When Sides Collide Preview
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The When Sides Collide Shootout by our friend Joe Henricksen will take place this upcoming Saturday at Benet! The event will feature some of the top prospects and teams from around the state! Below we dive into the event.
Where: Benet Academy (2200 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532)
When: Saturday January 20
Schedule
1:00 PM Normal Community vs DePaul Prep
The first game of the day features a pair of state title contenders, which can be said for most of the teams in this event. Normal Community is loaded with senior talent and battled tested with massive wins already. Wright State commit
Jaheem Webber
Jaheem
Webber
6'9" | C
Normal Community | 2024
State
#300
Nation
IL
is their star. Low-post scorer that can rebound and score. Also a pair of other potential D1 big men in
Noah Cleveland
Noah
Cleveland
6'8" | C
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
and
Kobe Walker
Kobe
Walker
6'9" | C
Normal Community | 2025
State
IL
. On the perimeter they have two of the best uncommitted wings in the senior class in
Braylon Roman
Braylon
Roman
6'3" | SG
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
and
Niko Newsome
Niko
Newsome
6'6" | SG
Normal Community | 2024
State
IL
. DePaul Prep is coming off a 2A state crown a year ago and look primed to make a run in 3A this year.
Jaylan McElroy
Jaylan
McElroy
6'7" | PF
DePaul Prep | 2024
State
#262
Nation
IL
is the top available big man on the board in Illinois with his length, activity, and mobility inside.
Jonas Johnson
Jonas
Johnson
6'6" | PF
DePaul Prep | 2025
State
IL
and
Rashaun Porter
Rashaun
Porter
6'6" | PF
DePaul Prep | 2026
State
IL
are also highly ranked posts.
Robert Walls
Robert
Walls
6'2" | PG
DePaul Prep | 2025
State
IL
,
Makai Kvamme
Makai
Kvamme
6'0" | PG
DePaul Prep | 2025
State
IL
, and
PJ Chambers
PJ
Chambers
6'2" | SG
DePaul Prep | 2024
State
IL
bring scoring and playmaking on the perimeter.
2:30 PM Downers Grove North vs Homewood Flossmoor
Top 10 senior and Princeton commit
Jack Stanton
Jack
Stanton
6'2" | SG
Downers Grove North | 2024
State
#222
Nation
IL
is an elite shot maker and one of the top scorers in Illinois for DGN. Their senior laden group also gets a boost at the point from
Owen Thulin
Owen
Thulin
6'0" | PG
Downers Grove North | 2024
State
IL
, sharp shooter
Alex Miller
Alex
Miller
6'5" | SF
Downers Grove North | 2024
State
IL
, and big man Jake Reimer. HF is absolutely stacked with talent. Their star is top 3 junior
Bryce Heard
Bryce
Heard
6'6" | SG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2025
State
#86
Nation
IL
who brings major scoring pop from multiple levels. Columbia commit
Gianni Cobb
Gianni
Cobb
6'0" | PG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2024
State
IL
and junior
Jayden Tyler
Jayden
Tyler
6'0" | PG
Homewood Flossmoor | 2025
State
IL
form an athletic backcourt and
Carson Brownfield
Carson
Brownfield
6'5" | SF
Homewood Flosmoor | 2024
State
IL
brings a physical scoring presence on the wing.
4:00 PM Whitney Young vs Yorkville
Whitney Young is set up well for the future with the best 2026 group in the state. That group of sophomores is led by top point guard Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL . Nasir Rankin Nasir Rankin 6'2" | SG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL has come on strong as the season has gone along. Bouncy forward Antonio Munoz Antonio Munoz 6'6" | SF Whitney Young | 2025 State #194 Nation IL is among the best juniors in the state with his ability to impact on both ends. The x-factor is elite freshman Howard Williams Howard Williams 6'5" | SF Whitney Young | 2027 IL who flashes high-major upside. Yorkville has one of the best seniors in the state in center Jason Jakstys Jason Jakstys 6'10" | C Yorkville | 2024 State #141 Nation IL . The five man has committed to play his college hoops at Illinois. Skilled inside/outside threat that can knock in jumpers while also score on the block with touch and is an elite shot blocker. Jory Boley Jory Boley 6'3" | SG Yorkville | 2024 State IL is a really good small college prospect that can score for Yorkville.
6:00 PM Kenwood vs Mt Carmel
Kenwood has as much talent as anyone in the state. They haven’t been able to put it together consistently throughout the first half of the season. This would be a massive win heading toward the city and state playoffs. Freshman Devin Cleveland Devin Cleveland 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2027 IL has quickly become their best player which is crazy for a team that has multiple high-major guys on their team. He is that special. When Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #204 Nation IL (DePaul), Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'10" | C Kenwood | 2024 State IL (Arizona State), and top 5 junior Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State #170 Nation IL are all clicking this team is lethal. Mt. Carmel features a top 6 that have proven early in the season they play together well and everyone knows their roles. Northwestern commit Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State #160 Nation IL is the superstar. Athletic wing that can drain threes and dunk on your head. Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL and Christian Uremovich Christian Uremovich 6'5" | PF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL next to him on their frontline provide versatility and do all the little things well. Their three headed backcourt of Noah Mister Noah Mister 6'1" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2026 State IL , Grant Best Grant Best 6'3" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2025 State IL , and Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL have been steady and consistent all year.
7:30 PM Benet vs Thornton
This game features the top senior in the state in Thornton’s Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #33 Nation IL against the best sophomore in Benet’s Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'5" | SF Lemont | 2026 State IL . Thornton has racked up big wins all season behind their player of the year favorite in Johnson. High-motor post that impacts scoring, rebounding, and on the defensive end. The Illini commit is surrounded by three senior guards who have all stepped up this season in Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL , Chase Abraham Chase Abraham 6'0" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL , and Meyoh Swansey Meyoh Swansey 6'3" | SG Thornton | 2024 State IL . All of them are top 40 seniors and currently uncommitted. Sularksi is the star for Benet already. At his size he brings so much to the table as a versatile scorer, high level passer, and quality defender. Benet is the future of Illinois hoops with their younger classes. In 2026 alone they have D1 prospects Sularski, Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL , and Colin Stack Colin Stack 6'9" | C Benet | 2026 State IL . Don’t forget about junior Daniel Pauliukonis Daniel Pauliukonis 6'8" | SF Benet | 2025 State IL either as this skilled four is primed to breakout along with pass first point guard Blake Fagbemi Blake Fagbemi 5'10" | PG Benet | 2025 State IL ! They came within one play of winning Pontiac in December and are looking to prove their time is now.