10 Best: Replacing Departing Stars

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The grassroots season is in full swing.&nbsp; New players are emerging while known prospects are taking the next step in their development.&nbsp; It made us think about what prospects from the 2026, 2027, and 2028 classes will be looking to fill the gaps for the 2025 (or in one case 2027) stars that are leaving their high school programs.&nbsp; Here are <strong>10 Best: Replacing Departing Stars</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385292' first='Phoenix' last='Gill'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2531962' first='Amir' last='Tucker'] (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Replacing the Northwestern commit in Gill will be no easy task.&nbsp; The next star guard in the program is 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2531962' first='Amir' last='Tucker'] who has shown growth this spring playing on and off the ball for [program_tooltip program_id='2414566' first='Mike' last='Glennon Elite'] 16U while playing against older competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2751060' first='Brady' last='Jones'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones has a lot of similarities to the Bradley commit at a young stage in their careers.&nbsp; The 2028 small forward is a well built versatile forward that can handle, shoot, and really impacts winning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385301' first='JT' last='Pettigrew'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2244002' first='Jayden' last='Madden'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madden is a 2026 prospect we feel is ready to make a much larger impact for Bolingbrook this season as a five man that can score, rim run, and block shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2323620' first='Edward' last='Stasys'] (Benet)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stasys showed flashes as a big man that can board and score around the hoop.&nbsp; The 2027 post will play a key role in replacing an important member of their state title team in SIU commit Pauliukonis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2326966' first='Moses' last='Wilson'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2125659' first='Kristopher' last='Mporokoso'] (Waubonsie Valley)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson was one of the most versatile wings in the state.&nbsp; The next two years it is going to be Mporokoso's show on the wing as a prospect that can stuff the stat sheet like Wilson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1774274' first='Jayden' last='Tyler'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2467517' first='Darrius' last='Hawkins'] (Homewood Flossmoor)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler hands the torch right off to Hawkins from one tough as nails leader to another.&nbsp; Hawkins looked really good as a scorer, passer, and defender when we saw him at Windy City War.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2425956' first='Perry' last='Tchiegne'] (Benet)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is always tough to replace a state championship point guard.&nbsp; Tchienge has the goods to do it after playing last year on JV.&nbsp; He is a high IQ guard that makes the right plays just like Fagbemi.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545133' first='Makai' last='Kvamme'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2842573' first='Blake' last='Choice'] (DePaul Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another replacement for a state title winning floor general here.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2842573' first='Blake' last='Choice'] impressed us at Windy City War as a big guard that should impact in their backcourt next year as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766461' first='EJ' last='Mosley'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2385372' first='Noah' last='Corro'] (St. Laurence)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corro is primed to be the next big time guard for St. Laurence as he is really making progress as a lead guard that can also score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323624' first='Davion' last='Thompson'] – [player_tooltip player_id='2531973' first='Brady' last='Pettigrew'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson announced he is leaving for Link Academy.&nbsp; The #2 rising junior leaves, but the Raiders have #2 sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2531973' first='Brady' last='Pettigrew'] to fill that role.&nbsp; He is primed for a monster sophomore campaign!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->