Holiday Tournament: 2026 New Names Who Emerged

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best parts of the holiday tournaments is finding new prospects!&nbsp; There were a ton of them we caught during a nine day period I covered games from Jacobs, Elgin, Wheeling, Hinsdale Central, Jack Tosh, Collinsville, Pekin, Duster-Thomas, and Pontiac.&nbsp; Here are the 2026 New Names That Emerged!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Kennedy (Rockford Boylan – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kennedy is a thick bodied forward that probably is an undersized post at the small college level.&nbsp; What he did at a high rate was rebound the basketball.&nbsp; Tenacious rebounder on both ends.&nbsp; Finished through contact inside and had nice touch.&nbsp; Stretched it out for a pair of threes as well for 20 points in their round 1 loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Elijah Loedig (Prairie Ridge – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loedig burst on our radar with a strong performance against Geneva where he scored 16 points.&nbsp; Good size at 6'4” along with strength.&nbsp; Combines that with skill knocking in several mid-range shots along with two from beyond he arc.&nbsp; Passes it too finding cutters for open looks off live dribbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maddon Mckim (Prairie Ridge – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mckim is a 6'3” small forward who got his team going early on in their contest.&nbsp; Hook shots, soft touch finishes, seals, and cuts off the ball leading to 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan Palmer (Geneva – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was my first look at Palmer and I liked what we saw.&nbsp; The shooting guard is a capable shot maker from beyond the arc.&nbsp; Cuts well off the ball and is slick finishing around the cup.&nbsp; He had 15 points against Prairie Ridge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Damarion Smith (Grant – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a 2026 compact and powerfully built guard that is like a running back when attacking the lane.&nbsp; He has the brute strength to win with power, rebounds very well for his position, and pushes with speed in the open floor.&nbsp; Against Barrington he dropped 18 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2408995' first='Jahvion' last='Sowers'] (Larkin – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard has some projectability as a 6'2” combo guard that showcased his athleticism and scoring pop in a first round upset win over Jacobs.&nbsp; Smooth looking shot off the catch from three, acrobatic finishes in the lane, and got to the line for 16 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trey'veon Roberts (Waukegan – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard was a force for Waukegan with one of their top players out he stepped up in the quarterfinal win recording 18 points.&nbsp; It was all about his defense being like a defensive back getting steals over and over again along with his acrobatic finishing at the rim that was eye popping.&nbsp; Small colleges take a look!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2437117' first='Adrian' last='Serrano'] (Waukegan – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong bodied combo guard that knocked in a couple threes, but it was more his passing instincts that caught our attention as he threaded the needle in transition and kicked to shooters.&nbsp; Zip on passes to big men.&nbsp; Went for 9 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Feuerbach (Sycamore – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big time performance for Feuerbach in their quarterfinal win at Elgin dropping 23 points against Lake View.&nbsp; Good size small forward at 6'4” that won on straight line takes, rebounded well, scored out of the post, and was an active defender turning steals into points.&nbsp; Knocked in a couple of threes.&nbsp; Overall well rounded game showcasing he should be a priority at the small college level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Beancourt (Lake View – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong bodied wing burst on our radar early in their game against Sycamore.&nbsp; He was money from 15 feet pouring in jumpers and pounding the offensive glass for second chance points netting 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2405708' first='Jacob' last='Johnson'] (St. Laurence – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson got the start and the 6'6” four man showed some promising signs especially on the defensive end where he got steals and multiple blocked shots.&nbsp; Could be a nice piece up front for a St. Laurence team that is perimeter dominated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2371301' first='Jemari' last='Jackson'] (Westinghouse – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior guard from Westinghouse dropped 29 points in a second day loss to Lake Zurich.&nbsp; Quick and shifty with the ball in his hands getting in the lane for an array of spins, floaters, and acrobatic layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382444' first='Tanner' last='Hozian'] (Wheaton St. Francis – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hozian put his name on our radar dropping 17 points in a loss to Conant.&nbsp; He was really the only thing that was working offensively for his team as he was at his best getting in the paint for sweeping layups, spinning finishes, and runners.&nbsp; The 6'3” guard is worth a look at the small college level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Troy Alexander (Belleville East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexander caught our attention against Mt. Vernon when he dropped 18 points in a loss.&nbsp; Dynamic ball handler that was quick off the bounce along with being an active defender and solid passer as he also had 5 assists and 3 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Javier Cass (Granite City – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cass emerged as an attacking guard that lived in the paint all game long against Quincy.&nbsp; His burst getting to the rack was super impressive as he scored in the paint and at the line for 24 points (8-18 FG) (8-8 FT).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2821119' first='Isaiah' last='Robertson'] (Plainfield South – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Robertson put his name on the map as a 6'6” four man that is bouncy round the hoop.&nbsp; Finishes out of the dunker spot, gets on the offensive glass, and can hit 15 footer.&nbsp; Flashed potential defensively with his long and lanky frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2400465' first='Brockton' last='Goehrke'] (Joliet West – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goehrke burst on our radar with a strong showing in the first half of their quarterfinal game against DePaul Prep with how well he shot the ball from beyond the arc nailing three from distance for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->