2026 Recruiting Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the summer wrapping up recruiting is starting to heat up!&nbsp; PHI caught up with prospects from across the state in the 2026 class to get the latest on their recruitments!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2105360"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c5777b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is the top ranked prospect in the rising senior class.&nbsp; He tells PHI that he will be headed to Arizona State for an official visit on August 30.&nbsp; North Texas and Southern Illinois are slated to get visits in September with dates TBD.&nbsp; He says he feels like those schools along with St. Louis are making him a priority down the stretch.&nbsp; He would also like to check out Illinois, Northwestern, and South Carolina.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552460"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577847"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To me the most under recruited player maybe in my entire 15+ year career might be this Libertyville center.&nbsp; He is a floor spacing five who took his game to new heights with his three point shooting to go with low post scoring and area rebounding.&nbsp; At this point he has one official visit set up to D2 Winona State for September.&nbsp; He tells us on Winona State “I would say that Winona has made me the biggest priority.&nbsp; Coach has been great in contacting me, but they haven't offered yet so hopefully that will happen on the visit.&nbsp; He wants to make a call in the fall, but is willing to wait and even open to reclassifying.&nbsp; To me it is INSANE he doesn't have a handful of D1 offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2376270"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c5778c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Alton star scoring guard is essentially down to South Dakota State and SIU-Edwardsville.&nbsp; He tells us he will trip to SDSU on September 13 while SIUE will get a visit in late August or early September.&nbsp; On those two he said, “SDSU and SIUE are my top schools.&nbsp; These two programs have prioritized me and my family.&nbsp; They have built trust and a great relationship with me.”&nbsp; He says he plans on deciding this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1501486"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577946"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Akoro is a skilled and versatile small forward that tells us he doesn't have any officials locked in yet, but SIU-Edwardsville and UT-Martin are the two schools that have offered and are making him feel like a priority.&nbsp; He plans on visiting both and then making a call before the early signing period in November.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2839863"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c5779c1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nee is one of the premier shot makers in the state.&nbsp; He tells us that he has an official set up for Cornell in early September.&nbsp; South Dakota, Dartmouth, and Brown are making him feel like the biggest priority at this stage.&nbsp; Nee wants to have a decision done in the next couple of months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552486"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577a3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Houlihan is an elite sharp shooter and probably the best pure catch and shoot guy in the class.&nbsp; He tells us that he will be taking officials to High Point and Western Michigan later this month.&nbsp; Both of those programs have been very consistent in their pursuit of him. He also has offers from Western Illinois and Long Island.&nbsp; He hopes to visit those programs as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2323283"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6897815140278"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Monster summer for Bolte who saw his recruitment blow up! He tells us he has officials lined up to Belmont August 28-29 and Yale September 5-7. Also in the process of setting up an official to Illinois State. The schools making him feel like the biggest priority right now he says are Yale, Holy Cross, Illinois State, Belmont, and Brown. His ideal timeline for making a call would be before the season starts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2323270"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577abb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is one of the fastest stock risers in the class as he will make a big jump in our next update after a strong summer.&nbsp; The combo forward tells PHI that he has an official visit to Illinois State lined up for August 22.&nbsp; The Redbirds have made him a major priority heading down the home stretch.&nbsp; Toledo is another program that is involved and he wants to continue to learn more about them before making a call.&nbsp; He will decide and sign this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552440"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577b38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anwar is a floor spacing power forward who tells us the schools he will be visiting this fall include Carnegie Mellon, Wash U, University of Chicago, John Hopkins, UC San Diego, and Brown.&nbsp; “I'm keeping my options open and hoping for the best school I can get into both academically and athletically.”&nbsp; He would like to decide before the season, but isn't going to rush it if he hasn't found the right fit by then.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1874810"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577bb6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Riley had a big month of June with his high school team elevating his recruitment.&nbsp; The lead guard tells us the offers he currently holds are Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, SIU-Edwardsville, Eastern Illinois, South Carolina State, Long Island, Montana State, and Lemoyne.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2334404"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6892b0c577c38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Watkins is a very under the radar combo guard from Metea Valley that is coming off a strong summer with Basketball Paradise.&nbsp; He tells us that Fort Hays State has made him feel like a priority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2297870"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68939651a3d49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Szafoni is primed to the by far the biggest stock riser in the class moving up 100+ spots in our next update after monster summer. He has officials lined up with Illinois State and Brown. Also will trip to UIC. He has already visited North Dakota State. He says that NDSU and Illinois State are in the most contact at this stage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->