1989 (Prep Hoops’ Version)

Today the GOAT re-released her Greatest of All Time Album!  Taylor Swift re-released the masterpiece that is 1989!  Prep Hoops Illinois looks at the 13 original tracks and makes our own 1989 (Prep Hoops Version)!

Welcome to New York

Let's kick this off with a blast from the past!  The starting point guard for the New York Knicks is former Stevenson star Jalen Brunson.  He was a historic high school player with three trips to state including a title his senior season.  Won two titles at Villanova and now is the go to man in the world's most famous arena!  Ironically when this album first came out it was his senior year.

Blank Space

Who are the senior big men in the state that know how to use their size to be effective.  Lathan Sommerville (Peoria Richwoods), Jaheem Webber Jaheem Webber 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2024 State #300 Nation IL (Normal Community), and Stefan Cicic Stefan Cicic 7'0" | C Riverside Brookfield | 2024 State IL (Riverside Brookfield) are all D1 posts that do damage in the paint!

Style

Which players from around the state bring the most fun style for fans to watch this upcoming season?  Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Thornton), Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State #222 Nation IL (Downers Grove North), Calvin Robins Jr Calvin Robins Jr 6'5" | PF Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Kenwood), Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | PF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL (Whitney Young), Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State #72 Nation IL (St. Ignatius), and Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'6" | SF Lemont | 2026 #148 Nation UT (Benet).

Out of the Woods

Who are few hidden gems in small school hoops to track this season?  These prospects have under 200 kids in their school.  Blake Herren Blake Herren 6'9" | C Dongola | 2024 State IL (Dongola), Jaali Love Jaali Love 6'7" | PF Waukegan | 2026 State IL (Manley), Gage Peterson Gage Peterson 6'6" | SF Waltonville | 2026 State IL (Waltonville), Ryan Browder Ryan Browder 6'2" | SG Earlville | 2024 State IL (Earlville), Jayden Riley Jayden Riley 6'1" | PG Yorkville Christian | 2026 State IL (Yorkville Christian), and Aidan Anderson Aidan Anderson 6'9" | C Okawville | 2025 State IL (Okawville).

All You Had to Do Was Stay

Man the state of Illinois would have been a lot more fun this season if some of the top players didn't vault for prep school including superstar seniors Cole Certa (IMG), Nojus Indrusaitis (Brewster Academy), and James Brown (Link Year).  Two of the premier juniors in the state Jeremiah Fears (AZ Compass) and Melvin Bell (La Lumiere) also took their star power out of state.  On the positive side the state did get back Lathan Sommerville (Peoria Richwoods) from The Skills Factory in Georgia and Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 #86 Nation IL (Homewood Flossmoor) via Montverde.

Shake It Off

Which lead guards in the state of Illinois have the best “shake” off the dribble? Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'4" | PG Simeon | 2024 #273 Nation IL (Simeon), Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL (Homewood Flossmoor), Jakob Blakley Jakob Blakley 6'1" | PG Walter Payton | 2024 State IL (Walter Payton), Bryce Welch Bryce Welch 6'2" | PG Naperville North | 2024 State IL (Naperville North), Max Johnson Max Johnson 5'10" | PG Oak Park River Forest | 2024 State IL (OPRF), Cale Cosme Cale Cosme 5'7" | PG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL (Brother Rice), Tristian Ford Tristian Ford 6'2" | PG Chi-Prep | 2025 State #158 Nation IL (Chi-Prep), Yaris Irby Yaris Irby 5'10" | PG Niles North | 2025 State IL (Niles North), Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep EYBL | 2026 State AZ (Kenwood), and Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State #136 Nation IL (Whitney Young) are some of the best!

I Wish You Would

What wish would we have for Illinois basketball?  Shot clock would be something I know a lot of people would like I have heard!

Bad Blood

Best rivalries in the state of Illinois?  Nothing can match a Simeon vs Whitney Young game when they are both at the top of their games.  Growing up one of my favorite rivalries to attend was Centralia vs Mt. Vernon.  On the travel team circuit it has to be Meanstreets ' last=''] vs Mac Irvin Fire.

Wildest Dreams

What would be “The Dream Team” of players for the ultimate team?  Our point guards would be Tristian Ford Tristian Ford 6'2" | PG Chi-Prep | 2025 State #158 Nation IL (Chi-Prep), Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL (Quincy), and Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG AZ Compass Prep EYBL | 2026 State AZ (Kenwood).  On the wing we would have Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State #222 Nation IL (Downers Grove North), Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL (Mt. Carmel), Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL (Kenwood), Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'3" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State #72 Nation IL (St. Ignatius), Bryce Heard Bryce Heard 6'6" | SG Homewood Flossmoor | 2025 #86 Nation IL (Homewood Flossmoor), Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'10" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL (Kenwood), Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | PF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL (Whitney Young), and Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'6" | SF Lemont | 2026 #148 Nation UT (Benet).  Up front Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Thornton), Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL (Metamora), Lathan Sommerville (Peoria Richwoods), and Jason Jakstys Jason Jakstys 6'10" | C Yorkville | 2024 State #141 Nation IL (Yorkville).

How You Get the Girl

Who are the top girls basketball prospects in the state of Illinois?  In 2024 Aaliyah Guyton (Peoria) headlines the PGH Rankings.  Destiny Jackson (Whitney Young) in 2025 and Trinity Jones (Naperville Central) in 2026 are each at the top of their class.

This Love

Are their any big men in Illinois that remind us of Kevin Love?  Not saying that any of these guys are destined for the HOF, but they have the skill set that is similar with the pick/pop, passing, and rebounding.  Iowa commit Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL (Metamora) immediately jumps to mind.  His former teammate at Peoria Notre Dame Eoin Dillon Eoin Dillon 6'8" | C Peoria Notre Dame | 2024 State #294 Nation IL who is headed for Belmont has some K Love traits!  Dalton Scantlebury Dalton Scantlebury 6'9" | PF Lane Tech | 2025 State IL (Lane Tech) and Anton Strelnikov (Lake Zurich) are players with that game in 2025.

I Know Places

What are a few of my favorite venues to watch a high school game in Illinois?  Highland Shootout, O'Fallon Shootout, Washington Tournament of Champions, and Pontiac Holiday Tournament are just the tip of the iceberg!

Clean

Who are the cleanest shot blockers in the state of Illinois right now?  Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Thornton), Jason Jakstys Jason Jakstys 6'10" | C Yorkville | 2024 State #141 Nation IL (Yorkville), Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State #262 Nation IL (DePaul Prep), Calvin Robins Jr Calvin Robins Jr 6'5" | PF Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Kenwood), Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Kenwood), James Bullock James Bullock 6'7" | PF Marian Catholic | 2024 State IL (Marian Catholic), JJ Hernandez JJ Hernandez 6'6" | PF Glenbard North | 2024 State IL (Glenbard North), Docker Tedeschi Docker Tedeschi 6'9" | PF Benton | 2025 State IL (Benton), Jake Nosek Jake Nosek 6'8" | C Metea Valley | 2025 State #377 Nation IL (Metea Valley), Jonah Funk Jonah Funk 6'9" | C Metamora | 2025 State IL (El Paso Gridley), and Jayden Miles (Chi-Prep).