Cluster Buster: Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An aspect from an evaluation standpoint our staff will be paying close attention to this spring and summer is taking groups of prospects that are closely ranked with similar skill sets or positions. &nbsp;Evaluating them while deciding who has separated themselves from that pack or should move to another group.&nbsp; You hear it a lot in NFL and NBA Draft talks as Cluster Busters!&nbsp; We do our own version of that here in <strong>Cluster Busters: Class of 2026</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] (Whitney Young) and [player_tooltip player_id='1845363' first='Rajan' last='Roberts'] (Kenwood)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is a cluster of two to begin as these two are battling it out for the top PG/combo in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552394' first='Andre' last='Tyler'] (Simeon), [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] (Kankakee), [player_tooltip player_id='2105355' first='Davon' last='Grant'] (Dekalb)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super athletic trio here that are oozing with upside.&nbsp; Tyler and Williams each showed flashes of their immense potential with feathery perimeter scoring and athleticism getting to the cup.&nbsp; Grant shows off his athletic gifts in the paint on massive dunks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaden Schilb (Champaign Centennial), [player_tooltip player_id='1845353' first='Amir' last='Danforth'] (Rockford Auburn), [player_tooltip player_id='1552436' first='Karson' last='Thomas'] (Lincoln Way East), [player_tooltip player_id='2105396' first='Cameron' last='Mercer'] (Riverside Brookfield), [player_tooltip player_id='1552438' first='Mason' last='Lockett IV'] (Oswego East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group of wings are all two guards that bring perimeter scoring, shot making, and athleticism.&nbsp; Would not shock us at all to see one or multiple of these guys jump into the top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323267' first='JC' last='Anderson'] (Mt. Zion), [player_tooltip player_id='1552440' first='Adam' last='Anwar'] (McHenry), [player_tooltip player_id='2323261' first='Pablo' last='Rodriguez'] (Chi-Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson headlines this group of big men after a big sophomore season leading his team to state.&nbsp; He will most likely play football in college.&nbsp; Anwar and Rodriguez have futures in college on the hardwood as face up fours.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adoni Vasilakis (Benet), [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] (Whitney Young), [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] (Benet), [player_tooltip player_id='1552428' first='Marshawn' last='Cocroft'] (Aurora Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='2323262' first='Zyheir' last='Gardner'] (Crete Monee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All of these point guards can shoot it and score in bunches!&nbsp; Some more than others have better feels for running a team and impacting defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552481' first='Rocco' last='Pagliocca'] (Stevenson), Jayden [player_tooltip player_id='2389565' first='Riley' last=''] (Yorkville Christian), [player_tooltip player_id='1845361' first='Amare' last='Pryor'] (Bloom), [player_tooltip player_id='1874876' first='Trey' last='Brost'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another interesting group of point guards.&nbsp; Pagliocca and [player_tooltip player_id='2389565' first='Riley' last=''] are more traditional lead guards with their passing and feel.&nbsp; Pryor is a lights out defender while Brost can rain in threes.&nbsp; Which will round out their weaknesses will be at the top in the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105414' first='Sean' last='Lee'] (Decatur MacArthur), [player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cale' last='Maurer'] (Mt. Vernon), [player_tooltip player_id='2105421' first='Larry' last='Harris'] (Lincoln Park), [player_tooltip player_id='2323273' first='Masen' last='Johnson'] (Jacksonville), [player_tooltip player_id='2323275' first='Adam' last='Flowers'] (Hinsdale South), [player_tooltip player_id='1552452' first='Synceare' last='Simons'] (United Township)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We will call this the under the radar wing group.&nbsp; A lot of names that most fans that follow hoops around the state don't know yet, but are primed to make major impacts over the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323309' first='Marquis' last='Goldsmith'] (Rockford East), [player_tooltip player_id='2376280' first='Brody' last='Landgraf'] (Columbia), [player_tooltip player_id='1552474' first='Patrick' last='Irvin Jr'] (Whitney Young)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three big men that might be limited in some senses, but what they do well they do very well!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323314' first='Mikwan' last='Marshall'] (Rockford Auburn), [player_tooltip player_id='2323319' first='Colton' last='Hawkins'] (Carterville), [player_tooltip player_id='2334404' first='Tre' last='Watkins'] (Metea Valley), [player_tooltip player_id='2334406' first='Kyle' last='Cooper'] (Waltonville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This point guard cluster closes out the rankings.&nbsp; Each has shown they can make impacts at the high school level.&nbsp; Now it is time to show if they can elevate it by showcasing it in front of college coaches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->