High school basketball: Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings for Jan. 15, 2023

Congratulations to Kenwood. For the first time in history, the Broncos are No. 1.

That was a really easy decision. Kenwood beat Simeon at Simeon this week and also knocked off Curie in overtime. The Broncos have split with Young this season and have beaten Proviso East and Bloom.

The Wolverines slide down into the second spot. The other big change this week was Curie leaping up to No. 11. The Condors gave Kenwood all it could handle at Kenwood and did it without lead guard Carlos Harris. Curie’s resume is excellent with wins against New Trier, Joliet West and Oswego East. And the losses are also of the highest quality (Mount Carmel, Brother Rice, Kenwood).

And after that, well, who knows? Parity has arrived and it hit everything hard. Lincoln-Way East beat Bloom. Bloom beat Mount Carmel. Bolingbrook beat Oswego East. Oswego East beat Joliet West. Lyons lost to Glenbard West.

It’s messy in that second tier of teams. It’s possible some of the big matchups this week help clarify all that a bit.

St. Ignatius and Grayslake Central drop out this week. The Wolfpack lost to Loyola and have now lost four of their last five games. The Rams lost to Lake Forest.

Loyola and Marist join the rankings. That was a tough decision, there are a handful of teams creeping around looking to get in but their resumes just aren’t very strong. So I went with the strongest schedules. The RedHawks have been in the rankings most of the season. It’s the season debut for the Ramblers.

Super 25 for Jan. 15, 2023With record and last week’s ranking

1. Kenwood (15-2) 3First time on top

2. Simeon (16-1) 1Lost to Kenwood

3. Young (15-4) 2Faces Joliet West Saturday

4. Benet (19-1) 4Hosts Kenwood Saturday

5. Curie (13-5) 11Challenging the elite

6. Rolling Meadows (19-2) 6Demolished Evanston

7. Brother Rice (18-2) 8Takes on Meadows Saturday

8. Hillcrest (17-2) 10Big test Monday vs. Curie

9. Joliet West (15-5) 5Lost to Oswego East

10. Mount Carmel (17-2) 7Speed bump vs. Bloom

11. Bolingbrook (14-5) 17At Lincoln-Way East Tuesday

12. Proviso East (14-2) 13Hosts Lyons Saturday

13. Lincoln-Way East (16-1) 16Beat Bloom on the road

14. Bloom (13-5) 12Will be tough when healthy

15. Oswego East (17-4) 20Faces Hillcrest Saturday

16. Lyons (16-2) 9Lost to Glenbard West

17. New Trier (17-3) 15At Glenbrook North Friday

18. St. Rita (10-8) 14At De La Salle Tuesday

19. Hinsdale Central (16-3) 18Hosts Lyons Friday

20. Glenbrook South (15-4) 21Beat Evanston

21. Libertyville (15-3) 22Cohesive, talented group

22. Glenbrook North (17-2) 23Big week ahead

23. Hyde Park (15-4) 24Couldn’t hang with Simeon

24. Marist (17-4) NRShowdown with Brother Rice Tuesday

25. Loyola (16-5) NRTook down St. Ignatius

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