Havoc in the Heartland: Top Illinois 2025 & 2026 Performers
What young guns from the classes of 2025 and 2026 from Illinois made the biggest impression on us? We look at that in Havoc in the Heartland: Top Illinois 2025 & 2026 Performers! Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" |…
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Continue ReadingWhat young guns from the classes of 2025 and 2026 from Illinois made the biggest impression on us? We look at that in Havoc in the Heartland: Top Illinois 2025 & 2026 Performers!
Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 State #86 Nation IL (Mac Irvin Fire)
Heard is one of the most gifted young prospects in Illinois. Two guard that has excellent size and scoring ability from the perimeter. Hit a few jumpers, but was most effective getting to the rim where he finished over and over again with efficiency. Very good layup maker that can also throw down big dunks. The athleticism, size, and two way potential make him a high-major prospect.
Stefan Cicic Stefan Cicic 7'0" | C Riverside Brookfield | 2024 State IL (Mac Irvin Fire)
Cicic recently reclassified to the 2025 class. The Niles Notre Dame big man is settling in nicely with this Fire group. True five with a grown man’s frame already. Plays with power on the block anchoring down low and having a nice hook shot. Drop step plays well and he hits the glass strong. One of top posts in class.
Christian Cummings (Mac Irvin Fire)
Athletic point guard that has made a huge impression this spring. Athletic lead guard who is quick with the ball getting in the lane on a regular basis for layups which he finishes from difficult angles along with finishing through or around contact. Capable shooter. Solid playmaker that should continue to improve in that area.
Elijah Lovemore (Mac Irvin Fire)
Lovemore was the breakout player for the Fire this weekend. The St. Laurence shooting guard is a projectable wing that did a little bit of everything flying in on the boards, draining a three, and scoring in the paint on drives.
Terrance Smith (My Journey)
This small forward jumped off the floor to us. Aurora West 6’4” small forward was explosive on straight line takes to the rim where he scored through traffic. Handled it well in the open floor. Seemed to have a good basketball IQ and flashed some passing in the game we caught. One to monitor!
Tim Winkler (Mac Irvin Fire – 2026)
One of the nation’s top 8th grade prospects was playing up on the 17U Fire National team. In the game we saw he was aggressive on the glass snatching them in traffic, blocked several shots, and had a sweet spinning hook shot. The talent and upside is through the roof.