Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 9, 2025
The Illinois High School Association reveals sectional seeds Friday. Expect some interesting developments as the state’s coaches examine this season’s topsy-turvy results and attempt to rank teams in their area.
Several teams are making a strong late push: Stevenson, Lake Forest, Hyde Park and West Aurora.
Stevenson might be the hottest team in the area. In their last four games, the Patriots knocked off Warren, Lake Forest and Waukegan. All of their losses in 2025 were to quality teams: Benet, Warren and Waubonsie Valley.
Stevenson has a senior leader in Aidan Bardic, and Rocco Pagliocca and Donny Williams are talented junior guards with scoring ability. When 6-8 senior Atticus Richmond plays well and the Patriots move the ball on offense, they are tough.
Lake Forest knocked off Rolling Meadows and Waukegan this week. The Scouts are doing it with defense, holding those talented teams to a combined 61 points. Hudson Scroggins, a 6-7 senior, leads the charge.
Stevenson and Lake Forest have solid overall résumés this season and join the Super 25 this week. Hyde Park and West Aurora aren’t in the rankings yet, but both could join soon.
The Blackhawks’ resurgence is all about Terrence Smith. The Iowa-bound wide receiver missed most of the season with an injury. West Aurora is 13-0 since he returned and knocked off Brother Rice on Saturday in Aurora.
Hyde Park opened eyes with a triple-overtime win against Lincoln Park in the Public League playoff quarterfinals Saturday. The Thunderbirds have two dependable seniors in CJ Thomas and Kye Ward-Owens. Their rugged schedule is paying off at the right time.
Homewood-Flossmoor heads to Pontiac
Basketball fans around the state were shocked in late December when Simeon decided not to return to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.
The Wolverines spent 29 years at the tournament, winning 16 titles and forging a bond with the local community.
There was never any doubt that Pontiac would be able to find a top-tier replacement. It’s rare for the tournament to have an opening, and there were dozens of ranked teams interested.
Pontiac Holiday Tournament director John Neisler went with Homewood-Flossmoor. The defending Class 4A state champion has bounced around the holiday-tournament field recently, appearing at Hinsdale Central and Rich’s Big Dipper. The Vikings lost to Rich in the Big Dipper title game in December.
The acquisition of H-F is a coup for Pontiac and a worry for the Big Dipper. Coach Jamere Dismukes has led the Vikings to new heights. But they’ve been a consistently above-average program under several head coaches, and that is a key factor in holiday-tournament construction.
Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 9, 2025
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Kenwood (25-1) 1
Undisputed top team
2. Bolingbrook (25-4) 2
Lost to St. Louis Vashon
3. Homewood-Flossmoor (24-2) 3
Pontiac's latest addition
4. DePaul Prep (24-3) 4
Beat St. Ignatius in OT
5. Hinsdale Central (26-2) 6
Big three-win week
6. Marist (26-2) 9
Hosts Joliet Catholic on Friday
7. Waubonsie Valley (25-1) 10
At DeKalb on Wednesday
8. Brother Rice (23-4) 5
Missing Jack Weigus
9. Evanston (23-4) 11
Wildkits keep rising
10. Rich (18-7) 7
Lost without Al Brooks Jr.
11. Lincoln Park (22-5) 8
Upset by Hyde Park in 3 OTs
12. Benet (22-5) 12
At Lake Forest on Saturday
13. St. Laurence (22-5) 15
Hosts Brother Rice on Tuesday
14. Mount Carmel (23-5) 18
Hosts Brother Rice on Friday
15. Simeon (17-7) 13
Couldn't beat Curie three times
16. Kankakee (22-4) 14
Lost to Rich
17. Fremd (23-2) 23
Beat New Trier, Barrington
18. St. Ignatius (22-5) 20
Peaking at the right time
19. Curie (20-8) NR
Inconsistent, dangerous
20. Stevenson (18-8) NR
Hottest team in the area
21. Lake Forest (17-8) NR
Beat Waukegan, Rolling Meadows
22. Glenbard West (20-5) 24
Hosts Downers North on Saturday
23. Warren (18-9) 21
Lost to Stevenson
24. Young (15-12) 24
Faces Dyett on Monday
25. Kaneland (24-1) 25
Survived Sycamore in OT