IHSA boys basketball state finals 2023: Predicting the Illinois state champions

The IHSA boys basketball state finals return Thursday through Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign.

Eight of the 16 state finalists ended the season ranked statewide in their class, so it should be a wide-open and competitive weekend of games.

Below is what you need to know about each semifinal, top players, history — plus predictions from Gannett sports reporters across Illinois.

Looking for local playoff scores? Peoria | Springfield Want to watch on TV? Channel and stream info here

CLASS 1A

Waterloo Gibault vs. Bloomington Cornerstone Christian, 10 a.m. Thursday

No. 8 Gibault (30-7)

• Who to know: 6-1 sr. Kaden Augustine (17.1 ppg, 12.2 apg), 6-3 jr. Gavin Kesler (15.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-1 jr. Hudson Blank (10.0 ppg) and 41-year coach Dennis Rueter.

• What to know: The 204-student school won its last two playoff games by combined three points, including a buzzer-beater over No. 2 Illini Bluffs in the supersectional. ... Rueter has won 763 games in four decades at Gibault. ... Gibault has one previous state finals appearance, a runner-up finish in 1999 that ended on a last-second shot from champion Rock Falls.

Cornerstone Christian (31-5)

• Who to know: 6-2 sr. Jackson Baber (17.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg), 5-11 sr. Connor Scott (11.3 ppg, 5.6 apg), 6-0 sr. Austin Henard (11.1 ppg) and second-year coach John Schippert, a former assistant at Normal Community and Bloomington.

• What to know: Every step is historic for 115-student Cornerstone, which won its first regional, sectional and supers this season. ... Has won every playoff game by 13 or more, including 30-point win in the supersectional.

Tuscola vs. Scales Mound, 11:45 a.m. Thursday

Tuscola (30-6)

• Who to know: 6-3 jr. Jordan Quinn (14.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg), 5-8 so. Kam Sweetnam (11.7 ppg), 6-3 so. Parker James (8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg and sixth-year coach Justin Bozarth.

• What to know: The 290-student school defeated No. 3 Altamont for the sectional title. ... Five of its six losses are by five points or fewer. ... Tuscola will earn its first trophy in just its second finals appearance, the first coming in 1989.

Scales Mound (32-5)

• Who to know: 6-2 jr. Thomas Hereau (16.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), 5-9 sr. Charlie Wiegel (12.1 ppg, 4.7 apg), 6-0 sr. Jacob Duerr (9.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.5 rpg) and 17-year coach Erik Kudronowicz.

• What to know: The 70-student school returned no starters from its historic third-place run last season. ... Has won 78 games in two seasons and had not won a sectional before 2022. ... Defeated Chicago Marshall to win the supersectional.

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THIRD: 7 p.m. Thursday | TITLE: 11 a.m. Saturday

• Adam Duvall's title pick: Cornerstone Christian 37, Scales Mound 32

• Wes Huett's title pick: Scales Mound 60, Cornerstone Christian 55

• Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Cornerstone Christian 57, Scales Mound 52

• Jay Taft's title pick: Gibault 64, Scales Mound 60

• Bill Welt's title pick: Scales Mound 62, Cornerstone Christian 58

• Ryan Mahan's title pick: Scales Mound 45, Gibault 42

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CLASS 2A

Teutopolis vs. Chicago DePaul College Prep, 2:30 p.m. Thursday

Teutopolis (28-7)

• Who to know: 6-6 sr. Caleb Siemer (12.8 ppg, 9.1 rpg), 6-1 sr. Brendan Niebrugge (12.4 ppg), 6-3 sr. James Niebrugge (11.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and 10-year coach Chester Reeder.

• What to know: The 325-student school has six previous finals appearances and three trophies under former coach Ken Crawford, including the 1986 state title. The Wooden Shoes last made state in 2007. ... Has 12-game win streak. ... Won supersectional over Pinckneyville, which upset No. 2 Breese Central for a sectional title.

DePaul College Prep (21-12)

• Who to know: 6-8 jr. Payton Kamin (13.0 ppg), 6-0 sr. Maurice Thomas (11.4 ppg), 6-2 jr. PJ Chambers (10.4 ppg) and ninth-year coach Tom Kleinschmidt, former all-American at DePaul.

• What to know: Third state finals appearance for the 518-student school, which took third in 2019 and last season. ... Lost six of its last nine games before the playoffs, but boasts a schedule filled with big schools. ... One of two Chicago Catholic League teams alive along with St. Ignatius in 3A.

Taylor Ridge Rockridge vs. Bloomington Central Catholic, 4:15 p.m. Thursday

No. 7 Rockridge (28-4)

• Who to know: 6-2 sr. Jase Whitman (16.1 ppg), 6-4 so. Landon Bull (12.8 ppg), 6-3 so. Caleb Cunico (8.2 ppg) and seven-year coach Andy Saey.

• What to know: The 370-student school is back at state after fourth-place finish last season. ... Has won 14 games in a row, the last two over No. 4 Princeton and No. 10 Rockford Lutheran. ... Won trophies in 2015 and '16 under former Abingdon coach Toby Whiteman, now an assistant and father of Jase.

BCC (25-11)

• Who to know: 6-5 jr. Cole Certa (26.5 ppg), 6-6 jr. Colin Hayes (11.8 ppg, 8.4 rpg), 6-1 sr. Chase Fisher (8.2 ppg), 6-3 so. Trey Eller (7.3 ppg) and 17-year coach Jason Welch.

• What to know: Seventh state finals appearance for 321-student BCC, which won a title under Welch in 2014 (triple-OT win over Nashville) and was third in '18. ... The late Kevin Brown, who went on to coach at Washington, led BCC to state in 2002. ... Lost five of the last eight games before its playoff run. ... Defeated No. 8 Pontiac in the supersectional.

THIRD: 8:45 p.m. Thursday | TITLE: 12:45 p.m. Saturday

• Adam Duvall's title pick: DePaul College Prep 67, Rockridge 63

• Wes Huett's title pick: DePaul College Prep 67, Rockridge 62

• Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: DePaul College Prep 50, BCC 48

• Jay Taft's title pick: Teutopolis 73, Rockridge 64

• Bill Welt's title pick: DePaul College Prep 60, BCC 45

• Ryan Mahan's title pick: Teutopolis 51, BCC 42

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CLASS 3A

Chicago St. Ignatius vs. Chicago Simeon, 10 a.m. Friday

St. Ignatius (24-11)

• Who to know: 6-6 sr. Richard Barron (16.1 ppg), 6-3 so. Phoenix Gill (11.1 ppg), 6-2 sr. Owen Kyhl (4.9 ppg) and seven-year coach Matt Monroe.

• What to know: The 1443-student school is back at state after a third-place finish in its first state trip. ... One of two Catholic League schools in the field (2A DePaul), with a similarly loaded schedule. At one point this season, St. Ignatius lost eight of 11 games and lost Miami (Ohio) recruit Jackson Kotecki to injury. ... Gill is the son of former Illinois and NBA guard Kendall Gill.

No. 1 Simeon (30-3)

• Who to know: Northern Iowa-bound 6-8 sr. Wesley Rubin, 6-9 sr. Miles Rubin, Toledo-bound 6-6 sr. Sam Lewis, 6-0 sr. Michael Ratliff, 5-10 sr. Jalen Griffith and 19-year coach Robert Smith.

• What to know: The 1337-student school is simply one of the most decorated in history, with 11 state trophies including six state titles. ... Last won in 2013, which capped a Wolverines fourpeat with Jabari Parker. ... Nearly a wire-to-wire No. 1 in Chicago Sun-Times Super 25. ... Beat No. 5 Chicago Mount Carmel and No. 4 Country Club Hills Hillcrest the last two playoff games.

Metamora vs. East St. Louis, 11:45 a.m. Friday

No. 1 Metamora (32-2)

• Who to know: 6-1 jr. Tyler Mason (15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.1 apg), South Alabama-bound 6-6 sr. Ethan Kizer (13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-2 sr. Tyson Swanson (12.7 ppg), 6-3 sr. Drew Tucker (10.3 ppg) and 12-year coach Danny Grieves.

• What to know: The 974-student school has won 30 in a row and is back at state after losing last year's title game on buzzer-beater in double OT. ... Redbirds' two losses are to 4A No. 3 Joliet West and Florida's 7A No. 1 Winter Haven, both in November. ... First school to make multiple state finals appearances as a member of the Mid-Illini Conference.

No. 9 East St. Louis (25-8)

• Who to know: Kansas State-bound 6-7 sr. Macaleab Rich (19.7 ppg, 9.0 rpg), 6-6 sr. Antwan Robinson (10.0 ppg), 6-5 sr. D'Necco Rucker (9.7 ppg) and six-year coach Mark Chambers.

• What to know: The 1133-student school is back at state for first time since 2019 title. ... Chambers is the fourth coach to bring ESL to state. ... Flyers lost four of seven before the playoffs. ... ESL beat 2022 champ Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the supersectional.

THIRD: 7 p.m. Friday | TITLE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday

• Adam Duvall's title pick: Metamora 48, Simeon 46

• Wes Huett's title pick: Simeon 51, Metamora 50

• Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Simeon 68, East St. Louis 56

• Jay Taft's title pick: Simeon 77, Metamora 69

• Bill Welt's title pick: Metamora 64, Simeon 63 (2OT)

• Ryan Mahan's title pick: Simeon 65, East St. Louis 61 (2OT)

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CLASS 4A

Winnetka New Trier vs. Lisle Benet, 2:30 p.m. Friday

No. 8 New Trier (31-4)

• Who to know: Cornell-bound 6-4 sr. Jake Fiegen (20.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg), 6-3 so. Colby Smith (6.2 ppg), 6-10 sr. Tyler Van Gorp (5.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg) and 15-year coach Scott Fricke.

• What to know: The 4,000-student school is back at state for the first time since former Bradley player Rick Malnati led them to Peoria in 2005. ... The Trevians have won 13 in a row.

No. 1 Benet (34-1)

• Who to know: 6-3 sr. Brady Kunka (13.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg), 6-5 sr. Niko Abusara (11.9 ppg), 6-0 sr. Brayden Fagbemi (11.6 ppg, 4.0 apg) and 15-year coach Gene Heidkamp.

• What to know: The 1,313-student school is back at state for the fifth time and third under Heidkamp (runner-up finishes in 2014 and '16). ... Redwings have won 18 in a row since their lone loss to 3A No. 1 Chicago Simeon, 52-49, in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title game.

Downers Grove North vs. Moline, 4:15 p.m. Friday

DGN (32-3)

• Who to know: 6-1 jr. Jack Stanton (15.8 ppg), 6-0 sr. Max Haack (9.7 ppg), 6-5 sr. Jacob Bozeman (8.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and 16-year coach James Thomas.

• What to know: The 2,154-student school is at state for the first time. ... DGN doubled its win total from last season. ... The Trojans have won 19 in a row, including three straight over state-ranked opponents in No. 10 Chicago Whitney Young, No. 5 Hinsdale Central and No. 4 Chicago Kenwood.

No. 2 Moline (33-3)

• Who to know: Iowa-bound 6-10 sr. Owen Freeman (18.1 ppg, 8.9 rpg), Iowa-bound 6-0 sr. Brock Harding (18.0 ppg, 5.7 apg), 6-3 sr. Grant Welch (9.2 ppg), 6-5 so. Treyvon Taylor (8.7 ppg) and seven-year coach Sean Taylor (33 years total at Decatur St. Teresa, Shelbyville, Webster Groves (Mo.), Macomb, Quincy and Jacksonville)

• What to know: The 2,083-student Western Big 6 school is back at state for the first time since 2004. The Maroons will earn their first state trophy since 1951. ... won a supersectional over Oswego East, which upset No. 3 Joliet West in the sectional final. ... Has won 14 in a row since a Jan. 21 loss to 3A No. 1 Chicago Simeon.

THIRD: 8:45 p.m. Friday | TITLE: 7:15 p.m. Saturday

• Adam Duvall's title pick: Moline 52, Benet 51

• Wes Huett's title pick: Moline 62, Benet 60

• Matt Trowbridge’s title pick: Benet 50, DGN 42

• Jay Taft's title pick: Benet 61, Moline 60

• Bill Welt's title pick: DGN 70, Benet 60

• Ryan Mahan's title pick: Moline 80, Benet 65

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Expert predictions and outlook for 2023 IHSA boys basketball state finals