The Last Dance: Illinois 2026 Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Last Dance was held over the weekend in Chicago.&nbsp; PHI was in the house for it all.&nbsp; We will have coverage all week from the event including here in <strong>The Last Dance: Illinois 2026 Prospects!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams is a wing from Kankakee that continues to rise up the board in the 2026 class currently sitting at #4.&nbsp; He is making a case to move up even more with how he has played over the last month.&nbsp; Williams is a long and wiry wing that can score on drives, in transition, and post up punishing less athletic defenders.&nbsp; The defensive tools are very intriguing as he blocks shots at the rim, on the perimeter, and gets steals.&nbsp; Ton of upside here in the high-major prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845363' first='Rajan' last='Roberts'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roberts had a big weekend for the Fire.&nbsp; He is a strong and stocky guard from Kenwood that is consistently in the attack mode.&nbsp; Love how well he gets to the rim with his burst.&nbsp; Best playing off the ball as a microwave scorer that can rack up points in a hurry getting downhill for scores or fouls.&nbsp; Also has a pretty solid pull up game from both mid-range and three.&nbsp; Mid-major programs around the Midwest this will be a major target in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874752' first='Kenaz' last='Jackson Jr.'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2219307' first='1' last='Dream Basketball'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson Jr. has emerged as a prospect that we feel is worthy of D1 consideration with his play over the last several months.&nbsp; He was at it again over the weekend as the Kankakee wing is a feathery shot maker from all around the floor notching 20 points including the game winning three in the first game of the event.&nbsp; Made four threes along with an array of other mid-range jumpers in the win.&nbsp; Plus athlete that can defend multiple spots and handle it as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2410807' first='Davion' last='Jackson'] (88 West)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is an undersized four at 6'4” from East Aurora that brings explosiveness, strength, and big time rebounding to the table.&nbsp; He was relentless on the glass snatching them in traffic.&nbsp; Offensively he is pretty raw, but did flash a couple of spin moves and jump stops for scores in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552444' first='Carter' last='Newsome'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076264' first='Illinois' last='Central Elite'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newsome is a smaller lead guard from Waukegan that is playing up on the 17U level.&nbsp; He is a high IQ guard that makes good decision on the move with his passing.&nbsp; Crafty finisher in the paint, capable three point shooter, and is a pesky defender.&nbsp; Probably will be a small college guy because of his size, but this kid can really play!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552415' first='Maddox' last='Ritzel'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ritzel is a strong bodied wing from Nashville that is just so productive.&nbsp; He isn't the greatest athlete, but knows how to get stuff done using his strength and skill to his advantage.&nbsp; In the two games we saw the majority of his points were scored in the paint.&nbsp; Has a knack for getting to spots inside and scoring on soft touch finishes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1977254' first='Luke' last='Smith'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a combo guard from Belleville Althoff that can play both on and off the ball.&nbsp; Solid passer that gets others involved while also being able to get his own points with crafty moves inside and spot up shooting.&nbsp; Stuffed the stat sheet for 13 points, 7 dimes, and 4 assists in a win against Beast Elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323278' first='Ty' last='Laur'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laur is a big man with a world of potential.&nbsp; In the two games we saw the Pinckneyville big man didn't score a ton, but still impacted the game.&nbsp; Skilled back to the basket big is a plus passer that slices up the defense finding cutters and shooters.&nbsp; This might actually be his best asset.&nbsp; Rebounds well in his area on both ends including getting second chance points.&nbsp; D2s should be looking at him early in the process and it is easy to see how a year from now we could be talking about a D1 prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyjuan Hunter ([program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hope Academy lead guard was the bright spot for [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] throughout the weekend.&nbsp; Super small guard that plays bigger than his height.&nbsp; He is quick and shifty off the bounce blowing past his opponent for scores in the lane on an array of soft touch finishes.&nbsp; In one game we caught the very end of he hit the game winner at the buzzer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kye Ward-Owens ([program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ward-Owens emerged as a potential D1 prospect with his play during the Ridgewood Live event.&nbsp; The strong bodied lefty flashed, but wasn't consistent in the games we saw over the weekend.&nbsp; You have to like the size, strength, and shot making potential out of this lefty.&nbsp; There are a lot of tools in there to work with.&nbsp; In the two games we saw he could never fully unlock it, but we are fans of his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2540096' first='Rafael' last='Pinto'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pinto put his name on the map over the weekend with his plus shooting from the perimeter.&nbsp; You are buying the shot making from the perimeter here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2334404' first='Tre' last='Watkins'] (Basketball Paradise)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watkins is a long and wiry guard that plays taller than his height with his length and elite athleticism.&nbsp; The shooting guard is wired to score and attacks the rim with quickness off the bounce and finishing above the rim.&nbsp; Electric athlete with two way potential needs to be on the D1 radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->