It's been a long, fun holiday tournament season. There have been big crowds at games all over the state. High school basketball is alive and well in Illinois, despite the lack of star power in the senior and junior classes.
So far I've had a chance to visit the Plano Christmas Classic, the Hinkle Holiday Classic at Jacobs, the Pontiac Holiday Tournament and Rich's Big Dipper. I'll be at York's Jack Tosh and maybe stop in at Hinsdale Central over the next two days.
The long, drawn-out holiday tournament season does have one significant drawback. It was very awkward updating the rankings before all the holiday tournaments finished.
Kenwood drops out of the top spot after losing to Rich in the Big Dipper semifinals. Rich, despite a shaky overall season, vaults up to No. 2. There isn't a team in the state playing better than the Raptors right now and that's an important factor in the rankings.
DePaul Prep takes over at No. 1. It's the first time the Rams have been on top since the short COVID season.
That was a difficult decision because Kenwood beat DePaul Prep the first week of the season. But the Rams have been rock solid since then and winning the Pontiac Holiday Tournament is the premier accomplishment in the state during the regular season.
St. Ignatius, Geneva and Bloom drop out. Fremd was an easy addition after winning the Wheeling tournament. New Trier returns after beating Bloom and Joliet West and giving Curie a great test at Pontiac.
Deerfield makes its season debut. The Warriors lost to Fremd in the Wheeling title game and have a win against Evanston on their resume.
Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Dec. 29, 2024
With record and last week’s ranking
1. DePaul Prep (14-1) 2
Pontiac champs
2. Rich (7-4) 20
Big Dipper champs
3. Kenwood (13-1) 1
Lost to Rich
4. Brother Rice (13-0) 4
In title game at Hinsdale Central
5. Bolingbrook (12-2) 5
Faces Metamora Monday
6. Waubonsie Valley (12-0) 3
Jacobs champs
7. Warren (10-2) 9
Proviso West champs
8. Homewood-Flossmoor (13-2) 7
Jayden Tyler is a star
9. Benet (13-2) 18
Beat Simeon
10. Simeon (8-4) 12
Leaving Pontiac
11. Lincoln Park (13-3) 8
Fell short against Warren
12. Curie (10-3) 15
Lost to DePaul Prep
13. Kankakee (10-1) 11
Champs at Kankakee
14. Niles North (10-3) 10
Lost to Hinsdale Central
15. Fenwick (12-2) 13
Still alive at York
16. Mount Carmel (11-2) 14
Finished third at Pekin
17. Hinsdale Central (11-2) 25
Hosts Brother Rice in title game
18. Waukegan (10-3) 19
Champs at Elgin
19. Young (9-5) 16
Lost to Warren
20. Hersey (12-1) 19
Played well at Pekin
21. St. Laurence (11-3) 6
Lost to Lyons
22. Fremd (13-1) NR
Champs at Wheeling
23. Marist (13-2) 24
Lost in semis at Centralia
24. New Trier (13-4) NR
Proved a lot at Pontiac
25. Deerfield (11-4) NR
Second place at Wheeling
