With the 2022-2023 Illinois high school basketball season reaching its end it is time to look at a few sophomores who played significant minutes for their respective teams. Whether they were top-ranked starters or important role players these athletes deserve…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inWith the 2022-2023 Illinois high school basketball season reaching its end it is time to look at a few sophomores who played significant minutes for their respective teams. Whether they were top-ranked starters or important role players these athletes deserve greater recognition for their time on the court and helping their team end with a successful season.
Quincy had an outstanding year going 26-5 overall (12-2) in conference play. Those two conference losses came at the hands of a very strong Moline squad. The Blue Devils bolster a team with many underclassmen, most of them being starters, who will be returning for next season. One of those athletes, who was not a starter, but made a big impact for the team’s success is
Dominique Clay
Dominique
Clay
6’4″ | SF
Quincy | 2025
State
IL
. With the limited minutes Clay played this past season he showed off his defensive presence being a part of his overall craft. Whether it’s extending ball-pressure beyond the line, always displaying active hands to disrupt the ball handler, or presenting continuous hustle and energy in Quincy’s 2-3 and 3-2 zone defenses, Clay showed viewers why he has a bright future ahead. Offensively, the ball was not in his hands most often, as he was surrounded by other playmaking teammates. That being said, Clay still showcased a quick first step in taking his defender off the dribble. With that quick first step Clay runs well in transition and cuts with urgency causing separation and small, but open-window passing lanes creating opportunities for teammates to dish a pass and finish at the rim. The one area of his game which I believe became overshadowed is his vertical. In warmups I have seen Clay easily rise to the cylinder, and he has also provided some nasty in-game dunks for the fans. With a couple more years left I am excited to witness Clay grow into his frame and become an overall basketball nightmare.
Hansberry had an up and down 2022-2023 season finishing with a record of 19-11, but 9-0 in the Noble Conference. The team’s success this year flowed through
Al Brooks
Al
Brooks
6’6″ | SF
Hansberry | 2025
State
IL
Jr. as he was a do-it-all type of player for the Bengals. Statistically speaking, Brooks was marvelous by putting up 27.5 PPG, 18.3 RPG, and 8.4 BPG, just shy of averaging a triple-double, yet he’s only a sophomore! Being 6’6″ a traditional basketball fan might not believe he would have ball-handling skills, but Brooks shows comfortable dribbling when advancing the ball up-court, attacking the basket and finishing through contact, or going coast-to-coast in transition; his ball-handling skill is similar to a guard. His smooth stroke allows him to shoot accurately from deep or even pull-up over his defender. Whenever a shot would be taken Brooks showed constant effort in battling for offensive rebounds which gave himself easy second chance points or another possession for his team to take advantage. Overall, offensively, Brooks presents guard-like skills and abilities and also attracts multiple defenders which creates easier scoring opportunities for his teammates. On the other side of the ball his long arms and frame causes errant passes, deflections, and steals. When defending the post he does a solid job of keeping his hands high and knows the right time to jump blocking many shots. What I enjoyed most while watching Brooks’ game is that he showcases team captain characteristics. He is energetic for every game and is constantly being the floor general with his communication skills. I can’t wait to see how much he improves during the offseason and seeing his game once next season rolls around.
Breland was a huge factor for St. Patrick this year helping the Shamrocks reach a 19-11 overall record and 9-7 in conference battles. He had a lot of weight on his shoulder being a sophomore, but also the team’s starting PG. Throughout the 2022-2023 season Breland surpassed 450 points and rightly earned East Suburban Catholic All-Conference honors. For as young as Breland is, and not having much experience at the varsity level, he displayed great ball-handling skills during the season, calmly penetrating gaps with his quick burst off the dribble. Defenders must extend past the three-point arc on Breland because he is not afraid to pull-up from deep range, and I mean a couple feet beyond the line. His jumper is smooth with a very quick release allowing him to shoot over taller defenders trying to block shots. Along with his ball-handling and shooting abilities Breland drives with authority, while either stopping on a dime and popping a shot, creating separation with a nasty step back, or showcasing a soft floater. Defensively speaking, Breland mainly plays at the top of St. Patrick’s 1-3-1 zone otherwise he shifts to the bottom, but in each location Breland keeps active hands, creates steals without fouling, and shows consistent energy in sideline-to-sideline coverage. Now that he has a year of the varsity level under his belt it’ll be exciting to watch Breland grow into a top PG throughout the state of Illinois.
The Hillcrest Hawks had a phenomenal 2022-2023 season making it all the way to the 3A Super-Sectional, but eventually falling victim to a tough Simeon squad. Most of the playing time went to the juniors and seniors on the team, but
Adam Page
Adam
Page
6’4″ | SF
Hillcrest | 2025
State
IL
, a sophomore, provided steady fundamental basketball. Looking at Page’s offensive numbers many fans may not be shocked as he averaged around 5.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.0 APG. Though, on the defensive end that is where Page was most dangerous. After watching a handful of Hillcrest games and film I was pleased to see Page consistently provide energy with his all out hustle. I would describe Page as the glue guy of the team as he seemed to do all the dirty work. Standing at 6’4″ Page applied tight on-ball pressure to cause constant disruption. He maintained great depth in his defensive stance showing off his lateral quickness to defend the more advanced ball-handling opponents. With that success and consistent hustle, he presented active hands where he would quickly poke at the ball and cause many tipped passes. In addition, Page has a strong help defensive IQ, always in the right spot stopping dribble penetration and holding a straight-up position when opponents attacked the rim. As the next season approaches I am confident Page will work on his offensive skillset, providing a stronger scoring punch for the Hawks. Next season he will receive more minutes since his senior teammates will be moving on to their next chapter, and with more playing time comes increased basketball IQ and personal confidence.
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