3A State Preview: Top Half of Bracket

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Illinois has you covered with everything you need to know heading into the state playoffs!&nbsp; We breakdown the tournament sectional by sectional!&nbsp; Our next one is <strong>3A Preview: Hinsdale South, Fenwick, Lincoln, Triad Sectionals</strong>!<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Hinsdale South Sectional</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team to Beat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Carmel is stacked.&nbsp; Their depth will be tested with [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] injured, but Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] is one of the top prospects in the state and can carry his team when needed.<br><br><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle, St. Laurence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindblom, Hyde Park, Wheaton St. Francis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] (Mt. Carmel - Northwestern)<br>Tavariyaun Williams (De La Salle)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1285485' first='Richard' last='Lindsey'] (De La Salle)<br>Charles Barnes (De La Salle)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] (St. Laurence - Denver)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'] (St. Laurence)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1750599' first='Je'Shawn' last='Stevenson'] (Lindblom – Cleveland State)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1373451' first='Jurrell' last='Baldwin'] (Hyde Park)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1285489' first='Kelton' last='McEwen'] (Wheaton St. Francis)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar Players Who Could Impact Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1598709' first='Germaine' last='Benson'] (Hyde Park)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2323271' first='Gavin' last='Mueller'] (Wheaton St. Francis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1978603' first='Bryant' last='Hedrick'] (De La Salle)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1541234' first='Talen' last='Pearson'] (Nazareth)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'] (St. Laurence)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Regional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Laurence vs Lindblom.&nbsp; This would be a fun one with two of the top guards in the senior class going at it in [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] (Denver) and [player_tooltip player_id='1750599' first='Je'Shawn' last='Stevenson'] (Cleveland State) battling to advance.&nbsp; Game would be at St. Laurence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Sectional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Carmel vs Hyde Park.&nbsp; These two schools are literally right by each other, but didn't play during the regular season.&nbsp; How about for a sectional title at a neutral site?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toughest Path for Top Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Laurence does get the advantage of playing at home to start, but a path of Lindblom/De La Salle/Mt. Carmel is a grind!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Fenwick Sectional<br><br></u>Team to Beat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coin toss between Westinghouse, St. Patrick, and Fenwick.&nbsp; Westinghouse has the veterans.&nbsp; St. Pat's is probably the most talented.&nbsp; Fenwick has the home court in the sectional games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westinghouse, St. Patrick, Fenwick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton.&nbsp; They have the only D1 senior in field with [player_tooltip player_id='1157204' first='Jakob' last='Blakley'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1385287' first='EJ' last='Breland'] (St. Patrick)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1157204' first='Jakob' last='Blakley'] (Payton – Le Moyne)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1978585' first='DJ' last='Bolden'] (Westinghouse)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1373448' first='Askia' last='Bullie'] (Westinghouse)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1598778' first='Ty' last='Macariola'] (Fenwick)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar Players Who Could Impact Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2104971' first='AJ' last='Thomas'] (St. Patrick)<br>Neveah Hawkins (St. Patrick)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1978598' first='Treyvon' last='Ali'] (Westinghouse)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2321448' first='Deonte' last='Meeks'] (Fenwick)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Regional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>None. Top four should all advance without much issue.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Sectional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westinghouse vs Fenwick.&nbsp; CPS vs Chicago Catholic League.&nbsp; On Fenwick's home floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toughest Path for Top Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Pat's would have to beat Fenwick on their home floor and then most likely top seeded Westinghouse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Lincoln Sectional</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team to Beat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Zion comes in with one of the loftiest records in the state and their loss against Metamora only raised their profile heading into the playoffs giving them a test they needed before this run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Decatur MacArthur and Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield Lanphier, Chatham Glenwood, Champaign Centennial</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1545145' first='Lyncoln' last='Koester'] (Mt. Zion)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2105414' first='Sean' last='Lee'] (MacArhur)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1545135' first='Shaunassey' last='Hatchett'] (Lanphier)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1385295' first='JaiQuan' last='Holman'] (Lanphier)<br>Jaden Schilb (Centennial)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar Players Who Could Impact Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2323267' first='JC' last='Anderson'] (Mt. Zion)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2318217' first='MJ' last='Murphy'] (MacArthur)<br>Kion Carson (Lincoln)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2323312' first='Karson' last='Komnick'] (Lincoln)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1545129' first='Chris' last='Bush'] (Champaign Central)<br><br><strong>Best Potential Regional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There will be an upset in the regional final here!&nbsp; Lanphier against Lincoln on their home floor could be one. Champaign Centennial over Decatur MacArthur could be another.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Sectional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Zion vs Decatur MacArthur is probably the best, but Mt. Zion vs whoever comes out of the top half of the bracket will be a battle tested team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toughest Path for Top Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln.&nbsp;&nbsp; As the top seed in their own sectional you would think it should be a good ride, but not so.&nbsp; Will have a Springfield HS (SHG or Springfield) in their city in first game followed by another game against a Springfield squad potentially Lanphier on their home floor with two of the best prospects in the sectional. That is just to survive regional.&nbsp; Then a Decatur MacArthur or Champaign Centennial awaits just to have the chance to play Mt. Zion for the sectional title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Triad Sectional</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Team to Beat</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Probably co-favorites here as Centralia and East St. Louis come into this with cases.&nbsp; Centralia has a better record.&nbsp; ESL has the SIT Championship win in January head to head.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mascoutah</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Herrin, Waterloo, Mt. Vernon, Carbondale</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Prospects</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1750704' first='Davis' last='Bynum'] (East St. Louis – Cal State Fullerton)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1978581' first='Taylor' last='Powell'] (East St. Louis – Northern Illinois football)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1766471' first='Arlandis' last='Brown'] (East St. Louis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2217959' first='Dustyn' last='Collins'] (Centralia)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1838836' first='Jayden' last='McCoo'] (Mascoutah)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1432422' first='Kyrese' last='Lukens'] (Herrin)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1766463' first='Alex' last='Stell'] (Waterloo)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1761128' first='Navontae' last='Nesbit'] (Mt. Vernon)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1619364' first='Decarl' last='Payne'] (Carbondale)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Under the Radar Players Who Could Impact Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1373452' first='Robert' last='McCline'] (East St. Louis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1750716' first='Cruz' last='Harlan'] (Centralia)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2105088' first='Miles' last='Ntekop'] (Mascoutah)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1157354' first='Jonathan' last='Harrison'] (Herrin)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cole' last='Maurer'] (Mt. Vernon)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Regional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mascoutah vs Waterloo would be a good one at Freeburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Potential Sectional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East St. Louis vs Centralia.&nbsp; The two favorites coming in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Toughest Path for Top Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centralia could have some tricky games from the jump.&nbsp; Top 100 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1619364' first='Decarl' last='Payne'] and Carbondale could be waiting in round one close to home in Marion. Then either Marion on their home floor or a talented Herrin squad with small college talent.&nbsp; Mascoutah or Waterloo could cause some issues in a sectional semi.&nbsp; All this just to get the rematch with the Flyers in the sectional final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->