These 2026 Prospects Out Performed Current Ranking over Holidays

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What 2026 prospects out played their current rankings heading into our next update?&nbsp; 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 seniors that significantly played above where they are currently ranked!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2409258' first='Gabe' last='Jensen'] (Geneva – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jensen is a slick handling point guard that is going to find a nice home at the small college level.&nbsp; Sound shooter from three that brings good athleticism to the table.&nbsp; Also reads the defense making the right plays off live dribbles including find a teammate for the game winning bucket to end their opening round win as he had 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2830800' first='Tony' last='Salemi'] (Wauconda – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salemi is a guard that we liked on the PHC this summer and continues to progress as he had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 dimes against Stevenson at Hardwood.&nbsp; Plays the game with flair as a passer, finisher, and shot maker from beyond the arc.&nbsp; Really good small college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2217962' first='Evan' last='Nagler'] (Deerfield – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nagler had a nice outing for Deerfield in their first round victory at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic.&nbsp; Liked the competitiveness he played with especially on the boards as he was flying all over the floor for them in and out of his area.&nbsp; Made some nice outlet passes and overall is a connector on the offensive end.&nbsp; Also can score it as well with his assertiveness getting downhill and a capable shot from deep.&nbsp; He had 12 points in limited action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2217951' first='Cooper' last='Mellican'] (St. Charles North – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mellican was outstanding against Hersey carrying his team with 20 points.&nbsp; Used his strength, crafty handles, and soft touch around the rim effectively all game long.&nbsp; Got on the offensive glass, worked in the pick/roll, and made a couple 15 foot jumpers.&nbsp; Small colleges are going to love him!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2391336' first='Ian' last='Flowers'] (Perspectives – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flowers had a very efficient performance in his first game of the Jack Tosh Tournament.&nbsp; He has been on the radar for a while, but in this game he put it all together.&nbsp; The wing with size made a trio from beyond the arc and was assertive attacking the cup for finishes in the lane along with getting to the charity stripe finishing with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552474' first='Patrick' last='Irvin Jr'] (Walter Payton – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good game from Irvin in their loss to Palatine at Tosh.&nbsp; The most complete performance we have seen the big man put together in his career as he was 9-13 from the field for 20 points and 6 rebounds.&nbsp; Played to his strengths knocking in 15 footers along with attacking from the mid-post on a couple dribbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552473' first='Alijah' last='Little'] (Plainfield East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Little is a naturally born scorer.&nbsp; He just knows how to put the ball in the hoop!&nbsp; Poured in pull up threes, tough turnarounds, and took it off the defensive glass for scores netting 17 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323314' first='Mikwan' last='Marshall'] (Rockford Auburn – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall was on the other side of the game against Little and the Auburn guard is thriving!&nbsp; Went for 17 points in a win over Plainfield East as he was the catalyst in their comeback victory.&nbsp; Quick and shifty compact guard that can win on straight line takes, soft touch finishes, and passes with flair.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2734410' first='Jacque' last='Lewis'] (Morgan Park – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis got the Mustangs going in their first round win with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 dimes.&nbsp; He is a quality pull up shooter that knocks in shots with good rhythm.&nbsp; Also liked how he was a willing passer finding his teammates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1522682' first='Kain' last='Kretschmar'] (Lake Zurich – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really like what Kretschmar can bring to a small college program at the next level.&nbsp; Well built two guard that contributes across the board.&nbsp; Finishes through and around contact at the rim along with being a capable shooter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1939226' first='Joseph' last='Costanzo'] (St. Patrick – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Costanzo is a Macalester commit that brings the scoring pop for the Shamrocks as he did scoring 21 points in their win against Rolling Meadows.&nbsp; The 6'1” guard knocked in four threes along with mixing in some drives.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2823605' first='RJ' last='McPartlin'] (St. Patrick – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McPartlin led his squad to the championship game at Jack Tosh.&nbsp; In the title game loss to St. Ignatius he had a big performance coming out of the gates fast as the bruising big man took it right at their interior defense with his physicality.&nbsp; Went right through defenders and got on the offensive glass for second chance points netting 15 points and 7 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cale' last='Maurer'] (Mt. Vernon – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maurer had a big time performance in the quarterfinal victory for Mt. Vernon.&nbsp; He flew in for put backs, scored on cuts, and his jumper was pure from both two and three.&nbsp; Lefty gets elevation on his shot and has a clean release.&nbsp; Went for 13 points (5-7 FG) in that win against McCluer North.&nbsp; Then before going down with an injury carried his team early in their semifinal win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454160' first='Kameron' last='Eutsey'] (Belleville East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eutsey has always looked the part, but when his team needed him against O'Fallon the big man came off the bench and delivered.&nbsp; He was a key part of their comeback victory playing assertive and efficient along with being active on the glass for 10 points (4-7 FG) and 7 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323294' first='Tony' last='Bradford'] (Richwoods – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradford made the move over from Manual to Richwoods for his senior season and is fitting in nicely.&nbsp; Slender guard that hits the hole and plays off his defense in transition.&nbsp; Mixed in a nice variety of jumpers along with getting to the line for 19 points.&nbsp; In the championship game win he had 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2734444' first='Marc' last='Harvey'] (Oak Lawn – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harvey will see a significant boost in our next update.&nbsp; The 6'4” wing is having an excellent senior season for Oak Lawn.&nbsp; That included an outing in the first round at Pekin where he went for 28 points (12-17 FG).&nbsp; The long limbed wing sliced his way inside over and over for slick finishes and exploding up when at the rim to convert.&nbsp; Was in attack mode all game long displaying great body control.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2962284' first='Freddy' last='Battaglia'] (Lake Park – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Battaglia has grown and gotten stronger since we last saw him in June.&nbsp; Legit small college post that scored around the hoop with touch and feel.&nbsp; Hook shot is a go to and he can deck it a little as well.&nbsp; Rebounds well inside area as he had 16 points against Morton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2990989' first='Noah' last='Wade'] (Springfield – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior 6'4” small forward was in attack mode in the first round at Pekin getting in the heart of the defense consistently for scores in the paint.&nbsp; Strong frame allows him to score through contact with relative ease and is nifty with euro steps in the paint.&nbsp; Also hit a couple threes for 16 points in three quarters of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2415521' first='Danny' last='Snyder'] (Glenbard East – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Snyder kept his team in the game against St. Ignatius with his competitiveness and shot making.&nbsp; The lefty had a flurry in the second half making threes, mid-range jumpers, and flying around defensively as he had 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->