3 on 3 Questions: Illinois Transfers
In this article:
In our new series 3 on 3 Questions PHI’s Scott Burgess, Steve Parham, and Teddy Bahu examine three questions each that are relevant to what is going on in Illinois high school basketball! Today we focus on the winners from…
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SubscribeIn our new series 3 on 3 Questions PHI’s Scott Burgess, Steve Parham, and Teddy Bahu examine three questions each that are relevant to what is going on in Illinois high school basketball! Today we focus on the winners from the transfer portal of Illinois High School Basketball!
Which individual transfer changing schools will make the biggest impact on the high school basketball season this year in Illinois?
Scott
I am going to go with
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#67
Nation
IL
. The #2 overall prospect in the 2024 class is an Iowa commit that made the move from Peoria Notre Dame to Metamora official in early August. Floor stretcher that impacts winning with his scoring, passing, and shot blocking. On a team that is the defending state champs he will team with
Tyler Mason
Tyler
Mason
6'2" | SG
Metamora | 2024
State
IL
(Winona State commit),
Luke Hopp
Luke
Hopp
6'8" | C
Metamora | 2024
State
IL
, and
Matthew Zobrist
Matthew
Zobrist
6'3" | SG
Metamora | 2025
State
IL
to give them a squad that could make it back to Champaign for the third year in a row!
Steve
Dekwon Brown
Dekwon
Brown
6'3" | PG
Simeon | 2024
State
IL
to Simeon. Brown is an instant impact player for Simeon. A program that lost a lot of talent from last year’s team. Dekwon already has that inner-city grit but what he also brings to the table is a huge scoring threat and the ability to make shots for long range. Before coming to Chicago Brown was known for breaking players down with sweet crossovers and slick moves since the summer he’s added more to his game and should become an instant preseason all-city team member.
Teddy
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#67
Nation
IL
– Metamora has been the best team in 3A the past two seasons. Adding a top-100 prospect nationally in
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#67
Nation
IL
to the mix will be entertaining. His style of play should allow him to fit right into the Redbird system. I’ll be excited to watch Metamora in the Jack Tosh classic over the holidays.
As a group which school benefited the most from the transfer portal elevating their standing heading into the season?
Scott
Thornton is my call here. They landed the #1 senior in the state
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#35
Nation
IL
. Most physically dominating player by far with his rebounding, defense, and finishing ability. It didn’t stop there! They added three key perimeter pieces in
Isaiah Green
Isaiah
Green
6'1" | PG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
from Kenwood,
Meyoh Swansey
Meyoh
Swansey
6'3" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
out of Romeoville, and
Chase Abraham
Chase
Abraham
6'0" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
from TF North. This group of guards brings defense, athleticism, and scoring to compete in a major way!
Steve
Homewood Flossmoor. The school that didn’t get a ton of transfers but got three impact players who can come in and be effective immediately when the season starts.
Gianni Cobb
Gianni
Cobb
6'0" | PG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2024
State
IL
5’11 guard is a blazing quick guard who gets out in transition and make things happen for his team. And the last two seasons he has been a double digit scorer in IHSA competition. The second player Mac Hagemaster 6’8 space eating big man who will do a good job at rebounding and rim protection on defense for the Vikings. And the last player
Bryce Heard
Bryce
Heard
6'5" | SG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2025
State
IL
6’6 guard/wing is a nationally ranked player who brings skill and knack to score also to HF. Heard spent a year at prep school playing a national schedule should be able to come back and fit in right away. These transfers immediately place the Vikings at into top 3 contenders for a state championship.
Teddy
Thornton and Homewood-Flossmor – This is a no-brainer. For Thornton, Adding
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#35
Nation
IL
, the #1 senior in the class, to a group that’s made plenty of noise on the high school scene. Morez was a beast on both ends of the floor during the HS live periods. But he was even more sensational during the Peach Jam in July.
Meyoh Swansey
Meyoh
Swansey
6'3" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
, another top-50 prospect in his class, also transferred in from Romeoville. Point Guard
Isaiah Green
Isaiah
Green
6'1" | PG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
also recently transferred in. Meanwhile,
Bryce Heard
Bryce
Heard
6'5" | SG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2025
State
IL
‘s return to Illinois immediately makes Homewood-Flossmor a state title contender.
Gianni Cobb
Gianni
Cobb
6'0" | PG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2024
State
IL
is another transfer I like for his playmaking abilities and speed on the floor. He was a difference-maker for the Vikings during the summer live period. If it wasn’t these two schools, St. Laurence would have made this a difficult choice if Nojus Indrusaitis didn’t leave.
Who is the most underrated transfer heading into the season that will impact his new team?
Scott
The top three players in the senior class
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#35
Nation
IL
(Thornton),
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#67
Nation
IL
(Metamora), and
Lathan Sommerville
Lathan
Sommerville
6'10" | C
Peoria Richwoods | 2024
State
IL
(Peoria Richwoods) headline the transfers. Who are some down the board we think can make huge differences?
Will Gonzalez
Will
Gonzalez
6'5" | SF
Curie | 2024
State
IL
going from Riverside Broookfield to Curie will fit right in with the way he defends and his playmaking.
Niko Newsome
Niko
Newsome
6'6" | SG
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
might end up leading a Normal Community team that is a state title contender in scoring!
Darshan Thomas
Darshan
Thomas
6'6" | SF
Marist | 2024
State
IL
left Fenwick to attend Marist where he will be a great veteran presence on a young, but talented Marist squad.
Steve
Meyoh Swansey
Meyoh
Swansey
6'3" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
to Thornton. Swansey goes from a number one option to a very impactful #2 in my opinion. Mayoh is the mid-range monster and lives off making 18 feet pull-ups shots. He will benefit even more now that he has the states number 1 prospect (
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#35
Nation
IL
) on his team who will at times demand a double team which would allow Meyoh to become a better scoring threat and create some highlights with his explosive athletic abilities.
Teddy
This is a tough one. But I’ll probably give this to
JT Pettigrew
JT
Pettigrew
6'6" | PF
Bolingbrook | 2025
State
IL
. I was very intrigued by the role he plays as a big man for Bolingbrook. He displays a wide range of skills that I truly believe can help the Raiders in the long run. Personally, I’m a big fan of what he can do on the boards, as he’s very physical and moves well around the glass. He also displays underrated passing abilities as a big man.
