10 Key Questions for Illinois High School Season

As we near the high school season with practices starting on Monday we dive into 10 Key Questions for the Illinois High School Basketball Season!   Will Robert Smith Lead Simeon to State Title in Final Season?   This is the final year coaching for the legendary Robert Smith at Simeon. You can bet for sure there will be a farewell tour of gifts and ceremonies throughout the season. Can they send him off with the ring? In short yes they are on the list of teams that have a legit shot to win it all. Five seniors ranked in the top 24 in 2023 should work well together with guards [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='994687' first='Kaiden' last='Space'], wing [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'], and twin towers [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'] along with top 10 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] up front.   How Far Can St. Rita's 2024 Big 3 Take Them in March?   The Mustangs are loaded.  We have seen them grow up over the last couple years with the roster changing while the core of the top two 2024s [player_tooltip player_id='1157228' first='James' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] have remained at the center.  They added the #3 junior in Illinois [player_tooltip player_id='1157223' first='Nojus' last='Indrusaitis'] to the fold for wing scoring along with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1279761' first='Nashawn' last='Holmes'] who is a bucket getter!  The x-factor could be how top 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1385285' first='Melvin' last='Bell'] comes along from his injury.  If he is near full health by March they are without question the most talented team in the field.   Can Anyone Challenge East St. Louis in Southern Illinois?   East St. Louis is by far and away the best team in not only the metro east, but southern Illinois as a whole. They are led by Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] and Cal State Fullerton commit [player_tooltip player_id='1537979' first='Antwan' last='Robinson']. The Flyers have size up front, three and D wings, and one of the most imposing players in the state with Rich. Who could contend with them? O'Fallon, Belleville East, Highland, and Carterville are a few that should have strong seasons in the 618!   Is Moline This Year's Glenbard West?   Nobody can touch what last year's Glenbard West squad was, but the closest we might have as far as dominance and a team that plays so cohesive is Moline.  Coach Sean Taylor has a talented team that plays together.  It starts with their stars in Iowa commits [player_tooltip player_id='989265' first='Owen' last='Freeman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='989274' first='Brock' last='Harding'].  The duo compliments each other tremendously well.  More than just those two as this group has shooters, defensive wings, junk yard dogs inside, and versatile skilled players.   Who Will Emerge as the Top 2026 Prospect in State?   I am already getting asked who is the top freshman prospect in Illinois.  The short answer is there is not a no doubt #1 guy at this point.  A lot of prospects have caught our attention early in the process.  Some of the players we will be monitoring for those rankings which will not be unveiled until next summer/fall are Stephen Brown (Marist), Jamson Coulter (Rich Township), [player_tooltip player_id='1552394' first='Andre' last='Tyler'] (St. Rita), [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] (Whitney Young), [player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'] (Whitney Young), [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] (Whitney Young), Noah Mister (Kenwood), Adonis Vassilakis (Marist), [player_tooltip player_id='1552481' first='Rocco' last='Pagliocca'] (Stevenson), [player_tooltip player_id='1552462' first='Mickeis' last='Johnson'] (Romeoville), Charles Barnes (De La Salle), [player_tooltip player_id='1552449' first='BJ' last='Powell'] (Lincoln Way East), and Patrick Irvin (Whitney Young).   How Far Will the Fears Brothers Lead Joliet West?   A couple years ago we had the Christie brothers in the covid shortened season lead Rolling Meadows to a perfect record.  Now it is [player_tooltip player_id='1562176' first='Jeremy' last='Fears'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385291' first='Jeremiah' last='Fears'] turn at Joliet West.  The brothers are each high-major recruits that set at the top or near the top of their classes.  This is what Joliet basketball fans have been waiting for years as Jeremy returned after two seasons away and a brief stint at Overtime Elite.  Group has more than just those two with UNC-Wilmington commit [player_tooltip player_id='1215285' first='Matthew' last='Moore'] up front along with junior [player_tooltip player_id='1373437' first='Justus' last='McNair'] on the wing.   What Are The Must Attend Events to Go To?   There are a ton of great events to attend every season.  Some of the top ones are the Kevin Brown Tournament of Champions, Chicago Elite Classic, Team Rose Classic, Chicagoland Coaches United Invitational, Highland Shootout, Steve Pappas Shootout, Quincy Shootout, When Sides Collide, O'Fallon Shootout, Orr Breast Cancer Shootout, and many more in addition to all the great holiday tournaments.   Who Will Be Breakout 2024 Prospects?   Here are a few of our top candidates to have breakout seasons elevating not only their college recruitment, but helping their team reach their goals for the season!  In 2024 some of the names we like are [player_tooltip player_id='1285496' first='Jason' last='Jakstys'] (Yorkville), [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] (West Aurora), [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] (Curie), [player_tooltip player_id='1285479' first='Isaiah' last='Green'] (Kenwood), [player_tooltip player_id='1157209' first='Will' last='Gonzalez'] (Riverside Brookfield), [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks']/[player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] (Mt. Carmel), [player_tooltip player_id='1373438' first='Kenric' last='Mosby'] (Perspectives), [player_tooltip player_id='1285485' first='Richard' last='Lindsey'] (De La Salle), and [player_tooltip player_id='1172774' first='Braylon' last='Roman'] (Normal Community).   Who Will Be the Top Team in Chicago Public League?   The more things change the more they stay the same especially in the Chicago Public League.  The top contenders are (shocker) Simeon, Whitney Young, Kenwood, and Curie.  Simeon has the six senior core that are primed to make runs at city and state.  Whitney Young lost a lot up front, but with [player_tooltip player_id='939057' first='Dalen' last='Davis'] at the point and a lot of youth they have a case to be made.  Kenwood might have the most overall talent with six potential D1 prospects on the roster led by Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='939050' first='Darrin' last='Ames'].  Curie never backs down and they won't again this year led by their talented junior [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] and strong front line of [player_tooltip player_id='1148119' first='Jeremy' last='Harrington'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1056104' first='Chikasi' last='Ofoma'].  Want some sleepers that could make a run in city or state?  Perspectives is stacked with impactful transfers.  North Lawndale has a nice core of senior guards.  Lane Tech has always been a rock solid program and now they have star power in [player_tooltip player_id='1373439' first='Shaheed' last='Solebo'].   Which Teams Have New Coaches?   There was a ton of movement among high school basketball coaches this off season.  Here are a few names to track that we think are primed to make moves this year and going forward. Jerrel Oliver (Hyde Park), Jamere Dismukes (Homewood Flossmoor), Lou Adams (Rich Township), Jimalle Ridley (Leo), Reggie Bates (South Shore), Conte Stamas (Brother Rice).  A few have high school head coaching experience while others have been ace recruiters on the high school/grassroots level sure to attack talent to their programs.

As we near the high school season with practices starting on Monday we dive into 10 Key Questions for the Illinois High School Basketball Season!