Highland Shootout Preview

The Highland Shootout is one of my favorite days of the year! I went to it as a kid with my dad and now helping director Matt Powers select the teams has been an honor over the last decade! This year's lineup is completely stacked with talent! Below we have a look at the games and prospects to watch!

When it comes to Illinois hoops you have the premier teams and premier players in the state on the floor! Want talent in the senior class? How about 5 of the top 10 seniors in the PHI rankings in Owen Freeman Owen Freeman 6'10" | C Moline | 2023 State #179 Nation IL (Moline – Iowa), Brock Harding Brock Harding 6'0" | PG Moline | 2023 State #222 Nation IL (Moline – Iowa), Darrion Baker Darrion Baker 6'8" | PF St Rita | 2023 State #227 Nation IL (Hillcrest – Akron), Miles Rubin Miles Rubin 6'7" | PF Homewood Flossmoor | 2023 State #243 Nation IL (Simeon – Loyola), and Macaleab Rich Macaleab Rich 6'5" | SF East St. Louis | 2023 State #261 Nation IL (East St. Louis – Kansas State).

Undefeated Simeon is coming off a Pontiac championship and it is legendary coach Robert Smith's final season. He has five D1 2023 prospects led by the Rubin twins and they have been the most dominant team in Illinois this season to date. Earlier in the day the defending 3A champs who the Wolverines will have to go through in March Sacred Heart Griffin takes the floor!

In the Illinois junior class the top 3 PHI ranked 2024s all from St. Rita will be featured again at Highland! James Brown James Brown 6'9" | C Link Academy (from Chicago) | 2024 #66 Nation MO (North Carolina commit), Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Illini commit), and Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'5" | SG Brewster Academy | 2024 State #79 Nation New E (Iowa State commit) headline the 2024 prospects. Bloomington Central Catholic's Cole Certa Cole Certa 6'4" | SG IMG Academy | 2024 State #129 Nation FL currently sets at #5 overall in the junior class with an arrow going up after a great start to the season including a 47 point outing over the holidays! The top sophomore in Illinois Melvin Bell Melvin Bell 6'4" | SG La Lumiere | 2025 #109 Nation IN from St. Rita made his return to the court after setting out the early part of the season during their holiday tournament and is ready to make an impact on the big stage!

As always the Highland Shootout features a strong presence from Missouri! This year is no different! The big three of traditional powers Chaminade, CBC, and Vashon all return. Five of the top 7 in the current Prep Hoops Missouri 2023 rankings will be on the floor in Kayden Fish Kayden Fish 6'7" | PF Staley | 2023 State #181 Nation MO (Staley – Iowa State), Kyan Evans Kyan Evans 6'2" | PG Staley | 2023 State MO (Staley – Colorado State), Kennard Davis Kennard Davis 6'5" | PG Vashon | 2023 MO (Vashon – Southern Illinois), Cameron Manyawu Cameron Manyawu 6'8" | PF Staley | 2023 State MO (Staley – Indiana State), and BJ Ward (Chaminade – SEMO).

The players from Missouri's junior class features three of the top 10 ranked prospects in 2024 including #2 Jadis Jones Jadis Jones 6'5" | SF New Madrid Central | 2024 State #248 Nation MO (New Madrid Central). Also in the top 10 of the junior Missouri rankings are CBC duo Nassir Binion Nassir Binion 6'4" | SG Vashon | 2024 State MO and Anthony Gause. The Vashon prospects rule the 2025 rankings with 3 of the top 8 in Nicholas Randall Nicholas Randall 6'8" | PF AZ Compass Prep | 2025 State #96 Nation AZ , Trey Williams Trey Williams 6'0" | PG Loyola Academy | 2026 State IL , and Dierre Hill.

Then the best team out of Pennsylvania and national powerhouse Imhotep will take on Simeon. Imhotep has top 3 national prospect Justin Edwards Justin Edwards 6'6" | PF Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #3 Nation PA who has signed with Kentucky. Projected early on as a top 10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Fellow top 5 senior in PA Rahmir Barno Rahmir Barno 5'10" | CG Imhotep Charter | 2023 State #223 Nation PA (Florida Gulf Coast) is in their backcourt. Class of 2024 Ahmad Nowell Ahmad Nowell 6'0" | PG Imhotep Charter | 2024 State #36 Nation PA is a top 50 prospect nationally ranked guard with schools from coast to coast recruiting him. Milak Myatt Milak Myatt 6'4" | SG Life Center Academy | 2026 NJ and Zaahir Muhammad-Gray Zaahir Muhammad-Gray 6'7" | SF Imhotep Charter | 2026 State PA are two of the top 5 freshman prospects in Pennsylvania!