Princeton
St. Joseph Ogden over Bloomington Central Catholic

Final Four

Perspectives over Columbia
St. Joseph Ogden over Rockford Christian

Championship

Perspectives over St. Joseph Ogden