Highland Shootout Schedule Released
In this article:
The Highland Shootout lineup is here! It has been a privilege to be able to help director Matt Powers with this shootout over the last decade selecting the teams as it was an event I went to growing up. This year’s edition is STACKED with star power from Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky! The event will be sold out from the first game to the last. It is one of the most unique atmosphere’s you will see in Illinois high school hoops!
The top 3 players in the Illinois 2024 class will all be in the house with Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Thornton – Illini), Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL (Metamora – Iowa), and Lathan Sommerville (Peoria Richwoods – Rutgers) being the headliners. Kenwood brings their own high-major duo in Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL (DePaul) and Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Arizona State). There are 20 prospects in the Illinois senior class ranked in the top 100. 12 of the top 34 2024 prospects will be on the floor at Highland! How about the 2025 class? Try three top 10 prospects in Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL (Kenwood), Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL (Whitney Young), and Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL (Quincy). The top 3 point guards in the sophomore class from Illinois will be on display in Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2026 State IL (Kenwood), Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young), and Rykan Woo Rykan Woo 6'1" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL (Whitney Young) who are primed to make noise across Illinois this season! Two of the top five freshman from Illinois will also be showing out for fans in Devin Cleveland Devin Cleveland 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2027 IL (Kenwood) and Howard Williams Howard Williams 6'5" | SF Whitney Young | 2027 IL (Whitney Young).
Missouri will be well represented with 13 prospects that are ranked in the top 15 of their respective classes. Cardinal Ritter has their deep senior class. Vashon brings a powerful junior class of highly coveted prospects. Chaminade has a really strong sophomore group. Vianney has a pair of the best sophomore’s in the state of Missouri. The lone team from Kentucky Great Crossing will feature nationally ranked big man and #1 player in Kentucky’s junior class 6’11” Malachi Moreno.
Where
Highland High School
When
Saturday, January 6
Ticket Info
Game Schedule
9:00 AM Highland vs Father McGivney (Girls)
10:30 AM Highland vs Breese Central
12:00 PM Quincy vs Cardinal Ritter
1:30 PM Peoria Richwoods vs Vashon
3:00 PM Whitney Young vs Vianney
4:30 PM Chaminade vs Great Crossing (KY)
6:15 PM Kenwood vs Normal Community
8:00 PM Thornton vs Metamora
Breakdown of Each Game
10:30 AM Highland vs Breese Central
The first boys game of the day will feature two of the more entertaining scoring guards from southern Illinois in the 2024 class. Host Highland will be led by Eastern Illinois baseball commit Jake Ottensmeier Jake Ottensmeier 6'1" | SG Highland | 2024 State IL . He will go head to head with small college hoops gem Mason Shubert Mason Shubert 6'2" | SG Breese Central | 2024 State IL of Breese Central who can score from all over the floor!
12:00 PM Quincy vs Cardinal Ritter
Cardinal Ritter was one of the best teams in Missouri last year and had their share of success vs Illinois teams a year ago. They will take a shot at a central Illinois historic program loaded with talent. For Cardinal Ritter they are pushed by top 10 senior
Clayton Jackson
Clayton
Jackson
6'2" | PG
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
who can get it done on both ends of the floor. Their depth of senior talent is impressive with
Nashawn Davis
Nashawn
Davis
6'5" | SF
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
,
Derrick Rivers
Derrick
Rivers
6'0" | SG
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
, and
Mekhi Barringer
Mekhi
Barringer
6'5" | SF
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
. For Quincy their go to guy is top 10 junior
Bradley Longcor
Bradley
Longcor
6'3" | PG
Quincy | 2025
State
#337
Nation
IL
. Skilled guard that can handle it, shoot, and has improved as a passer. He is joined by two other highly ranked 2025s in
Dominique Clay
Dominique
Clay
6'4" | SF
Quincy | 2025
State
IL
and
Keshaun Thomas
Keshaun
Thomas
6'5" | PF
Quincy | 2025
State
IL
. Don’t sleep on rangy senior wing
Camden Brown
Camden
Brown
6'5" | SF
Quincy | 2024
State
IL
who is one of the top uncommitted 2024 perimeter prospects in the class.
1:30 PM Peoria Richwoods vs Vashon
This will be a fun one! Peoria Richwoods got a huge boost with the return to the state of Rutgers bound four-star big man Lathan Sommerville. The top 3 prospect in the Illinois 2024 class is a man child with his power game, rebounding, and improved passing. Two guards to track on this Richwoods squad are seniors
Tavie Smith
Tavie
Smith
6'1" | PG
Peoria Richwoods | 2024
State
IL
and
Jared Jackson
Jared
Jackson
6'3" | SG
Peoria Richwoods | 2024
State
IL
. Vashon counters with top 10 senior Nasir Binion along with a stacked group of juniors! They have four of the top 15 2025s in Missouri led by
Nicholas Randall
Nicholas
Randall
6'8" | PF
Vashon | 2025
State
#96
Nation
MO
. The Vashon star four man is skilled and athletic which is garnering high-major attention. He is surrounded by 3 D1 guards in
Tre Williams
Tre
Williams
6'2" | SG
Vashon | 2025
State
#334
Nation
MO
,
Christian Williams
Christian
Williams
5'9" | PG
Vashon | 2025
State
MO
, and
Dehrio McCaskill
Dehrio
McCaskill
6'4" | SG
Vashon | 2025
State
MO
.
3:00 PM Whitney Young vs Vianney
Whitney Young is one of the most historic programs in the state of Illinois. This year they are a bit on the young side, but stacked with talent! They feature top 5 2025
Antonio Munoz
Antonio
Munoz
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2025
State
#194
Nation
IL
who is one of the most electrifying players above the rim in the state. Also in that junior class is tough as nails guard
Damajay Richardson
Damajay
Richardson
5'11" | PG
Whitney Young | 2025
State
IL
. What makes this team intriguing is their sophomore group as they have a loaded group of sophomores led by top 5 point guard
Marquis Clark
Marquis
Clark
6'2" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
. One of the smoothest operators you will see!
Nasir Rankin
Nasir
Rankin
6'2" | SG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
and
Rykan Woo
Rykan
Woo
6'1" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
round out their backcourt with athleticism and instincts.
Rico D’Alessandro
Rico
D’Alessandro
6'4" | PF
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
is primed for a big season as a utility forward that stuffs the stat sheet! Also keep an eye on freshman
Howard Williams
Howard
Williams
6'5" | SF
Whitney Young | 2027
IL
who is one of the top 5 2027 prospects in Illinois. Vianney has a pair of top 10 sophomores including the #2 sophomore in Missouri
Eddie Smajic
Eddie
Smajic
6'5" | SF
Vianney | 2026
State
MO
. Don’t forget about 7’3” big man
Symon Ghai
Symon
Ghai
7'3" | C
Vianney | 2026
State
MO
in the 2026 class.
Luke Walsh
Luke
Walsh
6'2" | SG
Vianney | 2025
State
#374
Nation
MO
is a top 10 junior on Vianney that can really shoot it!
4:30 PM Chaminade vs Great Crossing (KY)
Chaminade is always a program that has talent. It also is more on the young side this season. Ben Winkler is their top upperclassmen as the 2025 center is a skilled five that rebounds and swats shots as a future D1 post. Really strong in the 2026 class led by top 5 sophomore Jamison White Jamison White 6'7" | SF Chaminade | 2026 State MO who is a multi-skilled small forward that impacts in a variety of ways. They also have talented prospects in the sophomore class Johnny Jordan Johnny Jordan 6'2" | PG Chaminade | 2026 State MO and Jahidi White Jr Jahidi White Jr 6'7" | PF Chaminade | 2026 State MO . Great Crossing out of Kentucky is led by the #1 overall player in the 2025 class from the blue grass state in Malachi Moreno. The 6’11” center is a nationally ranked prospect with high-majors all over him. His 2025 running mate is another top 5 in-state product in 6’5” shooting guard Vince Dawson. Jeremiah Godfrey is a 6’7” post to monitor!
6:15 PM Kenwood vs Normal Community
This is the first of two games that feature four Illinois state title contenders going against each other. Kenwood is STACKED! They have three very highly ranked seniors in the state led by high-major commits Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL (DePaul) and Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Arizona State). Super bouncy Calvin Robins Jr Calvin Robins Jr 6'5" | PF Kenwood | 2024 State IL is a monster on the glass and throwing down dunks. Edwon Duling Edwon Duling 6'2" | SG Kenwood | 2024 State IL is the perfect glue guy with his defense and consistency. Point-power forward Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL is one of the most interesting prospects in the state with his size, shot making, and passing feel. He sits at #2 overall in the 2025 rankings in Illinois. Want young star power in the backcourt? Kenwood has #3 overall 2026 Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2026 State IL and contender for the top spot in the freshman class in Devin Cleveland Devin Cleveland 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2027 IL who are both absolutely electric with the rock and potential high-major recruits down the line. Normal Community might be able to match Kenwood’s size and veterans with their group that is led by four of the top 32 seniors in the state. Wright State center Jaheem Webber Jaheem Webber 6'9" | C Normal Community | 2024 State #300 Nation IL is a grown man inside! He is powerful finishing and snatches rebounds in bunches. Also up front is Noah Cleveland Noah Cleveland 6'8" | C Normal Community | 2024 State IL who is primed for a breakout year! Their guard play is awesome with versatile two guards Niko Newsome Niko Newsome 6'6" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL and Braylon Roman Braylon Roman 6'3" | SG Normal Community | 2024 State IL playing off each other. Two of the premier unsigned prospects in the state.
8:00 PM Thornton vs Metamora
#1 vs #2! The Highland Shootout always brings the star power and we have it here for sure as the top two prospects in the state Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL (Thornton) will battle #2 ranked Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL (Metamora). Both are power forwards which will make for a fun head to head matchup! Johnson has been a long time Illini commit that continues to get better each time out. Athletic post that is an elite rebounder, finisher, and he is starting to add the skill. They also have three other key transfers on the perimeter that will help make this team one to watch all season in Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL , Meyoh Swansey Meyoh Swansey 6'3" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL , and Chase Abraham Chase Abraham 6'0" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL . Metamora is the defending 3A state champions. All they did was go out and add the #2 overall senior in the state to a great core they already had! Iowa commit Cooper Koch Cooper Koch 6'8" | PF Metamora | 2024 State #81 Nation IL is a floor spacing big that can shoot it from distance and score out of the post with fundamentals. Tyler Mason Tyler Mason 6'2" | SG Metamora | 2024 State IL is a tough scoring guard who had a big run last year leading Metamora to their title and he is headed to Winona State. Luke Hopp Luke Hopp 6'8" | C Metamora | 2024 State IL is a stretch big that is primed for a big season and could see his recruitment rise! Matthew Zobrist Matthew Zobrist 6'5" | SG Metamora | 2025 State IL is a lefty sharp shooter that is starting to show there is much more to his game in 2025.
Illinois Class Breakdown
2024 – Top 100 Prospects
Morez Johnson
Morez
Johnson
6'9" | PF
Thornton | 2024
State
#33
Nation
IL
(Thornton – Illinois)
Cooper Koch
Cooper
Koch
6'8" | PF
Metamora | 2024
State
#81
Nation
IL
(Metamora – Iowa)
Lathan Sommerville (Peoria Richwoods – Rutgers)
Chris Riddle
Chris
Riddle
6'5" | SF
Kenwood | 2024
State
#204
Nation
IL
(Kenwood – DePaul)
Calvin Robins Jr
Calvin
Robins Jr
6'5" | PF
Kenwood | 2024
State
IL
(Kenwood)
Jaheem Webber
Jaheem
Webber
6'9" | C
Normal Community | 2024
State
#300
Nation
IL
(Normal Community – Wright State)
Jaden Smith
Jaden
Smith
6'10" | C
Kenwood | 2024
State
IL
(Kenwood – Arizona State)
Braylon Roman
Braylon
Roman
6'3" | SG
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
(Normal Community)
Isaiah Green
Isaiah
Green
6'1" | PG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
(Hillcrest)
Niko Newsome
Niko
Newsome
6'6" | SG
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
(Normal Community)
Noah Cleveland
Noah
Cleveland
6'8" | C
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
(Normal Community)
Camden Brown
Camden
Brown
6'5" | SF
Quincy | 2024
State
IL
(Quincy)
Meyoh Swansey
Meyoh
Swansey
6'3" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
(Thornton)
Tyler Mason
Tyler
Mason
6'2" | SG
Metamora | 2024
State
IL
(Metamora – Winona State)
Tavie Smith
Tavie
Smith
6'1" | PG
Peoria Richwoods | 2024
State
IL
(Peoria Richwoods)
Chase Abraham
Chase
Abraham
6'0" | SG
Thornton | 2024
State
IL
(Thornton)
Luke Hopp
Luke
Hopp
6'8" | C
Metamora | 2024
State
IL
(Metamora)
Mason Shubert
Mason
Shubert
6'2" | SG
Breese Central | 2024
State
IL
(Breese Central)
Jake Ottensmeier
Jake
Ottensmeier
6'1" | SG
Highland | 2024
State
IL
(Highland – Eastern Illinois Baseball)
Edwon Duling
Edwon
Duling
6'2" | SG
Kenwood | 2024
State
IL
(Kenwood)
2025 – Top 100 Prospects
Aleks Alston
Aleks
Alston
6'9" | PF
Kenwood | 2025
State
#170
Nation
IL
(Kenwood)
Antonio Munoz
Antonio
Munoz
6'6" | SF
Whitney Young | 2025
State
#194
Nation
IL
(Whitney Young)
Bradley Longcor
Bradley
Longcor
6'3" | PG
Quincy | 2025
State
#337
Nation
IL
(Quincy)
Dominique Clay
Dominique
Clay
6'4" | SF
Quincy | 2025
State
IL
(Quincy)
Keshaun Thomas
Keshaun
Thomas
6'5" | PF
Quincy | 2025
State
IL
(Quincy)
Damajay Richardson
Damajay
Richardson
5'11" | PG
Whitney Young | 2025
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
Matthew Zobrist
Matthew
Zobrist
6'5" | SG
Metamora | 2025
State
IL
(Metamora)
Kobe Walker
Kobe
Walker
6'9" | C
Normal Community | 2025
State
IL
(Normal Community)
2026 – Top 50 Prospects
Rajan Roberts
Rajan
Roberts
6'2" | PG
Kenwood | 2026
State
IL
(Kenwood)
Marquis Clark
Marquis
Clark
6'2" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
Rykan Woo
Rykan
Woo
6'1" | PG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
Rico D’Alessandro
Rico
D’Alessandro
6'4" | PF
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
Nasir Rankin
Nasir
Rankin
6'2" | SG
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
(Whitney Young)
Patrick Irvin Jr
Patrick
Irvin Jr
6'5" | PF
Whitney Young | 2026
State
IL
. (Whitney Young)
Missouri Class Breakdown
2024 – Top 100 Prospects
Nasir Binion (Vashon)
Clayton Jackson
Clayton
Jackson
6'2" | PG
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
(Cardinal Ritter)
Nashawn Davis
Nashawn
Davis
6'5" | SF
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
(Cardinal Ritter)
Derrick Rivers
Derrick
Rivers
6'0" | SG
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
(Cardinal Ritter)
Andre Aaron Jr (Vashon)
Mekhi Barringer
Mekhi
Barringer
6'5" | SF
Cardinal Ritter | 2024
State
MO
(Cardinal Ritter)
Jordan Richard (Vashon)
2025 – Top 100 Prospects
Nicholas Randall
Nicholas
Randall
6'8" | PF
Vashon | 2025
State
#96
Nation
MO
(Vashon)
Tre Williams
Tre
Williams
6'2" | SG
Vashon | 2025
State
#334
Nation
MO
(Vashon)
Luke Walsh
Luke
Walsh
6'2" | SG
Vianney | 2025
State
#374
Nation
MO
(Vianney)
Christian Williams
Christian
Williams
5'9" | PG
Vashon | 2025
State
MO
(Vashon)
Ben Winker
Ben
Winker
6'11" | PF
Chaminade | 2025
State
MO
(Chaminade)
Dehrio McCaskill
Dehrio
McCaskill
6'4" | SG
Vashon | 2025
State
MO
(Vashon)
Collin Perry
Collin
Perry
6'0" | SG
Chaminade | 2025
State
MO
(Chaminade)
Colin Keller
Colin
Keller
6'2" | SG
Chaminade | 2025
State
MO
(Chaminade)
2026 – Top 50 Prospects
Eddie Smajic
Eddie
Smajic
6'5" | SF
Vianney | 2026
State
MO
(Vianney)
Jamison White
Jamison
White
6'7" | SF
Chaminade | 2026
State
MO
(Chaminade)
Johnny Jordan
Johnny
Jordan
6'2" | PG
Chaminade | 2026
State
MO
(Chaminade)
Symon Ghai
Symon
Ghai
7'3" | C
Vianney | 2026
State
MO
(Vianney)
Jahidi White Jr
Jahidi
White Jr
6'7" | PF
Chaminade | 2026
State
MO
(Chaminade)
Kain McCaskill
Kain
McCaskill
6'1" | PG
Vashon | 2026
State
MO
(Vashon)
Oscar Patterson
Oscar
Patterson
6'3" | SG
Cardinal Ritter | 2026
State
MO
(Cardinal Ritter)
Aden Jeffries (Cardinal Ritter)