Holiday Previews: Collinsville, Centralia, Pekin
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PHI wanted to give a spotlight to a few of the best central and southern Illinois Holiday Tournaments. In this edition we examine the tournaments at Collinsville, Centralia, and Pekin! Collinsville Best Team Quincy is the top team coming into…
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Continue ReadingPHI wanted to give a spotlight to a few of the best central and southern Illinois Holiday Tournaments. In this edition we examine the tournaments at Collinsville, Centralia, and Pekin!
Collinsville
Best Team
Quincy is the top team coming into the event. Their combination of youth and talent make them the team to beat in this event. Sophomore sensation Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL is a sharp shooter with athleticism and no doubt D1 talent. Really like what Camden Brown has brought to them early in the season emerging as a big time prospect to go with their depth across the board.
Dark Horse
O’Fallon is a team to watch in this field. They will have a tough semi final against Belleville East, but their quartet of Koby Wilmoth Koby Wilmoth 6'8" | PF O'Fallon | 2023 State IL , Rini Harris Rini Harris 6'3" | SG O'Fallon | 2024 State IL , Jaeden Rush Jaeden Rush 6'0" | PG O'Fallon | 2024 State IL , and Jalen Smith Jalen Smith 6'1" | SG O'Fallon | 2021 State KS give this team different ways to score and versatility on the defensive end.
Best Player
Longcor is the best prospect long term, but the best player in the field is SIU-Edwardsville commit Jordan Pickett Jordan Pickett 6'1" | SG Belleville East | 2023 State IL . The three level scoring combo guard is primed for a monster tournament.
Player to Watch
Camden Brown from Quincy is the one I am most looking forward to evaluating. After missing his sophomore season the 2024 wing showed a ton of promise at their Thanksgiving event.
Top Unsigned Senior
A few intriguing small college guys to watch here for D3, NAIA, and JUCO’s still looking for talent. Koby Wilmoth Koby Wilmoth 6'8" | PF O'Fallon | 2023 State IL from O’Fallon is a skilled forward with size. Lincoln’s Payton Cook Payton Cook 6'6" | PF Lincoln | 2023 State IL has tremendous physical tools on the wing. Chris Martin of Mundelein is a physical rebounder. Mcgrady Noyes Mcgrady Noyes 6'4" | SF Triad | 2023 State IL of Triad is one of the more underappreciated wings in the 618!
Centralia
Best Team
Evanston should be the team to beat in this event. They have the senior talent across the board with Prince Adams Prince Adams 6'7" | C Evanston | 2023 State IL , Joshua Thomas Joshua Thomas 6'5" | PF Evanston | 2023 State IL , and Hunter Duncan Hunter Duncan 6'0" | PG Evanston | 2023 State IL to make a run at the title!
Dark Horse
Marist is the up and coming team that has surprised a lot of people with how well they have played early in the season. Love their upside young prospects in Steven Brown Steven Brown 6'1" | PG Riverside Brookfield | 2024 State IL and Keshaun Vaval.
Best Player
Best player in the field with the ability to take over a game out of the Illinois teams in the event is Keshaun Vaval. Skilled and athletic combo guard in the sophomore class that has D1 ability.
Player to Watch
Really looking forward to seeing Champaign Central 2025 forward
Chris Bush
Chris
Bush
6'5" | PF
Champaign Central | 2025
State
IL
. The top 30 sophomore showed a lot of promise over the summer and looks primed to have a breakout tournament.
Top Unsigned Senior
Top senior in the event is Evanston’s Prince Adams Prince Adams 6'7" | C Evanston | 2023 State IL . He is among the better unsigned prospects in the state overall especially among posts. The Evanston big man brings athleticism, rebounding, and defense. A few other unsigned seniors to monitor for small college coaches are Joshua Thomas Joshua Thomas 6'5" | PF Evanston | 2023 State IL (Evanston), Hunter Duncan Hunter Duncan 6'0" | PG Evanston | 2023 State IL (Evanston), Rolen Adams Rolen Adams 6'3" | SG Mt. Vernon | 2023 State IL (Mt. Vernon), and Josh Jones Josh Jones 6'6" | SF Chatham Glenwood | 2023 State IL (Glenwood).
Pekin
Best Team
Moline and it’s not really close. This squad has two of the top six seniors in the state to go with a ton of depth. Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL and Brock Harding Brock Harding 6'0" | PG Moline | 2023 State #222 Nation IL lead the way, but this team has a lot of prospects up and down their roster that can provide impact.
Dark Horse
I wouldn’t say dark horse, but the clear only contender to challenge Moline is Mt. Carmel. The Chicago Catholic League squad has a trio of players they rely on in DeAndre Craig DeAndre Craig 5'11" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL (Denver), Anthony Ciaravino Anthony Ciaravino 6'1" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL , and Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL who have got them off to a very fast start this season. Three D1 prospects can give Moline a run in a title game.
Best Player
Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL is the top ranked prospect in the event. He is an Iowa commit that makes it look easy scoring around the basket on a consistent basis while impacting on the glass and boards.
Player to Watch
Want to see what Lanphier young prospects Shaunassey Hatchett and
JaiQuan Holman
JaiQuan
Holman
5'10" | PG
Springfield Lanphier | 2025
State
IL
bring. They have the ability to take over games and should get a nice test in the second round against Moline.
Top Unsigned Senior
Moline’s shooting guard Grant Welch Grant Welch 6'3" | PG Moline | 2023 State IL is a big time three point threat that will be an impactful small college guard. Austin Robinson Austin Robinson 6'4" | C Springfield Lanphier | 2023 State IL is the ideal D3 or NAIA post with his toughness and efficiency inside. Mt. Carmel’s Anthony Ciaravino Anthony Ciaravino 6'1" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2023 State IL is among the best pure spot up threats from deep in Illinois.