3A Tournament Preview
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The state tournament starts up next week so we wanted to dive into the brackets to look at storylines, top prospects, predictions, and more about each field. Here we examine the 3A bracket in 3A Tournament Preview! Who Are the…
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Continue ReadingThe state tournament starts up next week so we wanted to dive into the brackets to look at storylines, top prospects, predictions, and more about each field. Here we examine the 3A bracket in 3A Tournament Preview!
Who Are the Favorites?
It all starts with Simeon this year. They are the best team in the state regardless of class with five D1 seniors. The two teams that played for 3A last year in Metamora and Sacred Heart Griffin have legit shots at being in the exact same position with most of their rosters back. From southern Illinois East St. Louis has the talent to make a run at it. The champion coming from outside of these four would be a surprise.
Which High Seeds Have Difficult Paths?
Defending champs Sacred Heart Griffin could have to go through Decatur MacArthur (at MacArthur) or Lincoln, East St. Louis, Metamora (last year’s title rematch), and Simeon. They could very well lose any of those games, but could win the whole thing too.
Simeon has a really tricky road as well with up and coming St. Laurence potentially in a sectional semi, Mt. Carmel or Hyde Park in sectional final, Hillcrest in super, and then one of Metamora, SHG, or East St. Louis for title.
What are the Top Storylines?
The top storyline is pretty easy. Can the GOAT Robert Smiith go out on top? The legendary Simeon coach is looking to finish off his career leading his team to a 3A crown.
Can Sacred Heart Griffin repeat? Last year Zack Hawkinson Zack Hawkinson 6'4" | PF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL carried them to the title. He is on the mend at the end of the season, but should be back for the playoffs. His running mates Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL , Will Hamilton Will Hamilton 6'3" | SF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL , and Mr. Big shot Keshon Singleton Keshon Singleton 6'2" | PG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL are all back.
Which St. Ignatius team will show up? Last year Iggy struggled just like this season heading into the playoffs and made it to Champaign. They are without Reggie Ray Reggie Ray 6'2" | PG St. Ignatius | 2024 State IL and Jackson Kotecki Jackson Kotecki 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State IL is currently injured. Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL and Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State #72 Nation IL are enough to lead them through the easiest route to the final four in 3A if they are on.
The overall depth of 3A has really improved as has the diversity throughout the state with legit contenders from Chicago, south suburbs, central Illinois, and southern Illinois.
Which Sleeper Team Can Pull Off an Upset?
Lakes is a sleeper team that can make a run to a sectional as a 6 seed. Herrin is a sleeper to make it to a sectional semi with a couple upsets. Hyde Park has the potential to blow up the bracket with the chance to upset Mt. Carmel and Simeon. Decatur MacArthur is a legit threat to make it to state.
Where is the Toughest Sectional?
Glenbard South Sectional has three teams that have final four potential in Simeon, Mt. Carmel, and Hyde Park. St. Laurence has as much 2025 talent as anyone.
Who are the Top Seniors?
Clemson commit Asa Thomas Asa Thomas 6'6" | SF Lake Forest | 2023 State #91 Nation IL headlines the list of top seniors that also includes highly ranked prospects Macaleab Rich Macaleab Rich 6'5" | SF East St. Louis | 2023 State #261 Nation IL (East St. Louis), Darrion Baker Darrion Baker 6'8" | PF St Rita | 2023 State #227 Nation IL (Hillcrest), Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL (Simeon), Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL (Simeon), DeAndre Craig DeAndre Craig 5'11" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL (Mt. Carmel), Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL (St. Ignatius), Drew Scharnowski Drew Scharnowski 6'7" | PF Burlington Central | 2023 State IL (Burlington Central), Quentin Jones Quentin Jones 6'4" | SG Marian Catholic | 2023 State IL (Marian Catholic), Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL (Simeon), Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL (Simeon), Zack Hawkinson Zack Hawkinson 6'4" | PF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL (Sacred Heart Griffin), and Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL (Sacred Heart Griffin).
Any Breakout Juniors to Watch?
Peoria Notre Dame’s Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL is the highest ranked at #4, but his team must play in the play in just to get in the regional semis. Other top 20 juniors in the field include Jurrell Baldwin Jurrell Baldwin 6'6" | SF Hyde Park | 2024 State IL (Hyde Park), Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL (Mt. Carmel), Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL (Mt. Carmel), and Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'4" | PG Simeon | 2024 #273 Nation IL (Peoria).
Which Sophomores Could Make Biggest Impact?
If St. Ignatius makes a return trip to Champaign it will be because 2025 star Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State #72 Nation IL steps up with all their injuries. Gill checks in at #4 in the sophomore class. Keep an eye on the youthful St. Laurence team led by 2025s Jacob Rice Jacob Rice 6'4" | SG Western Reserve Acadmey | 2025 OH , EJ Mosley EJ Mosley 6'0" | PG Romeoville | 2025 State IL , Zerrick Johnson Zerrick Johnson 6'2" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL , and Caleb Lindsey Caleb Lindsey 6'5" | SF St. Laurence | 2025 State IL . Want to put yourself on the map statewide? Beat Simeon in the sectional semis!
Best Potential Matchups Before State?
Sectional Semis
Marian Catholic vs Lemont
Mt. Carmel vs Hyde Park
Decatur MacArthur vs Lincoln
Sectional Final
Simeon vs Mt. Carmel/Hyde Park
Sacred Heart Griffin vs Decatur MacArthur
Super Sectional
Simeon vs Hillcrest
Metamora vs Burlington Central
Sacred Heart Griffin vs East St. Louis
What are PHI’s Picks to Click?
Regional Finals
De La Salle over Schurz
Fenwick over Payton
St. Ignatius over Prosser
Westinghouse over Little Village
Lake Forest over Niles Notre Dame
St. Patrick over Carmel
Lakes over Grayslake Central
Deerfield over St. Viator
Hillcrest over Brooks
Kankakee over TF North
Lemont over Thornton
Marian Catholic over Chicago Ag Science
Simeon over Englewood STEM
St. Laurence over Lindblom
Mt. Carmel over Bogan
Hyde Park over Glenbard South
Crystal Lake South over Belvidere North
Marmion Academy over Kaneland
Burlington Central over Wheaton St. Francis
Rockford Boylan over Prairie Ridge
Rock Island over Dunlap
Peoria Richwoods over Peoria
Metamora over East Peoria
Dixon over Sterling
East St. Louis over Chatham Glenwood
Centralia over Mascoutah
Herrin over Mt. Vernon
Highland over Triad
Lincoln over Champaign Central
Decatur Macarthur over Mt. Zion
Sacred Heart Griffin over Lanphier
Morton over Normal West
Sectional Semis
De La Salle over Fenwick
St. Ignatius over Westinghouse
Lake Forest over St. Patrick
Lakes over Deerfield
Hillcrest over Kankakee
Marian Catholic over Lemont
Simeon over St. Laurence
Mt. Carmel over Hyde Park
Marmion Academy over Crystal Lake South
Burlington Central over Rockford Boylan
Peoria Richwoods over Rock Island
Metamora over Dixon
East St. Louis over Centralia
Herrin over Highland
Decatur MacArthur over Lincoln
Sacred Heart Griffin over Morton
Sectional Finals
De La Salle over St. Ignatius
Lake Forest over Lakes
Hillcrest over Marian Catholic
Simeon over Mt. Carmel
Burlington Central over Marmion Academy
Metamora over Peoria Richwoods
East St. Louis over Herrin
Sacred Heart Griffin over Decatur MacArthur
Super Sectionals
De La Salle over Lake Forest
Simeon over Hillcrest
Metamora over Burlington Central
Sacred Heart Griffin over East St. Louis
Final Four
Simeon over De La Salle
Sacred Heart Griffin over Metamora
Championship
Simon over Sacred Heart Griffin