Rich Township Shootout: Parham's Top Performers

As we enter the month of June in Illinois we turn our focus back to high school basketball for the month and with that comes team shootouts and the many high schools in the Chicagoland area. This year the new staff at Rich Township opened up their brand new field house for several games. Here are the notables from the Rich Township Summer Shootout. [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] 6'10 Thornton 2024 Johnson got his first run with his new squad looking really good in the post. Morez posts hard and sheds defenders very easy. At one point he started to draw double teams and hit guys for shots. In the later game it was more of the same from Johnson who was placed against fellow 2024 big man [player_tooltip player_id='1157346' first='Jaden' last='Smith']. Morez scored often around the basket with good footwork and even knocked shots down from the perimeter. He has made transition to the south burbs pretty easily. [player_tooltip player_id='1750599' first='JeShawn' last='Stevenson'] 6'2 Lindblom 2024 Stevenson looked good on day one playing more of a passive scoring role getting his teammates involved throughout the game. Je'shawn has a strong second burst when getting to the rim. He can elevate and make things happen when he gets it going. Should have a big June being the focal point of his high school team. [player_tooltip player_id='1978577' first='Calvin' last='Worsham'] 6'7 Christ The King 2024 Worsham is still considered one of the biggest sleepers in the state. He is very forceful but skillful in the same sense. Calvin snatches rebounds and is able to push it in transition and score. Worsham is also a load in the post and takes a beating and is still focused enough to score the ball. He has a really good looking shot and can score from 15 feet out to the three-point line. [player_tooltip player_id='1845352' first='Jamson' last='Coulter'] 6'2 Rich Township 2026 Coulter is a strong lead guard who can blow past defenders with his first step. His key is getting guys on his hip and just powering through any contact which often led to a bucket and foul. Jamson knows how to put pressure on defenses by getting downhill and not settling for shots on the perimeter. He has an old school feel with a sneaky athletic ability. Will be one of better players in the 2026 class. [player_tooltip player_id='1766460' first='Al' last='Brooks'] Jr 6'7 Hansberry 2025 I don't know what I haven't said about this player that most don't know at this point. Brooks is a mismatch problem for most defenders. He scores well either in the post and face up situations. He's another player who can get rebounds or blocks and go coast to coast for buckets. He has also put himself in the discussion of best rim protector in the state because he gets blocks in bunches. [player_tooltip player_id='1157209' first='Will' last='Gonzalez'] 6'5 Curie 2024 Maybe the biggest story coming out of this shootout is the transfer of Gonzalez from R-B to Curie. Will is a strong wing guard with size and length that can play on and off the ball. As most players who transfer Gonzalez slowly asserted himself with the new squad as he moved the ball well to teammates. Pairing up with [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] for his senior year in the always competitive Red South/Central can be a dangerous combination. Devin Cleveland 6'1 Kenwood 2027 The third kid of the Cleveland bunch has finally made it to high school and in his first Shootout with the squad he made a good impression. Devin is a high IQ guard who can make shots with the best of them. He is smooth when getting to the cup and has vision for finding guys in tough situations. Just like his brothers before him it will be fun watching his progress the next four years. Jervari Jackson 6'3 Michelle Clarke 2024 Jackson has a good motor and skill set that makes him a rough cover. He gets in the lane at will with a strong handle and a feathery touch on his shot. Jervari's length is key on both sides of the ball as he is active at putting pressure on guards and getting many deflections. He's a prospect to keep tabs on. [player_tooltip player_id='1766465' first='Ikee' last='Brooks'] (Hansberry) 2024 Brooks is lighting quick guard that got to the rim and scored in various fashions. Ikee also had his shot going from beyond the arc. At times defenders didn't know if they should crowd him or give him space. He's done really well on working on his change of pace game. [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] (Curie) 2024 One of the top scoring guards in the state who puts pressure on defenses getting to his spot and making shots. Harris is starting to fill out and looks more of a college prospect as he has added muscle to his frame. [player_tooltip player_id='2539984' first='Aaron' last='McClure'] (Christ The King) 2025 Strong and explosive forward that had several rim shaking dunks and strong blocks off the back board. As a slightly undersized forward McClure plays like he's 6'8. Aaron's motor is constantly going when he's on the court and you can always be sure he's ready to make a momentum play on either side of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1978600' first='Cyrus' last='Jones'] (Julian) 2024 One of the bright spots for me was seeing Jones compete against high level competition. He made some tough shots and was able to score pretty well around the rim. As he works ok becoming a floor leader Cyrus has always been a terrific shooter. [player_tooltip player_id='1157346' first='Jaden' last='Smith'] (Kenwood) 2024 As I didn't see a whole lot of Smith on the day the little I did watch was inspiring. Jaden held his own on defense against the #1 player in the state. Smith used his length and agility to cut Morez off and even causing a couple of turnovers just by being aggressive and being able to hold his ground on defense. He also had a big block snatching it off the backboard with two hands.

As we enter the month of June in Illinois we turn our focus back to high school basketball for the month and with that comes team shootouts and the many high schools in the Chicagoland area. This year the new staff at Rich Township opened up their brand new field house for several games. Here are the notables from the Rich Township Summer Shootout.

Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL 6'10 Thornton 2024
Johnson got his first run with his new squad looking really good in the post. Morez posts hard and sheds defenders very easy. At one point he started to draw double teams and hit guys for shots. In the later game it was more of the same from Johnson who was placed against fellow 2024 big man Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL . Morez scored often around the basket with good footwork and even knocked shots down from the perimeter. He has made transition to the south burbs pretty easily.

Je’Shawn Stevenson Je’Shawn Stevenson 6'3" | SG Lindblom | 2024 State IL 6'2 Lindblom 2024
Stevenson looked good on day one playing more of a passive scoring role getting his teammates involved throughout the game. Je'shawn has a strong second burst when getting to the rim. He can elevate and make things happen when he gets it going. Should have a big June being the focal point of his high school team.

CJ Worsham CJ Worsham 6'7" | PF Christ the King | 2024 State IL 6'7 Christ The King 2024
Worsham is still considered one of the biggest sleepers in the state. He is very forceful but skillful in the same sense. Calvin snatches rebounds and is able to push it in transition and score. Worsham is also a load in the post and takes a beating and is still focused enough to score the ball. He has a really good looking shot and can score from 15 feet out to the three-point line.

Jamson Coulter Jamson Coulter 6'2" | SG Rich Township | 2026 State IL 6'2 Rich Township 2026
Coulter is a strong lead guard who can blow past defenders with his first step. His key is getting guys on his hip and just powering through any contact which often led to a bucket and foul. Jamson knows how to put pressure on defenses by getting downhill and not settling for shots on the perimeter. He has an old school feel with a sneaky athletic ability. Will be one of better players in the 2026 class.

Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | PF Rich Township | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr 6'7 Hansberry 2025
I don't know what I haven't said about this player that most don't know at this point. Brooks is a mismatch problem for most defenders. He scores well either in the post and face up situations. He's another player who can get rebounds or blocks and go coast to coast for buckets. He has also put himself in the discussion of best rim protector in the state because he gets blocks in bunches.

Will Gonzalez Will Gonzalez 6'5" | SF Curie | 2024 State IL 6'5 Curie 2024
Maybe the biggest story coming out of this shootout is the transfer of Gonzalez from R-B to Curie. Will is a strong wing guard with size and length that can play on and off the ball. As most players who transfer Gonzalez slowly asserted himself with the new squad as he moved the ball well to teammates. Pairing up with Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL for his senior year in the always competitive Red South/Central can be a dangerous combination.

Devin Cleveland 6'1 Kenwood 2027
The third kid of the Cleveland bunch has finally made it to high school and in his first Shootout with the squad he made a good impression. Devin is a high IQ guard who can make shots with the best of them. He is smooth when getting to the cup and has vision for finding guys in tough situations. Just like his brothers before him it will be fun watching his progress the next four years.

Jervari Jackson 6'3 Michelle Clarke 2024
Jackson has a good motor and skill set that makes him a rough cover. He gets in the lane at will with a strong handle and a feathery touch on his shot. Jervari's length is key on both sides of the ball as he is active at putting pressure on guards and getting many deflections. He's a prospect to keep tabs on.

Ikee Brooks Ikee Brooks 5'11" | PG Rich Township | 2025 State IL (Hansberry) 2024
Brooks is lighting quick guard that got to the rim and scored in various fashions. Ikee also had his shot going from beyond the arc. At times defenders didn't know if they should crowd him or give him space. He's done really well on working on his change of pace game.

Carlos Harris Carlos Harris 6'1" | SG Curie | 2024 State #283 Nation IL (Curie) 2024
One of the top scoring guards in the state who puts pressure on defenses getting to his spot and making shots. Harris is starting to fill out and looks more of a college prospect as he has added muscle to his frame.

Aaron McClure Aaron McClure 6'7" | C Christ The King | 2025 State IL (Christ The King) 2025
Strong and explosive forward that had several rim shaking dunks and strong blocks off the back board. As a slightly undersized forward McClure plays like he's 6'8. Aaron's motor is constantly going when he's on the court and you can always be sure he's ready to make a momentum play on either side of the ball.

Cyrus Jones Cyrus Jones 6'0" | PG Julian | 2024 State IL (Julian) 2024
One of the bright spots for me was seeing Jones compete against high level competition. He made some tough shots and was able to score pretty well around the rim. As he works ok becoming a floor leader Cyrus has always been a terrific shooter.

Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Kenwood) 2024
As I didn't see a whole lot of Smith on the day the little I did watch was inspiring. Jaden held his own on defense against the #1 player in the state. Smith used his length and agility to cut Morez off and even causing a couple of turnovers just by being aggressive and being able to hold his ground on defense. He also had a big block snatching it off the backboard with two hands.