Sectional Finals: 25 X-Factor Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sectional finals are on Friday night in what might be the best night of hoops all year long!&nbsp; Here are some players that might not lead their teams in scoring, but will be critical in their team's chances to advance!&nbsp; Prep Hoops Illinois looks at our <strong>Sectional Finals: 25 X-Factor Prospects</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750705' first='Braden' last='Richardson'] (York)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson is a tough and hard nosed post that rebounds and finishes when opportunities are presented to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KJ Cathey (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathey is the ultimate glue guy on a Bolingbrook team loaded with stars.&nbsp; Nose for the basketball and brings physicality as a guard in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285493' first='Jake' last='Riemer'] (Downers Grove North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riemer showcased in the semis why he is an x-factor with his rebounding and efficient scoring in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1440697' first='Atticus' last='Richmond'] (Stevenson)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richmond is the least talked about among Stevenson's four prospects, but when he produces they win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552486' first='Danny' last='Houlihan'] (New Trier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If this sophomore gets hot from three New Trier can hang with just about anyone!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1583426' first='Owen' last='Giannoulias'] (Glenbrook North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This senior guard had a big game on Wednesday and when he scores and plays with the swagger he did in that game they are tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373449' first='Ralph' last='Wires'] (Quincy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wires is crucial for what Quincy does as he is the distributor that makes good decisions and gets all his weapons involved.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105203' first='Kobe' last='Walker'] (Normal Community)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker is a powerfully built post that comes off the bench and gives their stars a break without losing a step as the junior is a legit scholarship prospect in his own right with his rebounding and low post scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845361' first='Amare' last='Pryor'] (Bloom)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rangy defender in the backcourt that has also had some games where he has lit it up from distance as a sophomore!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157229' first='Taevion' last='Collier'] (Curie)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collier has been excellent all season making major strides.&nbsp; Scores in the paint with hook shots, mid-range jumpers, and rebounds very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323288' first='Isaiah' last='Coleman'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coleman is an interior presence as a defender and rebounder that Simeon will need against Curie in the final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874672' first='Alex' last='Daniels'] (Warren)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniels brings a veteran leadership to a Warren team loaded with younger wings and guards.&nbsp; Versatile inside/outside threat that can have a big game when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552440' first='Adam' last='Anwar'] (McHenry)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anwar is a top 20 talent in the sophomore class that has upside long term, but is also contributing now as a key cog in McHenry's run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'] (DePaul Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter is another one of the top 2026 posts in the state.&nbsp; He doesn't get the attention with McElroy out there, but what Porter brings with his rebounding, defense, and athleticism is huge for DePaul Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285482' first='Christian' last='Uremovich'] (Mt. Carmel)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Uremovich hit the game winner to get them to the sectional final.&nbsp; The skilled forward just makes winning basketball plays!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978603' first='Bryant' last='Hedrick'] (De La Salle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hedrick is the least heralded of the Meteors seniors, but is very important with his toughness, passing, and shot making at the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766504' first='Caden' last='Workman'] (Brother Rice)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Workman has broken out over the last several weeks for Brother Rice.&nbsp; Giving them another perimeter scoring option for teams to worry about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105414' first='Sean' last='Lee'] (Decatur MacArthur)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is an upside long term sophomore that has two way ability.&nbsp; Can spark MacArthur in their playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2375614' first='Brayden' last='Trimble'] (Mt. Zion)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trimble might be an elite wide receiver, but is quite a hooper too and is consistently the third option for one of the state's premier teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2374540' first='Kai' last='Fogelson'] (Walter Payton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fogelson continues to post big numbers for Payton next to Blakley giving him another guy to rely on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Navaeh Hawkins (St. Patrick)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hawkins is a high energy and athletic four man that brings activity on the glass, finishes inside out of the dunker spot, and is a force defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750597' first='Luke' last='Hopp'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopp is an efficient senior post that should be garnering more looks at the D2 level.&nbsp; He rebounds, defends, and can score inside/out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598683' first='Daquan' last='Little'] (Peoria Richwoods)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Little is the third guard for Richwoods that when he has a big night Richwoods is really hard to beat.&nbsp; They will need that on Friday!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cale Maurer (Mt. Vernon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maurer emerged as a sophomore with his sharp shooting and athleticism.&nbsp; He gives Nesbit an option to get the ball too taking the scoring load off just him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daryle Jones (Centralia)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a wiry and long guard that can play on and off the ball.&nbsp; Works perfectly in Centralia's system as a cutter, shooter, and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->