3A Bracketology

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we dive into some <strong>3A Bracketology</strong> as we examine the 3A State Tournament field.&nbsp; We breakdown all eight sectionals in depth along with ranking them from toughest to weakest.&nbsp; We also pick the tournament from the regional finals on with our predictions of who is going to advance each round!&nbsp; Read all about it below!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Breaking Down Sectional By Sectional</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brother Rice Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brother Rice</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lemont, Marian Catholic, Perspectives</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TF North, Hillcrest, Morgan Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1545120' first='Marcos' last='Gonzales'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552393' first='Gabriel' last='Sularski'], [player_tooltip player_id='2217980' first='Phoenix' last='Childs'], [player_tooltip player_id='2698739' first='Dereon' last='Smothers'], [player_tooltip player_id='2323613' first='Demarco' last='King'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'], DeAndre Higgs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1541235' first='Jaylen' last='Ingram'], [player_tooltip player_id='2538898' first='Jack' last='Weigus'], [player_tooltip player_id='2321410' first='Alanas' last='Castillo'], [player_tooltip player_id='2632037' first='Landon' last='Mays'], [player_tooltip player_id='2105200' first='Derrick' last='Dowdell']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washington Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kankakee, Metamora, Peoria, East Peoria</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richwoods</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766506' first='Leshawn' last='Stowers'], [player_tooltip player_id='2125674' first='Quinton' last='Kitt'], [player_tooltip player_id='2531961' first='Amarion' last='Smith-Holley']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1232827' first='Wes' last='Gudeman'], Kenaz Jackson, [player_tooltip player_id='1874852' first='Myair' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2751060' first='Brady' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='2321401' first='Ashton' last='Grieves'], Cole Dubois, [player_tooltip player_id='2362360' first='Anfernee' last='Moore']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Little Village Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fenwick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Patrick</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton, Little Village</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2105305' first='Dominick' last='Ducree'], [player_tooltip player_id='1598778' first='Ty' last='Macariola'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724288' first='Nathaniel' last='Marshall'], [player_tooltip player_id='1385287' first='EJ' last='Breland'], [player_tooltip player_id='2531979' first='CJ' last='Pittman']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2321448' first='Deonte' last='Meeks'], Naveah Hawkins, [player_tooltip player_id='2422874' first='Anthony' last='Favia'], [player_tooltip player_id='2323261' first='Pablo' last='Rodriguez']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Glenbard South Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Carmel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Laurence, Hyde Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>De La Salle, Wheaton St. Franics</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1385307' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='2105179' first='Grant' last='Best'], [player_tooltip player_id='1845357' first='Noah' last='Mister'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1550741' first='Jacob' last='Rice'], Charles Barnes, [player_tooltip player_id='1845364' first='Morgan' last='Travis']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125677' first='Reggie' last='Stevens'], [player_tooltip player_id='2323617' first='Markese' last='Peoples'], [player_tooltip player_id='2540031' first='Kye' last='Ward-Owens'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724415' first='CJ' last='Thomas'], Kamrin King, [player_tooltip player_id='1552397' first='Remi' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='2532031' first='Roosevelt' last='Thomas']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Antioch Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DePaul Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Forest, Deerfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Viator, Vernon Hills, Niles Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1545133' first='Makai' last='Kvamme'], [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1385311' first='Robert' last='Walls'], [player_tooltip player_id='2538856' first='Hudson' last='Scroggins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552404' first='Jake' last='Pollack'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724313' first='Sam' last='Hanus'], [player_tooltip player_id='2125608' first='Dawson' last='Charles'], [player_tooltip player_id='1434463' first='Brady' last='Sehlhorst']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2323334' first='AJ' last='Chambers'], [player_tooltip player_id='1385297' first='Jonas' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724383' first='Henry' last='Marshall'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724377' first='Dayvion' last='Ellis'], [player_tooltip player_id='2494146' first='AJ' last='Morgan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rochelle Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaneland and Crystal Lake South</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sycamore, Wheaton Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2391672' first='Jeffrey' last='Hassan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2391706' first='Freddy' last='Hassan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552428' first='Marshawn' last='Cocroft'], [player_tooltip player_id='1433337' first='AJ' last='Demirov'], [player_tooltip player_id='2125634' first='Hayden' last='Schroeder']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2369943' first='John' last='Morgan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2369867' first='Ryan' last='Morgan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Decatur Eisenhower Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Zion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln, Decatur Macarthur, Springfield Lanphier</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sacred Heart Griffin, Danville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1545145' first='Lyncoln' last='Koester'], [player_tooltip player_id='2323267' first='JC' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1545135' first='Shaunassey' last='Hatchett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1385295' first='JaiQuan' last='Holman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2446278' first='Tereik' last='Hurd'], Zion [player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''], [player_tooltip player_id='2395586' first='Amir' last='Beasley']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2323312' first='Karson' last='Komnick'], [player_tooltip player_id='2734467' first='Brody' last='Tungate'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724226' first='King' last='Dees'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724369' first='Rome' last='Dees'], [player_tooltip player_id='2455399' first='Myles' last='Montgomery'], Jayvaughn Robinson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marion Sectional</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Favorite</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Centralia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Contenders</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triad, Mascoutah, Waterloo, Mt. Vernon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last='']pers</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion, Herrin, Highland, East St. Louis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Top Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2217959' first='Dustyn' last='Collins'], [player_tooltip player_id='2751256' first='Archie' last='Goewey'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766468' first='Drew' last='Winslow'], [player_tooltip player_id='1552447' first='Tyler' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1838836' first='Jayden' last='McCoo'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766463' first='Alex' last='Stell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432422' first='Kyrese' last='Lukens'], [player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cale' last='Maurer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766471' first='Arlandis' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='2323266' first='Alex' last='Johnson'], Lawson Berry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Under the Radar Prospects</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2422531' first='Devin' last='Meier'], [player_tooltip player_id='2125643' first='Jaxson' last='Hancock'], [player_tooltip player_id='2751229' first='Michael' last='Organ'], [player_tooltip player_id='2750011' first='Tyler' last='Devilder'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766476' first='Race' last='Hickey'], [player_tooltip player_id='2383264' first='Matthew' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='2724320' first='Grant' last='Fleming'], [player_tooltip player_id='2455403' first='David' last='Barnes'], [player_tooltip player_id='2751246' first='Trevor' last='McClure'], [player_tooltip player_id='2427992' first='Montreal' last='Stacker'], [player_tooltip player_id='2458184' first='Tyrik' last='Barnes']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Ranking the Sectionals Toughest to Weakest</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Washington</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Glenbard South</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Brother Rice</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Marion</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Decatur Eisenhower</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Antioch</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rochelle</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Little Village</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Best Storylines to Follow</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Morton win a tough Washington sectional after rolling in the second half over teams that might have higher end talent in Metamora, Kankakee, and Peoria?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is DePaul Prep going to three peat?&nbsp; They won in 2A, then 3A, and will take another shot at 3A this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best Potential Regional Finals?&nbsp; Lemont vs Morgan Park, Perspectives vs Marian Catholic, Metamora vs Morton, Peoria vs East Peoria, Lake Forest vs Vernon Hills, Kaneland vs Wheaton Academy, Lanphier vs Chatham Glenwood, and Waterloo vs Triad.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>My 3A Predictions</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Regional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brother Rice over TF North<br>Hillcrest over Crete Monee<br>Lemont over Morgan Park<br>Perspectives over Marian Catholic</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kankakee over Morris<br>Metamora over Morton<br>Peoria over East Peoria<br>Streator over LaSalle Peru</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fenwick over Prosser<br>Payton over Elmwood Park<br>St. Patrick over Clemente<br>Little Village over Schurz</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Laurence over Hinsdale South<br>Hyde Park over Lindblom<br>Mt. Carmel over Glenbard South<br>De La Salle over Wheaton St. Francis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DePaul Prep over Ridgewood<br>St. Viator over Grayslake North<br>Lake Forest over Vernon Hills<br>Deerfield over Niles Notre Dame</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sycamore over Belvidere North<br>Crystal Lake South over Cary Grove<br>Kaneland over Wheaton Academy<br>Freeport over Rochelle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Decatur MacArthur over Champaign Centennial<br>Springfield Lanphier over Chatham Glenwood<br>Lincoln over Taylorville<br>Mt. Zion over Decatur Eisenhower</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Waterloo over Triad<br>Mt. Vernon over Marion<br>Centralia over Herrin<br>East St. Louis over Highland<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Semis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brother Rice over Hillcrest<br>Lemont over Perspectives<br><br>Metamora over Kankakee<br>Peoria over Streator<br><br>Fenwick over Payton<br>St. Patrick over Little Village<br><br>St. Laurence over Hyde Park<br>Mt. Carmel over De La Salle</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DePaul Prep over St. Viator<br>Lake Forest over Deerfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crystal Lake South over Sycamore<br>Kaneland over Freeport</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield Lanphier over Decatur MacArthur<br>Mt. Zion over Lincoln</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mt. Vernon over Waterloo<br>Centralia over East St. Louis</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional Finals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brother Rice over Lemont<br>Metamora over Peoria<br>St. Patrick over Fenwick<br>Mt. Carmel over St. Laurence<br>DePaul Prep over Lake Forest<br>Crystal Lake South over Kaneland<br>Mt. Zion over Springfield Lanphier<br>Centralia over Mt. Vernon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Super Sectionals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metamora over Brother Rice<br>Mt. Carmel over St. Patrick<br>DePaul Prep over Crystal Lake South<br>Centralia over Mt. Zion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Semi Finals<br></strong><br>Mt. Carmel over Metamora<br>DePaul Prep over Centralia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Championship<br></strong><br>DePaul Prep over Mt. Carmel<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->