Illinois Boys’ All-State Advisory
The Illinois Associated Press All-State basketball process begins with the start of postseasons in each class, in both boys and girls hoops.
ALL MEDIA MEMBERS COVERING HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL IN ILLINOIS ARE ELIGIBLE TO NOMINATE PLAYERS AND VOTE FOR TEAMS.
Thanks ahead of time for your consideration of this worthy statewide project to recognize kids, reward their hard work and promote a positive goal for future student-athletes to aspire toward.
NOMINATING INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Send all nominations via email to preppolls@gmail.com. Clearly mark the nomination in the subject line (i.e. “3A/4A boys nominations from Springfield” or “1A boys: LeBron James, St. Vincent’s”).
2) The Illinois AP All-State teams are extremely elite — a five-person first team, a five-person second team and an honorable mention list that demands at least two votes to be included in each of the four classes. So please keep that in mind when nominating players for consideration. Outside of the serious state title-contending teams with multiple Division I-bound players, it’s hard to have multiple players from the same team earn honors.
3) Media members from across the state, whether newspaper, radio, TV or Internet-only, are eligible to nominate and vote on the teams with a circulated ballot full of bio information. One write-in candidate per ballot is allowed.
4) An example of the information to include with any nomination:
— Players’ name
— School & Class (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A)
— Year (Senior, Junior, Sophomore, Freshman)
— Height
— Position
— College plans
— Include any pertinent season and career stats, as well as any records, honors or accomplishments
— Include the team’s win-loss record/postseason status
— Include any college plans if available and applicable
5) An example of the bios appearing on the ballot for each class: :
— 2A boys: Michael Jordan, Mile High (6-6, Sr., G): Leading scorer (31.9 ppg) for a 29-0 state-ranked Elite Eight repeat qualifier. Also averages 4.2 assists and 4.9 steals for the defending state and ACC champions. League’s 3-time Player of the Year a unanimous first-team AP All-State performer the last two seasons. All-tournament performer at the Galesburg Thanksgiving, Centralia Holiday and Peoria MLK events. A 3,000-point career scorer. Member of an AAU national champion. First-team All-ACC & All-Academic ACC performer. All-State baseball player, too. Signed by Division I North Carolina for a basketball scholarship.
6) Also, if you saw somebody this season who really should be on the ballot, but perhaps you don’t cover their school and have no way of getting their stats, please send their name and school to preppolls@gmail.com so an attempt at seeking voting information can be made.
ALL-STATE CALENDAR:
The timeline for the girls’ teams:
— Monday, Feb. 10: Class 1A-2A girls regionals start & the All-State nominations process officially opens.
— Monday, Feb. 17: Class 3A-4A girls regionals start & the All-State nominations process officially opens.
— Friday, Feb. 21: Class 1A-2A girls nominations due at preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Sunday, Feb. 23: Class 1A-2A girls ballots are released on the wire and statewide email chain.
— Wednesday, Feb. 26: Class 1A-2A girls votes are due back to preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Thursday, Feb. 27: Class 1A-2A girls teams are sent to AP and released statewide by email and on the wire that afternoon (in advance of the Feb. 28-29 state finals).
— Friday, Feb. 28: Class 3A-4A girls nominations due at preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Sunday, March 1: Class 3A-4A girls ballots are released on the wire and statewide email chain.
— Wednesday, March 4: Class 3A-4A girls votes are due back to preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Thursday, March 5: Class 3A-4A girls teams are sent to AP and released statewide by email and on the wire that afternoon (in advance of the March 6-7 state finals).
The timeline for the boys’ teams:
— Monday, Feb. 24: Class 1A-2A boys regionals start & the All-State nominations process officially opens.
— Monday, March 2: Class 3A-4A boys regionals start & the All-State nominations process officially opens.
— Friday, March 6: Class 1A-2A boys nominations due at preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Sunday, March 8: Class 1A-2A boys ballots are released on the wire and statewide email chain.
— Wednesday, March 11: Class 1A-2A boys votes are due back to preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Thursday, March 12: Class 1A-2A boys teams are sent to AP and released statewide by email and on the wire that afternoon (in advance of the March 13-14 state finals).
— Friday, March 13: Class 3A-4A boys nominations due at preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Sunday, March 15: Class 3A-4A boys ballots are released on the wire and statewide email chain.
— Wednesday, March 18: Class 3A-4A boys votes are due back to preppolls@gmail.com by the end of the night.
— Thursday, March 19: Class 3A-4A boys teams are sent to AP and released statewide by email and on the wire that afternoon (in advance of the March 20-21 state finals).
FYI:
When voting, you will vote for five first-team players and five second-team players in each class. A player must be named on two ballots to earn honorable mention. (Reminders will accompany the release of the official all-state ballots — see above).
Any questions or concerns, please contact Steve Tappa at preppolls@gmail.com.
