3A Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.&nbsp; Here we examine the 3A bracket in <strong>3A Tournament Preview</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who Are the Favorites?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It all starts with Simeon this year.&nbsp; They are the best team in the state regardless of class with five D1 seniors.&nbsp; The two teams that played for 3A last year in Metamora and Sacred Heart Griffin have legit shots at being in the exact same position with most of their rosters back.&nbsp; From southern Illinois East St. Louis has the talent to make a run at it.&nbsp; The champion coming from outside of these four would be a surprise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which High Seeds Have Difficult Paths?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defending champs Sacred Heart Griffin could have to go through Decatur MacArthur (at MacArthur) or Lincoln, East St. Louis, Metamora (last year's title rematch), and Simeon.&nbsp; They could very well lose any of those games, but could win the whole thing too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon has a really tricky road as well with up and coming St. Laurence potentially in a sectional semi, Mt. Carmel or Hyde Park in sectional final, Hillcrest in super, and then one of Metamora, SHG, or East St. Louis for title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What are the Top Storylines?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top storyline is pretty easy.&nbsp; Can the GOAT Robert Smiith go out on top?&nbsp; The legendary Simeon coach is looking to finish off his career leading his team to a 3A crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Sacred Heart Griffin repeat?&nbsp; Last year [player_tooltip player_id='1113521' first='Zack' last='Hawkinson'] carried them to the title.&nbsp; He is on the mend at the end of the season, but should be back for the playoffs.&nbsp; His running mates [player_tooltip player_id='989267' first='Jake' last='Hamilton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1476137' first='Will' last='Hamilton'], and Mr. Big shot [player_tooltip player_id='1537990' first='Keshon' last='Singleton'] are all back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which St. Ignatius team will show up? Last year Iggy struggled just like this season heading into the playoffs and made it to Champaign. They are without [player_tooltip player_id='1285517' first='Reggie' last='Ray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='939066' first='Jackson' last='Kotecki'] is currently injured. [player_tooltip player_id='989270' first='Richard' last='Barron'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] are enough to lead them through the easiest route to the final four in 3A if they are on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The overall depth of 3A has really improved as has the diversity throughout the state with legit contenders from Chicago, south suburbs, central Illinois, and southern Illinois.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which Sleeper Team Can Pull Off an Upset?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lakes is a sleeper team that can make a run to a sectional as a 6 seed.&nbsp; Herrin is a sleeper to make it to a sectional semi with a couple upsets.&nbsp; Hyde Park has the potential to blow up the bracket with the chance to upset Mt. Carmel and Simeon.&nbsp; Decatur MacArthur is a legit threat to make it to state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Where is the Toughest Sectional?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glenbard South Sectional has three teams that have final four potential in Simeon, Mt. Carmel, and Hyde Park.&nbsp; St. Laurence has as much 2025 talent as anyone.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Who are the Top Seniors?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clemson commit [player_tooltip player_id='989263' first='Asa' last='Thomas'] headlines the list of top seniors that also includes highly ranked prospects [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] (East St. Louis), [player_tooltip player_id='939051' first='Darrion' last='Baker'] (Hillcrest), [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='989268' first='DeAndre' last='Craig'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='989270' first='Richard' last='Barron'] (St. Ignatius), [player_tooltip player_id='1476085' first='Drew' last='Scharnowski'] (Burlington Central), [player_tooltip player_id='1371065' first='Quentin' last='Jones'] (Marian Catholic), [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='994687' first='Kaiden' last='Space'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='1113521' first='Zack' last='Hawkinson'] (Sacred Heart Griffin), and [player_tooltip player_id='989267' first='Jake' last='Hamilton'] (Sacred Heart Griffin).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Any Breakout Juniors to Watch?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peoria Notre Dame's [player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] is the highest ranked at #4, but his team must play in the play in just to get in the regional semis.&nbsp; Other top 20 juniors in the field include [player_tooltip player_id='1373451' first='Jurrell' last='Baldwin'] (Hyde Park), [player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] (Mt. Carmel), and [player_tooltip player_id='1157205' first='Dekwon' last='Brown'] (Peoria).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Which Sophomores Could Make Biggest Impact?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If St. Ignatius makes a return trip to Champaign it will be because 2025 star [player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] steps up with all their injuries.&nbsp; Gill checks in at #4 in the sophomore class.&nbsp; Keep an eye on the youthful St. Laurence team led by 2025s [player_tooltip player_id='1550741' first='Jacob' last='Rice'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'].&nbsp; Want to put yourself on the map statewide?&nbsp; Beat Simeon in the sectional semis!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Matchups Before State?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional Semis<br>Marian Catholic vs Lemont<br>Mt. Carmel vs Hyde Park<br>Decatur MacArthur vs Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sectional Final<br>Simeon vs Mt. Carmel/Hyde Park<br>Sacred Heart Griffin vs Decatur MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super Sectional<br>Simeon vs Hillcrest<br>Metamora vs Burlington Central<br>Sacred Heart Griffin vs East St. Louis<strong><br><br></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>What are PHI's Picks to Click?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Regional Finals</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle over Schurz<br>Fenwick over Payton<br>St. Ignatius over Prosser<br>Westinghouse over Little Village<br><br>Lake Forest over Niles Notre Dame<br>St. Patrick over Carmel<br>Lakes over Grayslake Central<br>Deerfield over St. Viator<br><br>Hillcrest over Brooks<br>Kankakee over TF North<br>Lemont over Thornton<br>Marian Catholic over Chicago Ag Science<br><br>Simeon over Englewood STEM<br>St. Laurence over Lindblom<br>Mt. Carmel over Bogan<br>Hyde Park over Glenbard South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crystal Lake South over Belvidere North<br>Marmion Academy over Kaneland<br>Burlington Central over Wheaton St. Francis<br>Rockford Boylan over Prairie Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Island over Dunlap<br>Peoria Richwoods over Peoria<br>Metamora over East Peoria<br>Dixon over Sterling</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East St. Louis over Chatham Glenwood<br>Centralia over Mascoutah<br>Herrin over Mt. Vernon<br>Highland over Triad</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln over Champaign Central<br>Decatur Macarthur over Mt. Zion<br>Sacred Heart Griffin over Lanphier<br>Morton over Normal West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sectional Semis</span><br></em><br>De La Salle over Fenwick<br>St. Ignatius over Westinghouse<br><br>Lake Forest over St. Patrick<br>Lakes over Deerfield<br><br>Hillcrest over Kankakee<br>Marian Catholic over Lemont<br><br>Simeon over St. Laurence<br>Mt. Carmel over Hyde Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marmion Academy over Crystal Lake South<br>Burlington Central over Rockford Boylan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peoria Richwoods over Rock Island<br>Metamora over Dixon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East St. Louis over Centralia<br>Herrin over Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Decatur MacArthur over Lincoln<br>Sacred Heart Griffin over Morton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Sectional Finals</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle over St. Ignatius<br>Lake Forest over Lakes<br>Hillcrest over Marian Catholic<br>Simeon over Mt. Carmel<br>Burlington Central over Marmion Academy<br>Metamora over Peoria Richwoods<br>East St. Louis over Herrin<br>Sacred Heart Griffin over Decatur MacArthur</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Super Sectionals</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle over Lake Forest<br>Simeon over Hillcrest<br>Metamora over Burlington Central<br>Sacred Heart Griffin over East St. Louis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Final Four</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon over De La Salle<br>Sacred Heart Griffin over Metamora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Championship</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simon over Sacred Heart Griffin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->