Previewing the IHSA Class 3A/4A basketball state finals

During DePaul Prep’s three consecutive state championship runs, most observers walked away from a first look at the Rams praising their defense and crisp offensive sets.

Those qualities still exist this season, but the first comment now generally focuses praise on guard Rykan Woo. The Brown-bound senior is fun to watch.

Woo, who transferred from Young to DePaul Prep after his sophomore season, also makes a large impact off the court. He does so much community service that Rams coach Tom Kleinschmidt was confused.

“At first I thought it was a prerequisite for Brown,” Kleinschmidt said. “Ok, he needs a certain amount of hours, this is ridiculous. But he is always doing it. It is just his upbringing. He is such a kind kid.”

On the court, Woo is a killer. He guards the opponent's best player and Kleinschmidt believes Woo is the best conditioned player he’s coached.

“He goes hard all 32 minutes and he could go 42,” Kleinschmidt said.

The Rams’ trio of stars includes 6-7 Toledo recruit Rashaun Porter and point guard AJ Chambers, a Michigan Tech signee.

DePaul Prep opened the season at No. 1 and dropped to No. 2 after losing to Benet in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament championship. The teams meet up again in the Class 4A semifinals at State Farm Center on Friday in Champaign.

The Redwings (35-1) won the first matchup 52-43, but Pontiac’s format is unique with teams playing the semifinals and title game on the same day. DePaul Prep (32-3) will be fully fresh and focused on Friday.

“We are going to have our hands full,” Benet coach Gene Heidkamp said. “We know the challenge is going to be great and we are going to have to play one of our best games of the year to win the game.”

Benet and DePaul Prep have dominated the area this season and for most of the past two seasons. The Rams won the 3A title in 2025 and 2024 and the 2A title in 2023. Benet won the 4A championship last year.

The Redwings are taller and deeper than DePaul Prep. Benet features 7-1 Colin Stack, 6-8 Ed Stasys and 6-5 Perry Tchienge as major rebounders, scorers and rim defenders.

Point guard Jayden Wright, an EIU recruit, was one of the best players in the state title game last season and has led Benet all year.

“Some people are going to say [DePaul Prep vs. Benet] is a state championship game,” Kleinschmidt said. “No, it is not. That is so disrespectful to York or Marist.”

York and Marist meet up in the first 4A semifinal on Friday. The RedHawks were a summer sensation, had a solid but unspectacular regular season and then got healthy and went on a roll in the playoffs. They are playing as well as any team in the state and knocked off a talented Peoria Richwoods team in the supersectional.

“It has been a whirlwind, going back to the regional title game against Rich,” Marist coach Brian Hynes said. “It has been a pretty emotional week and a half.”

Charles Barnes, a De La Salle transfer, developed into one of the best players in the state over the course of the season. He missed much of his junior year with an injury. The 6-6, first team All-City selection averages 18 points and 8 rebounds.

The rest of the starting lineup includes 6-7 Stephen Brown, 6-5 Kendall Myers and guards TJ Tate and Adoni Vassilakis.

“What makes this group special is you have four kids that have been starters for three years,” Hynes said. “They have all been together. None of them transferred. To us that is a big deal. It would be hard to describe just how close this group is. They are always together. And in the fourth quarter [against Richwoods] that mattered."

York is a Champaign surprise. The Dukes were unranked in the preseason. Junior guard Joseph Lubbe emerged as a scoring threat and tall, strong football players Hunter Stepanich, Jackson Rennick and Costa Kampas give York a formidable zone defense and interior offensive threat.

“Nobody expected us to be where we are right now,” Dukes coach Mike Dunn said. “I thought maybe we were a year away. We just kind of jelled game by game. It starts with the senior leadership. They are unbelievable. They embraced the younger kids and took them under their wing and mentored them. They play for each other.”

Class 3A: Mighty East St. Louis or undefeated Kaneland?

East St. Louis, led by 6-8 Penn State recruit Jamison White, was considered the best team in 3A all season and lived up to the hype in the playoffs. The Flyers lost just one game to an Illinois team (Belleville West) all season.

Leo succeeded against a strong schedule this year, but the Lions are small and inexperienced and heavy underdogs in the first semifinal against the Flyers. But Jimalle Ridley’s young team has been focused on a state run for months.

“126.1. That is how many miles from Leo to State Farm Center,” Ridley said “I put that on the board the very first day of conditioning. We ran 126 miles during conditioning to simulate getting to Champaign.”

Juniors Brian Kizer (15 points) and Asa Harris (11 points) lead the Lions (27-6). It is an all-junior starting lineup for Leo, rounded out by Nate Stephens, Karon Shavers and Jeremiah Echols. Ridley has high expectations for 6-8 freshman Elon Henderson, who is a solid shooter.

Deerfield (24-11) will provide a solid test for Kaneland (35-0) in the first 3A semi. This game will feature a big man battle, with the Warriors’ 6-9 senior Jake Pollack (Dartmouth) matching up against Kaneland’s 6-9 Jeffrey Hassan.

Pollack is significantly more polished offensively, but Hassan is a more effective rim protector.

Both teams feature excellent lead guards. Marshawn Cocroft, Kaneland’s leader, is one of the most experienced players at the state finals, and Deerfield's Evan Nagler is playing the best basketball of his career.

Kaneland is deeper and taller with more scoring threats, including 6-6 senior Evan Frieders, 6-3 Connor Kimme and 6-1 Jalen Carter.

Deerfield and Kaneland would both be underdogs in a title game matchup against East St. Louis.

State Finals schedule

At State Farm Center, Champaign

Class 4A

Friday’s semifinals

York vs. Marist, 2:30

DePaul Prep vs. Benet, 4:15

Third place game: 8:45

Saturday’s championship: 6 p.m.

Class 3A

Friday’s semifinals

Deerfield vs. Kaneland, 10 a.m.

Leo vs. East St. Louis, 11:45 a.m.

Third place game: 7 p.m.

Saturday’s championship: 4 p.m.