3A & 4A State Finals Preview
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The state tournament will continue on Friday with the big schools going at it in the semis of 3A and 4A! We preview the matchups and prospects to watch here! 3A 10:00 AM Sacred Heart Griffin vs St. Ignatius…
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Continue ReadingThe state tournament will continue on Friday with the big schools going at it in the semis of 3A and 4A! We preview the matchups and prospects to watch here!
3A
10:00 AM Sacred Heart Griffin vs St. Ignatius
SHG comes into this at 33-3 and has only lost one game to Normal Community since November. They have a core four group of juniors. Jake Hamilton Jake Hamilton 6'3" | SG Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL is their star as the lefty is a creative scorer that can get buckets from multiple levels netting 15.3 points per game. Really like what strong bodied small forward Zack Hawkinson Zack Hawkinson 6'4" | PF Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023 State IL brings as an inside/outside threat at 15.8 points per game. Keshon Singleton has a burst with the rock in his hands getting to the rim and Will Hamilton is the perfect glue guy!
St. Ignatius played a tough schedule and it has prepared them for this moment. They have two senior leaders in Air Force commit Kolby Gilles Kolby Gilles 6'7" | PF St Ignatius | 2022 State IL and wing AJ Redd AJ Redd 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2022 State IL . Gilles is a junk yard dog that brings versatility and is the heart and soul of this team. Redd is a silky smooth scorer that gets to the rim for 11.9 points per game. Their top prospect is junior Richard Barron Richard Barron 6'5" | SF St. Ignatius | 2023 State IL . Strong bodied wing that can shoot it leading them in scoring at 15.2 points per game. The x-factor is junior big man Jackson Kotecki Jackson Kotecki 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State IL .
11:30 AM Simeon vs Metamora
The Wolverines are a mainstay in the final four whether it is 3A or 4A. Simeon is led by their three guard lineup of Jaylen Drane Jaylen Drane 6'2" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL , Avyion Morris Avyion Morris 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2022 State IL , and Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL . Each bring a little bit different look, but they mesh well and are tough as nails! Drane averages 17.4 a game as one of the state’s top uncommitted seniors. Up front the Rubin twins have been unleashed! Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL is a bouncy lefty that alters shots and plays above the rim. Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL is a skilled right handed post who is an elite passer.
Its all about the three headed monster for Metamora! Junior Ethan Kizer Ethan Kizer 6'6" | SF Metamora | 2023 State IL is the highest ranked prospect as a bouncy combo forward with elite athleticism! He went for 12.2 points a game this year. On the perimeter their guard duo of Zach Schroeder and Tyson Swanson Tyson Swanson 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2023 State IL each can carry Metamora for stretches.
Ranked Prospects
2022
#24
Jaylen Drane
Jaylen
Drane
6'2" | PG
Simeon | 2022
State
IL
(Simeon)
#52
Kolby Gilles
Kolby
Gilles
6'7" | PF
St Ignatius | 2022
State
IL
(St. Ignatius – Air Force)
#53
AJ Redd
AJ
Redd
6'3" | SG
St. Ignatius | 2022
State
IL
(St. Ignatius)
#64
Avyion Morris
Avyion
Morris
5'9" | PG
Simeon | 2022
State
IL
(Simeon)
#96
Lance Rodgers
Lance
Rodgers
6'7" | PF
Simeon | 2022
State
IL
(Simeon)
#97 Nikolas Robinson (Simeon)
#117
Zack Schroeder
Zack
Schroeder
6'2" | SG
Metamora Township | 2022
State
IL
(Metamora)
#124
Jayquan Adams
Jayquan
Adams
6'6" | SG
Simeon | 2022
State
IL
(Simeon)
#221
Luke Defrance
Luke
Defrance
6'1" | SG
Metamora | 2022
IL
(Metamora)
2023
#9
Miles Rubin
Miles
Rubin
6'7" | PF
Homewood Flossmoor | 2023
State
#243
Nation
IL
(Simeon)
#10
Wesley Rubin
Wesley
Rubin
6'7" | PF
Homewood Flossmoor | 2023
State
IL
(Simeon)
#16
Jalen Griffith
Jalen
Griffith
5'9" | PG
Simeon | 2023
State
IL
(Simeon)
#19
Richard Barron
Richard
Barron
6'5" | SF
St. Ignatius | 2023
State
IL
(St. Ignatius)
#37
Ethan Kizer
Ethan
Kizer
6'6" | SF
Metamora | 2023
State
IL
(Metamora)
#55
Jackson Kotecki
Jackson
Kotecki
6'9" | PF
Saint Ignatius | 2023
State
IL
(St. Ignatius)
#76
Steve Turner
Steve
Turner
6'8" | C
Simeon | 2023
State
IL
(Simeon)
#89
Tyson Swanson
Tyson
Swanson
6'2" | SG
Metamora | 2023
State
IL
(Metamora)
#90
Jake Hamilton
Jake
Hamilton
6'3" | SG
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
(Sacred Heart Griffin)
#119
Zack Hawkinson
Zack
Hawkinson
6'4" | PF
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
(Sacred Heart Griffin)
4A
2:30 PM Whitney Young vs Barrington
Whitney Young captured a monster win over Kenwood to move to the state final four. The Dolphins are super deep and talented. Up front their top 10 duo of Miami commit AJ Casey AJ Casey 6'8" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #55 Nation IL and NIU bound Xavier Amos Xavier Amos 6'7" | PF Whitney Young | 2022 State #233 Nation IL are versatile mismatches that can post up, handle, shoot, and play defense. Really like the way junior point guard Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL is playing as the top 5 junior is the man that runs the show. X-factors for this group are juniors Daniel Johnson Daniel Johnson 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2023 State #231 Nation IL and Marcus Pigram Marcus Pigram 6'3" | SG Whitney Young | 2023 State IL who are coming off injuries.
Barrington shocked the world with a win over Glenbrook South. Now they try to upset the CPS power in this semi. Washington University commit Will Grudzinski Will Grudzinski 6'6" | PF Barrington | 2022 State IL is a versatile power forward that can stretch the floor at a 19.1 points clip. Combo guard Daniel Hong Daniel Hong 6'2" | PG Barrington | 2022 State IL is a dead eye mid-range pull up shooter. Nathan Boldt Nathan Boldt 6'9" | PF Barrington | 2022 State IL will anchor inside as a rebounder and shot blocker.
4:00 PM Glenbard West vs Bolingbrook
Best team since 2013 Simeon? If they win two more the answer is yes for Glenbard West who comes in 35-1. Gonzaga commit Braden Huff Braden Huff 6'11" | PF Glenbard West | 2022 State #58 Nation IL is the star for the well balanced squad at 16.2 points per game. Princeton commit Caden Pierce Caden Pierce 6'5" | SG Glenbard West | 2022 State IL and top uncommitted senior Bobby Durkin Bobby Durkin 6'6" | SF Hinsdale South | 2022 State IL are high level shot makers and playmakers as passers. Army commit Ryan Renfro Ryan Renfro 6'7" | PF Glenbard West | 2022 State IL and Paxton Warden Paxton Warden 6'2" | SG Glenbard West | 2022 State IL are elite level glue guys for this Fab 5!
Bolingbrook seems to make deep playoff runs every year! This year is no different! Their most productive player is Michael Osei-Bonsu Michael Osei-Bonsu 6'4" | PF Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL who is a wide bodied post that can score in the paint with the best of them at 11.8 points. Junior Donaven Younger Donaven Younger 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL is a higher ranked college prospect and this is a big time opportunity for him. Mekhi Cooper Mekhi Cooper 6'0" | PG Bolingbrook | 2023 State IL is another junior that can really shoot it and runs the show. Jaydin Dunlap Jaydin Dunlap 6'1" | PG Bolingbrook | 2022 State IL is one of the more underappreciated guards in the state.
Ranked Prospects
2022
#2
Braden Huff
Braden
Huff
6'11" | PF
Glenbard West | 2022
State
#58
Nation
IL
(Glenbard West – Gonzaga)
#4
AJ Casey
AJ
Casey
6'8" | PF
Whitney Young | 2022
State
#55
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young – Miami)
#9
Xavier Amos
Xavier
Amos
6'7" | PF
Whitney Young | 2022
State
#233
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young – Northern Illinois)
#16
Caden Pierce
Caden
Pierce
6'5" | SG
Glenbard West | 2022
State
IL
(Glenbard West – Princeton)
#18
Bobby Durkin
Bobby
Durkin
6'6" | SF
Hinsdale South | 2022
State
IL
(Glenbard West)
#43
Will Grudzinski
Will
Grudzinski
6'6" | PF
Barrington | 2022
State
IL
(Barrington – Washington University)
#45
Marcus Overstreet
Marcus
Overstreet
6'8" | C
Whitney Young | 2022
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
#46
Ryan Renfro
Ryan
Renfro
6'7" | PF
Glenbard West | 2022
State
IL
(Glenbard West – Army)
#61
Matt Somerville
Matt
Somerville
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2022
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
#63
Jaydin Dunlap
Jaydin
Dunlap
6'1" | PG
Bolingbrook | 2022
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#68
Michael Osei-Bonsu
Michael
Osei-Bonsu
6'4" | PF
Bolingbrook | 2022
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#69
Paxton Warden
Paxton
Warden
6'2" | SG
Glenbard West | 2022
State
IL
(Glenbard West)
#95
Jordan Streeter
Jordan
Streeter
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2022
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
#109
Daniel Hong
Daniel
Hong
6'2" | PG
Barrington | 2022
State
IL
(Barrington)
#119
Kanye Smith
Kanye
Smith
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2022
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
#135 Danny Walker (Bolingbrook)
#143
Nathan Boldt
Nathan
Boldt
6'9" | PF
Barrington | 2022
State
IL
(Barrington)
#160
MJ Langit
MJ
Langit
6'0" | PG
Bolingbrook | 2022
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#211
Hunter Racic
Hunter
Racic
6'6" | C
Bolingbrook | 2022
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#247 Jack Cardwell (Glenbard West)
2023
#5
Dalen Davis
Dalen
Davis
6'0" | PG
Whitney Young | 2023
State
#167
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young)
#7
Daniel Johnson
Daniel
Johnson
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2023
State
#231
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young)
#27
Donaven Younger
Donaven
Younger
6'8" | C
Bolingbrook | 2023
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#31
Marcus Pigram
Marcus
Pigram
6'3" | SG
Whitney Young | 2023
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
#38
Keon Alexander
Keon
Alexander
6'6" | PF
Bolingbrook | 2023
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)
#51
Mekhi Cooper
Mekhi
Cooper
6'0" | PG
Bolingbrook | 2023
State
IL
(Bolingbrook)