Futures Market: 15 Programs Set Up for Long Term Success

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we are looking at the Futures Market!&nbsp; What teams are set up the best with their current rosters for long term success particularly with their 2025, 2026, and 2027 classes?&nbsp; As we know all this could easily change in a split second with transfers, but it is always fun to look at squads that have the makings of being special teams down the line.&nbsp; Here are 15 teams that we like to watch long term!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benet</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benet came up just short in the state title game last year, but they have reloaded with a group of prospects that none played significant roles a year ago and all have very bright futures.&nbsp; In the 2025 class [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] brings size and skill up front while [player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] has a lot of the same floor general tools his older brother did on last year's team. &nbsp;Their 2026 group is loaded led by high-major wing [player_tooltip player_id='1552393' first='Gabriel' last='Sularski'] who sits at the top spot in our 2026 rankings with his versatile skill set.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] is a legit five man that can block shots, space the floor, and rebound.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] is a combo guard that plays with a high IQ and brings two way ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Whitney Young</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dolphins have such a strong group of young prospects.&nbsp; The “veteran” star is [player_tooltip player_id='1385300' first='Antonio' last='Munoz'].&nbsp; He is the #3 overall prospect in 2025 with his elite athleticism and high-motor impacting the game on both ends. &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1545124' first='Damajay' last='Richardson'] is a physical guard that gets downhill.&nbsp; They have the best 2026 class in the state led by top 5 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] who is a silky smooth combo guard.&nbsp; They also have highly ranked prospects Nas Rankin, [player_tooltip player_id='1552479' first='Rico' last='D'Alessandro'], [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'], and Patrick Irvin.&nbsp; Can't forget about small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2323647' first='Howard' last='Williams'] who is an early contender for a top 5 spot in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Homewood Flossmoor</strong><br><br>HF is primed for a few big years with the young core that they have. This group got a huge addition with the transfer of Montverde shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1385293' first='Bryce' last='Heard'] returning to Illinois. The 2025 wing with a high-major talent. Combine Heard with what they have in 2025 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1774274' first='Jayden' last='Tyler'] and that makes quite the backcourt. Top 15 2026 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2105369' first='Jacob' last='Thompson'] is oozing with potential and could be a break out player!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>St. Laurence</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They lost one transfer from their core, but St. Laurence still has a ton of future talent particularly in the 2025 class.  [player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'] is trending as D1 prospects with his size, strength, and scoring abilities. [player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'] is the x-factor that can impact in a variety of ways while [player_tooltip player_id='1766469' first='Khalil' last='Jones'] makes everything run from the point.  [player_tooltip player_id='2125677' first='Reggie' last='Stevens'] has the chance to be one of the better 2027s in the Catholic League along with fellow guard [player_tooltip player_id='2194410' first='Markese' last='Peoples'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quincy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the top young core from central Illinois with a quartet of 2025 prospects.&nbsp; It is led by [player_tooltip player_id='1385298' first='Bradley' last='Longcor'].&nbsp; The top 10 2025 prospect is a combo guard that is lights out as a shooter and really improved as a passer.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1545125' first='Dominique' last='Clay'] is a long and wiry wing with a feathery jumper. [player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] brings toughness, rebounding, and low post scoring while [player_tooltip player_id='1766498' first='Kamren' last='Wires'] is a rock solid floor general.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Broncos have the #2 overall prospect in the 2025 class in [player_tooltip player_id='1385283' first='Aleks' last='Alston'] to build around.&nbsp; Elite size, passing, and shot making.&nbsp; Their next star is [player_tooltip player_id='2125612' first='Devin' last='Cleveland'] as the 2027 combo guard can score it from anywhere on the floor.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1845357' first='Noah' last='Mister'] is another young guard to watch! Right before the school year they also added the #3 2026 prospect in the state [player_tooltip player_id='1845363' first='Rajan' last='Roberts'] to make this quite a young core!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DePaul Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DePaul Prep is coming off a state title in 2A last year.&nbsp; This core group could see them make a run in the Chicago Catholic League and the state tournament.&nbsp; They have a rock solid backcourt duo of 2025 ranked guards [player_tooltip player_id='1385311' first='Robert' last='Walls'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545133' first='Makai' last='Kvamme'] who play well off each other.&nbsp; Class of 2025 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1385297' first='Jonas' last='Johnson'] is a skilled four that is primed to breakout this year while 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'] brings toughness, skill, and rebounding inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marist</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group is led by a rock solid 2026 duo featuring #2 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1845350' first='Stephen' last='Brown'] along with one of the top floor generals in Adoni Vasilakis.&nbsp; They play so well off each other already. [player_tooltip player_id='1766478' first='Achillies' last='Anderson'] is the ideal connector between these two on the wing with his versatile game on both ends.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2125658' first='Kendall' last='Meyers'] is a 2027 guard that emerged at the PHI freshman showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dekalb</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Was impressed with what we saw out of Dekalb over the summer.&nbsp; Class of 2025 sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1545123' first='Sean' last='Reynolds'] can shoot it about as well as anyone in the state.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105355' first='Davon' last='Grant'] is a combo forward that plays inside and out in the 2026 class ranking as a top 10 player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Romeoville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Romeoville lost a senior transfer, but picked up a pair of 2025 ones in point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'] and wing [player_tooltip player_id='1385302' first='Damion' last='Porter'].&nbsp; Those two combined with microwave scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1552462' first='Mickeis' last='Johnson'] in 2026 give them a great core!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockford Auburn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the team to watch out of Rockford in the future.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1845353' first='Amir' last='Danforth'] is a top 10 2026 prospect with his shot making, defense, and upside.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2105407' first='Champ' last='Parker'], [player_tooltip player_id='2105424' first='Brian' last='Harper'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2323314' first='Mikwan' last='Marshall'] are three lead guards that all are worth tracking with the first two debuting in the top 50 in the first rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hansberry</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one is all about the Brooks twins!&nbsp; Their dad is the coach and they are in 2A.&nbsp; Top 5 junior [player_tooltip player_id='1766460' first='Al' last='Brooks'] Jr is one of the best stat sheet stuffers in the state.&nbsp; Does it all for his team and plays an exciting style of play.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1766465' first='Ikee' last='Brooks'] is a lead guard that brings a ton of speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Warren</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is buying a low stock now for a big return in 4 years.&nbsp; Class of 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] is one of the best young guards to come into the state in a while.&nbsp; Posted a 40+ point game playing 17U in the spring.&nbsp; Could do for Warren what Brunson did for Stevenson.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2125641' first='Jamier' last='Montgomery'] had a breakout performance at the Prep Hoops Illinois Freshman Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bolingbrook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'] is another one of the top 2027 prospects in the state.&nbsp; He was phenomenal in June as a wing scorer and playmaker.&nbsp; They also got 2025 transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1385301' first='JT' last='Pettigrew'] and you know Bolingbrook will surround Thompson with tons of guards and athletic forwards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chi-Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Technically this is not an IHSA school, but they do boast 3 of the top 15 prospects in the 2025 class in Illinois.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1157224' first='Mike' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1285486' first='Tristian' last='Ford'] are a duo from Rockford who are both trending as potential high-major prospects.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1088829' first='Jayden' last='Miles'] is a bouncy post that made the move in from Kentucky for his junior season who also projects as a D1 prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->