State Finals: All-Tournament Team

The Illinois high school basketball season concluded this past weekend in Champaign as all four state champions were crowned. Here we look at the best of the best in our State Finals: All-Tournament Team!   First Team    Hunter was spectacular in their semifinal victory against St. Anthony recording 17 points, 10 dimes, and 3 steals in the victory. He is a smaller point guard that really knows how to play the game. Slick handle getting through traffic for scores in the paint, is a capable shot maker, has a stellar soft touch finishing game, and plays with great pace. His feel running the show really stands out as he consistently finds teammates for lobs along with kicking to open shooters after drawing help defenders. Active defender that is pesky turning steals into points. Hunter was even better in the championship game as he completely took over in the second half blowing out Eastland for the 1A crown by scoring 17 points in the third quarter alone from all three levels. His passing was exceptional finding his lob threat and shooters. Went for 21 points and 11 dimes in the championship game.     Came away intrigued with this 6'4” small forward from Dyett. He is a big wing that has size, strength, and length. Quality athlete that can win off the dribble getting downhill. In the semis against Manual he led his team with 11 points. He was even better in the championship game against Althoff. He was super efficient scoring 17 points (5-7 FG) (4-5 3PT) leading his team to the 2A crown. Plus spot up shooter that looked really comfortable letting it fly while playing excellent defense. Small colleges and JUCOs looking for a three and D wing that can handle it a little this is a great option!     Porter was outstanding in the semis going for 17 points (8-9 FG) in their victory against Chatham Glenwood. Against a team with size like Glenwood they needed a big game from Porter and DePaul Prep got it! He is one of the better posts in the junior class with his combination of strength, athleticism, power, and skill inside. Liked how he used quick moves finishing throughout the game for dunks or through contact. Pick/roll, slips, and out of the dunker spot. Big time performance for Porter in the semis. He followed that up with a big time championship game performance where he had 14 points (5-15 FG), 11 rebounds, and 5 steals. Was the most physical player on the floor getting tip dunks, crashing the glass, and having the huge and-1 flush in double OT to get his team the 3-peat. Going to be a coveted D1 post prospect over the next few months.     Davis played like the superstar that he is in the semis against Rich Township as he racked up 27 points (9-17 FG), 5 rebounds, and 7 steals. The Warren sophomore is the ultimate leader, winner, and competitor. He is the guy you want on your side when it matters the most as he always comes up clutch. Opened the semis with a pair of threes then went to work off the bounce slicing and dicing through defenders for scores at the cup along with getting to the line. Combination of handles and body control make him such a dynamic driver from the point guard position. He is a plus passer that can really get others involved with his feel for the game. Found his teammates in both half court and transition with pinpoint dimes. So active on the defensive end with his quick hands getting steals and turning them into points on the other end. In the championship game Davis had another strong showing stuffing the stat sheet. It took him a while to get going scoring, but that didn't stop him from defending, dishing, and rebounding. Once he got to the rim a couple times things started to open up for him including hitting a clutch three off movement late in the championship game. He had 17 points (7-17 FG), 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals in the final game of his junior season.     Fagbemi completely took over the semi final contest against Evanston with his play in the second half. Fagbemi is a super skilled lead guard that is headed to Truman State next season. His flair of the passing the rock is so much fun to watch and he gives energy to his team by doing it. Did have a few turnovers in the semis, but made up for it with the dimes he created. As a scorer he is adept at getting to the free throw line with slick takes. Also hit a tough step back and a tip slam. Rebounded well in the semis and set the tone for Benet's defense with 10 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals. He had another solid outing in the championship game being the floor general and leading his team to the title going for 14 points (4-12 FG), 4 rebounds, and 6 dimes. It was really his passing, slippery drives, and ability to get to the line that impressed in that contest.        Second Team    Hill could go down as one of the best dual sport athletes ever with what he has accomplished as the Prep Redzone Player of the Year on the gridiron and the #1 player in the state heading to Oregon. He is a big time hooper as well. The shooting guard brings a physicality to the position with his ability to score around the hoop. Strong finishes off the bounce along with cutting off the ball. He is super quick to the glass where he makes his living recording put backs. Underrated as a passer making sound decisions on the fly. He is a quality defender that locks down with his athleticism, strength, and mindset. He had 22 points, 7 rebounds, 5 dimes, 2 steals, and 1 block in the semis against Christ the King. In the championship game against Dyett Hill Jr came out scorching with 8 points in the first quarter hitting a couple threes and getting downhill. Foul trouble and the Dyett defense would hold him to 12 points and 8 rebounds.     Brooks Jr is a long and rangy power forward who ranks among the top 10 prospects in the state's senior class. In his semi final loss against Warren he had 13 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 blocks with the entire Warren defense swarming him every time he touched it. What we love about Brooks is his motor and how he makes it a point to be the hardest working player on the floor. Relentless on the glass as he is so quick to the boards. Scored out of the post and on sweeping slashes. Nose for the basketball and is a plus shot blocker inside. Remains uncommitted.     Gonzales is headed to The Citadel next year after winning the MVP award for the extremely loaded Chicago Catholic League this season. He is a jumbo playmaking two guard that can score and dish. Creative scorer with the ball in his hands with euro steps and slick finishes along with being able to knock in a three ball. Like how he can be a playmaker and ball mover as a passer. Feel for the game impacting in winning ways! In the semis against St. Pats he had 12 points and 5 dimes. In the championship game Gonzales loss had stretches where he was clearly the best player on the court. The big and smooth wing created shots off the bounce for himself with slithering takes along with getting to the charity stripe at a high rate. His final line read 24 points (7-16 FG) (10-13 FT) and 8 rebounds.     Woo is the player that makes everything go for DePaul Prep. The junior is a heady guard that understands the game at a high level on both ends of the floor. In their semi final win against Glenwood he locked down on the defensive end putting pressure on the ball and racking up steals. Offensively he is a sound playmaker making those around him better. He rebounds for a guard and in that game was money from the free throw line as he sealed the win at the charity stripe. His line read 12 points, 6 rebounds, 5 dimes, and 4 steals. Woo was impactful in the championship game by knocking down 5-5 from the charity stripe in a game that the rest of his team struggled he came up clutch finishing with 7 points. Going to be a coveted D1 point guard over the next four months.     It took a little while for the SIU commit to get rolling in the semis, but he did so with a feathery three which is one of the strengths of this face up four man. The future Saluki can space the floor with his feathery shot making. Solid rebounder and passer. Against Evanston he had 11 points and 7 rebounds. Pauliukonis stepped up big in the championship game as it was coming down the stretch. Showed off his versatility being able to deck in on drives, drain spot up threes, and run the floor in a 17 points (7-13 FG) and 6 rebounds performance.        Honorable Mention    Krogman is an undersized four man at 6'4” that that is excellent scoring around the hoop. Seals, crafty layups, put backs, spin moves, and poured in mid-range jumpers in their semifinal victory against Peoria Christian. He rebounded well in his area and was a solid defender. In that game he had 21 points (9-10 FG) and 6 rebounds. Another productive game for Krogman in the championship loss to Hope as he notched 17 points (6-15 FG) showing a mid-range game and physical post scoring.     Gryzmala is the floor general of this squad. He is an excellent ball handler that is slick with it. He can weave in and out of the defense. Makes sound decisions with the basketball in his hands. Wins off the bounce with his burst for scores along with being a capable shooter from beyond the arc. Has a nose for the ball and always being around it to make a key play. In the semis against Christ the King he had 14 points. Struggled shooting it from distance in the final game going 3-14 from the field with 10 points. Small colleges and JUCO's should definitely get involved here.     The Bradley commit finished their semi final game against Dyett with 17 points (5-16 FG), 14 rebounds, and 3 dimes. Didn't have his best game shooting from the perimeter, but he did a nice job of being slippery through traffic getting in the lane for euro steps and trips to the charity stripe. He was by far and away the tallest player on the floor, but anytime you pull in 14 rebounds in a game it is a big deal. Also liked what we saw out of him as a passer especially off live dribbles. Being able to play on the ball as a primary or secondary playmaker is where his biggest value is at the next level.     Richardson is a crafty four man that caught our attention last spring as an under the radar big man for small colleges. He isn't going to wow you with his physical tools, but he always gets the job done. Was very effective in the first half of the semis against Benet as he ran the floor for a couple buckets, scored on a cut, and had a take from the mid-post finishing with 12 points.     Weigus is one of the more intriguing pure shooters in the state. He poured in five of them in the semis against St. Patrick including the momentum swinging shot at the buzzer of the third quarter. Hits them off the catch along with being able to create momentum for his shot on his own. In the semis against St. Patrick he had 15 points. It was an up and down game for Weigus in the title game loss, but he did manage to bang in a pair of threes along with a couple smooth pull up twos for 10 points.     Williams is primed to be one of the breakout players over the next few months. The 6'3” shooting guard has a long and lanky frame with a plus shot from three. Free and easy release both off the catch and creating on his own. Very comfortable putting it on the deck for scores getting to the rim utilizing excellent body control at the cup. Makes a nice number of trips to the line. Can also post up wing defenders using his quickness to score down low. Against Warren he had 18 points.     Stack is a 7 foot center from Benet who is among the best big men in the junior class. His strength is protecting the rim and finishing above the hoop. Did both of those in the semis against Evanston where he threw down multiple dunks and swatted shots to help his team advance to the final with 8 points. In the championship Stack was instrumental in them winning the 4A crown. He started the game off by draining a corner three which is something that is in his repertoire. Really protecting the rim blocking and altering shots all evening along with getting offensive rebound put backs including big slam finishing with 9 points.     Banks was the spark for Warren in their semi final victory when he came in to rip off 10 points in a short spurt. He is a super bouncy two guard that can fly! Banks is an explosive dunker who threw a pair down in his 12 point performance. Also put it on the deck for a couple reverse layups along with banging in a corner three. He was electric in the championship game going for 22 points (7-13 FG) and 5 rebounds. Had multiple explosive takes for buckets, got to the line regularly, and shot it well from three. Small colleges and JUCOs get on this kid!     The Western Illinois come up with some clutch plays in the title game for the Rams. The first one came on a three with under two minutes left that got his team back in the game. From there he won off the bounce for tough finishes along with soft touch shots in the paint. Stuffed the stat sheet in the win with 16 points (7-13 FG), 9 rebounds, and 4 dimes. The three time state champions will go down as one of the best players in program history.     Wright has been known as a sharp shooter from the combo guard spot for the last couple of years. The junior opened the state championship game with a super deep bomb from well beyond NBA range. Would later hit a side step one along with a couple sweet mid-range shots including a double clutch as he let the defender fly past him. When defenders close he can get in the lane for scores as he had 15 points helping his team win the 4A championship.

The Illinois high school basketball season concluded this past weekend in Champaign as all four state champions were crowned. Here we look at the best of the best in our State Finals: All-Tournament Team!