Illinois high school teams statewide now eligible for Sun-Times rankings
The newspaper expands its football and basketball lists to include all 802 public and private schools in the state starting with the winter basketball season.
By Lucas Sheridan ·
The Chicago Sun-Times will expand its high school football and basketball rankings to include every public and private high school in Illinois beginning with the upcoming basketball season. This change marks the first time the publication, known for its long-running Super 25 lists, has extended eligibility beyond the geographic boundaries of its print newspaper delivery area. The new statewide scope doubles the number of eligible schools from the previous regional limit.
Previously, the Super 25 rankings were restricted to schools within the print newspaper's coverage zone. That area generally stretched west to Plano, south to Kankakee, and north to the state line. Editors and reporters noted that readers from cities such as East St. Louis and Peoria frequently contacted the paper to ask why their local teams were excluded from the lists, despite the digital reach of the website.
The decision to go statewide was made in consultation with Chris De Luca, the Sun-Times Sports Editor. The expansion allows the paper to acknowledge the full state audience that now follows the rankings online. The new policy applies to both football and basketball, though the change will first be visible to readers during the basketball season starting this winter.
Mike Clark, a veteran figure in the high school sports industry, will take over the girls basketball rankings for the new season. The longtime beat reporter who has covered boys basketball for the Sun-Times for 25 years will continue to handle the boys rankings. He noted that the expansion requires him to travel outside the Chicago area to cover games, although many top teams from other regions already play regularly in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The reporter acknowledged that the transition will require learning the specific rivalries and traditions of conferences outside his usual beat, such as the Big Twelve and the Southwestern Conference. He has covered teams from central and southern Illinois at state finals and the Pontiac Holiday Tournament for decades but admitted his knowledge of other regional leagues was less detailed. He plans to update his understanding by visiting new gyms and meeting coaches and players across the state.
The Sun-Times has nearly 80 years of history covering high school sports in the region. The reporter described the task of creating the weekly rankings as a serious responsibility, noting that fans are quick to identify teams that do not deserve a spot. He has spent the last 25 years driving throughout the Chicago area to watch games in person to ensure his opinions are based on direct observation rather than guesswork.
The paper is asking coaches to email team information and fans to provide updates on games they believe should be covered. The reporter invited readers to reach out when they believe a ranking is incorrect. The expansion aims to reflect the current reality of how audiences consume sports media, where the digital platform serves a much wider demographic than the physical newspaper.
The change effectively removes the previous geographic barriers that limited eligibility to the print delivery zone. All 802 high schools in Illinois are now eligible for inclusion in the Super 25. The first preseason boys basketball rankings under the new statewide format are expected to feature teams from East St. Louis and other previously excluded regions.
