Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year Semifinalists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the high school basketball season in Illlinois over half over it is time to unveil the semifinalists for the Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year.&nbsp; The Player of the Year will be narrowed down to 3 finalists around the start of the playoffs.&nbsp; The winner will be crowned the week of state or shortly after.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What we are looking for in this award are players that are seeing their teams have success in the win/loss department while they are posting big numbers being the reason for that.&nbsp; Here are your 15 semifinalists for PHI Player of the Year!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] (Thornton – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is the clear frontrunner heading into the second half of the season.&nbsp; The Illini commit has done everything that is asked of him leading his team to big wins while posting big stats stuffing the stat sheet.&nbsp; The top senior in Illinois has delivered in his final high school season.&nbsp; They are 14-2 with wins over Metamora, Richwoods, Kenwood, and Normal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] (Curie – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harris has been rock solid for Curie leading them to the top ranked team in Chicago during the first half of the season.&nbsp; There have been moments when the UIC commit has put his team on his back and carried them including several games at Pontiac where he won MVP and a current 16-1 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373436' first='Angelo' last='Ciaravino'] (Mt. Carmel – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ciaravino won MVP of the Pekin Holiday Tournament and has led his team to an undefeated start against teams from Illinois to date and overall a 18-2 mark.&nbsp; The Northwestern commit is a three level scorer that brings big time athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] (Metamora – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Metamora got off to a bit of a slow start, but they looked like they are ready to repeat with the show they put on at Jack Tosh.&nbsp; The state's #2 prospect and Iowa commit is a big reason why as he is an elite shot maker that can play inside and out.&nbsp; They are currently 13-4 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] (Warren – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis was the MVP of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament as a freshman leading his team to the title.&nbsp; From day 1 he hasn't looked like a freshman as the elite 2027 lead guard has posted big numbers while leading his team to a 16-3 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'] (Bolingbrook – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson is the other elite level freshman that has been putting in work.&nbsp; The shooting guard has scored from all three levels early in the season and become the go to force for a Bolingbrook team that reached the Jack Tosh final and currently sits at 14-3 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285524' first='Jack' last='Stanton'] (Downers Grove North – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanton has been hampered by an injury that will cause him to miss a couple weeks here in January, but during the first half he led his team as always.&nbsp; Coming off their state final four run last year there were high hopes for the Princeton commit sharp shooter and he along with his team have lived up to it currently sitting at 12-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978576' first='Lathan' last='Sommerville'] (Peoria Richwoods – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rutgers commit is one of the most dominant forces in Illinois high school basketball.&nbsp; He is a load inside regularly posting double doubles with relative ease.&nbsp; Moved back from Georgia for his senior season and is leading Richwoods to a great record at 12-3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750599' first='Je'Shawn' last='Stevenson'] (Lindblom – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stevenson is primed to make a massive leap in the rankings to inside the top 10 after the way he has played as a senior.&nbsp; The Cleveland State commit is perhaps the top scorer in Chicago while also helping his team pull off some big wins including one over Kenwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157233' first='Jaheem' last='Webber'] (Normal Community – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webber is the anchor for a Normal Community team that is 15-1 right now with several huge wins.&nbsp; The Wright State commit is a huge reason why as he is a dominant low post presence with his low-post scoring and rebounding.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157352' first='Jaylan' last='McElroy'] (DePaul Prep – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McElroy has been the presence on both ends helping DePaul Prep get off to a 17-1 start to begin the year.&nbsp; Versatile offensive player that can attack from the mid-post, score on the block, and rim run.&nbsp; High level defender that really impacts on that end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385293' first='Bryce' last='Heard'] (Homewood Flossmoor – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heard returned to the state opting to attend HF making them one of the top squads on paper in the state heading into the season.&nbsp; It has worked out as they have racked up wins to the tune of 15-1.&nbsp; Heard has been a consistent scoring presence for this team and just elevates them with his overall elite talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766460' first='Al' last='Brooks'] Jr (Hansberry – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooks might have the craziest stats of anyone in the first half of the season.&nbsp; The Hansberry wing plays in 2A against Noble conference teams where he posts 20/10/5/5 games with relative ease.&nbsp; What has impressed us is against higher level competition like Metamora, Kenwood, and Curie he has shown he more than belongs as one of the best juniors in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385298' first='Bradley' last='Longcor'] (Quincy – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Longcor is the top player and prospect for a Quincy squad that is 16-1 with their only loss coming to Collinsville in the championship game.&nbsp; The point guard is a high level floor general that gets all his weapons involved in positions to succeed.&nbsp; Feathery jumper and crisp handles have led to some big scoring games as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285528' first='Jamorie' last='Wysinger'] (Collinsville – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wysinger took home MVP honors after leading his team to the Collinsville Holiday title over Quincy.&nbsp; They currently sit at 18-1 while Wysinger is dropping almost 16 points a game shooting 45% from three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->