Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Dec. 15, 2024

A little bit of stability arrived to the Super 25 this week.

The top three teams remain the same. All turned in strong performances this week. Kenwood beat Simeon, Bolingbrook impressed against Oswego East and DePaul Prep dominated Rich.

Niles North and St. Laurence made the biggest leaps this week. Niles North, ranked No. 10 in the preseason, opened the season without Yaris Irby and picked up a couple of losses and dropped down the rankings. They knocked off Simeon handily on Saturday and rose to No. 11.

St. Laurence upset Homewood-Flossmoor in overtime at Mount Carmel on Sunday. It jumps all the way from No. 21 to No. 7.

It was time to add a lot of teams that are off to hot starts. Hersey, Geneva and Downers Grove North are all undefeated and join the rankings.

Hersey, with new coach Bob Widlowski, has knocked off Palatine, Stevenson and Prospect. Geneva has wins against Downers Grove South and Conant. The Vikings and Huskies were expected to crack the Super 25 at some point this season.

Downers Grove North is a surprise. Jim Thomas has a new group playing well. The Trojans have a big weekend ahead with games against Hinsdale Central and rival Downers Grove South.

St. Patrick, Joliet West, Evanston and Bradley-Bourbonnais drop out after losses. The Boilermakers lost to Homewood-Flossmoor. No shame in that, but the score was 72-38.

Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Dec. 8, 2024
With record and last week’s ranking

1. Kenwood (7-0) 1
Beat Simeon

2. Bolingbrook (7-1) 2
Faces Brother Rice Saturday

3. DePaul Prep (8-1) 3
Nice win vs. Rich

4. Waubonsie Valley (8-0) 7
Moses Wilson is a factor

5. Mount Carmel (7-0) 8
Dominated Young

6. Lincoln Park (8-1) 6
Lost to Arkansas team

7. St. Laurence (6-2) 21
Beat H-F in overtime

8. Homewood-Flossmoor (8-1) 4
Hosts Andrew Monday

9. Warren (5-2) 9
Beat Lake Forest

10. Niles North (5-2) 18
Handled Simeon

11. Brother Rice (8-0) 14
Marcos Gonzales is rolling

12. Simeon (4-2) 5
Two-loss week

13. Rich (2-3) 10
Couldn't hang with DePaul

14. Bloom (6-1) 13
Hosts Kankakee Friday

15. Kankakee (4-1) 15
Dominated Thornton

16. Waukegan (5-2) 16
Xavi Granville can play

17. St. Ignatius (8-1) 11
Lost to Loyola

18. Benet (8-1) 12
Survived Marist

19. Curie (5-1) 17
Lost to Lincoln Park

20. Glenbard West (8-0) 20
Beat Proviso West

21. Young (3-4) 19
At Simeon on Tuesday

22. Hersey (8-0) NR
Bob Widlowski winning

23. Geneva (8-0) NR
At Batavia Friday

24. Marist (8-1) NR
Rokas Zilys can score

25. Downers Grove North (8-0) NR
Big weekend ahead