Looking back at the crystal ball
Preseason predictions had some hits and some misses
Way back in November, I attempted to make predictions for the 2022-23 season. It’s time to take a look at those fearless forecasts and see the verdicts.
Rolling Meadows will be the only team outside the top five to reach No. 1 in the Super 25 rankings.
Last season, Glenbard West ran the table. The Hilltoppers were No. 1 from start to finish.
This year, it was expected several teams near the top of the preseason rankings eventually would ascend to the top spot. Simeon started at No. 1 and finished there. And the only other team to make it to No. 1 was Kenwood — for one week in the middle of January.
The belief was Rolling Meadows had the talent, experience and early-season schedule to maybe rise to No. 1 while others knocked each other off. Coach Kevin Katovich’s team, fresh off a Jack Tosh Holiday Classic title in December, peaked at No. 5 in early January.
If not for a tough 65-64 loss to New Trier in December, the Mustangs might have inched closer to the top spot. Flip that score, and Rolling Meadows would have been 17-0 heading into January.
Downers Grove North will be the team outside the Super 25 to make the biggest climb up the rankings.
Well, here was a home-run forecast. Coach Jim Thomas guided the Trojans to an unprecedented season, winning just the second sectional title in program history and bringing home the first state trophy.
Downers Grove North fizzled in Champaign, but what a run it was, knocking off Proviso East, Young, Hinsdale Central and Kenwood to reach the state semifinals.
Unranked in the preseason, Downers Grove North finished the season with 32 wins and ranked No. 4 in the final Super 25 rankings.
Phoenix Gill will be the biggest breakout player in the sophomore class.
When considering players who combine production and upside — and who didn’t make a significant impact as a freshman — the St. Ignatius sophomore might have lived up to the billing.
The Class of 2025 hasn’t exactly lit up the high school basketball world. Overall, the early returns from the class after two seasons leave everyone wanting and hoping for a whole lot more.
However, Gill sparked a St. Ignatius run that ended in Champaign for the second straight season. The talented guard was instrumental in helping the Wolfpack win their second straight sectional championship.
His overall season stats — 11.7 points, three rebounds and 2.7 assists a game — don’t tell the whole story.
In the final 10 games of the season, Gill averaged 15.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists, including upping his scoring to 16.8 points a game in the final five postseason games. He also shot 40% from the threepoint line in that span.
Lincoln-Way East will have the biggest turnaround season of any team.
When you consider this is a team that went 11-17 a year ago and finished 25-6 this year while winning the second regional championship in program history, it’s tough to argue against Lincoln-Way East here.
There were many turnaround seasons across the area, but the Griffins cracked the Super 25 rankings and broke a school record for wins.
Coach Robert Smith will win state title No. 7
Oh, so close.
The legendary high school coach announced his retirement, and all eyes were on whether he could direct one of the favorites in Class 3A to yet another state championship. He fell just short.
Simeon, which won a city championship in February, reached Champaign in March. But an overtime loss to Metamora in the statetitle game ended the dream of going out on top and breaking his own record of most state championships won.