Henricksen: The daunting task of ranking the top 80 teams

The first game has yet to be played, but that doesn’t stop the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s annual endeavor to rank as many teams as possible. This year’s edition of the Hoops Report’s preseason rankings stretches all the way out to the top 80.

Is it impossible to rank teams 1 through 80 before a shot has even been taken? You bet it is. Rankings are fluid throughout the season within typical top 25 rankings.

But a top 80? Hey, it’s fun and a conversation starter to start the year while providing an opportunity to highlight more teams and more players –– and providing bulletin board material for (insert school here).

Today we look at the teams ranked No. 26 through No. 80, with a more detailed breakdown of the preseason top 25 teams on Monday.

Let the debate and discussion begin.

26. FARRAGUT: Coach Wolf Nelson always has a team people forget about. But Nelson also has his next star. Sophomore Reggie Strong, the dynamic floor general who was sensational as a freshman, is only getting better and is already among the top prospects in the Class of 2020 in Illinois. Guard Aaron Strong is a forgotten player in the junior class, but he’s productive and been through the Red-West wars.

27. HINSDALE SOUTH: Star senior Zion Griffin was one of the biggest offseason stories. The Iowa State commit was terrific last season, le9ding the Hornets to a share of the West Suburban Gold. Look for the athletic 6-6 forward to be dominating this season. Top-notch defender Robert Barnes returns, while long, wiry 6-6 sophomore Aaron Tims is one to watch. Senior Ramon Norman and sophomore Billy Durkin should provide enough perimeter shooting to space the floor.

28. BATAVIA: The long football playoff run will be rough on the basketball Bulldogs in the early going. With so many key fixtures playing football still –– the Bulldogs play in the 7A state championship game this weekend –– it remains to be seen how quickly it rebounds from missing crucial practice time. But coach Jim Nazos has a nice group to build around when they’re all back, including offensive weapons in Eric Peterson, a versatile 6-4 wing, 6-2 Blake Carlson, point guard Riley Cooper, perimeter threat Kyle LeFevre and 6-5 sophomore Jayden Johnson.

29. MAINE SOUTH:The Hoops Report may be a bit more bullish on the Hawks than most. Following an impressive seven-year run where coach Tony Lavorato’s teams averaged 24 wins a season, the Hawks finished with a not-too-shabby 17 victories last season. However, top player Tom Gardiner missed 24 games with a knee injury (after starting the season out with a bang). The 6-7 Gardiner is back and healthy, along with 6-7 Grant Miller, up-and-coming 6-4 junior Fil Bulatovic and 6-3 senior guard Michael George. There is offensive potential at a number of positions, which makes the Hawks a major threat in the Central Suburban League South.

30. ST. JOSEPH: It was a bit of a frustration last year for the Chargers to even get to 16-12, a season that ended in an upset loss to Proviso West in the regional semifinals. This year legendary coach Gene Pingatore’s team will be big, strong and physical with 6-4 Jalen Boyd (10 ppg, 5.5 rpg), 6-6 Jordan Boyd (11.5 ppg 7.8 rpg) and 6-3 guard Joffari Brown (7.5 ppg). Ahmad Muhammad will be the key at point guard, while 6-3 junior Maliq Anderson can score the basketball and is fresh off a solid summer.

31. BLOOM: The Blazing Trojans don’t have a single starter returning, but it’s a team brimming with blossoming, young talent. If a dynamite sophomore group comes together quickly, Bloom will be dangerous in the second half of the season. The sophomore guard trio of Keshawn Williams, Dante Maddox, Jr., and Donovan Newby, along with 6-8 sophomore Martice Mitchell, has the folks in Chicago Heights excited.

32. EVANSTON: Fresh off winning a sectional championship, there may not be a team that was hit harder by graduation than the Wildkits. Four-year star Nojel Eastern and eight seniors have departed. However, it’s an opportunity for junior guard Lance Jones to shine. Jones and 5-9 guard Jaheim Holden provides some offensive punch for a team that will need some promising young players to step up.

33. PROVISO EAST: Just on the outside looking in of the top 25, yes, but it’s still Proviso East. Senior Quinlan Bennett has size, length and athleticism at the guard spot and has a chance to be one of the real breakout stars in the senior class. Jordan Morris is a physical force and sophomore Michael Osborne is a talent. This is is still a Proviso East team that lost to Curie by 25 points in a regional final last year. But the Pirates could relish in the role of “darkhorse” in the West Suburban Gold with so much talk centering around Willowbrook and Hinsdale South.

34. ST. VIATOR: Don’t let last year’s 11-16 record fool you. The Lions are prepped and ready to make a run at an East Suburban Catholic Conference title with emerging junior Jeremiah Hernandez, a skilled 6-4 perimeter talent. Senior Peter Lambesis has made big strides and will be an even bigger threat offensively, and point guard Treyvon Calvin is a rising prospect in the junior class.

35. MARIAN CATHOLIC: A year from now you may be looking at Marian Catholis as the consensus favorite in the ESCC. For now, coach Mike Taylor will rely heavily on underclassmen –– sophomore point guard Ahron Ulis, the younger brother of former star Tyler Ulis, junior scorer Malik Tidwell, 6-5 junior Chris White, 6-5 sophomore R.J. Ogom and sophomore guard Jordan Green.

36. CONANT: Jim Maley takes over for a coaching legend in the northwest suburbs, Tom McCormack, who stepped down after three-plus decades as head coach. Maley has a tremendous starting block with 6-8 skilled big man Ryan Davis, who has signed with Vermont. Davis can step away from the basket and can be a handful inside with his size and touch. Ben Schols, a 6-4 shooter and four-year varsity player, also returns.

37. GENEVA: Point guard Jack McDonald (10.6 ppg) is one of the more underrated juniors in the Chicago area. McDonald is tough, savvy and plays with confidence while making winning plays. Mitch Mascari (8.2 ppg) is a very capable perimeter shooter. Those two were key pieces to last year’s 28-win team. Keep an eye on the rise of 6-7 sophomore Nate Santos (4 ppg).

38. MARIST: Senior Morgan Taylor remains one of the best-kept secrets in the Chicago area. The 6-2 guard averaged 12 points a game last season and will be in the ESCC POY talks this season. David Daniels, a 6-4 senior wing, has made steady progress since averaging 6.3 points and 5 rebounds a game last season, and 6-4 Jack Ellison is a talented transfer from Chicago Christian.

39. WHEATON NORTH: The Falcons very quietly won 24 games and reached a sectional championship game. While coach Dave Brackman’s team lost so much offensive production from last year’s terrific senior class, 6-6 Josh Sorenson is one of the most improved players in this senior class and 6-7 junior Deng Reng has emerged as a Division I prospect. The junior class went unbeaten last season as sophomores with Reng on varsity.

40. LOYOLA ACADEMY: There is just one lone returning starter, senior guard Kevin Cunningham (12 ppg, 71 three-pointers), but this program has become too consistent and too fundamentally sound to ignore in the preseason. The football players need to return and the young players –– 6-2 junior Connor Barrett and sophomores Bennet Kwicienski and Jordan Kwicienski –– will have to rise to the occasion, but the Ramblers could be a thorn in the side in the Catholic League.

41. ST. IGNATIUS: Don’t sleep on a team with a leader and fixture at point guard, senior Carter Higgeibottom. Junior guard Christian Davis (7.2 ppg), 6-5 Luke Nauman (5 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 6-3 shooter Luke Deely also return. Keep an eye on big man Dariusz Muta, a much-improved 6-7 senior, and highly advanced sophomore Daniel Florey.

42. NORTH CHICAGO: There is always some offensive firepower at North Chicago. Pierce Coleman, an offensive threat at 6-4 who can shoot it and score around the basket, and Syshone Lymone, an athletic 6-3 guard, are those threats this year. But keep an eye on the development of two juniors with size –– 6-6 Raeshaun Samoa and 6-8 Achan Clinton.

43. BROTHER RICE: Don’t write off the Crusaders just because they lost the terrific tandem of Josh Niego and Mike Shepski, two high-scoring perimeter players. Look for guard Brendan Coghlan and wiry athlete Josh Boulanger to take a major step forward, while 6-1 junior Marquise Kennedy, a transfer from Crete-Monee, is an exciting talent.

44. HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR: The Vikings are young, long and athletic as coach Marc Condotti retools his roster. Maurion Scott, an athletic 6-3 get-things-done forward, is an exciting junior to watch but is the lone returning starter. Hillcrest transfer Isaac Stanback adds some punch with his athleticism and tenacity. Keep an eye on the development of 6-5 freshman Chad Readey.

45. ZION-BENTON: Coach Bobby Worthington has restocked the talent pool. A group of seniors, including 5-6 guard Anthony French, 6-3 Cortez Sawyer and 6-6 Josh Sobecki, are primed and ready to expand their roles, along with 6-3 junior Niko Meyers and junior guard Quentin Williams. But it’s impressive 6-4 freshman Amar Augillard who may be the next big thing for the Zee-Bees.

46. HILLCREST: The loss of junior Isaac Stanback, who transferred to H-F, certainly hurts the fortunes the Hawks. Coach Don Houston will rely heavily on a pair of senior guards –– Jalen Hughes and 6-3 Bobby Harvey.

47. THORNTON: If the guard play can come through and solidify itself to help 6-7 Orlando Allen and 6-5 Keeshawn Chambers, a transfer from Solorio, the Wildcats could be better than people think.

48. BENET: Reaching a ninth consecutive 20-win season will be a reach. But then again this is a Gene Heidkamp-coached Benet team. Senior shooter David Buh is ready to step up and sophomore big man Colin Crothers has added to his game. That alone makes the Redwings a darkhorse in the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

49. LIBERTYVILLE: This will be one of the more improved teams in the Chicago area after finishing 12-16 a year ago. Drew Peterson is a difference-making 6-7 wing and one of the top dozen prospects in the senior class. The returning senior group, including Peterson, 6-4 Chase Eyre, 6-3 Riley Gowens and 6-4, 235-pound Brendan Cook, will get some help from 5-10 junior Josh Steinhaus. The junior group went 22-5 last season as sophomores.

50. JOLIET WEST: There is no question coach Nick DiForti’s team was hit hard by graduation. And then its top returning player, Eddie Creal, transferred to Romeoville. But the Tigers have enough to compete at a pretty high level. Senior guards Michael Smith, who is much improved from a year ago, and Darren Williams are a solid starting point in the backcourt, and Charles McKinney is another talent with experience in the senior class. There is also a wave of young talent that will help sooner than later.

51. DEERFIELD: Coach Dan McKendrick will build around guard Alex Casieri, a three-year starter and all-league performer who averaged 16 points and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc. A trio of others –– Danny Siegel, Zach Rothenberg and Myles Baer –– all gained experience for a team that won 18 games and a CSL North title. The wildcard, however, might be the development of 6-8 sophomore Brandon Lieb.

52. WARREN: Branden Ellis, an athletic 6-3 guard and coveted Division II prospect, is the headliner. Ellis came on strong in the second half of last season and is poised for a big senior year. He is among a host of players who can knock down shots from beyond the arc, including Ian Schilling and Barak Diehl

53. LEO: There is a sense this could be a team that thrives in the new Catholic League alignment with a combination of young talent and depth. Fred Cleveland has arrived from Urban Prep Englewood. The 5-5 point guard has been a disruptive force. There is size and length surrounding him in 6-6 junior DeChaun Anderson, 6-3 junior Malcolm Hill and 6-5 sophomore Kendale Anderson.

54. FREMD: All the Vikings did last season was shock the state with a 30-0 record before losing two games in Peoria to finish fourth in Class 4A. Ryan Martin, the lone returning starter, is a good one with true offensive capabilities. Is promising 6-4 junior Bryce Hopkins set to take a big step forward? If so the Vikings could repeat in the Mid-Suburban League.

55. DE LA SALLE: Veteran senior guard Jamari Norwood set the tone with his defense and toughness. But the Meteors will try to utilize its size with 6-7, 275-pound Javion Caldwell is a mountain, 6-7 Dave Pinskus averaged 10 points a game and 6-8 Barlow Alleruzzo is a transfer from Sandburg who can stretch the floor. The key to how good this team can be is the talented upside up a pair of juniors –– 6-4 Alex Raiford and 6-5 C.J. Benton.

56. NORTH LAWNDALE: Coach Lewis Thorpe will have David Forrest for a full season. The rugged athlete with a scorer’s mentality played just the second half of the season a year ago. He will be the focal point after averaging 10 points a game. Another player with power, 6-3 combo forward Clavonne Hillard, also returns after averaging 8.4 points a game. The key may be how big of an impact promising junior guard Demetrius Douglas makes this season.

57. PROVIDENCE ST. MEL: This team is a year away from being a potential top 25 team with a stocked junior class, led by point guard Tim Ervin and 6-9 Taeyon Neal. Unheralded 6-4 junior wing Jason Mason was the second leading scorer a year ago.

58. JOLIET CENTRAL: What can coach Larry Thompson do for an encore after the Steelmen were one of the bigger surprises a year ago, winning an unexpected 23 games? It starts with senior guard Cameron Blackmon, who averaged 9.5 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds a game. Key players who handled supporting roles well last season –– 6-4 wing Ryan Saunders and guard Don Joachim –– and emerging 6-5 sophomore Kee Hargrow must step up if the Steelmen hope to approach the 20-win mark again.

59. JACOBS: How do you replace big man Cameron Krutwig, arguably the best player in school history? You don’t. But there is talent remaining after last year’s record-breaking season of 30 wins and a sectional title. Ryan Phillips and Nik Balkcom are returning starters. Ajani Rodriguez played valuable minutes and promising Kameron Mack, a 6-6 with endless length and shooting ability, is an emerging talent.

60. THORNWOOD: The addition of 6-3 Jalen Chavers, a transfer from McNamara, is a huge boost for a team that lost all five starters. Chavers is a bonafide scorer for coach Paul Slavich. There is a host of perimeter players, including 6-3 senior Sam Moore, 5-9 Joshua Roseborough, 5-9 junior Zachary Carr and others from a strong sophomore group, that gives this team speed, quickness and a chance to win the Southwest Suburban Red.

61. HIGHLAND PARK:Ziv Tal is underrated. All the 6-0 senior guard did last year was average 17 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.1 steals a game and scored more points than any junior in Highland Park history. Tal and Tyler Gussis gives coach Paul Harris a pair of three-year varsity veterans, while Noah Shutan and Daniel Michelon also return. This may be a little low for a team that will challenge for a Central Suburban League North title.

62. LINCOLN PARK: This could be one of the real surprises in the Public League as there is overlooked talent in place, starting with 6-5 wing Terrence Shannon, poised for a breakout senior year, and junior guard Chris Roberts, who is a blur in the open court with the ball in his hands. Athletic 6-3 senior William Flowers and versatile Tahir Thompson are ones to keep an eye on.

63. BUFFALO GROVE: There is a ton of experience back for this MSL East contender. Big 6-5, 230-pound Mac Camardo (15 ppg, 7 rpg) and 5-10 guard Jack Vasleaney is a great place to start as they helped the Bison to a 16-11 record last season. In addition, senior guard Caleb Mayhorn, shooter Zach Fricke and 6-3 junior Tom Trieb have all been varsity contributors.

64. WHEATON-WARRENVILLE SOUTH: So just how much of that magic potion from last season does coach Mike Healy have left? Healy, last year’s City/Suburban Hoops Report Coach of the Year after guiding an overachieving team to 29 wins, returns three starters: a couple of knockdown shooters in guards Jake Healy and Chase Stebbins, along with and Parker Robinson, who moves to point guard. The production and, more importantly, the presence of graduated Dillon Durrett will be tough to replace.

65. BARTLETT: The Hawks finished 18-12 last season with a young, inexperienced team that arrived ahead of schedule. Now coach Jim Wolfsmith heads into this season as the biggest threat to West Aurora in the Upstate Eight Valley, thanks to the return of senior Ben Tompson (16 ppg), Austin Gates (9.4 ppg), who is a real up-and-coming player in the junior class, Tomas Vikings (7 ppg) and Ben Fisher (8.6 ppg).

66. HOPE ACADEMY: Can this team be better than the one that finished third in Class 1A last year? They make the jump to 2A this season and do so with seniors Javion May (13.6 ppg) and Javari McClendon (11.8 ppg) back. Sophomore Jamari McClendon is expected to make an impact and Tyrell Pettis, a transfer from Luther North, add some more punch.

67. MINOOKA: The perimeter is set with the senior trio of underrated 6-2 Kyle Graebner (10 ppg), 6-2 Keegan Graebner and the much-improved Brandon Hill, a 6-0 senior point guard. Don’t be surprised if coach Scott Tanaka’s team, which won 21 games a year ago, makes a run at a Southwest Prairie Conference title.

68. RICH EAST: Former Chicago Bulls guard Craig Hodges has his best team since taking over the program. Senior Vashawn Sims, a 6-0 scoring guard, and 5-10 Ramone Woods, Jr., are the catalysts for a team that hopes to make a big push in Class 3A and make a run in the Southland Conference. Also back from a team that finished 12-15 are 6-4 senior Nate Reese and 6-0 Antron Washington.

69. RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD: First-year coach Mike Reingruber has the pieces for the Bulldogs to once again win a league title, starting with shooter Ryan Cicenas (12 ppg) and junior point guard Zach Vaia (7 ppg, 3 apg).

70. LANE TECH: Sleeper in the city as coach Nick LoGalbo welcomes back a ton of experience from a team that showed promise last year but struggled due to youth. That includes a pair of three-year starters in 6-6 Calvin Keyes and 6-3 Zach Krysztopik, last year’s leading scorer. There are also a trio of juniors, 6-5 Vuk Djuric, guard Michael Molloy and 6-2 Johnny Colombo, who already have two years of varsity experience under their belt.

71. NAPERVILLE CENTRAL: The Redhawks, led by 6-8 returning big man Ben Wolf, are big and long. If the promising young players in the program –– 6-8 Chris Conway, Mekhi Robinson and Cameron Dougherty –– grow up quickly, coach Pete Kramer’s team could be very dangerous by the time March rolls around.

72. GLENBARD EAST: The Rams expect to be one of the most improved teams in the Chicago area and play the role of spoiler in the Upstate Eight Valley. Sophomore guard Alijah Nelson was an all-conference selection as a freshman. Nelson, senior guard Kenny Adams and 6-4 James Peterkin will be counted on to elevate this team after an uncharacteristic season a year ago.

73. YORK: Coach Vince Doran has a surplus of perimeter players, and they’re talented enough to improve on last season’s 14-win total. Senior Angelo Martucci and the junior trio of Erik Cohn, Nick Kosich and Mike Pedote will have to overcome a lack of size and interior scoring and defense.

74. DOWNERS NORTH: Junior guard Sema’j Henderson has emerged as a Division I prospect after putting up nearly 10 points a game last season as a sophomore. Fellow junior Eddie Boston (7.8 ppg) and 6-3 senior Keenan Davis will keep the Trojans in the mix in the West Suburban Silver.

75. NOTRE DAME: Tom Les stepped down as head coach after a very successful 10-year run. Now Kevin Clancy takes over the program and has young talent in place, led by impressive freshman Anthony Sayles, and a much-improved big man, 6-9 senior Dusan Mahorcic, to build around.

76. LAKE FOREST: Veteran group will grind it out under coach Phil LaScala, featuring Jed Thomas, Mead Payne and 6-5 Ben Gibson.

77. GRAYSLAKE NORTH: The Knights won 17 games last season and welcome back three starters, led by the Connolly brothers –– senior guard James Connolly (15 ppg) and sophomore guard Ryan Connolly (12 ppg), who really came on in the second half of the season. Big man Jon Smithson also returns to a team with more depth and better athleticism.

78. AURORA CHRISTIAN: The Wolfe brothers –– 6-4 senior Jake and 6-6 sophomore Will –– will fuel a team that won 21 games and reached a Class 1A sectional final last season. Jake Wolfe, who is headed to Lipscomb, averaged 18.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5 assists a game last season while Will Wolfe added 10 points a game. Sophomore Taaj Davis and 6-3 Zach Zavasnik also return.

79. ANTIOCH: Keep an eye on a much-improved team that went just 13-17 a year ago. The Sequoits, led by unheralded junior guard Dan Filippone, will be deep. A pair of seniors, Andrew Hare and Branden Gallimore, also return.

80. CRETE-MONEE: The bad news is the top player in the program, junior Marquise Kennedy, transferred to Brother Rice. The good news is this senior group, including Josh Evans, Tyrese Hunt and Malik Hardmon, only lost one game two years ago at the sophomore level.

Oh, why not go one more and get to 81 …

81. SCHURZ: A sneaky good team in the Chicago Public League, winning 22 games a year ago and capturing a White-North title. Jaland Mitchell (18 ppg, 9 rpg) put up big numbers last season.

We can’t stop! What’s one more going to hurt? …

82. MAINE WEST: After winning 17 games last season, coach Tom Prokopij’s hopes to have a team that’s ready to contend for a Central Suburban League North title. The backcourt of Julian Dones and Darrington Bates is small but experienced and productive. They are part of a senior-dominated group blessed with chemistry.