10 Key Questions for Illinois High School Season
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As we near the high school season with practices starting on Monday we dive into 10 Key Questions for the Illinois High School Basketball Season! Will Robert Smith Lead Simeon to State Title in Final Season? This is the final…
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Continue ReadingAs we near the high school season with practices starting on Monday we dive into 10 Key Questions for the Illinois High School Basketball Season!
Will Robert Smith Lead Simeon to State Title in Final Season?
This is the final year coaching for the legendary Robert Smith at Simeon. You can bet for sure there will be a farewell tour of gifts and ceremonies throughout the season. Can they send him off with the ring? In short yes they are on the list of teams that have a legit shot to win it all. Five seniors ranked in the top 24 in 2023 should work well together with guards Jalen Griffith Jalen Griffith 5'9" | PG Simeon | 2023 State IL and Kaiden Space Kaiden Space 6'2" | SG St.Rita | 2023 State IL , wing Sam Lewis Sam Lewis 6'5" | SF Oak Park River Forest | 2023 State IL , and twin towers Wesley Rubin Wesley Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State IL along with top 10 prospect Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL up front.
How Far Can St. Rita’s 2024 Big 3 Take Them in March?
The Mustangs are loaded. We have seen them grow up over the last couple years with the roster changing while the core of the top two 2024s James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO and Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL have remained at the center. They added the #3 junior in Illinois Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'5" | SG Brewster Academy | 2024 State #79 Nation NLG to the fold for wing scoring along with senior Nashawn Holmes Nashawn Holmes 6'1" | SG Corliss | 2022 State IL who is a bucket getter! The x-factor could be how top 2025 Melvin Bell Melvin Bell 6'4" | SG La Lumiere | 2025 #109 Nation IN comes along from his injury. If he is near full health by March they are without question the most talented team in the field.
Can Anyone Challenge East St. Louis in Southern Illinois?
East St. Louis is by far and away the best team in not only the metro east, but southern Illinois as a whole. They are led by Kansas State commit Macaleab Rich Macaleab Rich 6'5" | SF East St. Louis | 2023 State #261 Nation IL and Cal State Fullerton commit Antwan Robinson Antwan Robinson 6'5" | SF Vashon | 2023 State MO . The Flyers have size up front, three and D wings, and one of the most imposing players in the state with Rich. Who could contend with them? O’Fallon, Belleville East, Highland, and Carterville are a few that should have strong seasons in the 618!
Is Moline This Year’s Glenbard West?
Nobody can touch what last year’s Glenbard West squad was, but the closest we might have as far as dominance and a team that plays so cohesive is Moline. Coach Sean Taylor has a talented team that plays together. It starts with their stars in Iowa commits Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL and Brock Harding Brock Harding 6'0" | PG Moline | 2023 State #222 Nation IL . The duo compliments each other tremendously well. More than just those two as this group has shooters, defensive wings, junk yard dogs inside, and versatile skilled players.
Who Will Emerge as the Top 2026 Prospect in State?
I am already getting asked who is the top freshman prospect in Illinois. The short answer is there is not a no doubt #1 guy at this point. A lot of prospects have caught our attention early in the process. Some of the players we will be monitoring for those rankings which will not be unveiled until next summer/fall are Stephen Brown (Marist), Jamson Coulter (Rich Township), Andre Tyler Andre Tyler 6'4" | SG Simeon | 2026 State IL (St. Rita), Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young), Nasir Rankin Nasir Rankin 6'2" | SG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young), Rykan Woo Rykan Woo 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young), Noah Mister (Kenwood), Adonis Vassilakis (Marist), Rocco Pagliocca Rocco Pagliocca 6'1" | PG Stevenson | 2026 State IL (Stevenson), Mickeis Johnson Mickeis Johnson 6'3" | SG Romeoville | 2026 State IL (Romeoville), Charles Barnes (De La Salle), BJ Powell (Lincoln Way East), and Patrick Irvin (Whitney Young).
How Far Will the Fears Brothers Lead Joliet West?
A couple years ago we had the Christie brothers in the covid shortened season lead Rolling Meadows to a perfect record. Now it is Jeremy Fears Jeremy Fears 6'1" | PG Joliet West | 2023 State #31 Nation IL and Jeremiah Fears Jeremiah Fears 6'1" | PG AZ Compass Prep | 2025 State #31 Nation AZ turn at Joliet West. The brothers are each high-major recruits that set at the top or near the top of their classes. This is what Joliet basketball fans have been waiting for years as Jeremy returned after two seasons away and a brief stint at Overtime Elite. Group has more than just those two with UNC-Wilmington commit Matthew Moore Matthew Moore 6'7" | PF Hillcrest | 2023 State IL up front along with junior Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL on the wing.
What Are The Must Attend Events to Go To?
There are a ton of great events to attend every season. Some of the top ones are the Kevin Brown Tournament of Champions, Chicago Elite Classic, Team Rose Classic, Chicagoland Coaches United Invitational, Highland Shootout, Steve Pappas Shootout, Quincy Shootout, When Sides Collide, O’Fallon Shootout, Orr Breast Cancer Shootout, and many more in addition to all the great holiday tournaments.
Who Will Be Breakout 2024 Prospects?
Here are a few of our top candidates to have breakout seasons elevating not only their college recruitment, but helping their team reach their goals for the season! In 2024 some of the names we like are Jason Jakstys Jason Jakstys 6'10" | C Yorkville | 2024 State #141 Nation IL (Yorkville), Josh Pickett Josh Pickett 6'5" | SG St. Laurence | 2024 State #277 Nation IL (West Aurora), Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL (Curie), Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL (Kenwood), Will Gonzalez Will Gonzalez 6'5" | SF Curie | 2024 State IL (Riverside Brookfield), Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL / Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL (Mt. Carmel), Kenric Mosby Kenric Mosby 6'7" | C Perspectives | 2024 State IL (Perspectives), Richard Lindsey Richard Lindsey 6'5" | SF De La Salle | 2024 State IL (De La Salle), and Braylon Roman Braylon Roman 6'3" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL (Normal Community).
Who Will Be the Top Team in Chicago Public League?
The more things change the more they stay the same especially in the Chicago Public League. The top contenders are (shocker) Simeon, Whitney Young, Kenwood, and Curie. Simeon has the six senior core that are primed to make runs at city and state. Whitney Young lost a lot up front, but with Dalen Davis Dalen Davis 6'0" | PG Whitney Young | 2023 State #167 Nation IL at the point and a lot of youth they have a case to be made. Kenwood might have the most overall talent with six potential D1 prospects on the roster led by Kansas State commit Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL . Curie never backs down and they won’t again this year led by their talented junior Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL and strong front line of Jeremy Harrington Jeremy Harrington 6'5" | PF Chicago Curie | 2023 State IL and Chikasi Ofoma Chikasi Ofoma 6'6" | C Curie | 2023 State IL . Want some sleepers that could make a run in city or state? Perspectives is stacked with impactful transfers. North Lawndale has a nice core of senior guards. Lane Tech has always been a rock solid program and now they have star power in Shaheed Solebo Shaheed Solebo 6'4" | SF Lane Tech | 2024 State IL .
Which Teams Have New Coaches?
There was a ton of movement among high school basketball coaches this off season. Here are a few names to track that we think are primed to make moves this year and going forward. Jerrel Oliver (Hyde Park), Jamere Dismukes (Homewood Flossmoor), Lou Adams (Rich Township), Jimalle Ridley (Leo), Reggie Bates (South Shore), Conte Stamas (Brother Rice). A few have high school head coaching experience while others have been ace recruiters on the high school/grassroots level sure to attack talent to their programs.