Top 25 Illinois high school boys basketball rankings (1/13/2024)
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Curie, with five senior starters, continues to prove it’s the best team not only in the Public League but in the state of Illinois.
Elsewhere, Riverside-Brookfield and Glenbrook North move into the top 25.
Here is our breakdown of this week’s SB Live Power 25 Illinois high school boys basketball rankings (records through Jan. 12):
PREVIOUS RANKINGS: DEC. 8 | DEC. 14 | DEC. 22 | JAN. 3
Illinois high school boys basketball rankings
January 13, 2024
1. Curie (17-1)
Previous rank: 1
The Condors, who haven’t lost to an in-state opponent, beat Kenwood 68-49 behind a game-high 21 points from UIC recruit Carlos Harris III. They also picked up a notable win against Romeoville, 51-43, and beat Perspectives-Leadership 72-46.
2. Homewood-Flossmoor (15-1)
Previous rank: 2
The Vikings used balanced scoring to hand DePaul Prep its first loss of the season, 57-46 in the Rams’ gym. They also survived a scare from Andrew, prevailing 71-69 in overtime as Bryce Heard scored 21.
3. Thornton (14-2)
Previous rank: 3
Illinois recruit Morez Johnson had 18 points, 22 rebounds and five blocks in a 77-34 win over Thornridge. He also finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in a 63-62 victory against Metamora and contributed 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 62-48 victory over Richmond Heights (Ohio). Meyoh Swansey had 18 points and eight rebounds vs. Metamora and 18 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals against Richmond Heights.
4. Mount Carmel (18-2)
Previous rank: 7
The Caravan, like Curie and Homewood-Flossmoor, remain unbeaten against Illinois competition. They beat Montini 61-46 as Angelo Ciaravino scored 21 and knocked off Benet 50-36 as Grant Best had 15 points.
5. Benet (15-2)
Previous rank: 4
The Redwings beat St. Viator 67-39 before falling 50-36 to Mount Carmel despite 13 points from Gabe Sularski.
6. Metamora (13-4)
Previous rank: 8
Matthew Zobrist scored 25 points and Tyler Mason added 20, but the Redbirds were edged 63-62 by Thornton. They also coasted past East Peoria 78-37.
7. Normal (15-1)
Previous rank: 9
The Ironmen have won eight in a row after beating Champaign Central 70-36, Kenwood 57-43 and Champaign Centennial 69-41. Jaheem Webber had 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks vs. Kenwood, while Noah Cleveland had a double-double of 10 points and 14 rebounds.
8. DePaul Prep (17-1)
Previous rank: 6
The Rams suffered their first loss of the season, 57-46 to Homewood-Flossmoor, despite 17 points from Jaylan McElroy. They rebounded with a 69-40 victory against St. Francis de Sales.
9. Waubonsie Valley (15-0)
Previous rank: 21
Tyreek Coleman scored 18 points as the Warriors won a matchup of holiday tournament champs, 56-50 over district rival Neuqua Valley. They also edged Naperville North 40-39.
10. Quincy (16-1)
Previous rank: 12
The Blue Devils rolled past Alleman 86-39 and beat Cardinal Ritter (Mo.) 62-49.
11. Brother Rice (18-2)
Previous rank: 17
Marcos Gonzales scored 27 points in an 80-71 win against Eisenhower, 16 points in a 60-43 victory over Lane and 26 points in a 56-37 win vs. Providence.
12. Bloom (10-5)
Previous rank: 18
The Blazing Trojans are the last unbeaten in the tough Southland after knocking off Kankakee 44-39. They also picked up a quality win vs. Lincoln-Way East, 67-59, as Elijah Lovemore had a triple-double of 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists with seven steals.
13. Warren (16-3)
Previous rank: 5
The Blue Devils won a rivalry game against Waukegan, 66-59, but then dropped two straight: 85-55 to Kenwood and 54-51 to North Suburban rival Lake Forest.
14. Kenwood (12-5)
Previous rank: 20
The Broncos had an up-and-down start to the new year, losing 57-43 to Normal, beating Warren 85-55 and Simeon 61-42 and falling 68-49 to Curie. Freshman Devin Cleveland scored 20 vs. Warren and had 11 points and three assists in a 57-43 loss to Normal.
15. Bolingbrook (14-3)
Previous rank: 14
After beating neighborhood rival Romeoville 68-58 and Lockport 64-49, the Raiders fell 65-64 to Oswego East.
16. Collinsville (18-2)
Previous rank: 10
The Kahoks split their first four games of 2024, beating Jacksonville 63-33, losing 42-38 to Edwardsville, knocking off Alton 57-51 and losing 48-45 in overtime to Belleville East.
17. Downers Grove North (14-3)
Previous rank: 11
The Trojans beat Lyons 45-39 and Prospect 46-34 but had their first West Suburban Silver loss, 52-40 vs. Hinsdale Central.
18. Kankakee (13-2)
Previous rank: 15
The Kays beat Latin 54-47 and fell 44-39 to Bloom. Larenz Walters reached 1,000 points for his career in the Bloom game.
19. Riverside-Brookfield (15-2)
Previous rank: NR
The Bulldogs have won four in a row after beating Lincoln Park 70-63 and Nazareth 66-64. Their losses are against Brother Rice and Palatine.
20. Glenbrook North (15-3)
Previous rank: NR
Josh Fridman scored 17 points as the Spartans beat New Trier 38-34. North’s losses are to Neuqua Valley in overtime and by 10 to Loyola.
21. New Trier (16-3)
Previous rank: 13
The Trevians dropped a matchup of Central Suburban South unbeatens 38-34 to Glenbrook North and beat Oak Park-River Forest 62-43.
22. Centralia (18-0)
Previous rank: 22
The Orphans stayed perfect with comfortable wins against Mascoutah (59-41) and Charleston (62-28).
23. Marist (16-3)
Previous rank: 24
The RedHawks started 2024 with wins over Carmel (73-42), St. Rita (62-46) and Nazareth (54-45).
24. Lincoln Park (13-6)
Previous rank: 16
The Lions fell to Riverside-Brookfield 70-63 and Public League Red North-West rival Westinghouse 56-55 before beating North Lawndale 74-57.
25. Neuqua Valley (13-4)
Previous rank: 25
Nathan Fiore scored 15 in a 56-50 loss to unbeaten district rival Waubonsie Valley.
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– Mike Clark | [email protected] | @SBLiveIL