Top 2020 Wings
In this article:
Who are the top 2020 wings in the state of Illinois heading into the high school season? We examine the best prospects right here!
Isaiah Rivera (Geneseo)
Travel Team: Quad City Elite
Overall Ranking: #4
Tough and physical wing that can shoot the ball really well from mid-range. Uses his strength in the paint to finish through contact. Rebounds well for his position and is a sound passer. One question we had coming into July was defensively and he answered those questions staying in front of his man with his lateral foot speed at a solid rate.
Ramean Hinton (Curie)
Travel Team: Team Rose
Overall Ranking: #5
The power wing from Curie has size and athleticism for days. Powerful getting in the lane and finishing at the cup. The area he has improved the most is his perimeter jump shot. He was really confident in his shot going down with Team Rose. Pull up jumper has become a strength of his. Rugged wing also gets on the glass. Hinton plays so hard.
Jayden Johnson (Batavia)
Travel Team: Fundamental U
Overall Ranking: #8
The ultra-skilled wing has a high basketball IQ and knack for putting the ball in the hoop. Some coaches might knock him a bit on his athleticism, but man can this kid score. He is a plus shooter from three with a clean looking stroke. Finishes well through contact at the rim and consistently makes the right play.
Dante Maddox (Bloom)
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Overall Ranking: #13
Maddox is a 6’2” shooting guard that can really fill it up from deep. Best as spot up shooter from three that when in rhythm is one of the premier shooters in his class. Mixes in a transition finish on occasion and can score some off the bounce. Would like to see him continue to diversify his game and show more lead guard skills as a passer at his height. I thought he started making strides doing that toward the end of July.
Keshawn Williams (Bloom)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #14
Williams is a thin and wiry 6’1” bouncy athlete at the shooting guard position. Scores in transition as a finisher and isn’t afraid to go right through his man for finishes at the cup. Quick and explosive jumper around the rim. Very bouncy and explosive off the floor. Will be interesting to see if his lead guard skills improve.
Demarius Splunge (Orr)
Travel Team: Mac Irvin Fire
Overall Ranking: #17
Splunge has a lot of physical tools that you have to like, but the production wasn’t there for Orr rising junior in the spring. When I saw Splunge play in July he played with a lot better motor than I had seen in the past going hard running the floor and handling it from coast to coast. Was a bit wild on some drives turning it over, but got to the line at a nice clip. Big year for him ahead!
Will Wolfe (Aurora Christian)
Travel Team: Illinois Wolves
Overall Ranking: #19
Wolfe is the highest ranked prospect on the Wolves 16U squad. The rising junior brings a nice combination of skill and toughness. Shoots it well especially off the catch. Was impressed with how well he passed the ball from his wing spot. Very productive wing that should post big numbers this year in 1A.
Davis Walker (Home School)
Travel Team: Team RWA
Overall Ranking: #20
The 2020 wing was lights out for the most part drilling mid-range pull ups from all over the floor when we saw him with Team RWA. Good strength and athleticism out of this guard which allow him to finish in the paint. He is more than just a scorer as he displays a solid understanding of the game making crisp dishes. Defensively he moves well laterally and got several steals.
Christian Shumate (Plainfield East)
Travel Team: Team RWA
Overall Ranking: #21
Shumate is uber bouncy 6’5” small forward that’s game lives off his athleticism and ability to get to the rim. He has long strides attacking off the bounce and is explosive in the lane finishing with spin moves or just going right after the rim. Really like how aggressive he is taking the ball to the cup. Quick and assertive moves. Efficient on his takes. Play so hard! Shumate needs to improve his jump shot to round out his offensive game. Projects well defensively with his length, toughness, and anticipation.
Jabari Chiphe (Walter Payton Prep)
Travel Team: Made Men
Overall Ranking: #25
Chiphe has gotten much stronger in his upper body since we saw we saw him during the high school season. Smooth drives to the hoop with slick acceleration off the bounce. Quick second jump allows him to get on the offense of glass. Drills jump shots with a clean release on his jumper.
Kee Hargrow (Joliet Central)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #26
This is one of the hardest prospects to pin down in the class. Hargrow is a 6’8” long and rangy combo forward from Joliet Central. He has greatly improved his perimeter skill level over the last year. Jumper has become a weapon despite a release where it seems like he is pushing it toward the hoop. Can play above the rim with big dunks. Hargrow can be a bit wild with the ball and didn’t rebound at as high of a rate as we would have liked we when saw him. Defensively he has length and timing which allows him to be a shot blocking presence.
Caleb Zurliene (Breese Mater Dei)
Travel Team: Illinois Bears
Overall Ranking: #27
Zurliene has size for position and should continue to grow. You have to love this kids ability to shoot it from three. Picture perfect shot fundamentally off the catch from deep. Big time perimeter shooter. A lot of helium heading into the high school season. One of the best kept secrets in southern Illinois.
Josh Holmes (De La Salle)
Travel Team: Young & Reckless
Overall Ranking: #31
Holmes flies a bit under the radar to casual fans as he went to Jones Prep his first two seasons, but has decided to transfer to De La Salle for his final two! He is a rangy wing that can shoot it off the catch when left open and mixes in scores in transition. Also like what he brings to the table as a defender in the backcourt. Should put up big numbers this season.
Destin Whitaker (Romeoville)
Travel Team: Meanstreets
Overall Ranking: #32
Whitaker is a wing that has size, athleticism, and versatility. Can shoot it off the catch and is a multi-positional defender. Solid spring and summer with Meanstreets 16U. Look for him to be the man at Romeoville next season.