Preseason State Title Contenders
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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…
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Continue ReadingWhich 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 Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'5" | SF Lemont | 2026 State IL 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 Daniel Pauliukonis Daniel Pauliukonis 6'8" | SF Benet | 2025 State IL and Colin Stack Colin Stack 6'9" | C Benet | 2026 State IL up front to go with Blake Fagbemi Blake Fagbemi 5'10" | PG Benet | 2025 State IL and Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL in the backcourt. Their senior leadership will come from the inside/outside duo of guard Patrick Walsh Patrick Walsh 6'1" | PG Benet | 2024 State IL and post Parker Sulaver Parker Sulaver 6'6" | PF Benet Academy | 2024 State IL .
Bloom
This squad has the go to player in Elijah Lovemore Elijah Lovemore 6'2" | PG Bloom | 2025 State #344 Nation IL 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 Santana Flowers Santana Flowers 6'4" | SF Bloom | 2024 State IL , Jaden Clark Jaden Clark 6'5" | SF Bloom | 2024 State IL , and Marcus Everhart Marcus Everhart 6'5" | PF Bloom Township | 2024 State IL . Keep an eye on Payton Edwards Payton Edwards 6'3" | SG Bloom | 2025 State IL in 2025 and Amare Pryor Amare Pryor 6'1" | PG Bloom | 2026 State IL in 2026 from their backcourt.
Bolingbrook
Coach Brost always has a good squad. Senior point guard Josh Aniceto Josh Aniceto 5'9" | PG Bolingbrook | 2024 State IL will run the show with his playmaking and shooting. Jason Lawani Jason Lawani 6'5" | SF Bolingbrook | 2024 State IL is a 2024 that brings toughness on the boards and defensively. Fenwick transfer JT Pettigrew JT Pettigrew 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2025 State IL will replace their plethora of bigs from last year. The x-factor is Davion Thompson Davion Thompson 6'2" | SG Bolingbrook | 2027 IL who is trending as a contender for the #1 freshman in the state. Lit it up in July! Trey Brost Trey Brost 5'10" | PG Bolingbrook | 2026 State IL 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 Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL and Will Gonzalez Will Gonzalez 6'5" | SF Curie | 2024 State IL . Harris is a bulldog getting downhill and in opponents grill defensively. Gonzalez is a transfer that will provide playmaking and defense. Christian Brockett Christian Brockett 6'2" | SG Curie | 2024 State IL , Taevion Collier Taevion Collier 6'6" | PF Curie | 2024 State IL , Derrick Dowdell Derrick Dowdell 6'4" | SF Curie | 2025 State IL , and Mike Oliver Jr will all play their roles. Farragut 2026 transfer Latrell Kelley Latrell Kelley 5'10" | PG Chi-Prep | 2026 State IL should step into a key role right away as a microwave scorer.
Dekalb
Liked what we saw from this squad in June. Sharp shooter Sean Reynolds Sean Reynolds 6'1" | SG Dekalb | 2025 State IL can carry this squad posting monster games while 2026 combo forward Davon Grant Davon Grant 6'5" | SF Dekalb | 2026 State IL 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. Richard Lindsey Richard Lindsey 6'5" | SF De La Salle | 2024 State IL 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. Bryant Hedrick Bryant Hedrick 6'1" | PG De La Salle | 2024 State IL 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 Morgan Travis Morgan Travis 5'11" | PG De La Salle | 2026 State IL .
East St. Louis
The Flyers come into the season as the team to beat in the metro east. Davis Bynum Davis Bynum 6'7" | PF East St. Louis | 2024 State IL 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 Taylor Powell Taylor Powell 6'6" | SF East St. Louis | 2024 State IL is a wing that brings power and athleticism on both ends. Also keep an eye on Arlandis Brown Arlandis Brown 6'4" | SF East St. Louis | 2025 State IL 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 Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL is primed to step up into the go to role as the primary scoring option. Drew 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 Zion Gross Zion Gross 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2025 State IL .
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 Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'4" | PG Simeon | 2024 #273 Nation IL from Peoria. Electric scorer should fit in perfect in the CPS. He will be flanked in the backcourt by Rashad McKinnie and Lorenzo Shields Lorenzo Shields 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2025 State IL . These two way guards are ready to step into larger roles. Ameer Morrow and Julien Doyle Julien Doyle 6'4" | SF Simeon | 2025 State IL bring length and athleticism at the forward spots. The upside with this group comes from 2026 shooting guard Andre Tyler Andre Tyler 6'4" | SG Simeon | 2026 State IL 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. Shaunassey Hatchett Shaunassey Hatchett 6'4" | SF Springfield Lanphier | 2025 State IL 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. Torioun Rice Torioun Rice 6'1" | PG Springfield Lanphier | 2025 IL 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 Josh Pickett Josh Pickett 6'5" | SG St. Laurence | 2024 State #277 Nation IL 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 Zerrick Johnson Zerrick Johnson 6'2" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL , Caleb Lindsey Caleb Lindsey 6'5" | SF St. Laurence | 2025 State IL , and Khalil Jones Khalil Jones 5'11" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL . Reggie Stevens Reggie Stevens 6'1" | PG St Laurence | 2027 IL and Markese 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 EJ Mosley EJ Mosley 6'0" | PG Romeoville | 2025 State IL . The 2025 guard made the move over from St. Laurence and will be their floor general while picking spots to score. Damion Porter Damion Porter 6'4" | SF Romeoville | 2025 State IL Jr is a power wing that transferred in from Fenwick. Also keep an eye out for Mickeis Johnson Mickeis Johnson 6'3" | SG Romeoville | 2026 State IL 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 Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL is the headliner as the top 5 prospect is a bouncy forward that impacts the game on both ends with his motor and athleticism. Damajay Richardson Damajay Richardson 5'11" | PG Whitney Young | 2025 State IL in the junior class brings toughness and grit on the defensive end. In the senior class Sean Brown-Coley Sean Brown-Coley 6'0" | SF Whitney Young | 2024 State IL and Cole Pruitt Cole Pruitt 6'4" | SG Whitney Young | 2024 State IL 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. Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL is one of the best young guards in the state with his smooth all-around game. Rykan Woo Rykan Woo 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL , Nasir Rankin Nasir Rankin 6'2" | SG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL , Rico D’Alessandro Rico D’Alessandro 6'4" | PF Whitney Young | 2026 State IL , and Patrick Irvin will all see contributing roles. In 2027 Howard Williams Howard Williams 6'5" | SF Whitney Young | 2027 IL 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.