Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Jan. 25, 2026
My favorite moment from Saturday’s When Sides Collide shootout didn’t come on the court. Benet coach Gene Heidkamp took some time after his team’s win to talk about Warren star junior Jaxson Davis.
First, he discussed Davis’ talent. The Redwings beat Warren on Saturday and in the Class 4A state championship last season.
“Davis, I can’t say enough about him,” Heidkamp said. “We’ve played against so many good guards in my time here. [Jalen] Brunson, [Tyler] Ulis, I could go down the line. [Davis] is pretty special. Especially right now for what he does for our basketball.”
Heidkamp then shared something that many coaches and fans around the state that love high school basketball will certainly agree with.
“I’m a huge fan of [Davis] as a player for what he does for our state,” Heidkamp said. “We don’t want to play against him anymore than we have to. But I respect him a lot. And I respect his talent and how good he is and what he does for his school and for all of high school basketball.”
Illinois has seen dozens of talented high school basketball players leave for prep schools. Some have returned, some have not. No one knows if Davis will stick around next year, his family hasn’t made that decision yet.
But one thing is certain. Davis will earn a special place in state history if he stays. He’ll be remembered as the one shining light that kept Illinois high school basketball alive for a few years when everyone else decided to leave.
Public League Playoffs
For the first time since 2002, every Public League basketball team will have a chance to win the city title. All 107 teams will take part in the city tournament.
The tournament will begin with four sectional play-in tournaments that start on Tuesday. Teams from all three conferences (Red, White, Blue) will take part in four directionally-based tournaments. The Red Central, White Central and Blue Central teams will be in one tournament, and the Red South, White South and Blue South in another. Same with the North and West.
The final four teams from each directional tournament advance to the city championship tournament. That 16-team bracket begins on Feb. 12. The city championship is Feb. 20 at UIC.
Super 25 update
When Sides Collide did not have a major impact on the top of the rankings. Benet and DePaul Prep held off upset bids.
Neuqua Valley’s impressive comeback win against Bolingbrook propelled the Wildcats up to No. 6.
Glenbard North drops out of the rankings after losing to Batavia.
New Trier returns to the Super 25 after an impressive week. The Trevians played well at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament without injured guard Christopher Kirkpatrick, then lost games to Evanston, Glenbrook North and Maine South and fell out of the rankings.
New Trier found its footing the past week, knocking off Kenwood, Deerfield and Oswego East.
Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Jan. 25, 2026
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Benet (23-1) 1
Size and depth
2. DePaul Prep (20-3) 2
Rykan Woo is a force
3. Curie (19-1) 3
City title favorites
4. Kankakee (16-1) 4
Tough week ahead
5. Warren (17-2) 6
Fell short at Benet
6. Neuqua Valley (21-1) 9
Supporting cast improving
7. Homewood-Flossmoor (19-2)
Big three-win week
8. Marist (19-3) 7
Lost to DePaul
9. Bolingbrook (14-6) 8
Missing Trey Brost
10. Evanston (18-3) 10
Winning short-handed
11. Waukegan (16-5) 11
At Warren Tuesday
12. St. Ignatius (19-2) 5
Lost to Loyola
13. Mount Carmel (15-7) 14
Lost to H-F, DePaul
14. Loyola (17-5) 16
Dominating Jesuit Cup
15. Glenbard East (21-2)
At Yorkville Christian Tuesday
16. St. Patrick (16-3) 17
At Marist Tuesday
17. Palatine (20-3) 18
Took down Hersey
18. Young (18-6) 19
Marquis Clark setting records
19. Kaneland (20-0) 21
Cocroft has them rolling
20. Fremd (18-2) 13
Upset by Lakes
21. Hersey (15-4) 20
Faces Neuqua Saturday
22. York (19-3)
Beat Hillcrest
23. Glenbrook North (17-5)
Hosts New Trier Friday
24. Cary-Grove (20-2)
Hosts Jacobs Tuesday
25. New Trier (16-6) NR
Back on track