Race for Illinois Mr. Basketball
We are about half way the high school season across the state of Illinois. We thought it would be a good time to revisit the race for Mr. Basketball. Here is our in-depth look at the contenders for the most…
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Continue ReadingWe are about half way the high school season across the state of Illinois. We thought it would be a good time to revisit the race for Mr. Basketball. Here is our in-depth look at the contenders for the most coveted award in the state at the mid-way point.
SG Jordan Goodwin (Belleville Althoff)
Preseason Odds: 3/2
Current Odds: 4/1
Goodwin has posted the monster numbers that we expected out of him this season. He is putting up video game type numbers on a consistent basis. The SLU commit is having to do more for his team than he ever has carrying the majority of the scoring and rebounding load. Goodwin has led them to a few nice wins, but they have dropped a pair to Edwardsville as well. He will have a chance to close this out with big late season games and if he can lead his team to Peoria that should put a wrap on it.
PG Mark Smith (Edwardsville)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 6/1
Smith has come from off the board to be one of the leading contenders. A big reason is because of how he has played against the favorite Goodwin in their head to head matchups recording wins and 30+ point performances. Smith has taken his game to new heights and his Edwardsville squad has elevated with his play. They will have a tough road to state, but if he gets to Peoria watch out! He has the momentum and buzz right now.
SG Lucas Williamson (Whitney Young)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 7/1
Whitney Young was looked as a team that had a lot of talent, but the questions were how would they come together and would a star emerge. Yes to both! Williamson has taken on more of a scoring role and has played big in huge games including an MVP performance at the Proviso West Holiday Tournament. With big CPS games and the public league playoffs still out there he has plenty of room to continue to make a run at this.
PG Evan Gilyard (Simeon)
Preseason Odds: 15/1
Current Odds: 8/1
Gilyard is the clear senior leader on the top team in the state. He is in control of his squad that has played about as good as anyone the first half of the season. He came up big when they needed him at Pontiac on the way to their tournament title. Gilyard was also the man to hit the game winner in the Battle of Vincennes round 1 against Morgan Park.
PG Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park)
Preseason Odds: 5/1
Current Odds: 8/1
Dosunmu looked like he was going to be one of the favorites after a 51 point game to start the season. The state’s top junior prospect is an electric point guard that knows how to run a team and makes it look easy out on the floor. Losing to Simeon in their first matchup and not having his best outing in the Proviso title game has slowed down his momentum for this award that is insanely hard for a junior to win. He will have chances to get right back in it with tons of high profile contests. With a few monster “Ayo” type performances that we are accustomed to we expect him to put himself right there in the end.
PG Nojel Eastern (Evanston)
Preseason Odds: 12/1
Current Odds: 8/1
Eastern has been solid when we have seen them play this season. He does have the buzz of being on one of the state’s top teams and a Big 10 commit to Purdue. He tried to keep his team in the game against Montverde at CEC, but for them to win it was going to take him cloning himself about four times as they were stacked. At the holiday’s he played extremely well at the prestigious Beach Ball Classic leading his team to a second place finish.
SG Demarius Jacobs (Uplift)
Preseason Odds: 20/1
Current Odds: 8/1
Jacobs has been so much fun to watch this season. The SIU commit has always been able to score and put on highlight reel dunks in transition. He has done exactly that with huge scoring burst throughout games including a 37 point performance that we saw at Proviso West. His defense has taken his candidacy to another level. The best shot blocking guard in the state and changes the game on that end of the floor. Jacobs should see his stock boost in March with a run at the 2A title.
PG Teyvion Kirk (Joliet West)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 8/1
Kirk told me before the season he was going after this award and man has he played like it throughout the season. His coming out party for many people was his performance at the Chicago Elite Classic where he put on a show scoring in a multitude of ways while only missing a single shot. He has a way of elevating his team to new heights. When he is rolling it carries over to the rest of his team. Kirk has a squad that has Peoria potential. If he can do lead them there he will jump up the list.
SG Elijah Joiner (Curie)
Preseason Odds: 12/1
Current Odds: 10/1
Joiner started out the season with a bang! The Tulsa commit got the win against the top two ranked prospects in the senior class (Jeremiah Tilmon and Jordan Goodwin) in less than 24 hours while traveling from Chicago to Kentucky in between. Curie struggled at Pontiac, but will look to bounce back in the second half with several rivalry games, the CPS playoffs, and Joiner is looking to make it back to back 4A crowns.
PF Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis)
Preseason Odds: 3/1
Current Odds: 10/1
Tilmon got off to a bit of a slow start posting solid, but not spectacular numbers after moving back from La Lumiere as well as getting back into condition after sitting out since April with a shoulder injury. He has got it rolling since showing the old form that we have known out of the top 2017 prospect with his monster dunks, blocks, and great rebounding. Biggest key for him is showing up big in their primetime conference games in the second half of the season trying to knock off some of those other Mr. Basketball candidates on this list.
PG Alonzo Verge (Thornton)
Preseason Odds: 8/1
Current Odds: 10/1
It has been an up and down year coming back for Verge. He has had several huge scoring games with his electric style, but has also missed some contests. Another aspect that will hurt Verge is despite his team winning The Dipper there was literally no media coverage of the event or any competition for them to go through.
SF Javon Pickett (Belleville East)
Preseason Odds: 12/1
Current Odds: 12/1
Pickett has done exactly what people expected. The Illini wing commit has consistently scored and posted huge numbers. He is one of the smoothest wings in the state. Started off strong at the Centralia Thanksgiving Tournament and continued through the Collinsville Holiday Classic with a 31 point outing in the consolation championship. For whatever reason there hasn’t been a ton of buzz behind his candidacy.
SF Justin Smith (Stevenson)
Preseason Odds: 12/1
Current Odds: 15/1
The Indiana commit has led his team to a solid record throughout the year although they have dropped a few that they probably shouldn’t have including a first round exit to Hinsdale Central at the holiday tournament. Smith for the most part has done his job putting up points and using his athleticism for some exciting plays. Unfortunately for Smith he doesn’t have quite the supporting cast that their former winner Jalen Brunson did to help him.
SF Nana Akenten (Bolingbrook)
Preseason Odds: 18/1
Current Odds: 15/1
Akenten is clearly the best player/prospect on one of the deepest and most loaded teams in the state. Because they have so many talented players the numbers aren’t quite as high as they could be, but there is no questioning his impact on the game. Akenten is a lethal scorer that rebounds and defends at a high level. Led his team to a Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic crown. He will have his chance in March to leave a lasting impact.
PF Taylor Bruninga (Illini Bluffs)
Preseason Odds: N/A
Current Odds: 30/1
Not many people besides scouts and college coaches knew this name before the high school season started. After a first week where he posted averages of 35+ points and 15+ rebounds the state was well aware of who he was. Bruninga is a floor spacing four man that has posted dominant numbers against small school competition. Created quite a buzz early in the season. That has cooled off some although he is still posting outstanding numbers.