Illinois Mr. Basketball Preview
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As the season approaches it is time to examine the top contenders for Mr. Basketball. Below are the top contenders for the award preseason with our odds of them winning the award. Jeremy Fears Jeremy Fears 6'1" | PG Joliet…
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Continue ReadingAs the season approaches it is time to examine the top contenders for Mr. Basketball. Below are the top contenders for the award preseason with our odds of them winning the award.
Jeremy Fears Jeremy Fears 6'1" | PG Joliet West | 2023 State #31 Nation IL (Joliet West)
Odds:
3/1
Why They Can Win:
He is the top prospect in the senior class. That right there is a good start. He created a lot of buzz and goodwill by coming back to the state for his senior season. With his addition Joliet West will be one of the top contenders for a title. Fears will stuff the stat sheet with not only scoring numbers, but dimes, steals, and rebounds. They have the high profile events to show out as well!
Obstacles to Win:
Despite his national ranking a lot of people had forgotten about him leaving for two years, but he should ease that concern early on. His brother might cut into some of his point production. Can Joliet win at a high enough level especially in high-profile games and at Pontiac?
Cameron Christie
Cameron
Christie
6'4" | SG
Rolling Meadows | 2023
State
#76
Nation
IL
(Rolling Meadows)
Odds:
5/1
Why They Can Win:
The Minnesota commit has been on the radar of voters for the last few years as a younger player. It is his time now. He also has the supporting cast to make a run in March as one of the more underrated deep teams in the state. Christie is going to consistently post 20-30 point games. Stepped their schedule up non conference with matchups with New Trier, Joliet West, Evanston, Moline, and Brother Rice.
Obstacles to Win:
Not a ton here to be honest. If they win enough and he does what he is supposed to do especially in March he could very easily win the award.
Darrin Ames Darrin Ames 6'1" | PG Kenwood | 2023 State #99 Nation IL (Kenwood)
Odds:
5/1
Why They Can Win:
Ames might be the single most electric player in the state to watch. He is a slick ball handler that plays with speed, making daring plays on the regular, while also having deep range on his shot. Could be the top scorer in the state on a state title contender.
Obstacles to Win:
With the departures of several key players plus additions of other highly ranked players it will be interesting to see how this group comes along early on and what role Ames takes on. Ultimately they need to win in their marquee matchups because he has the name recognition.
Dalen Davis
Dalen
Davis
6'0" | PG
Whitney Young | 2023
State
#167
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young)
Odds:
8/1
Why They Can Win:
If you are the top player on Whitney Young that is a great start. The Princeton commit is just that and is the true leader of this squad. Last year he was more of a set up man. This season expect him to take on more of a scoring role which he showed he could do this summer.
Obstacles to Win:
The expectations are going to be there for the Dolphins comparing them to last year’s team which was probably a little more talented in the upper ages. If he can help them exceed expectations that will be huge.
Owen Freeman
Owen
Freeman
6'10" | C
Moline | 2023
State
#179
Nation
IL
(Moline)
Odds:
8/1
Why They Can Win:
Freeman has a lot of the same qualities that Braden Huff had heading into last season. Big man going to a high-major school that is the top player on one of the state’s top teams. Freeman is going to post double doubles in a minimum of three quarters of their games this year. They have a big time schedule as well.
Obstacles to Win:
He was a bit of under the radar player at Bradley Bourbonnais last season and wasn’t showcased during the grassroots circuit like many of the others. How well he will fit in with his new squad will be a key as well. Who was the last to win from the Quad Cities area? Chasson Randle?
Macaleab Rich
Macaleab
Rich
6'5" | SF
East St. Louis | 2023
State
#261
Nation
IL
(East St. Louis)
Odds:
10/1
Why They Can Win:
Rich will be the most dominating force on either side of the river in the St. Louis area and especially in southern Illinois. East St. Louis is significantly the best team in the 618 this season. He plays an exciting brand of basketball and will post huge numbers. ESL has a big time schedule with matchups against teams across the state and country.
Obstacles to Win:
Being from downstate name recognition from upstate votes is always a concern, but with the success of metro east players the last few years that shouldn’t be as much of an issue.
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#33
Nation
IL
(St. Rita)
Odds:
10/1
Why They Can Win:
Johnson is the first junior on the list. First is his exciting style and never ending motor that will endear him to voters while translating into monster numbers. The fact he is committed to Illinois doesn’t hurt either. St. Rita is going to be one of the top squads in the state.
Obstacles to Win:
His teammate who we will get to in a second will be sharing the shine with him. Also juniors very rarely win this award unless it is an overwhelming no doubt choice.
James Brown
James
Brown
6'9" | C
Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024
#66
Nation
MO
(St. Rita)
Odds:
12/1
Why They Can Win:
Brown is the top prospect in the state regardless of class. He has a blue blood recruitment well underway with the big boys pursuing him. Brown is one of the centerpieces of the most talented teams in the state. An underrated thing that could endear him to writers is he is a great quote and one of the most eloquently spoken young men in a long time that was also a top prospect.
Obstacles to Win:
See above with Morez.
DeAndre Craig
DeAndre
Craig
5'11" | PG
Mt. Carmel | 2023
State
IL
(Mt. Carmel)
Odds:
20/1
Why They Can Win:
Craig created quite a bit of buzz during his junior season that should help him heading into the season. He can post big scoring outputs, but the thing that intrigues us is how good Mt. Carmel could be this season as a group which will help Craig win more games than last year boosting in his chances for the award.
Obstacles to Win:
The Denver commit might not have the biggest name on this list with a ton of high-major recruits. In a very competitive Chicago Catholic League Mt. Carmel needs to win it for him to be in the picture in March.
Jalen Griffith
Jalen
Griffith
5'9" | PG
Simeon | 2023
State
IL
(Simeon)
Odds:
25/1
Why They Can Win:
Simeon could very well be the preseason #1 in the state. Someone has to be on the list. They don’t have a clear candidate as this group will be spread out production wise by the six seniors, but Griffith has the most name recognition. He is the clear leader of the squad and plays an exciting brand of basketball.
Obstacles to Win:
The counting stats might not be there at the end of the season even if his team has a great record. Committing to a D1 school would help as it is rare for a non D1 commit to win the award.
Mr. Basketball Sleepers
Brock Harding
Brock
Harding
6'0" | PG
Moline | 2023
State
#222
Nation
IL
(Moline) 28/1
Ahmad Henderson
Ahmad
Henderson
5'10" | PG
Brother Rice | 2023
State
#291
Nation
IL
(Brother Rice) 30/1
Asa Thomas
Asa
Thomas
6'6" | SF
Lake Forest | 2023
State
#91
Nation
IL
(Lake Forest) 32/1
Miles Rubin
Miles
Rubin
6'7" | PF
Homewood Flossmoor | 2023
State
#243
Nation
IL
(Simeon) 35/1
Wesley Rubin
Wesley
Rubin
6'7" | PF
Homewood Flossmoor | 2023
State
IL
(Simeon) 35/1
Zack Hawkinson
Zack
Hawkinson
6'4" | PF
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
(Sacred Heart Griffin) 40/1
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#81
Nation
IL
(Peoria Notre Dame) 40/1
Darrion Baker
Darrion
Baker
6'8" | PF
St Rita | 2023
State
#227
Nation
IL
(Hillcrest) 50/1
Ty Pence
Ty
Pence
6'4" | SG
St. Joseph Ogden | 2023
State
IL
(St. Joseph Ogden) 50/1
Jake Fiegen
Jake
Fiegen
6'3" | SG
New Trier | 2023
State
IL
(New Trier) 50/1
Mekhi Lowery
Mekhi
Lowery
6'5" | SF
Oswego East | 2023
State
IL
(Oswego East) 50/1
Drew Scharnowski
Drew
Scharnowski
6'7" | PF
Burlington Central | 2023
State
IL
(Burlington Central) 50/1
Jake Hamilton
Jake
Hamilton
6'3" | SG
Sacred Heart Griffin | 2023
State
IL
(Sacred Heart Griffin) 50/1
Ethan Kizer
Ethan
Kizer
6'6" | SF
Metamora | 2023
State
IL
(Metamora) 50/1
Jeremiah Fears
Jeremiah
Fears
6'1" | PG
AZ Compass Prep | 2025
State
#31
Nation
AZ
(Joliet West) 50/1
Carlos Harris
Carlos
Harris
6'1" | SG
Curie | 2024
State
#283
Nation
IL
(Curie) 50/1
Richard Barron
Richard
Barron
6'5" | SF
St. Ignatius | 2023
State
IL
(St. Ignatius) 50/1