The new-look city tournament has arrived. The Red playoffs begin on Tuesday with first-round games that don’t involve the top four teams in the Shield or the Star.
There are all kinds of flaws with this season’s basketball setup. Hopefully, this is just a one-year blip, and a more sensible arrangement will arrive next season. It’s time to return to smaller, geographically based conferences that renew and honor the city’s historic basketball rivalries.
The superconference format was intriguing when the Public League was loaded with stars. It even made sense, to try to create a high-level basketball conference that would convince some national-level players to stay local instead of heading to a prep school.
The talent level has receded significantly, so that isn’t a worry anymore. Public League basketball is strongest when local rivalries are allowed to flourish. Dunbar and Phillips didn’t play this season. Neither did Simeon and Morgan Park. That’s ridiculous.
Take the 24 best teams and divide them up into four conferences. That’s 10 games, one fewer conference game than was played this season. And bring back the traditional promotion/relegation system.
Here’s a look at a possible setup:
North: Lane, Lincoln Park, Northside, Payton, Taft, Young
Central: Curie, Dunbar, Hyde Park, Kenwood, King, Phillips
West: Clark, Crane, Farragut, Marshall, North Lawndale, Westinghouse
South: Ag. Science, Dyett, Lindblom, Perspectives-Leadership, Morgan Park, Simeon
Kenwood strives for history
Kenwood enters the city tournament as a heavy favorite. The Broncos’ path isn’t a cakewalk though. They could have games against Lane and Young, teams that played them close this season. Simeon or Lincoln Park may be waiting in the final.
Former coach Mike Irvin took Kenwood to the city title game the past two seasons. The Broncos lost to Curie last year and Simeon in 2023. Kenwood also lost to Simeon in the 2016 championship. The school has never won a boy’s basketball city title.
Super 25 update
Three talented teams that have been ranked most of the season dropped out of the Super 25 this week. Niles North, Fenwick and Curie were replaced by Young, Fremd and Kaneland.
Niles North lost to Loyola, Fenwick to Lemont and Brother Rice and Curie to Young and Simeon. Those aren’t bad losses, but all three teams are currently struggling and it was time for a couple of new faces to join the rankings.
Kaneland and Fremd are red hot and earned their way into the Super 25. The Dolphins have an ugly record but nearly knocked off Kenwood this week and defeated Curie. Young also has wins against Fenwick and Simeon.
Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 2, 2025
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Kenwood (23-1) 1
City tournament favorite
2. Bolingbrook (23-3) 2
Faces Vashon Saturday
3. Homewood-Flossmoor (22-2) 3
Took care of Lockport
4. DePaul Prep (22-3) 4
Hosts St. Ignatius Friday
5. Brother Rice (21-3) 5
Beat Fenwick
6. Hinsdale Central (23-2) 6
Winning streak is at 20
7. Rich (16-6) 7
Challenging week ahead
8. Lincoln Park (21-4) 8
Fell short vs. Kenwood
9. Marist (24-2) 10
Three-win week
10. Waubonsie Valley (24-1) 11
At DeKalb Wednesday
11. Evanston (20-4) 21
Beat Benet, New Trier
12. Benet (21-5) 9
Searching for consistency
13. Simeon (18-6) 17
Dominated Lane
14. Kankakee (20-3) 18
At Rich on Friday
15. St. Laurence (20-5) 19
Handled Mount Carmel
16. Loyola (20-6) 22
Brendan Loftus scored 40
17. Waukegan (17-6) 16
Beat Warren, lost to Stevenson
18. Mount Carmel (20-5) 14
Cam Thomas getting noticed
19. Rolling Meadows (21-3) 23
Tough week ahead
20. St. Ignatius (20-4) 24
Beat De La Salle
21. Warren (17-8) 20
Hosts Stevenson Friday
22. Young (14-11) NR
Beat Curie
23. Fremd (21-2) NR
Barrington, New Trier ahead
24. Glenbard West (18-5) 25
Fell short vs. Hinsdale Central
25. Kaneland (22-1) NR
Marshawn Cocroft can play