How the 2027 Class Was Altered by Transfers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class of 2027 could have been the best class in Illinois of this decade.  It could have produced six top 50 players nationally.  That would put the class in a sphere with some of the earlier classes I covered like 2013 and 2014.  Then it was decimated by players leaving the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It started even before high school began with this class.&nbsp; Some know, but many don't that top 30 national prospects Scottie Adkinson and Jaylan Mitchell are both originally from southern Illinois.&nbsp; Mitchell moved to Evansville from Olney after his 7^th grade year.&nbsp; He played his first two seasons at Evansville Reitz before transferring to Spire Academy in Ohio for this upcoming year.&nbsp; Mitchell is a big and powerful wing with inside/outside versatility and a high skill level.&nbsp; Adkinson grew up in Marion then moved to St. Louis for high school where he has been an absolute superstar for Webster Groves recently committing to Mizzou.&nbsp; The southpaw is a shifty guard with elite three level scoring pop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The class still featured a Big 4 coming into high school with [player_tooltip player_id='2894776' first='Devin' last=''] Cleveland going to Kenwood, Davion Thompson at Bolingbrook, [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] at Warren, and [player_tooltip player_id='2323647' first='Howard' last='Williams'] headed to Whitney Young.&nbsp; They all impacted as freshman at their schools.&nbsp; Thompson and Davis were superstars from the jump.&nbsp; Williams played a supporting role for the Dolphins while showing potential.&nbsp; Cleveland lit up the end of the season after the loss of several players at Kenwood.&nbsp; The state was super excited to see this group continue to grow together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then [player_tooltip player_id='2323647' first='Howard' last='Williams'] left for powerhouse Oak Hill Academy for his sophomore season.&nbsp; He exceeded expectations playing a major role from the jump at the national level including improving his shooting greatly and elevating his stock into potential five-star status.&nbsp; Not as big of a name, but a top 20 prospect in Mikey Woods from St. Francis de Sales who created some buzz during his freshman season also left the state moving to Indiana.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now it was a Big 3 and they more than lived up to the hype.&nbsp; Coming into the season we said it would be a shock if one of those three didn't win Prep Hoops Illinois Player of the Year, Mr. Basketball, and Sun Times Player of the Year.&nbsp; Saying that about sophomores is a big statement.&nbsp; They all played at a high level.&nbsp; Cleveland was the go to player for the best team in the state Kenwood for the majority of the season.&nbsp; Showed he could get buckets from absolutely anywhere on the floor and get others involved.&nbsp; Thompson was a dominant scorer being the most consistent player in the state all year for Bolingbrook carrying a huge load for Bolingbrook while racking up wins.&nbsp; He won Prep Hoops Player of the Year and Sun Times Player of the Year.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] got his team through the season with injuries while consistently scoring and dishing at a super high rate.&nbsp; In the playoffs he took it to another level leading his team to the state championship game being one possession away from upsetting Benet.&nbsp; Davis took home Illinois Mr. Basketball honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Behind the scenes as soon as the season was over talk turned to where the Big 3 would play next season.&nbsp; Odds were pretty high that one would leave.&nbsp; About 50/50 that two would bounce.&nbsp; Could all three go?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davion Thompson announced he would be heading to Link Academy in Missouri.&nbsp; Big loss for the state and Bolingbrook.&nbsp; That was coupled with the transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='2894776' first='Devin' last=''] Cleveland leaving for fellow EYBL Scholastic program La Lumiere.&nbsp; The Big 3 was now down to The One Left in [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] at Warren.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As someone who works in this business not only in Illinois, but nationally I totally understand the reasoning for elite players going to national powers.&nbsp; Does it suck for those that cover it, love Illinois high school sports, and yearn for the days of classes of 2013 and 2014?&nbsp; Yes.&nbsp; But it is reality.&nbsp; Even players that were ranked #14 and #16 in the state [player_tooltip player_id='2698739' first='Dereon' last='Smothers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2323613' first='Demarco' last='King'] both recently announced after transferring once during the summer to Illinois programs they are going to a prep school in Arizona.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I get asked all the time from people in the business and out of the business why this happens.&nbsp; First of all it does help prepare players for what college basketball will look like.&nbsp; Playing against a higher level of competition in practice every day, living away from home, managing a day to day schedule with travel playing out of area games on a regular basis.&nbsp; Also whether it really matters or not.&nbsp; The players at national powers are usually the ones that you see at the top of the national rankings because they are consistently playing in high profile events.&nbsp; The more coveted you are as a national prospect means the more money you can command going to college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reason for staying is there too.  First and foremost is living a normal high school life.  Go to school, practice, and hang out with the friends you grew up with.  Being the center of a community and playing in big time environments with everyone knowing who you are at home and on the road.  Also going down as a legend in your community and state.  Think of guys like Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Cliff Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Ayo Dosunmu, Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Goodwin, EJ Liddell, etc.  All of these players will be remembered as all time greats at their schools forever and Illinois basketball legends.  At prep schools it is on to the next.  [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] has a chance to do what those guys did.  His team will be in contention for the state title the next two years and he will be the prohibited favorite to win every major award.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->