Summer Spotlight: Illinois 2026 Prospects

The grassroots basketball season is roughly at its halfway point, and young players continue to make a name for themselves, while others have placed their mark on the map for coaches and scouts to keep an eye on once the regular season rolls around. In this article, I'll be covering rarely talked-about players whom I had the opportunity to watch over the course of the summer so far. So let's jump into it in the Summer Spotlight: Illinois 2026 Prospects!    Salerno is a key player at the guard position for [program_tooltip program_id='2075830' first='Sharks' last='Basketball Academy']. He excels with the ball in his hands, delivering it to open shooters or driving and dishing assists to teammates in the paint. He's showcased impressive ball-handling skills, though there's room for improvement as he can be a little loose with the ball. Off the ball, Salerno moves well along the perimeter and connects on spot-up three-point attempts. For a guard, Salerno exhibits grit when attacking for offensive rebounds, often sneaking in to create second-chance scoring opportunities. Once the regular season arrives, catch Salerno in action at Addison Trail.     The 6'0" stocky-built Garrett provides strength and hustle for his Clippers Nation Elite squad. On the defensive end, he's a tough player to back down or move out of the way. Garrett continuously shows hustle on the floor, no matter the circumstance of the game, and maintains a never-give-up mentality. In the paint, Garrett is a difficult opponent to stop as he uses his strength to power up layups and battle for rebounds. Keep an eye on Garrett in the upcoming years, especially since he's competing at a respectable program at Hillcrest.     The first time I was introduced to Biskupic was during last year's Prep Hoops Circuit events playing for [program_tooltip program_id='2075386' first='Chicago' last='Lockdown']. I've said it before and I'll say it again: he provides genuine hustle that coaches love to have on a team, and teammates enjoy his presence on the court. He's developed more sound passing skills, consistently making the right pass and avoiding questionable decisions, while also having the confidence to sneak passes through tight windows. He still needs to work on his three-point shot, but it's encouraging to see him confidently take open perimeter shots during summer ball. Riverside-Brookfield has a true "glue guy" on their hands.     The 6'6" Moore is an intriguing and relatively unknown prospect suiting up for [program_tooltip program_id='2075386' first='Chicago' last='Lockdown'], playing on the same team as [player_tooltip player_id='2433453' first='Ben' last='Biskupic']. A slim-bodied big man, Moore isn't afraid to battle in the interior. His lengthy frame is a positive on the defensive end, allowing him to disrupt passing lanes, force opponents into making ill-advised passes, and secure rebounds with his height. He has a soft touch from mid-range but still needs to work on becoming a consistent shot-maker from that area.     Welch, a 6'2" small forward, is an accurate spot-up shooter from three-point territory. He has shown at a young age that his fluid movement along the arc helps him relocate to open up high-percentage shots from three. Welch is always in position to receive a pass, load up his shot, and release it quickly. Another positive characteristic of Welch is that he doesn't get down on himself when his shot isn't falling; he keeps his composure and finds his rhythm, and when he does, he can be deadly from behind the arc.     Krestel is another player from [program_tooltip program_id='2075314' first='Big' last='3 Basketball'] who has showcased his skills on the hardwood over the course of the summer. As his team's point guard, he excels in multiple areas. When receiving ball screens, Krestel is patient, waiting for his big to get set before attacking tightly off the hip. He wisely uses a floater to counter taller defenders contesting his shot. One highly noticeable aspect of his game is his hesitation move, which allows him to freeze defenders and attack downhill effectively.     Cloud is an emerging prospect from Lane Tech who has turned heads throughout AAU ball while playing for the All In Athletics grassroots program. He has showcased a beautiful arc on his shot, along with a nice rise to shoot over defenders. Cloud is another player who moves well on the offensive end to create open shot opportunities. He can heat up from three off the catch and has displayed the ability to knock down threes via a stepback. Lane's program has an up-and-coming guard who can provide a scoring punch.

The grassroots basketball season is roughly at its halfway point, and young players continue to make a name for themselves, while others have placed their mark on the map for coaches and scouts to keep an eye on once the regular season rolls around. In this article, I'll be covering rarely talked-about players whom I had the opportunity to watch over the course of the summer so far. So let's jump into it in the Summer Spotlight: Illinois 2026 Prospects!