DePaul College Prep Aims for 4th Straight IHSA Basketball Title

Led by a coach who was a program standout, the Rams seek to cement their legacy as one of Illinois' best high school basketball teams.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:23pm

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DePaul College Prep's boys basketball team is aiming to win its fourth consecutive IHSA state championship, a rare feat in Illinois high school sports. Led by head coach Tom Kleinschmidt, who was also a star player for the program, the Rams are led by a pair of Division 1 commits in senior Rashaun Porter and Rykan Woo. The team has moved up to the 4A classification after winning titles in 2A and 3A the past three seasons.

Why it matters

Winning four straight state championships would cement DePaul College Prep's place among the best high school basketball programs in Illinois history. The Rams' success also reflects the strong coaching and player development under Kleinschmidt, who is guiding the team where he once starred as a player.

The details

DePaul College Prep is putting in intense work in practice, with the players saying the gym sessions are tougher than the games. Kleinschmidt aims to prepare the team for "uncomfortable situations" to build their confidence. The Rams are led by senior standouts Porter, a Toledo commit, and Woo, who is headed to Brown. Both players have developed into elite talents under Kleinschmidt's tutelage.

  • DePaul College Prep won the 2A state title in 2023.
  • The Rams have won the last two 3A state championships.
  • The team is now competing in the 4A classification.

The players

Tom Kleinschmidt

The head coach of DePaul College Prep, who was also a standout player for the program in the 1980s before going on to star at DePaul University.

Rashaun Porter

A senior at DePaul College Prep and a Toledo commit, Porter has developed into one of the best big men in the state of Illinois.

Rykan Woo

A senior at DePaul College Prep and a Brown commit, Woo has been a key player alongside Porter in the Rams' quest for a fourth straight state title.

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What they’re saying

“Practices is harder than games, because of how hard we go and how hard we rep.”

— Rashaun Porter, Senior (cbsnews.com)

“If we can make it challenging for them and make them comfortable in uncomfortable situations, we feel confident.”

— Tom Kleinschmidt, Head Coach (cbsnews.com)

“We've got to have good practices, man. If we don't have a good practice, it usually doesn't connect to us having a good game.”

— Rykan Woo, Senior (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Rams will look to continue their dominant run in the 4A playoffs, with the goal of becoming the third team in Illinois history to win four straight state championships.

The takeaway

DePaul College Prep's pursuit of a historic four-peat showcases the program's sustained excellence under coach Tom Kleinschmidt, who is guiding the team where he once starred as a player. The Rams' senior leaders, Porter and Woo, have developed into elite talents and are poised to cement the school's legacy as one of the best high school basketball programs in Illinois.