Top 25 Illinois high school boys basketball rankings (12/22/2023)

Check out this week's Illinois boys basketball Power 25

Thornton rises to No. 1 after knocking off previously-unbeaten Normal and undefeated Benet Academy jumps into the top 10.

Here is our breakdown of this week's SBLive Power 25 Illinois high school boys basketball rankings (records through Dec. 19):

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: DECEMBER 8 | DECEMBER 14 

Illinois high school boys basketball rankings

December 22, 2023

1. Thornton (7-1)

Previous rank: 3

Illinois recruit Morez Johnson had a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Wildcats downed then-No. 1 Normal 44-37 in Springfield.

2. Homewood-Flossmoor (9-1)

Previous rank: 2

The Vikings are in the midst of a two-week break till opening play in the Big Dipper against Eisenhower on Dec. 26.

3. Curie (9-1)

Previous rank: 4

Will Gonzalerz scored 15 points and had five assists as the Condors won their fifth in a row, 66-43 over Thornwood.

4. Normal (8-1)

Previous rank: 1

The Ironmen were held to a season-low 37 points in a seven-point loss to Thornton in the Southern Illinois Classic at Springfield. They also cruised past Bloomington 72-28 and beat Rock Island 60-49.

5. Mount Carmel (11-2)

Previous rank: 5

The Caravan are still unbeaten against in-state competition after beating St. Ignatius 66-58 and losing 69-66 in overtime to Webster Groves (Mo.).

6. Downers Grove North (8-1)

Previous rank: 6

The Trojans beat crosstown rival Downers Grove South 41-37 and also knocked off Proviso West 55-36 and TF South 68-29.

7. Brother Rice (12-0)

Previous rank: 7

The Crusaders had a dominant 66-46 win over De La Salle and also beat Lyons 53-39 to stay perfect. 

8. DePaul Prep (11-0)

Previous rank: 10

Only two opponents have scored in the 40s or higher against the Rams, who shut down two quality teams last weekend. They beat Loyola 40-18 and Bloom 40-27.

9. Quincy (11-0)

Previous rank: 9

The Blue Devils head into the holidays unbeaten after knocking off United Township 50-34, Quincy Notre Dame 77-47 and Springfield 76-57.

10. Benet Academy (10-0)

Previous rank: 13

Colin Stack hit two free throws with 43 seconds left to erase a one-point deficit and the Redwings hung on to edge Marist 62-61.

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (12/18/2023)?

11. Bloom (6-3)

Previous rank: 8

Santana Flowers had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 56-46 win over Thornwood. But then the Blazing Trojans ran into the defensive buzzsaw that is DePaul Prep, losing 40-27.

12. Marist (9-2)

Previous rank: 11

The RedHawks gave unbeaten Benet its toughest test of the season before falling 62-61. The RedHawks also cruised past Jones 76-47.

13. Warren (11-1)

Previous rank: 16

Standout freshman Jaxson Davis had 20 points, six rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block in a solid 71-60 win against Joliet West. The Blue Devils also beat Marian Central 90-36 to run their winning streak to nine games.

14. New Trier (11-1)

Previous rank: 17

The Trevians had a successful trip to Arizona, going 3-0 to win the Saguaro Holiday Tournament for the second straight year.

15. Bolingbrook (8-1)

Previous rank: 18

Freshman Davion Thompson had another solid game, scoring 17 in a 69-63 win against Hinsdale Central.

16. Lindblom (7-4)

Previous rank: 14

The Eagles wrapped up a stretch of seven games in 10 days by beating Herrin 59-47. They also fell 66-61 to Perspectives-Leadership and 74-73 to Marion.

17. Lincoln Park (8-3)

Previous rank: 21

Chayse Turner scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Lions earned a signature win, 70-67 over visiting Young. Lincoln Park also beat Orr 85-29 and Oak Park-River Forest 56-53 before falling 79-74 to Phillips.

18. Whitney Young (5-5)

Previous rank: 12

The Dolphins split a pair of Public League Red North-West games. They beat Clark 61-52 and lost 70-67 to Lincoln Park despite Antonio Munoz's double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds with five blocks.

19. De La Salle (7-2)

Previous rank: 15

The Meteors dropped their second Catholic Blue game, 66-46 to unbeaten Brother Rice.

20. Glenbrook North (9-1)

Previous rank: 19

The Spartans bounced back from their first loss of the season, rolling by Deerfield 62-41.

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21. Kenwood (6-2)

Previous rank: 20

Arizona State commit Jaden Smith had a triple-double (14 points, 13 rebounds, 11 blocks) and Calvin Robins added a double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) as the Broncos cruised by Dyett 79-52 in the Public League Red South-Central.

22. Riverside-Brookfield (10-1)

Previous rank: 22

The Bulldogs have won seven in a row after beating Ridgewood 88-57 and Bremen 69-35.

23. Kankakee (9-0)

Previous rank: 23

Damontae May averages six assists a game for the Kays, who stayed perfect by beating Decatur Eisenhower 70-52 and Champaign Centennial 68-61. 

24. Waubonsie Valley (9-0)

Previous rank: NR

DeKalb, which lost 49-45 last week, is the only one team that has come within 12 points of the Warriors.

25. Morton (12-1)

Previous rank: 25

Gus Rugaard scored 23 points as the Potters rolled by East Peoria 69-39. They also had comfortable wins over Limestone and Illinois Valley Central.

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- Mike Clark | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL