Illinois Week 2 Day by Day Standout Performances

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week two of the IHSA season brought another wave of breakout games from some of the top prospects in the state. From record-setting scoring nights to breakout underclassmen each day featured at least one performer who separated themselves from the pack. Here's a day-by-day look at the top individual showings around Illinois.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Monday: [player_tooltip player_id='2125627' first='Ethan' last='Vahl'] – Oswego (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>31 points, 17 rebounds, 5 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vahl opened the week with one of the more dominant stat lines of the young season. The guard showed he can score from all over the floor knocking down multiple threes and consistently applying pressure off the bounce. His work on the glass was equally impressive pulling down 17 rebounds and turning defense into offense with 5 steals.&nbsp; Vahl's growth as a multi-level scorer and two-way competitor has been one of the early storylines this winter and his production continues to trend upward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tuesday: [player_tooltip player_id='2454169' first='Brad' last='Blackman'] – Crane (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22 points, 10 rebounds, 7 blocks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackman put together one of the more complete two-way efforts of the week in a cross-town matchup with Lindblom. The long mobile forward showcased his defensive instincts and second-jump explosiveness altering everything around the rim and coming just three blocks shy of a triple-double. Offensively he was efficient around the basket finishing with 22 points and a double-digit rebound total. One of the top uncommitted seniors in the state Blackman is building real momentum early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wednesday: [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] – Warren (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>32 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The consensus No. 1 prospect in Illinois delivered his first major statement game of the season dropping 32 points in a convincing win over Rockford Auburn. Davis' ability to operate with pace, score from all three levels, and stay poised under pressure continues to make him one of the most polished young scorers in the Midwest. Expect to see his name in this space several more times this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thursday: [player_tooltip player_id='2323618' first='Alex' last='Sirbu'] – Buffalo Grove (2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24 points, 13 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sirbu delivered a productive performance in a loss to Hoffman Estates using his physicality to control the paint. At 6'8 the junior embraces contact and forces defenses to foul spending a good chunk of the night at the free-throw line.&nbsp; With 24 points and 13 rebounds, Sirbu continues to show signs of long-term upside. He's just tapping into what he can be and his trajectory points toward breakout status as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday: [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] – Kankakee (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>44 points, 14 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top 2026 prospect had the performance of the week &nbsp;and possibly the season. Williams erupted for 44 points breaking Kankakee's single-game scoring record and outscoring Thornridge by himself. He finished 19-24 from the field and added 14 rebounds dominating every phase of the game. Williams' blend of length, explosiveness, and touch continues to overwhelm defenses. His upward trajectory remains one of Illinois' most fascinating storylines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday: [player_tooltip player_id='2531981' first='Cole' last='Kelly'] – Neuqua Valley (2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>36 points, 12 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly is making a strong push to reclaim the top spot in the 2028 class and Saturday only strengthened his campaign. The skilled forward tallied 36 points and 12 rebounds against Lake Forest leveraging his versatility to create mismatches inside and out.&nbsp; What separates Kelly is how well he rebounds for his position and the willingness to move the ball to open teammates. His production and consistency point toward a major leap year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->