AND THE WINNERS ARE ...
Presenting five more top area prep teams of the last 10 years, based strictly on their ‘W’s’
We are counting down the 50 winningest high school basketball programs over the last decade, starting with the 2010-11 season and concluding with the 2019-20 season. Every team in every class throughout the area will be broken down in a variety of ways. But total wins, with winning percentage used as the tiebreaker, determined the rankings.
The teams are being counted down from No. 50 to No. 1 every day at suntimes.com, and we will present five every week in the paper. 24. AURORA CHRISTIAN (210-84)
Decade’s biggest storyline: This past season, Aurora Christian made it to the state finals for the first time since finishing runner-up in Class A in 1995. Behind the play of guards Taaj Davis, Danny New and Daniel Walker, the Eagles beat Hope Academy to win the sectional championship and walloped No. 1ranked Indian Creek in the supersectional.
The Eagles were 25-6 and set to play Madison in the Class 1A state semifinals when the COVID-19 pandemic erupted and put a halt to the season.
Player of the Decade: Jake Wolfe (2018). All-Decade Team: Jake Wolfe (2018), Taaj Davis (2020), Jonathan Harrell (2014), Dean Danos (2012) and Jaeshon Thomas (2021).
23. FREMD (210-81)
Decade’s biggest storyline: The 2016-17 year was a dream season and one for the record books, including a school-record 30 wins and just the second time the program advanced to the state finals.
Fremd’s unforgettable run began with a 25-0 regular season. The unbeaten streak continued through the postseason as the Vikings rolled into the state semifinals in Peoria with a 32-0 record before losing to Young.
Player of the Decade: Zach Monaghan (2011).
All-Decade Team: Riley Glassman (2014), Ben Carlson (2014), Zach Monaghan (2011), Kyle Sliwa (2017) and Bryce Hopkins (2019).
22. PROVISO EAST (212-86)
Decade’s biggest storyline: Proviso East might have had the best team of the decade that didn’t win a state championship. The 2011-12 Pirates finished the season 32-1, losing only to a loaded Simeon team led by Jabari Parker 50-48 in a state championship game everyone expected and wanted to see.
The Pirates, who featured leading scorer Keith Carter, Sterling Brown, Paris Lee and Jevon Carter, harassed opponents on the defensive end and excited fans with their endless speed in transition.
Player of the Decade: Sterling Brown (2013).
All-Decade Team: Keith Carter (2012), Sterling Brown (2013), Jevon Carter (2014), Paris Lee (2013) and Antonio Williams (2016).
21. HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (213-75)
Decade’s biggest storyline: Consistency. Maybe attaching “decade’s biggest” to the idea of consistency sounds a bit boring in a spotlight story. But under coaches Jim McLaughlin, who stepped down in 2014, and current coach Marc Condotti, the Vikings were a steady, consistent winner.
Player of the Decade: Tim Williams (2012). All-Decade Team: Tim Williams (2012), Maurius Hill (2013), Tai Odiase (2014), Kendric Pryor (2016) and RJ Ogom (2020).
20. YORK (215-94)
Decade’s biggest storyline: The decade produced recordbreaking win totals for the Dukes.
Before the start of the decade, the record for wins in a season at York was 25, set in 1961-62. That mark was matched in 2013-14 and then smashed the last two years with 29 and 28 wins. Player of the Decade: David Cohn (2013). All-Decade Team: David Cohn (2013), Frank Toohey (2014), Nick Kosich (2019), Charlie Rose (2014), Nate Shockey (2020) and Will Sullivan (2011).