Illinois Mr. Basketball Preseason Contenders

The season is almost here! Who will be vying for Mr. Basketball in Illinois this year? Today we look at a group of players that might not be the favorites coming into the year but have a pathway to take home the coveted honor in Illinois Mr. Basketball Preseason Contenders! [player_tooltip player_id="939050" first="Darrin" last="Ames"] (Kenwood) Odds: 12/1 Why He Can Win: With Taylor gone Ames is going to be the leading scorer on perhaps the top team in the public league. He plays an exciting brand of basketball getting to the cup, bombing in deep threes, and scoring in transition with his speed. Obstacles to Win: Kenwood will have a variety of high level scoring options including another name on this list. Also it is pretty rare for a junior to win.     [player_tooltip player_id="996062" first="Zach" last="Cleveland"] (Normal Community) Odds: 15/1 Why He Can Win: Cleveland looks to be the top contender from central Illinois this season. The power forward is super skilled and athletic. Liberty commit should continue right where he left off last year from a production standpoint. Obstacles to Win: Will Normal Community get enough statewide coverage to garner votes? They will play in a shootout in southern Illinois at the beginning of the year.     [player_tooltip player_id="863583" first="Robbie" last="Avila"] (Oak Forest) Odds: 15/1 Why He Can Win: Maybe my favorite player to watch in the senior class. Avila is nicknamed “Robbie Buckets” for a reason as he knows how to put it in the hoop. The Oak Forest post is a regular 20/10 threat with his passing maybe being his best quality. Obstacles to Win: As good as Avila was in June his team struggled to win games. We have no doubt he is going to post numbers, but will the Indiana State commit get enough help to win 20 games? If he does he will be in the discussion come March.     [player_tooltip player_id="863585" first="Xavier" last="Amos"] (Whitney Young) Odds: 20/1 Why He Can Win: Amos has seen his game grow tremendously over the last year. He has become much more assertive both as a rebounder and versatile scoring option along with being a plus defender. Being at Whitney Yong he will get seen enough in big games. Obstacles to Win: Splitting the production with Casey, Johnson, and Davis all season could cut into his numbers. Amos could be their best player and average only 15 and 7.     [player_tooltip player_id="1210369" first="Trey" last="Pettigrew"] (Kenwood) Odds: 20/1 Why He Can Win: Pettigrew can flat out score the rock. The combo guard is a human bucket from all three levels. Coming back from Arizona he is ready to establish himself among the best high school players in Illinois on one of the top CPS programs. Obstacles to Win: Pettigrew has his biggest competition from a point guard standpoint for the award in his own backcourt with Ames. Also how will he adjust to playing with a new team back in Chicago.     [player_tooltip player_id="1215287" first="Jake" last="Fiegen"] (New Trier) Odds: 35/1 Why He Can Win: Fiegen is perhaps the best shooter in the state which is saying something with Schutt, Kamin, and others around. He has the ability to go off on any given night for 30+ and 10+ triples. Obstacles to Win: New Trier will be a very balanced team with tons of depth across the board which might hold his numbers down some.     [player_tooltip player_id="863631" first="NJ" last="Benson"] (Mt. Vernon) Odds: 35/1 Why He Can Win: Benson might be the most dominant player in southern Illinois this year. Seriously who is going to check a center that big and athletic in the 618? The Missouri State commit should post a stat line of 20/10/3 pretty easily this year. Obstacles to Win: How good will the Rams be? They lost a ton of talent from last year. Also it is hard for a southern Illinois prospect not from the metro east to win a statewide award.     [player_tooltip player_id="999560" first="Christian" last="Jones"] (East St. Louis) Odds: 35/1 Why He Can Win: Jones is the best player in the metro east this year. You know the area that produced EJ Liddell, Jordan Goodwin, Mark Smith, etc. He has some name recognition being a Mizzou commit and plays on a high-profile program with the Flyers. Obstacles to Win: Will he get seen enough by voters not in southern Illinois?     [player_tooltip player_id="989263" first="Asa" last="Thomas"] (Lake Forest) Odds: 35/1 Why He Can Win: Thomas has a ton of buzz coming into the season. He is in contention for the top spot in the 2023 class and had a monster June for Lake Forest. Versatile scorer that will be among the most exciting players in the north suburbs of Chicago. Obstacles to Win: Only a junior so there is time to go. Maybe not his time yet, but if they get off to a hot start with wins over St. Ignatius and New Trier the Asa campaign might begin.     [player_tooltip player_id="771517" first="Jaylen" last="Drane"] (Simeon) Odds: 40/1 Why He Can Win: He plays on one of the two premier programs in Illinois. Every year Simeon is going to have a contender for Mr. Basketball. Drane has been known since his freshman year and now it is time to show out in his final season. Obstacles to Win: Simeon doesn't have one star player this year like a Jabari or THT. Well rounded group that should contend for a state crown. Can Drane turn it up consistently game in and game out to impress voters?   [player_tooltip player_id="863587" first="Jalen" last="Quinn"] (Tuscola) Odds: 40/1 Why He Can Win: Quinn is a top 5 prospect in the state and at Tuscola he will be the show! The Loyola commit has triple double ability on any given night. Obstacles to Win: Small high school, central Illinois, and not a lot of primetime games.