SET TO MAKE STATE-MENT
When Young’s Jahlil Okafor was in seventh grade, he watched Marcus Jordan lead the Dolphins to a state title. The last four years, Okafor watched his good friend Jabari Parker do the same at Simeon.
Meanwhile, Okafor won nearly every individual award available and several international gold medals. He has won two city titles and signed with Duke, but his ultimate goal has been elusive.
“State is definitely the biggest goal I have,” Okafor said. “I feel like I really haven’t done anything until I win a state championship. I’ve won two city championships, but state, that’s what you get banners on the wall for.”
The Dolphins are clearly the state’s most talented team. That could change over the course of a long four-month season. Simeon might be too young to trust in December, but the talent is on hand and it could mature by March. The biggest challengers to Young in Class 4A likely are Marian Catholic and Stevenson, teams led by the state’s two most dynamic guards, Tyler Ulis and Jalen Brunson.
1. Young: Okafor and Paul White give the Dolphins the top frontcourt in the state, and possibly the country. Transfer Ant Mosley Jr. will face a trial by fire. He must adjust to Public League play and extensive travel and handle some of the nation’s top guards. His development will be a huge factor in Young’s success.
2. Marian Catholic: Nearly every significant player returns from a team that reached the supersectional a year ago. Ulis, a Kentucky recruit, is impossible to stop fully, Ki-Jana Crawford is a definite scoring threat and the team has the chemistry necessary for a run to Peoria.
3. North Chicago: The Warhawks are 167-49 the last seven years with six sectional titles and two trips to state. The only thing missing from that impressive run is a state title, and this could be the year. Every key player returns, including the big three of JayQuan McCloud, JaVairius Amos-Mays and Kurt Hall.
4. Stevenson: Stars Brunson and Connor Cashaw are back from the squad that finished second to Simeon in Class 4A last season. That success should have the Patriots poised for big things this season.
5. St. Rita: Is this the year New York coaching legend Gary DeCesare finally tastes real success in Chicago? All the pieces are in place. The backcourt is very talented with the Matthews brothers, 6-5 Charles and 6-3 Dominique. Northwestern recruit Vic Law and 6-8 Myles Carter add size. Armani
Chaney and Treston Forbes give the backcourt experience and depth.
6. Morgan Park: Josh Cunningham and Lamont Walker make up the second-best frontcourt in the state. The Mustangs will go as far as sophomore guard Charlie Harris and scoring guard Kain Harris take them. Both have some varsity experience, and senior Torry Johnson will help, but expect some growing pains early.
7. Simeon: Another talented team with an unproved backcourt. Sophomore Zach Norvell will run the show. As a freshman, he led the Wolverines’ sophomore squad to a 35-0 record and the city title. There’s a lot of young highmajor talent around him, including Illinois recruit DJ Williams, junior Edward Morrow and sophomore Ben Coupet Jr. Seniors Donte Ingram and Jaycee Hillsman are expected to step into major roles after playing sparingly last season.
8. Orr: Louis Adams, Jr., 6-8 Marlon Jones and 6-7 Tyquone Greer return from last year’s squad, which advanced to Peoria. Issaiah Hayes has transferred over from Crane and will add some punch to the backcourt. Sire Carroll, a 6-7 transfer from Farragut, gives the Spartans one of the state’s most imposing front lines.
9. Curie: Sophomore point guard Devin Gage earned a boatload of valuable experience last year and should be much improved. Junior shooting guard Joseph Stamps could mature into one of the state’s elite scorers, and Kansas recruit Cliff Alexander is one of the nation’s top players. This could be the year the Condors finally win a sectional.
10. St. Viator: Roosevelt Smart’s transfer from Palatine immediately turned Mike Howland’s team into a serious contender for the state title. Drake recruit Ore Arogundade is an athletic scorer, and point guard Mark Falotico is one of the area’s best floor generals.
11. Zion-Benton: Remember the way East Aurora’s Ryan Boatright captivated the area his senior season with high-scoring games? Milik Yarbrough could do the same this year. He’s the area’s best scorer. This season he has the supporting cast to make a serious run at Peoria. The Zee-Bees are very big, with 6-5 Jerome Davis, 6-7 Chris Moragne and 6-5 junior Admiral Schofield.
12. Bogan: If Luwane Pipkins has figured out how to put a complete game together, look out. The talented guard typically started very slow in big games last season, then dominated in the second half. He’s surrounded by a lot of athletes, including 6-7 Antonio Thomas, 6-4 Antoine Boyd and sophomore guard Bryce Barnes.
13. Loyola: Coach Tom Livatino has been building toward this season for a couple years. The Ramblers can shoot, defend and have some size. The time is now for seniors Jack Morrissey, Kevin Kucera and James Clarke.
14. Larkin: Expectations in Elgin are sky high. Peoria is the goal. The senior backcourt of Kendale McCullum and Derrick Streety lead the way. There is some size on hand with 6-5 senior and 6-5 Christian Negron, a talented freshman.
15. Proviso East: It’s a small year in Maywood, with several talented guards and very little size. Expect the Pirates to get out and run behind West Virginia-bound guard Jevon Carter, senior Malik Carter, 6-2 Kailen Fisher. Keep an eye on Mahir “Baby Earl” Williams, a 5-10 freshman who has been hyped since seventh grade.
16. Bloom: Ron Ashlaw left Waukegan to take over the Blazing Trojans this year. He doesn’t have a star, but plenty of talented veterans are on hand, including Zerell Jackson, 6- 4 James Coleman and 6- 4 Jared Johnson.
17. St. Joseph: Glynn Watson is one of the state’s elite point guards. He dominated games for stretches last season. Shooting guard Jordan Ash matured over the summer. If 6-6 senior Jon Johnson and 6-9 sophomore Nick Rakocevic can be factors inside, look out.
18. North Lawndale: The Phoenix are back. Senior Keith Mack is a talented 6-6 forward, junior Fred Sims will run the show and big man Manual Patterson is one of the state’s top freshmen.
19. Oak Park: All the necessary ingredients are in place. The senior class has a bit of everything: scoring guards in Erick Locke and Jason Gant, and 6-7 Javonni Harrell, a talented big. Keep an eye on talented sophomores Liam Shannon and Breshawn Wilderson.
20. De La Salle: Brandon Hutton is a force of nature on the court, one of the area’s real treats to watch. The play of junior guards Martez Cameron and Karl Harris will determine just how solid the Meteors are.
21. Hillcrest: Don Houston’s squad is always solid. Senior guards Allen Jones and Robert Garmon are capable, and 6-7 junior Taylor Adway has the chance to be a star.
22. Thornton: All five starters are back from last year and will combine with a group of juniors who were unbeaten on the sophomore level last season. Senior Justin Taylor is the leader as a three-year starter.
23. Plainfield East: Junior guard Aaron Jordan is one of the state’s best. Senior guard Nick Novak is solid. The Tigers have plenty of shooters and some young size.
24. Bolingbrook: Prentiss Nixon runs the show, and shooting guard Gage Davis and 6-8 Julian Torres had excellent summers. Kenny Williams and Shakur Triplett, a pair of 6-6 forwards, add size.
25. Benet: Xavier recruit Sean O’Mara will be the focal point. Much will depend on senior guard Collin Pellettieri.