PrepHoopsIllinois 2nd Team All-State
PrepHoopsIllinois is unveiling our All-State Teams for the 2016-2017 season. These are based on play during the regular season. Here is PrepHoopsIllinois 2nd Team All-State!
PG Nojel Eastern (Evanston)
Eastern is the #1 point guard in the senior class. At 6’6” he can beat a team in so many ways. He has never been a dominant scorer rather he beats opponents with a well-rounded game. The Purdue signee stuffs the stat sheet rebounding very well for a guard and has great vision with electric passing flare. Eastern has led his team and elevated the play of his fellow teammates to new highs this season.
SG Lucas Williamson (Whitney Young)
Williamson is a versatile shooting guard that has elevated his game as a senior for the Dolphins. He has been known throughout his career as a guy that was versatile and did a little bit of everything on the floor. This year he has had several big scoring out puts where he put his team on his back and carried them. Williamson won the MVP of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament.
SF Justin Smith (Stevenson)
Smith is one of the top prospects in the state’s senior class. At 6’6” he has a silky smooth perimeter game to go along with explosive athleticism off the bounce. The senior has gone about his business this year and led the Patriots to a solid season. One of his best games came at the Highland Shootout back in January where he put on a high flying show for fans from a part of the state that don’t normally get to see him play. Smith is headed to Indiana.
SF Nana Akenten (Bolingbrook)
Akenten is the best player on one of the best teams all year in the state of Illinois. The Nebraska commit and top 10 player led Bolingbrook to the best season it has had in recent memory including being one of the last undefeated teams in the state. He was consistent with his production, but because Bolingbrook had so many standouts he didn’t put up the monster numbers he was capable of. Akenten showed out when we saw him against the next person on this list in a head to head matchup of two of the best wings in the state. Athletic wing with outstanding size and plays with a motor.
C Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis)
Tilmon transferred back to East St. Louis after spending his junior year at prep power La Lumiere in Indiana. It took him a bit to get back in the swing of things with the combination of rejoining his old team and playing his first games since setting out all summer with an injury. Tilmon did get rolling with his dominance in the paint. Force scoring on the block with his length and athleticism. The best rim protector in the state of Illinois as a shot blocker. Impact recruit for Illinois.