Preseason State Title Favorites

Which teams heading into the season are looked at as the favorites to win state titles?  We break down the handful of teams that have that distinction at this point!

DePaul Prep

The Rams are looking to repeat as state champs but this time it will be at a different level.  The Catholic League power lost a couple key perimeter pieces, but returns a lot as well.  Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State #262 Nation IL and PJ Chambers PJ Chambers 6'2" | SG DePaul Prep | 2024 State IL are the senior leaders of this team.  McElroy is a versatile power forward that came on strong at the end of their title run as a high level rebounder and defender.  Chambers should take over the role left by Maurice Thomas as the veteran scorer.  Junior guard Robert Walls Robert Walls 6'2" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL and Makai Kvamme Makai Kvamme 6'0" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL will share the on ball duties.  Up front they have a pair of potential D1 big men in 2025 power forward Jonas Johnson Jonas Johnson 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL and 2026 power forward Rashaun Porter Rashaun Porter 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2026 State IL that we are looking to break out!

Downers Grove North

DGN made a surprising run through the toughest sectional in the state last year to reach Peoria.  It won’t be a surprise to anyone if they do it again this year!  They return Princeton commit Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State #222 Nation IL who torched the state tournament.  Elite three point shooter, moves well without the ball, and has really improved off the bounce.  On the perimeter the senior duo of Owen Thulin Owen Thulin 6'0" | PG Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL will run the point while Alex Miller Alex Miller 6'5" | SF Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL brings size and shooting. Up front big man Jake Riemer Jake Riemer 6'7" | C Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL gives them legit size, skill, and versatility as a pick/pop threat.

Homewood Flossmoor

With a few key transfers HF have vaulted into legit title contender status heading into the season.  Their biggest addition was 2025 star Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 #86 Nation IL who is making the move over from Montverde in Florida.  Nationally ranked wing returns home and is ready to impact with his three level scoring.  They are stacked with depth in the senior class having five ranked prospects in the top 200 led by Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL .  The athletic combo guard is one of the more underrated players in the state with his speed and dynamic ability with the rock in his hands.  Carson Brownfield Carson Brownfield 6'5" | SF Homewood Flosmoor | 2024 State IL is a straight bucket getter.  Strong bodied lefty can score from all over.  Then up front they have small forward Dominic Pangallo Dominic Pangallo 6'4" | SF Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL , power forward Gakobie McNeal Gakobie McNeal 6'5" | PF Homewood-Flossmoor | 2024 IL , and center Donald Hagemaster Donald Hagemaster 6'7" | C Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL .  Junior combo guard Jayden Tyler Jayden Tyler 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State IL made noise this summer with his microwave scoring ability elevating himself into a potential D1 target.  A young big man  we are huge fans of is Jacob Thompson Jacob Thompson 6'6" | PF Chicago St. Francis De Sales | 2026 State IL with his length, rim running, and skill potential.

Kenwood

Kenwood is about as deep as anyone with all the high level prospects they can throw at you.  They have a core group of seniors that have come up together the last few years and are ready to take the city.  Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL on the perimeter is a strong and athletic two way wing, Calvin Robins is coming off an injury but when healthy is one of the most electrifying players in the state with his dunks and rebounding, and Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL has as much upside as almost anyone with his physical tools which started to turn into production at the end of the season.  Edwon Duling Edwon Duling 6'2" | SG Kenwood | 2024 State IL is the other senior that is the ultimate glue guy defending and making the right plays.  They have two of the highest ceiling prospects in the state as well with #2 2025 Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'10" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL and #3 2026 Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2026 AZ .  Alston is a point forward that plays with flair and can really shoot it.  Roberts is an elite scoring guard that will put up numbers from day one.  Then you have freshman phenom Devin Cleveland Devin Cleveland 6'2" | PG La Lumiere | 2027 State IN who could very well start from the first game for this group after what we saw him do over the summer leading his team in scoring in a number of games.

Metamora

The defending 3A state champs are back for more!  They return some key pieces from the team, but the biggest impact from this team will come from incoming transfer Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL .  The Iowa commit is a face up four that can stretch the floor, deck it, and is an adept passer.  The #2 player in the class should step in seamlessly with his new group.  Tyler Mason Tyler Mason 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2024 State IL returns as a big time perimeter scorer that was a key in their championship run.  He has committed to Winona State.  Luke Hopp Luke Hopp 6'8" | C Metamora | 2024 State IL is a face up four that can stretch, score around the hoop with touch, and is a skilled overall prospect.  Matthew Zobrist Matthew Zobrist 6'5" | SG Metamora | 2025 State IL has steadily seen his role increase and this year as a junior watch for him to be a major contributor on the perimeter.

Mt Carmel

Really like what this Mt. Carmel group brings to the table.  They have star power, experience, size, and solid guard play.  Up front they feature two of the more versatile players in the senior class in Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL and Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL .  The Northwestern commit Ciaravino is a multi level scorer that has always been skilled, but the athleticism and pop took his game to new heights over the summer.  Marks is a Swiss army knife type player that can do a little bit of everything on both ends and that is what makes him so valuable.  Christian Uremovich Christian Uremovich 6'5" | PF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL made the move over from Stevenson and will fit in nicely as a four man that brings skill and toughness.  In the junior class their guard play should play well off each other.  Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL returned after a year in South Carolina with his toughness and ability to run the show.  Grant Best Grant Best 6'3" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2025 State IL can flat out knock down shots and fill in where needed. They added another ball handler late in the process from another title contender in 2026 point guard Noah Mister Noah Mister 6'2" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2026 State IL from Kenwood.

Normal Community

Things have been pointing toward this season for Normal Community with their 1-2 punch of big man Jaheem Webber Jaheem Webber 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2024 State #300 Nation IL and Braylon Roman Braylon Roman 6'3" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL in the senior class.  Webber has been one of the top bigs since this class entered high school as a power old school back to the basket scorer and rebounder.  Roman is a smooth perimeter operator that can play both on and off the ball.  They got a big boost when top 30 senior Niko Newsome Niko Newsome 6'6" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL transferred in from Bloomington.  One of the better pure bucket getters in the central Illinois area.  The x-factor for this group will be Noah Cleveland Noah Cleveland 6'8" | C Normal Community | 2024 State IL .  When he was young Cleveland was thought of as a D1 prospect.  He set out last year and looked better than ever during the summer.  Cleveland up front along with 6’9” 2025 center Kobe Walker Kobe Walker 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2025 State IL makes them even more intriguing.

Peoria Richwoods

Richwoods was helped by the return of Lathan Sommerville to the state.  The big man who went to PND his freshman season played at a prep school in Georgia the last two seasons.  Returns at Richwoods where he will be the focal point of a team that can win it all.  He has a Shaq like quality to his game as the Rutgers commit is a huge body and throws defenders through the rim, but also is light on his feet.  On the perimeter Tavie Smith Tavie Smith 6'1" | PG Peoria Richwoods | 2024 State IL and Jared Jackson Jared Jackson 6'3" | SG Peoria Richwoods | 2024 State IL are two that play well off each other sharing ball handling duties and can each score in bunches.

Quincy

The core of this Quincy group is in its junior class led by 2025 combo guard Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL .  High IQ guard that plays with swagger being able to shoot it as well as anyone while also learning to play on the ball getting others involved.  Ragy 3 and D wing Dominique Clay Dominique Clay 6'4" | SF Quincy | 2025 State IL and physical post Keshaun Thomas Keshaun Thomas 6'6" | C Quincy | 2025 State IL have a lot of qualities to like in their games that will help this team make a run in March.  At the point is rock solid Kamren Wires Kamren Wires 5'9" | PG Quincy | 2025 State IL .  The x-factor for this group is Camden Brown Camden Brown 6'5" | SF Quincy | 2024 State IL .  The 2024 shooting guard has the potential to have a breakout season as a senior with he size, creativity, and shot making you look for in D1 guards.

Thornton

No team changed their fortunes more through the transfer portal than Thornton.  It starts with big man Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL .  The Illini commit is the single most dominant force in the state as a low post scorer, rebounder, defender, and has an improving face up game.  Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL from Hillcrest and Meyoh Swansey Meyoh Swansey 6'3" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL from Romeoville are also huge additions on the perimeter with their versatility on both ends of the floor.  Don’t sleep on TF North transfer Chase Abraham Chase Abraham 6'0" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL .  Microwave scorer that can rip off points in a hurry!