Friday Night Gems

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Illinois takes you all around the state for some of the top performances on Friday night!&nbsp; It includes highly ranked prospects along with under the radar sleepers from small schools.&nbsp; We know that you can't see everything so PHI gathers up all the info you need in one convenient spot.&nbsp; These are our <strong>Friday Night Gems</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1428908' first='Brady' last='Chambers'] (Lyons)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chambers is one of the more underappreciated low-post players in the senior class.&nbsp; The strong and skilled big man had 22 points against Hinsdale Central on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1764717' first='Camden' last='Cerese'] (Lake Park)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top senior point guard continues to roll along posting 22 points in their win against Batavia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'] (Whitney Young)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rankin led the Dolphins in their 92-45 win over North Lawndale with 22 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] (Whitney Young)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woo also had a good game for Whitney Young dropping 13 points and 5 dimes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545141' first='Kyrese' last='Lukens'] (Herrin)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Herrin star scored his 1,000 point of his career on Friday night as a junior!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385299' first='Ian' last='Miletic'] (Rolling Meadows)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rolling Meadows star junior scored 16 points along with an offer from Marquette after the game!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598708' first='Gavin' last='Escobedo'] (Rolling Meadows)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another junior with a good game for the Mustangs as he netted 16 points as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chander Mueller (Trenton Wesclin)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big night for the junior guard from the 618 scoring 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iowa commit and Player of the Year candidate stepped up for 24 points and 10 rebounds vs Mt. Zion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545145' first='Lyncoln' last='Koester'] (Mt. Zion)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Massive game for the junior despite the narrow loss to Metamora scoring 26 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323267' first='JC' last='Anderson'] (Mt. Zion)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The dual sport star in the 2026 class was a force down low in their game against Metamora with 18 points and 12 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545128' first='Dalton' last='Scantlebury'] (Lane Tech)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scantlebury is making a major leap in next weeks 2025 rankings release.&nbsp; He continues to earn it with 16 points and 18 rebounds vs Orr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285496' first='Jason' last='Jakstys'] (Yorkville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Illini commit played big in a win against Romeoville with 14 points and 12 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750711' first='Jory' last='Boley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2049703' first='Bryce' last='Salek'] (Yorkville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two wings also played a major role in 57-49 win over Romeoville scoring 11 each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2044507' first='Brent' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1552449' first='BJ' last='Powell'] (Lincoln Way East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nice win for LWE against Stagg 60-50.&nbsp; Rangy junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2044507' first='Brent' last='Taylor'] had 16 points while sophomore scoring guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552449' first='BJ' last='Powell'] had 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] (Thornton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Illini commit continues to show why he should be a McDonald's All-American with a dominant 21 point and 19 rebound effort vs Crete Monee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1157209' first='Will' last='Gonzalez'] (Curie)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1-2 senior punch for Curie continues to roll as they won 79-74 at Quincy Shootout vs Millard North as Harris had 22 points and Gonzalez notched 21 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545126' first='Docker' last='Tedeschi'] (Benton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior power forward from Benton had 33 points, 7 blocks, and 8 rebounds against Meridian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373455' first='Josh' last='Fridman'] and Owen Ginnoulias (Glenbrook North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good win for GBN over Evanston as the new Illinois Wesleyan commit Fridman had 27 points and Ginnoulias dropped 18 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385293' first='Bryce' last='Heard'], [player_tooltip player_id='1352590' first='Gianni' last='Cobb'], [player_tooltip player_id='1488791' first='Carson' last='Brownfield'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1774274' first='Jayden' last='Tyler'] (Homewood Flossmoor)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The perimeter quartet for HF was at it again as Heard (17 points), Cobb (15 points), Brownfield (15 points), and Tyler (15 points) spread the wealth in a win over Lincoln Way Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105431' first='OJ' last='Powell'] (Willowbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willowbrook scored a victory on Friday night behind super athletic sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2105431' first='OJ' last='Powell'] who had 22 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ian Winkler and Connor Sullivan (Olney)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winkler and Sullivan each came up big for Olney in a win against Casey-Westfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318123' first='Hank' last='Alvey'] and Toby Cooper (Illini Bluffs)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lehigh commit Alvey led the way for Illini Bluffs against Peoria Christian with 24 points while Toby Cooper notched 23 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321404' first='Malachi' last='Persinger'] and Gavin Walder (Peoria Christian)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the loss to Illini Bluffs this duo had solid games with Persinger contributing 14 points and 7 dimes while Walder had 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285517' first='Reggie' last='Ray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 1-2 punch for Iggy made it look easy as Ray had 14 points and Gill notched 12 points in a blowout win against St. Rita.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1245258' first='Levi' last='Goad'] (Prairie Central)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep an eye on this guard who can impact on both ends as he had 13 points in a loss to Pontiac.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598712' first='Hudson' last='Kirby'] (Geneva)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big performance on Friday from Kirby posting 25 points and 13 boards in a win against Wheaton Warrenville South.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Dempsey and [player_tooltip player_id='1766472' first='Donte' last='Montgomery'] (Oak Lawn)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pair of smooth scoring wings put up buckets against Lemont despite the loss as Dempsey notched 18 points and Montgomery had 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285489' first='Kelton' last='McEwen'] (Wheaton St. Francis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top shooting lead guards in the state had a 20 point night against Providence Catholic in a W!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766462' first='Zerrick' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1544818' first='Bradley' last='Stratton'] (St. Laurence)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wing duo had it working on Friday as each of them racked up 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2291830' first='Javerion' last='Banks'] (Warren)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Star freshman Davis led the way dropping 22 points while junior wing Banks had 17 in a 79-66 win against Libertyville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kam Sweetnam (Tuscola)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the loss to Clinton Tuscola's Sweetnam scored 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1568153' first='Sam' last='Donald'] (Columbia)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will see Donald in person next week.&nbsp; In the Okawville Invitational semi he had 18 points to help his team advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1661484' first='Ross' last='Robertson'] (South Beloit)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robertson is a junior post that led his team to a 57-51 win against Christian Liberty with 18 points to move to 12-4 on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zack Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='1429379' first='Adyn' last='McGinley'], and Ethan Rydberg (Beecher)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This trio kept Beecher undefeated moving to 20-0 with a win against Clifton.&nbsp; Johnson had 24 points.&nbsp; McGinley scored 18 points.&nbsp; Rydberg finished with 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318232' first='Jonah' last='Weathers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2321398' first='Zack' last='Sharkey'] (Marian Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big games from the wing duo as they each had big outings with Weathers scoring 28 points and Sharkey netting 22 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cooper Hansen and Micah Brockhouse (Delavan)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delavan won 52-36 on Friday night with Hansen leading the way with 20 points and Brockhouse backing him up with 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ari Pierson, Michael Nee and Danny Snyder (Glenbard East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior guard Pearson led the way with 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 dimes.&nbsp; The 2026 duo for Glenbard East of Nee (17 points) and Snyder (7 points) are names to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766468' first='Drew' last='Winslow'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2815741' first='Ethan' last='Stewart'] (Triad)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Triad rolls on to Litchfield title game with a 64-42 win against Mattoon.&nbsp; Oklahoma State baseball commit Winslow had 20 points and 10 boards while Steward made 8 triples on his way to 26 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845354' first='Oliver' last='Gray'] (Barrington)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray quietly continues to put up massive numbers including 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 dimes on Friday against Hoffman Estates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285524' first='Jack' last='Stanton'] (Downers Grove North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Princeton commit and top 10 senior scored his 1,000 career point on Friday night in a 49-25 win against York.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Harris, Ethan Kohl, and [player_tooltip player_id='1545117' first='Nick' last='Allen'] (Bradley Bourbonnais)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Boilers moved to 13-4 win a 76-61 win against Lockport.&nbsp; Their star big man [player_tooltip player_id='1545117' first='Nick' last='Allen'] had 7 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 blocks.&nbsp; Brandon Harris (20 points) and Ethan Kohl (17 points) helped carry the scoring load.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373442' first='Jonathan' last='Calmese'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1845356' first='Jaali' last='Love'] (Manley)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one to watch for in the state tournament in small school ball!&nbsp; Calmese had 19 points and 11 dimes while star 2026 Love dropped 11 points and 12 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105396' first='Cameron' last='Mercer'] (Riverside Brookfield)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercer continues to have an excellent sophomore campaign and that showed again on Friday in a 15 point outing in a blowout win against Elmwood Park.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385301' first='JT' last='Pettigrew'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman phenom Thompson torched Andrew for 26 points while rising 2025 post Pettigrew went for a double double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaleb Simms (Andrew)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite the loss it was a solid outing from the wing as he had 26 points against Bolingbrook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AJ Demirov (Crystal Lake South)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Demirov led Crystal Lake South on Friday night to a 59-38 win with 31 points and 7 dimes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->