State finals have something for everyone

Thornton coach Troy Jackson and star Reggie Smith have had plenty of reasons to celebrate, as they take a 29-1 record into this weekend's Class 4A finals.
(Brett Roseman/SouthtownStar)

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It’s time to stop whining about the four-class format and enjoy what should be a fabulous weekend of basketball in Peoria.

The Class 4A tournament has everything a fan could ask for: the high-profile national team (Young), the consensus No. 1 team for over two months (Thornton), the team with the most talented player in the state (Waukegan and Jereme Richmond) and an upstart Cinderella squad that no one really knows anything about (Dundee-Crown).

There is no clear favorite. Young has the most Division I level talent, but just recently started to jell as a team.

Thornton has looked the best all season long, turning away challenge after challenge on the way to 29 consecutive wins.

Waukegan had suffered a holiday funk and then lost two games in February. But that is long forgotten after spectacular wins over Zion-Benton, Warren and Glenbrook North.

All three teams have serious star power. It’s impossible to take your eyes off of Richmond. He can do it all on the court and is a bit of a magnet for controversy.

Young’s Chris Colvin is just nasty with the ball, no one can keep him from getting to the rim. Thornton’s Reggie Smith is a human highlight reel, draining game-winning jumpers and throwing down eye-popping dunks.

It’s too bad North Lawndale can’t join the fun with the big boys, because it could just be the best team of all. Class 3A, which was the best last season, is suffering a serious case of second best. It’s hard to see any team except Leo managing to give the city champions much of a fight.