Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 high school basketball rankings for Feb. 21, 2021

Sundays are typically spent combing through all the game stories I can find from the newspapers in the area. There are always great tidbits that help the rankings come into focus.

Today was kind of bleak. The pandemic has resulted in drastic cutbacks in high school sports coverage. It didn’t take very long for me to catch up on all of the stories from the weekend.

Thankfully everything stayed the same at the Sun-Times. The high school sports readership is loyal and strong and subscribing. Thanks so much to all of you for the support.

New additions to the Super 25

DeKalb (9-0): It is impossible to ignore the record. The Barbs beat Waubonsie Valley and Naperville Central last week.

Downers Grove North (4-0): The Trojans returned four starters from last season and are off to a nice start with wins against Oak Park, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central and Addison Trail.

Brother Rice (4-0): Bobby Frasor has a team that moves the ball startlingly well for so early in the season. The Crusaders picked up a big win against St. Ignatius last week.

Barrington (5-1): The Broncos lost to Rolling Meadows but won five consecutive games to start the season, including a big victory against Fremd.

Teams dropping out

St. Rita (2-3): The young Mustangs are so much fun to watch. But they drop out after losing to St. Laurence and St. Ignatius.

Fremd (5-1): Barrington knocked off the Vikings and took their spot in the Super 25 for now.

Neuqua Valley (5-2): The Wildcats fall out after a heavy loss at home to Waubonsie Valley.

Lyons (6-1): A 28-point loss to Glenbard West knocks the Lions out for now.

With record and last week’s ranking:

1. Simeon (0-0) 1

Opens vs. Curie

2. Evanston (7-0) 3

Glenbrook South this weekend

3. Young (3-0) 2

Survived at St. Laurence

4. Mundelein (7-1) 4

Syam Atade can rebound

5. Notre Dame (8-1) 5

Louis Lesmond saves the day

6. DePaul (3-0) 6

Beat St. Ignatius

7. Hillcrest (5-0) 7

Living up to hype

8. Curie (0-0) 8

Huge test vs. Simeon

9. Glenbrook South (9-0) 12

Can Titans beat Evanston?

10. Glenbard West (7-0) 11

Dominating West Suburban

11. Fenwick (5-1) 9

Lost to ND in overtime

12. Rolling Meadows (7-0) 14

Beat Barrington, Hersey

13. North Lawndale (0-0) 13

Has all the pieces

14. Homewood-Flossmoor (4-0) 16

At Bolingbrook on Tuesday

15. St. Patrick (3-1) 10

Lost to Notre Dame

16. Thornton (1-0) 17

Hosts Kankakee Monday

17. Clark (0-0) 18

Opens at North Lawndale

18. Lake Forest (6-1) 19

Jack Malloy is underrated

19. Kankakee (1-0)

Big test vs. Thornton

20. Kenwood (0-0) 20

At Clemente Wednesday

21. DeKalb (9-0) NR

Leading the DuPage Valley

22. Downers Grove North (4-0) NR

Experience paying off

23. Brother Rice (4-0) NR

Selfless and effective

24. Barrington (5-1) NR

Beat Fremd, lost to Meadows

25. Bolingbrook (5-1) 15

Lost to Andrew