2022 Top Wings

The 2022 class of wings is an interesting one. There is not a ton of separation among the top prospects at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Let’s take a look at some of the best here!   Jaden Schutt (Yorkville Chistian) Current Ranking: #4 Travel Team: Illinois Wolves Schutt posted quality numbers as a freshman on the varsity level and has followed that up by playing 16U for the Wolves in the spring. What you have to like about him is his shooting and feel for the game. Very clean shot mechanically pulling up and off the bounce. Consistent mechanics every time he lets it fly. Moves without the ball to get open. Good athlete. Smart basketball player.   Kanye Smith (Whitney Young) Current Ranking: #6 Travel Team: Meanstreets Smith projects as a wing, but we really liked what he brings to the table as an energy rebounder flying in for boards from out of nowhere in many cases. He can defend multiple positions with his length and athleticism. Offensively he is a smooth slasher and finisher in transition. Doesn’t shoot it a ton with his jumper, but when he does it shows sound form mechanically.   Tye Banks (Springfield Lanphier) Current Ranking: #8 Travel Team: Meanstreets Banks is such an effortless scorer that glides past his opponents with ease. Makes it look so easy! He started as a freshman for the prestigious Lanphier program. Banks has a nice frame and a smooth game. Smooth getting to the hoop finishing with either hand and has a nice looking shot.   Kam Craft (Buffalo Grove) Current Ranking: #10 Travel Team: Meanstreets Kraft projects as one of the best shooters in the 2022 class. Bit of a funky release, but it goes in consistently! He already has size for position with a long and lanky frame. Decent athlete with some projectability.   Matthew Volkening (Marengo) Current Ranking: #11 Travel Team: Illinois Wolves Volkening broke out with his perimeter shooting this spring. We were impressed with his size for position along with how well he shot it from beyond the arc. The Marengo wing is a plus shooter off the catch with a clean looking stroke. Has some projectability.   Kaden Stork (Normal U-High) Current Ranking: #12 Travel Team: Kevon Looney This central Illinois 6’4” small forward is one of the more intriguing prospects from outside of the Chicago area. The young forward has long arms and a projectable body. Range on his three point shot out to well beyond the high school line. Also can handle it too and has some bounce.   Darius Duff (Lake Forest Academy) Current Ranking: #13 Travel Team: Illinois Wolves The 6’3” two guard is a super athlete! This Lake Forest Academy freshman has a plus mid-range jumper that is his go to at this stage. Also slashes in transition scoring at the cup at a high clip. Showed flashes as a freshman at LFA and we liked what we saw this spring with the Wolves.   Bobby Durkin (Hinsdale South) Current Ranking: #15 Travel Team: ET21 Buckeyes Durkin broke out in a major way at Show Me Showdown! The 6’2” shooting guard proved to be a high level scorer with his ability to knock down shots from literally anywhere on the floor. He drilled mid-range pull ups like they were going out of style. Also was a quality spot up shooter from three. Good passing feel.   Mikqwon Jones & Mikell Jones (Farragut) Current Ranking: #17 & #18 These Farragut brothers flashed during the high school season showing potential with their athleticism and two way ability. Mikqwon Jones is a young shooting guard that has size at 6’5”. He is a decent athlete that can hit from mid-range.   Chase Travis (Olney) Current Ranking: #19 Travel Team: Illinois Bears Travis is a sleeper 2022 prospect that has a chance to be a college prospect down the line. Listed at 6’3” he has a lot of projectability to add strength and height. He is at his best getting loose in the open floor for athletic layups. One to watch from Southern Illinois!   Timaris Brown (St. Patrick) Current Ranking: #26 The St. Patrick’s wing has size on the perimeter at 6’4”. The lefty was bombing in threes from really deep at the PrepHoops Top 250 last fall. Effortless feel to his game. There is a lot to like with the size, projectability, and skill set early in the process.   Christian Meeks (Homewood Flossmoor) Current Ranking: #27 Meeks stands at 6’5” with strength. Definitely more of a wing prospect, but plays tough around the hoop with how he gets on the glass and finishes. Works well as a scorer in the pick/roll. Physical body at a young age.   Marieon Anderson (Rock Island) Current Ranking: #28 Travel Team: Quad City Elite Anderson is a 6’3” two guard that who flashed some natural scoring potential in our only eval of the spring at Run N Slam. Decent athlete that can put it on the deck and is a capable three point shooter if left open.   Jamauri Winfrey (Peoria Richwoods) Current Ranking: #29 Travel Team: Southwest Jets Winfrey is a strong wing that uses his power to go through opponents on drives to the hoop. Physical wing that is strong slashing to the rim and finishing in the paint! Tough scorer with an aggressive mentality.   AJ Redd (St. Ignatius) Current Ranking: #31 Attacks the basket with a purpose and is very explosive. Handles well against pressure. Above average court vision. Coachable player that wants to get better. Outside jumper has to improve. Lonnel Strickland (Harlan) Current Ranking: #32 This 6’3” shooting guard has a nice build and scored well at all three levels in a breakout performance last fall at Pangos. Slashed to the basket very aggressively with powerful conversions through traffic at the rim.