Previewing and predicting the IHSA Class 3A boys basketball state tournament

Out with the old, in with the new.

That’s the Class 3A mantra this season as so many former 3A state contenders in recent years have cycled through and are now in 4A. That includes the two-time defending 3A champs, DePaul Prep.

Three of the four semifinalists from last year, DePaul Prep, Brother Rice and St. Patrick, are all in Class 4A this year. Both teams from the 2024 3A state title game, DePaul and Mount Carmel, are competing up a class in 4A.

Simeon and St. Ignatius, a pair of 3A semifinalists in 2022 and 2023, are also now Class 4A schools.

While Class 3A has certainly been watered down a bit when it comes to the number of high-level contenders, it’s also creating a door that is wide open for new contenders.

Here are the picks for every sectional in the state, along with who will be playing in Champaign on the final weekend of the season.

Class 3A Previews and Picks

Hinsdale South Sectional

Semifinal picks: St. Francis over Lemont; Oak Forest over Wheaton Academy

Sectional pick: St. Francis

The top-seed, Joliet Catholic, has enjoyed a stellar regular season for themselves behind Jayden Armstrong (18 ppg) and Donavyn Simmons (15 ppg). At 19-11 the Hilltoppers are on the cusp of just their second 20-win season in 45 seasons.

But even with the regional on its home floor, Joliet Catholic will face the best low-seeded team in 3A in the title game.

The lowest seed to advance to a 3A sectional final in the past five years is Lemont, a No. 4 seed in 2022. With just a 13-14 record heading into the postseason, look for St. Francis to earn that moniker of “Cinderella” as a No. 7 seed.

They’ve taken their lumps in the rugged Catholic League, but the Spartans are ready to surprise. That would start with an upset win on the road at Joliet Catholic, the No. 1 seed, in the regional final.

Wheaton Academy has ultra-productive Hayden Schroeder to lean on, but Oak Forest has been playing well. The Bengals are 9-3 down the stretch and closed out the season with a win over Hillcrest.

Deerfield Sectional

Semifinal picks: St. Viator over Grayslake Central; Deerfield over Wauconda

Sectional pick: Deerfield

This one sets up to be a fun, competitive and up-for-grabs sectional with multiple contenders. It wouldn’t be a shock to see any of the top four seeds pull off a sectional win — or two — and advance to a supersectional.

St. Viator, who played ranked East Suburban Catholic Conference teams Benet, St. Pat’s and Marist to prepare for this 3A moment, and the top two teams in the Northern Lake County Conference, Wauconda and Grayslake Central, are all bonafide threats.

The Deerfield-Wauconda semifinal showdown will produce the sectional winner, will be favored in the super and be playing in Champaign on the final weekend of the season.

Led by Alex Ortega and a group of four double-figure scorers, Wauconda is fun, fast and can score. But with a tough schedule the Warriors have faced, the home floor and the sectional’s best player, 6-8 senior Jake Pollack, Deerfield gets the edge.

With the help of the Central Suburban League South, Deerfield has played 10 ranked teams in the Super 25 this season. Pollack (20 ppg, 8 rpg) and stat-sheet-stuffing Evan Nagler (14 ppg, 6 rpg, 3 apg) are three-year starters who will lead the Warriors to the program’s first sectional since 1997.

Ottawa Sectional

Semifinal picks: Morton, Ill. over LaSalle-Peru; Kankakee over East Peoria

Sectional pick: Kankakee

Kankakee and the star tandem of Lincoln Williams and EJ Hazelett are the clear favorites. These are two Division I prospects and have a solid supporting cast.

But the Kays will get a test in a semifinal matchup with East Peoria, a team with three — yes, three — 1,000-point scorers. They have their own talented duo of junior Quinton Kitt, who is committed to Illinois, and junior guard Cole DuBois, while Jackson Ahrens also surpassed 1,000 points.

Morton is red-hot. This is a team riding a 19-game win streak with wins over Peoria Richwoods and double-digit victories over East Peoria and Metamora during that stretch.

Morton will give Kankakee everything it can handle. Alex McKie is one of the elite shooters in the state. McKie is part of a senior-dominated perimeter group that includes Collin Burns and Owen Adams. Plus, 6-7 junior Brendan Petty is a late-blooming prospect who is coming on.

Woodstock North Sectional

Semifinal picks: Kaneland over Rockford East; Sycamore over Cary-Grove

Sectional pick: Kaneland

Kaneland, led by seasoned lead guard Marshawn Cocroft (20 ppg, 4 apg), will have a battle on its hands, starting with a regional championship game with Geneva or the host, Burlington Central. They would also have the never-easy task of beating a Sycamore team for the third time this season.

The better news for Kaneland? If they can win the sectional for the second straight season, DePaul Prep won’t be waiting for them in the super.

De La Salle Sectional

Semifinal picks: Hyde Park over Little Village; De La Salle over King

Sectional pick: De La Salle

It’s difficult to forecast anything other than a Hyde Park-De La Salle sectional title game here. And it will be a South Side postseason battle.

Hillcrest Sectional

Semifinal picks: Leo over Morgan Park; Hillcrest over Thornton

Sectional pick: Hillcrest

Leo, led by Brian Kizer (15 ppg), makes the jump to 3A after losing 43-42 in a Class 2A sectional final last year. The Lions get to the final again but fall short.

With the way Hillcrest has come on over the second half of the season, the Hawks become a much bigger favorite now than when the sectional assignments were released in December.

Hillcrest is 12-3 in its last 15 games with the three losses by a combined eight points, including a pair of ranked teams (Curie and York). The Hawks knocked off Thornton 42-40 at Christmas.

In search of its 11th sectional championship in program history, Hillcreset wins it on its home floor.

Mahomet-Seymour Sectional

Semifinal picks: Decatur MacArthur over Champaign Centennial; Normal U-High over Lincoln

Sectional pick: Decatur MacArthur

MacArthur is a big favorite. How big? MacArthur has pounded sectional foes with lopsided wins over Springfield Lanphier (75-50), U-High (62-32), Mahomet-Seymour (72-36), Lincoln (56-38) and Champaign Centennial (80-66).

MacArthus has a potent backcourt, though talented 6-3 guard Sean Lee (9 ppg) has been limited due to an injury he’s been dealing with. But 5-9 guard Tishawn Clemmons (18.8 ppg, 4 apg) just recently broke the Decatur Public Schools scoring record, previously held by MacArthur coach Terise Bryson, while Kymir Carson averages 14.3 points and five assists a game.

Waterloo Sectional

Semifinal picks: Centralia over Troy Triad; East St. Louis over Jacksonville

Sectional pick: East St. Louis

The top-ranked team in Class 3A should cruise to the sectional championship game, where it would likely meet a Centralia (29-1) team with a sparkling record.

This East St. Louis team is quick, athletic, balanced and boast a star. Penn State recruit Jamison White, a 6-8 big man and the state’s top-ranked senior prospect, is putting up 21 points, 13.2 rebounds and three blocks a game. He even steps out and can shoot it with 20 three-pointers.

The Flyers are potent with 6-3 Alex Johnson (17 ppg) and juniors Phillip Jones (11.6 ppg) and Terryion Webster (9.6 ppg) all as capable scorers surrounding White.

Class 3A Supersectional Picks

NOW Arena: Deerfield over St. Francis
NIU: Kankakee over Kaneland
UIC: Hillcrest over De La Salle
Bank of Springfield: East St. Louis over Decatur MacArthur

State Semifinal Picks: Kankakee over Deerfield; East St. Louis over Hillcrest

Class 3A State Championship: East St. Louis over Kankakee