Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 8, 2026

Bolingbrook and Kenwood lost major stars to prep schools in the spring, and schools all over the area saw significant players move on to other states at some point before the season. With the current transfer trends there is very little guarantee that the team a school features in June winds up on the court in November.

Joliet West was hit especially hard by late transfers. Seniors Ethan Hillsman, Kendall Bosby and Mickeis Johnson all transferred. The Tigers had lost seniors Jamarri Fears and Rajan Roberts in previous years. That's a full Super 25-caliber starting lineup that never materialized.

Aamir Shannon is probably the only player in coach Jeremy Kreiger's current starting lineup that would have battled that group for a starting role. And Shannon began this season working back into full shape after an injury.

But the Tigers have persevered, and the remaining players have continued to improve, and now the team is playing like a sectional contender.

"Bosby, Mickeis and Ethan were our focal points," Kreiger said. "Now there are other guys that are trusted to take nine to 11 shots a game and they can make them."

Senior Brockton Goehrke has stepped up as point guard, and senior Deven Triplett is a major scoring threat. Shannon has his full athleticism back now and 6-7 Ryan Lipke, a transfer from Providence, gives Joliet West a threat in the post and from three-point range. Sophomore Abrey Robinson has provided a spark off the bench.

"We have tried to infuse them with confidence," Kreiger said. [Shannon, Luke Grevengoed and Goehrke] were defensive specialists and guys who spaced the floor. Now they are asked to be lead ball handlers."

Shannon has watched all the changes and played a key part in steadying the ship this season.

"Everybody needed some time to mature mentally in their new roles," Shannon said. "But they've figured out how to fill their purpose and do their jobs."

The Tigers (18-8) have won 11 of their last 12 games. The only loss in the stretch was at Bolingbrook in overtime.

Super 25 updates

Two teams having solid seasons picked up big wins this week and joined the rankings. Lincoln Park, which opened the season at No. 16, has gone through some struggles this year but may be peaking at the right time. The Lions knocked off highly-regarded Peoria Richwoods over the weekend and slot in at No. 24 this Super 25week. They take on Clark in the Public League Playoffs on Thursday at Simeon.

Hillcrest dominated Kenwood 67-45 on Saturday and recently took Curie down to the wire in a 58-56 loss. The Hawks make their Super 25 season debut this week at No. 25

York and Stevenson drop out of the rankings. The Dukes lost to York and Stevenson dropped games to Lake Forest and Warren.

All-Area and All-City nominations

Coaches and athletic directors, please email your All-Are and All-City nominations to mobrien@suntimes.com. Every team in the Sun-Times’ coverage area of nearly 400 schools is eligible. Sending statistics and other relevant information helps make a case for your player. Please limit your nominations to two players.

The All-City team will consist of four teams of five players from public and private schools in the Chicago city limits. The All-Area team is the 20 best players in the Sun-Times’ coverage area.

Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 8, 2026
With record and last week's ranking

1. Benet (26-1) 1
At Nazareth Friday

2. DePaul Prep (22-3) 2
Took down St. Laurence

3. Curie (22-1) 3
Into CPS Sweet 16

4. Kankakee (22-1) 4
Handled Hyde Park

5. Warren (24-2) 5
Jaxson Davis cracks 2,000

6. Neuqua Valley (26-1) 6
At DeKalb Friday

7. Homewood-Flossmoor (22-3) 7
Hosts Joliet West Saturday

8. Bolingbrook (20-7) 8
Beaten heavily in O'Fallon

9. Loyola (21-6) 13
Nice win at St. Patrick

10. St. Patrick (21-4) 9
Mike Bailey wins 700

11. Marist (24-4) 10
At Joliet Catholic Friday

12. Evanston (22-5) 11
Lost to Warren

13. Fremd (22-2) 16
Beat New Trier

14. St. Ignatius (24-4) 15
Beat Mount Carmel

15. Palatine (23-4) 17
Beat Cary-Grove

16. Mount Carmel (16-10) 12
At Brother Rice Friday

17. Kaneland (25-0) 19
Survived Sycamore again

18. Young (20-6) 18
Tough Sweet 16 opener

19. Glenbard East (24-3) 14
Lost to Riverside-Brookfield

20. New Trier (20-7) 21
Hosts Evanston Friday

21. Lockport (22-4) 22
At Sandburg Tuesday

22. Leo (20-4) 23
At Rich Monday

23. Waukegan (19-7) 25
Handled Libertyville

24. Lincoln Park (17-7) NR
Beat Richwoods

25. Hillcrest (17-7) NR
Dominated Kenwood