Top 5 Preseason Kankakee Headlines Southland Athletic Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are breaking down the conferences across the state previewing the upcoming season.&nbsp; Here is our look at the Southland Athletic Conference!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Favorite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kankakee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clear favorite in the Southland is Kankakee this year.&nbsp; Preseason top 5 team in the state and a state title contender.&nbsp; They are led by the top senior in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'].&nbsp; He proved this summer he is capable of being the #1 option on a team and also impacting defensively.&nbsp; Indiana State incoming transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1552625' first='EJ' last='Hazelett'] gives the Kays a top 10 prospect to go with Williams as a versatile inside/outside four man.&nbsp; Kenaz Jackson Jr is a skilled and athletic wing that will be the x-factor for this team.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1874852' first='Myair' last='Thompson'] will run the show at the point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Contenders</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rich Township</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rich Township lost a ton last year from their run to state.&nbsp; They added transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2399378' first='Mason' last='Moore'] who provides athleticism in the front court.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2416198' first='TJ' last='Eaton'], Carl Prrish, and [player_tooltip player_id='2632077' first='Jeremiah' last='Weatherford'] are perimeter players that will need to take on larger roles.&nbsp; Biggest question is [player_tooltip player_id='1845352' first='Jamson' last='Coulter'] who at one time looked like a potential star, but has been inconsistent over the last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bloom</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This Bloom team has reloaded with a pair of freshman guards.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2918205' first='Keiwon' last='Gulley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2918202' first='Kaden' last='McClellan'] are going to be counted on to contribute from day 1.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2749967' first='Xavier' last='Martin'] is a bouncy big man that we are looking to take the next step.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sleepers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a>Thornwood<br><br>Fun backcourt in sophomore duo [player_tooltip player_id='2877539' first='Lester' last='Watson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2879381' first='Mekhi' last='Young'] will lead the way for Thornwood.&nbsp; Maybe a year away, but we think they will put together some nice wins.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crete Monee<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2323262' first='Zyheir' last='Gardner'] is a name that popped early in his career and has flown under the radar ever since.  Can he elevate a quality program to the top of the conference?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thornton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year was a major rebuild for Thornton, but now they have some nice pieces to build around.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2948461' first='Kobe' last='Stevenson'] is a slick scoring guard with range on his shot.&nbsp; Sophomore DeAndre Higgs is a powerful slasher and plus rebounder.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2947687' first='Dakari' last='Nesbitt'] is one of the best freshman in the south suburbs as a scoring combo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-Prospect Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] (Kankakee)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1552625' first='EJ' last='Hazelett'] (Kankakee)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1874752' first='Kenaz' last='Jackson Jr.'] (Kankakee)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2399378' first='Mason' last='Moore'] (Rich Township)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2918205' first='Keiwon' last='Gulley'] (Bloom)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2918202' first='Kaden' last='McClellan'] (Bloom)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2877539' first='Lester' last='Watson'] (Thornwood)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2879381' first='Mekhi' last='Young'] (Thornwood)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2323262' first='Zyheir' last='Gardner'] (Crete Monee)<br>DeAndre Higgs (Thornton)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='2947687' first='Dakari' last='Nesbitt'] (Thornton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->