Introduction to the High School Basketball Season

The high school basketball season is set to begin, and with it comes a plethora of questions about the top teams, players, and storylines. Here are 20 questions and answers to get you ready for the upcoming season.

Preseason Favorites and Top Players

1. Who is the best player in the area?
   Warren’s Jaxson Davis earns the preseason nod for the second consecutive season. The junior guard elevated his game to another level over the summer.
2. Which players are on the preseason All-State team?
   Davis, East St. Louis senior forward Jamison White, Kankakee guard Lincoln Williams, DePaul Prep big man Rashaun Porter and senior guard Christopher Kirkpatrick of New Trier.
3. Which local teams are the favorites to win Class 4A?
   Top-ranked DePaul Prep, defending champion Benet and Warren open as the top candidates. Marist, Bolingbrook and Waukegan make up the next tier of contenders.

Teams to Watch and Potential Upsets

1. Is there a team that might make a Cinderella run?
   Keep an eye on New Trier. Kirkpatrick and senior guard Danny Houlihan are excellent scorers and the Trevians have plenty of size. If 6-7 freshman Denym Wallace is an immediate contributor New Trier will be very tough to beat.
2. Who are the local favorites in Class 3A?
   East St. Louis is the overall favorite and Kankakee is the local team most likely to mount a challenge to the Flyers.
3. What’s the most interesting development?
   The south suburbs were shut out of the preseason Super 25 rankings for what is likely the first time in history. Homewood-Flossmoor, Bloom and Thornton have young teams that should improve throughout the season, but there is a lack of star power in the south suburbs.

Player Development and Transfers

1. Which players have improved the most since last season?
   Cedric Carter, a 6-8 senior from Intrinsic, went from a complete unknown to Division II recruit. Benet junior Ed Stasys made huge strides and Bolingbrook’s Trey Pettigrew proved himself as one of the best sophomores in the country.
2. Which players are worth traveling to see?
   Davis, Pettigrew and and Neuqua Valley sophomore Cole Kelly are the star attractions and players most likely to become college basketball stars.
3. What is the top team from outside the area?
   Six-foot-eight brothers Jamison and Jahidi White transferred in to East St. Louis and turned the Flyers into the favorites to win Class 3A. Jamison is a Penn State recruit and the top prospect in the senior class. The Flyers have two other key seniors back in 6-5 Lawson Bynum and Alex Johnson.

Coaching Changes and New Faces

1. Who is the most important transfer?
   There was less movement than usual around the area, other than high-profile players leaving the state. EJ Hazelett (Indiana State) transferred back to Kankakee from Indiana and instantly elevated the Kays into Class 3A state title contenders.
2. Who is the most underappreciated player in the area?
   Barrington’s Oliver Gray. The 6-6 senior guard is an excellent scorer and dynamic all-around player. Gray has a few Division I offers but hasn’t received much attention locally yet.
3. Which teams were overlooked in the preseason Super 25?
   Lyons, Homewood-Flossmoor and Lockport just missed the cut. All three teams are poised for nice seasons.

Key Games and Conferences

1. What is the must-see game of the year?
   Lake County is the hot spot, so there are two games. Warren at Waukegan on Dec. 13 and Waukegan at Warren on Jan. 27. Rivals with state-championship contending teams. They will likely meet again in the sectional.
2. What is the strongest conference in the area?
   It’s the Catholic League Blue with DePaul Prep, Loyola, St. Ignatius and St. Laurence all ranked. The Central Suburban South has three preseason ranked teams in New Trier, Evanston and Deerfield.

Rule Changes and State Tournament

1. What is going on with the shot clock?
   This will be the final year without a shot clock in the state playoffs. The shot clock can be used at approved regular-season tournaments and shootouts. The IHSA will require the 35-second shot clock to be used in all varsity games starting next season.
2. Are there any changes to the state tournament?
   Yes, the IHSA continues to tweak the schedule for the state finals weekend. The Class 3A and Class 4A semifinals have been moved back to Friday during the day and the overall schedule is close to what the IHSA used when it first moved the state finals to Champaign in 2022.

New Coaches and Emerging Players

1. Who are the new coaches to watch?
   Brandin Brown steps up from assistant to head coach at Homewood-Flossmoor. Former Joliet West and UIC head coach Luke Yaklich is at Lincoln-Way East and Rick Romeli replaces Conte Stamas at Brother Rice. Former Marian Catholic player John Oliver takes over at Marian for Romeli.
2. Which sophomores will emerge?
   Sophomores are expected to play major roles on teams all over the area. Yorkville has a pair of sophs who have emerged as major college prospects in 6-7 Joey Jakstys and 6-3 Braydon Porter.
3. Which freshman will make an impact?
   Wallace, Mount Carmel’s Da’Kaylen Heard and Ronald Johnson and DeAndre Higgs of Thornton are expected to contribute on varsity right away.
4. Which star players transferred away?
   Andre Tyler, Noah Mister, Gabe Sularski, Jayden Williams, Devin Cleveland and Davion Thompson all moved out of state.

Conclusion

The high school basketball season is shaping up to be an exciting one, with many talented teams and players vying for state championships. From the preseason favorites to the potential Cinderella stories, there’s something for every fan to look forward to. With new coaches, emerging players, and changes to the state tournament, this season is sure to be one to remember.

FAQs

Q: Who is the best player in the area?
A: Warren’s Jaxson Davis is the best player in the area, earning the preseason nod for the second consecutive season.
Q: Which teams are the favorites to win Class 4A?
A: Top-ranked DePaul Prep, defending champion Benet and Warren are the favorites to win Class 4A.
Q: What is the must-see game of the year?
A: The must-see game of the year is Warren at Waukegan on Dec. 13 and Waukegan at Warren on Jan. 27.
Q: What is the strongest conference in the area?
A: The Catholic League Blue is the strongest conference in the area, with DePaul Prep, Loyola, St. Ignatius and St. Laurence all ranked.
Q: Are there any changes to the state tournament?
A: Yes, the IHSA continues to tweak the schedule for the state finals weekend, with the Class 3A and Class 4A semifinals moved back to Friday during the day.