Holiday Glue Guys in the 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During a nine day period I covered games from Jacobs, Elgin, Wheeling, Hinsdale Central, Jack Tosh, Collinsville, Pekin, Duster-Thomas, and Pontiac.&nbsp; These were senior glue guys that brought everything together to make their teams better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Luke Vanderwiel (Prairie Ridge – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Very good feel passing the ball.&nbsp; Got others involved while also being a scrappy on ball defender that got up into opposing guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Samson Averehi (Jacobs – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6''4” guard is a lefty that seemed to always be around the ball.&nbsp; He has some strength off the dribble to the rack as a slasher and gets to the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Bailey (Larkin – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'8” point guard gave his team a ton of juice in the early going.&nbsp; The mighty mite is a tough bucket getter that had floaters and mid-range shots.&nbsp; He gave his team swagger early on in their first round win as he went for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1925746' first='Isaiah' last='McKenny'] (St. Viator – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McKenny is a 6'2” thick bodied guard that is a solid distributor, quality on ball defender, and gets loose in the open floor using his strength to finish at the cup.&nbsp; Capable spot up shooter and connective passer.&nbsp; He had 12 points in their first round win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xander Lewis (Sycamore – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis was an excellent connective piece for Sycamore in their quarterfinal win at Elgin.&nbsp; Tough guard that is a solid passer.&nbsp; All of his points either came at the rim on layups or getting to the line which he did a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2398356' first='Garrett' last='McNally'] (Fenwick – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The undersized post is a tough player around the basket as he carves out space, gets to the foul line and has touch.&nbsp; Solid rebounder that can play at the small college level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2823617' first='Abram' last='Williams'] (Palatine – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams is a plus athlete on the wing that does a little bit of everything for his team.&nbsp; He had 11 points in their opening round win knocking in multiple mid-range jumpers, getting second chance points on the boards, and was a monster defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2387603' first='Leslie' last='Pobee'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2387505' first='Nana' last='Atakorah'] (Plainfield East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 1-2 punch brings Plainfield East toughness and energy on the interior.&nbsp; They are junk yard dog big men that always seem to be around the ball rebounding and making things happen on off schedule plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2962328' first='Kaidan' last='Dozie'] (Rockford Auburn – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dozie made a couple key plays in the second half of their first round win.&nbsp; Athletic guard attacked close outs hard, got to the line, hit a three, and swatted multiple shots defensively inside along with on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2432328' first='Adrian' last='Riep'] (Lake Zurich – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riep just kind of brings everything together for Lake Zurich.&nbsp; Gritty forward that can stretch the floor, crash the glass, and defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2439310' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2375418' first='Tristan' last='']' last='Howard'] (Perspectives – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Howard is a high energy and athletic broad shouldered post who does the dirty work inside for Perspectives.&nbsp; Blocks shots, rebounds, and finishes out of the dunker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ja'Cory Brown (Belleville East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Probably a football player as an EDGE at the next level, but no doubt Brown has made some noise as a hooper early this season.&nbsp; Big bodied lefty five plays physical on the interior and has a sweet lefty hook shot on the block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davion McClendon (Richwoods – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McClendon is a rugged post that runs the floor, is active around the hoop, and plays with a ton of energy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2394678' first='Max' last='Vogel'] (New Trier – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vogel continues to up his stock and will be in our next rankings update because of the impact he has on winning.&nbsp; At 6'4” the senior wing has a nose for the basketball, can hit an open shot, and does all the dirty work for New Trier.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2376273' first='Zion' last='Lee'] (DePaul Prep – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is the versatile piece that brings everything together for DePaul Prep.&nbsp; Lengthy forward can defend all over the floor, hits short jumpers, and is finishing well around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sam Walton (Glenbard East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Have been impressed with Walton this season.&nbsp; He is a power forward that has solid size, strength, and athleticism up front.&nbsp; He had 8 points and 9 rebounds against St. Ignatius in the Tosh semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->