IL Tune Up: 2026 Evaluations

Most of my coverage came from the 15u and 16u pools. But I still saw a few 17u games at the West Suburban complex that gave me the opportunity for some write-ups on the 2026 class. Here's some of my evaluations.    [player_tooltip player_id='2881972' first='Leighton' last='Jones']   Jones is an incredibly impactful player on Illinois Mavs. Controlling the game from the jump. 6'3” wing with outstanding length. And used that very well. Converted tough finishes driving to the rim while cutting off passing lanes in transition. Smooth shooting stroke to his game as he knocked down numerous 3-pointers. His ability to score off the dribble makes me think he can be a highly effective guard at the next level. Shifty player, underrated footwork, explosive burst. Attacked the rim from anywhere. Even hit from mid-range. Ended with 31 points in this contest.     Winningham is a smaller point guard but was super productive for Illinois Mavs while chicering him vs All-in. Sneaks behind ball-handlers to force turnovers. Offensively, he shows so much speed up the floor and can blow by you in an instant. He also showed great vision as a passer throughout the contest. Teams that play with pace should look into him.     Salemi showcased a variety of skills Saturday afternoon. He's an underrated athlete as a 6'2” Guard. Defensively, Salemi has a tremendous hands and forces tons of turnovers while reddening on-bal. There's a mix of both athleticism and creativity when attacking the rim. Something I don't often see in guys like him. His ability to be an effective rebounder and ball-handler was also shown in this contest. A sure-fire sleeper for small schools.     JJT a 6'0” guard from Wauconda and CBG. There was a different kind of energy to CBG offensively when he was on the floor. He's the kind of guy that really gets in your face defensively, and makes you work harder for loose change. The most impactful play came lake as he made a key second-chance bucket after jumping high-for a rebound late on the contest. The speed going up and down the floor was immaculate and it led to numerous scoring chances. Hit the game winning layup in the dying seconds. A very underrated prospect in his class.     Very athletic forward on CBG. Made Outwork pay with his footwork on the low block. Capable of backing his way to the rim or creating separation to get open off the ball. Fought for every rebound and picked up a pair of blocks defensively Saturday afternoon. Goes to Grayslake Central.     Macias did a little bit of everything while covering him Saturday afternoon. He showcased an explosive first-step to the rim and finished through tight windows early on. Even hitting three-pointer. As the game progressed, his playmaking did too. Scored a key and-one late in their matchup vs CBG.

Most of my coverage came from the 15u and 16u pools. But I still saw a few 17u games at the West Suburban complex that gave me the opportunity for some write-ups on the 2026 class. Here's some of my evaluations.