High school basketball: City/Suburban Hoops Report All-State team

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/20 4:55A Joe Henricksen

Moline’s Owen Freeman (32) controls the ball against Benet’s Parker Sulaver (14) during the state championship game at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times As Editor/Publisher of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, a longtime...

High school football: Marquise Lightfoot makes visits, Andre Crews reclassifies, Loyola hires...

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/16 1:11P Mike Clark

Simeon’s Andre Crews (4) runs the ball in front of Kenwood’s Marquise Lightfoot (7). Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Like most kids, Marquise Lightfoot tried out about every sport: baseball, swimming, basketball. But when the Kenwood junior...

High school basketball: More than 40,000 attended the State Finals in Champaign

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/15 6:05P Michael O'Brien

New Trier’s bench reacts during the state semifinal game against Benet at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times The Illinois High School Association’s boys basketball State Finals moved from Peoria to Champaign last year. The...

City/Suburban Hoops Report Player of the Year: Moline’s Brock Harding

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/15 5:13A Joe Henricksen

Moline’s Brock Harding (2) hits a jumper against Simeon at the When Sides Collide Shootout. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times As Editor/Publisher of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, a longtime recruiting service for college basketball programs...

High school basketball: No Shot Clock, Ep. 155, Reviewing the State Finals

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/14 4:11A Michael O'Brien

The season has wrapped up. Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien look back at the IHSA State Finals, breaking down the action in Class 4A, 3A and 2A. The podcast is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify , so please subscribe.

High school basketball: DePaul Prep, geographical diversity, State Finals format

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/14 3:58A Joe Henricksen

DePaul Prep’s Maurice Thomas looks on during the state championship game against Bloomington Central Catholic at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times There is no team that left Champaign with a bigger upside going into next...

State Finals review: Metamora steps up; injuries make crushing impact

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/13 8:12A Joe Henricksen

Metamora celebrates its Clas 3A state championship. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times The four-class system has been around since the 2007-08 season. Since its arrival there have been years where figuring out just which team is the best in the...

High school basketball: Michael O’Brien’s final Super 25 rankings for the 2022-23 season

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/12 8:24A Michael O'Brien

Simeon’s Jalen Griffith (2) reacts during the state semifinal game against St. Ignatius at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Simeon ends the season where it began, on top. The Wolverines dominated the rankings all season,...

State Finals notebook: Crowds, shot clocks and coaching changes

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/12 7:56A Michael O'Brien

Moline basketball players react after winning the state championship game against Benet at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times Two years in, the Illinois High School Association’s decision to move the State Finals back to...

High school basketball: Long-suffering Moline beats Benet to finally win its state title

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/11 4:23P Michael O'Brien

Moline’s Brock Harding (2) reacts during the state championship game against Benet at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—Every summer, all over the state, there are major transfers that change the high school...

High school basketball: Metamora beats Simeon for 3A title

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/11 2:27P Michael O'Brien

Simeon’s Wes Rubin (10) shoots against Metamora. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—Simeon is a brand name, the gold standard of Chicago high school basketball. It is Coca-Cola, Apple and the Yankees. That’s because of Robert Smith. The...

High school basketball: DePaul Prep beats Bloomington Central Catholic to win its first state title

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/11 9:57A Michael O'Brien

DePaul Prep’s Jaylan McElroy (33) reacts during the state championship game against Bloomington Central at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—While DePaul Prep waited for star juniors Jaylan McElroy and Payton Kamin...

High school basketball: Gibault wins 1A title, ends Scales Mounds’ Cinderella run

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/11 8:09A Michael O'Brien

Gibault’s Kaden Augustine (10) drives toward the basket during the Class 1A state title game. Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—The small schools opened Championship Saturday at State Farm Center with a show. Gibault and Scales Mound...

High school basketball: Iowa recruit Brock Harding drives Moline to 4A championship game

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/10 3:13P Michael O'Brien

Moline’s Jasper Ogburn (10) and Grant Welch (34) react during the state semifinal game against Downers Grove North at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—Moline guard Brock Harding plays with style and confidence. It’s...

High school basketball: Benet beats New Trier to earn a spot in 4A title game

Chicago Sun-Times - Chicago High School Sports 3/10 2:16P Michael O'Brien

Benet’s Andy Nash (10) reacts during the state semifinal game against New Trier at State Farm Center. Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times CHAMPAIGN—Benet coach Gene Heidkamp warned that he was going to get emotional talking about senior Brady...