Wendell Phillips Wildcats celebrate after first state championship win in 47 years

CHICAGO - A local high school basketball team is celebrating big on Wednesday after their recent state victory.

Wendell Phillips Academy High School, on Chicago's South Side in Bronzeville, was named the IHSA Class 2A champion.

This was the Wendell Phillips Wildcats' first state championship win since 1975.

On Saturday, the Wildcats defeated the Benton High School Rangers 54-47. Students, faculty and alumni, along with city and state dignitaries, applauded the players.

The players have only been playing together for nearly seven months, with a majority of them having been benched on previous teams.

Nine of the Wildcats' players this season were transfer students.

"These young boys who are growing to become men, whether they play basketball, we have future firefighters or educators or doctors or lawyers or community organization leaders… these boys have more talents than basketball, I can assure you that," said Mayor Brandon Johnson.

The average GPA all the players had to maintain was 3.3.

Wendell Phillips High School is the oldest African American school in all of Chicago.

When asked what's next for the team, the principal of Wendell Phillips, said hopefully another championship win.