Preseason State Title Contenders

Which programs do we see as state contenders that could make runs at a state title if things come together during the year and break the right way for them come March?   Benet   Benet has a young squad but so insanely talented.  It all starts with [player_tooltip player_id='1552393' first='Gabriel' last='Sularski'] who checks in as the top ranked sophomore in the state.  He is ready to break out in a major way.  They have so much young depth with [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] up front to go with [player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] in the backcourt.  Their senior leadership will come from the inside/outside duo of guard [player_tooltip player_id='2105081' first='Patrick' last='Walsh'] and post [player_tooltip player_id='1285516' first='Parker' last='Sulaver'].   Bloom   This squad has the go to player in [player_tooltip player_id='1545131' first='Elijah' last='Lovemore'] than can carry a team in March.  Fluid combo guard is ready to put his name on the map nationwide.  They have a trio of senior prospects that will provide athleticism and play their roles in [player_tooltip player_id='1468249' first='Santana' last='Flowers'], [player_tooltip player_id='1541238' first='Jaden' last='Clark'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1199821' first='Marcus' last='Everhart'].  Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='2105218' first='Payton' last='Edwards'] in 2025 and [player_tooltip player_id='1845361' first='Amare' last='Pryor'] in 2026 from their backcourt.   Bolingbrook   Coach Brost always has a good squad.  Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1295497' first='Josh' last='Aniceto'] will run the show with his playmaking and shooting.  [player_tooltip player_id='1598725' first='Jason' last='Lawani'] is a 2024 that brings toughness on the boards and defensively.  Fenwick transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1385301' first='JT' last='Pettigrew'] will replace their plethora of bigs from last year.  The x-factor is [player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'] who is trending as a contender for the #1 freshman in the state.  Lit it up in July! [player_tooltip player_id='1874876' first='Trey' last='Brost'] is a sharp shooter in sophomore class ready to emerge.   Curie   This is another team that year in and year out will be a contender under Mike Oliver.  It starts with their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157209' first='Will' last='Gonzalez'].  Harris is a bulldog getting downhill and in opponents grill defensively.  Gonzalez is a transfer that will provide playmaking and defense.  [player_tooltip player_id='1157351' first='Christian' last='Brockett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1157229' first='Taevion' last='Collier'], [player_tooltip player_id='2105200' first='Derrick' last='Dowdell'], and Mike Oliver Jr will all play their roles.  Farragut 2026 transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1845355' first='Latrell' last='Kelley'] should step into a key role right away as a microwave scorer.   Dekalb   Liked what we saw from this squad in June.  Sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1545123' first='Sean' last='Reynolds'] can carry this squad posting monster games while 2026 combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='2105355' first='Davon' last='Grant'] will bring the toughness.  Rockford is pretty strong this year, but this is a team to watch!   De La Salle   The Meteors are one of my picks to click as a team that will make a big jump this season.  All the talent is there and with St. Ignatius moving up to 4A the path has cleared wide open for a run to Champaign.  They have 3 of the top 35 seniors in the class led by Tavariyaun Williams who closed strong in June and July.  All the physical tools are there for him to have a dominant season.  [player_tooltip player_id='1285485' first='Richard' last='Lindsey'] joins him on the wing as a strong bodied scorer.  Alioune Mbayne is a major sleeper that brings rebounding, post defense, and scoring on the block.  [player_tooltip player_id='1978603' first='Bryant' last='Hedrick'] will be a major contributor on the perimeter with his toughness and shot making.  A pair of 2026s to watch include rangy forward Charles Barnes and guard [player_tooltip player_id='1845364' first='Morgan' last='Travis'].   East St. Louis   The Flyers come into the season as the team to beat in the metro east.  [player_tooltip player_id='1750704' first='Davis' last='Bynum'] is a long and lanky combo forward that is primed to have a big season.  Feathery touch from the perimeter and huge upside.  Northern Illinois football commit [player_tooltip player_id='1978581' first='Taylor' last='Powell'] is a wing that brings power and athleticism on both ends.  Also keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1766471' first='Arlandis' last='Brown'] as a potential 2025 to emerge this season.   Joliet West   The Tigers lost a lot from last year in the Fears brothers, but they still have a group of talent that can make some noise this season.  Valpo commit [player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair'] is primed to step up into the go to role as the primary scoring option.  [player_tooltip player_id='1404027' first='Drew' last='King'] is a fellow senior that brings size and athleticism up front rebounding and protecting the rim.  The x-factor for how far this team will go this year is [player_tooltip player_id='1766497' first='Zion' last='Gross'].   Simeon   New coach and new team.  After graduating their D1 starting lineup from last year new coach Tim Flowers has reloaded.  It starts with the addition of top 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1157205' first='Dekwon' last='Brown'] from Peoria.  Electric scorer should fit in perfect in the CPS.  He will be flanked in the backcourt by Rashad McKinnie and [player_tooltip player_id='1385305' first='Lorenzo' last='Shields'].  These two way guards are ready to step into larger roles.  Ameer Morrow and [player_tooltip player_id='1439013' first='Julien' last='Doyle'] bring length and athleticism at the forward spots.  The upside with this group comes from 2026 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552394' first='Andre' last='Tyler'] who is among the best in his class.   Springfield Lanphier   Coach Blake Turner should reclaim his spot with the best group out of Springfield this year with his Lanphier group.  [player_tooltip player_id='1545135' first='Shaunassey' last='Hatchett'] is one of my favorite players to watch with his physicality, athleticism, and versatility.  He does a little bit of everything contributing across the board.  Jaiquan Holman is a plus shooter from three as a lead guard.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105223' first='Torioun' last='Rice'] is another guard that came on strong over the summer and is yet another junior to watch!   St. Laurence   A lot of moving in and out at St. Laurence, but with the group they have now they should be a contender the Catholic League and if things break the right way could be a factor in March.  Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] is a big combo guard that has great size, handles, and can score from all three levels.  Very good junior class that is led by [player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1766469' first='Khalil' last='Jones'].  [player_tooltip player_id='2125677' first='Reggie' last='Stevens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2194410' first='Markese' last='Peoples'] are 2027s that have jumped on our radar early in the process and should contribute right away.   Romeoville   Rock solid backcourt that is led by [player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'].  The 2025 guard made the move over from St. Laurence and will be their floor general while picking spots to score.  [player_tooltip player_id='1385302' first='Damion' last='Porter'] Jr is a power wing that transferred in from Fenwick.  Also keep an eye out for [player_tooltip player_id='1552462' first='Mickeis' last='Johnson'] who is a microwave sophomore scorer.   Whitney Young   You can never count out the Dolphins. They have an elite coach in Tyrone Slaughter along with a ton of young talent. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'] is the headliner as the top 5 prospect is a bouncy forward that impacts the game on both ends with his motor and athleticism. [player_tooltip player_id='1545124' first='Damajay' last='Richardson'] in the junior class brings toughness and grit on the defensive end. In the senior class [player_tooltip player_id='1157220' first='Sean' last='Brown-Coley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1750598' first='Cole' last='Pruitt'] will be nice role players for this team with Brown-Coley using his craftiness and Pruitt bombing in threes. The upside with this team comes from their young core particularly in the 2026 class. [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] is one of the best young guards in the state with his smooth all-around game. [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552479' first='Rico' last='D'Alessandro'], and Patrick Irvin will all see contributing roles. In 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2323647' first='Howard' last='Williams'] is one of the “Fab 5” freshman to watch out for in the state. Expect him to get on the floor and play a key role.

Which programs do we see as state contenders that could make runs at a state title if things come together during the year and break the right way for them come March?