25 Best: 2026 Breakout Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we are getting closer to the high school season we wanted to dive into some of the potential breakout prospects in each class that could take a big step forward for their high school teams!&nbsp; Here are our <strong>25 Best: 2026 Breakout Candidates</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2045857' first='Ethan' last='Hillsman'] (Joliet West)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The transfer from Tennessee debuted as a top 5 prospect and is primed to make major noise from day one as a two way wing that will impact winning!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2617428' first='Mason' last='Lockett IV'] (Oswego East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lockett is an ultra smooth two guard that will take on a much larger role with Starwood's graduation.&nbsp; He is ready for it!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2617392' first='Jaali' last='Love'] (Waukegan)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long and rangy forward transferred from Manley to Waukegan where he will be surrounded with a good supporting cast and should be able to show his full game this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552460' first='Bryce' last='Wegrzyn'] (Libertyville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big man from Libertyville is a skilled five who can score on the block, stretch the floor, and rebound at a super high rate.&nbsp; Expect big numbers!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charles Barnes Jr. (De La Salle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the graduation of the Meteors 2024 class the focus shifts to their 2026 group led bt the dynamic two way wing in Barnes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2617399' first='Jayden' last='Madden'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madden has top 10 upside in the class and it wouldn't shock us at all to see him blow up in the first half of the season with Bolingbrook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845354' first='Oliver' last='Gray'] (Barrington)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray is a long and rangy wing that is a big time shot maker from the perimeter.&nbsp; He was effective as a sophomore and we expect him to take it to an even higher level!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105396' first='Cameron' last='Mercer'] (Riverside Brookfield)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mercer is a two guard that is in position to have a breakout junior campaign as he has slowly trended this way with his improvement over the last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2334404' first='Tre' last='Watkins'] (Metea Valley)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watkins impressed with Basketball Paradise and we can see him having a monster junior season with a quality lead guard next to him setting him up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323275' first='Adam' last='Flowers'] (Downers Grove South)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flowers has all the tools to impact from day one at his new school as a multi level bucket getter with a ton of projectability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323278' first='Ty' last='Laur'] (Pinckneyville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Laur is a big man who has landed several offers in the last month and the post continues to improve his game and grow every time we see him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2617416' first='Kenaz' last='Jackson Jr.'] (Kankakee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson is ready to play Robin to the top junior's [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] Batman for a Kankakee team that is primed to make major noise!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323266' first='Alex' last='Johnson'] (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson could be the go to weapon for the Flyers after his transfer from Althoff.&nbsp; He is an aggressive scorer who plays with such an effortless nature to his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2540031' first='Kyle' last='Ward-Owens'] (Hyde Park)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ward-Owens has a great situation for himself at Hyde Park with a team built around him where he is going to get buckets in bunches!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323264' first='Kassidy' last='Nelson'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nelson is a versatile two way wing that flashed as a sophomore.&nbsp; We think he is the guy that can unleash the [program_tooltip program_id='2076046' first='Wolverines' last=''] to the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323283' first='Chris' last='Bolte'] (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolte is a skilled four man that can stretch the floor with his shot making, hit the glass, and score around the hoop.&nbsp; Will be the clear #2 option next to Gill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552480' first='Trey' last='Williams'] (Loyola)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams emerged in June with his play at Ridgewood and has us very excited about the dynamic ability on the ball he can bring to the Ramblers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sean [player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''] (Decatur MacArthur)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Physically and athletically [player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''] has all the tools you look for as a two way wing.&nbsp; We look forward to seeing if the production can match!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lawson Bynum (East St. Louis)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bynum is a big and physical small forward with a D1 brother.&nbsp; We are very high on the upside of this East St. Louis wing to impact as a scorer, rebounder, and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2376277' first='Prince' last='McCord'] (Kenwood)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long and athletic post that is going to see a much larger role for Kenwood this season as they will need him to be a lob threat, rim runner, rebounder, and post defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2211161' first='Nico' last='Wright'] (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright is another bouncy big man in the CPS that we have been high on for a while.&nbsp; Should be the first post off the bench for the [program_tooltip program_id='2076046' first='Wolverines' last=''] and we can see him boosting his stock!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416503' first='Charlie' last='Pomis'] (Hersey)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pomis is a dynamic scoring guard that has deep range on his shot which he showed for [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'].&nbsp; We have little doubt that is going to translate over to the high school season with Hersey.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323319' first='Colton' last='Hawkins'] (Carterville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hawkins continues to elevate his game each time we see him.&nbsp; Can play on and off the ball with his handle, shot making, and creativity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454169' first='Brad' last='Blackmon'] (Crane)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackmon broke out in the spring as a long and wiry wing that can score from all three levels.&nbsp; Will be the guy at Crane!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2617454' first='Simereon' last='Carter'] (Waukegan)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter is currently unranked, but that will change after the way he performed at The EXPO: Illinois as a big wing that can score, pass, and defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->