When Sides Collide Preview

Scott Burgess January 21, 2026 @ 12:00 PM

Oswego East is led by DePaul commit Mason Lockett IV Mason Lockett IV 6'5" | SG Oswego East | 2026 State IL . He is one of the top senior prospects in the state and is having a strong senior campaign. They also have top 20 junior Dshaun Bolden Dshaun Bolden 6'4" | SF Oswego East | 2027 State IL who is a big and athletic wing with three level scoring ability. They are a dynamic 1-2 punch! New Trier will be led by High Point commit Danny Houlihan Danny Houlihan 6'4" | SF New Trier | 2026 State IL who is among the premier pure shooters in the class with a big time shot off the catch. Freshman big man Denym Wallace Denym Wallace 6'6" | PF New Trier | 2029 IL is one of the most productive 2029 prospects in the state. Elton Jaegerskog and Max Vogel Max Vogel 6'4" | SF/SG New Trier | 2026 State IL bring versatility to New Trier.

#10 Neuqua Valley vs #18 Bolingbrook

Matchup between the #1 and #2 sophomores in the state and two of the elite prospects in Illinois regardless of class! Bolingbrook's Brady Pettigrew Brady Pettigrew 6'3" | SG Bolingbrook | 2028 State #23 Nation IL and Neuqua Valley's Cole Kelly Cole Kelly 6'6" | SF Neuqua Valley | 2028 State #14 Nation IL are high level prospects early in the process, but are also both super productive players who are leading their teams to strong seasons. This has a chance to be one of those classic superstar battles! Neuqua Valley 2027 shooting guard Mason Martin Mason Martin 6'4" | SG Neuqua Valley | 2027 State IL is the prospect with the most helium in the state right now. He is primed to move into the top 5 next week in our update and just committed to Illinois. TJ Williams TJ Williams 6'4" | SG Bolingbrook | 2026 State IL and Isaiah Rogers Isaiah Rogers 6'4" | SF Bolingbrook | 2027 State IL are talented wings for Bolingbrook that are having strong seasons.

#2 DePaul Prep vs #11 Marist

Two of the preseason top 5 teams in the state feature a deep group of veteran talent! DePaul Prep is the defending 3 time state champions. They have perhaps the best trio in the state with Toledo commit power forward Rashaun Porter Rashaun Porter 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2026 State IL , Brown commit Rykan Woo Rykan Woo 6'1" | PG/SG DePaul College Prep | 2026 State IL at the point, and Michigan Tech combo guard AJ Chambers AJ Chambers 6'0" | PG DePaul Prep | 2026 State IL . These three are elite playing off each other working seamlessly! Zion Lee Zion Lee 6'4" | SF DePaul Prep | 2026 State IL is the x-factor defensively and on the glass. Marist is getting a big season from Charles Barnes Jr Charles Barnes Jr 6'6" | SF Marist | 2026 State IL . The versatile forward has been playing his best basketball as of late. Up front NC State football commit Stephen Brown Stephen Brown 6'7" | PF Marist | 2026 State IL and junior Kendall Meyers Kendall Meyers 6'5" | PF Marist | 2027 State IL give them athletic size!

#1 Benet vs #4 Warren

This is a rematch of the 4A state championship game from a year ago which went down to the wire and we expect the same in this one! Benet is led by Eastern Illinois commit Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL and North Dakota State seven footer Colin Stack Colin Stack 7'0" | C Benet | 2026 State IL . Wright is coming off an AC Williamson award at Pontiac while Stack is throwing down slams and swatting shots at a super high rate. Ed Stasys Ed Stasys 6'8" | PF Benet | 2027 State IL stock is soaring as an elite level rebounder, defender, and finisher in the 2027 class that will be seeing a jump in next week's rankings update. Perry Tchiegne Perry Tchiegne 6'2" | PG Benet | 2027 State IL is a skilled guard that brings everything together! Warren has the best player in the state in junior point guard Jaxson Davis Jaxson Davis 6'1" | PG Warren | 2027 State #49 Nation IL . The floor general is a slick handling PG that can be a true lead guard when he needs to, but has shown he can fill it up on the big stage in recent weeks with 51 in The Dipper title game and 33 points at Highland Shootout. His running mate is Braylon Walker Braylon Walker 6'1" | SG Warren | 2026 State IL who brings strength and shot making to the table as a sleeper unsigned senior. Joel Paasch Joel Paasch 6'3" | SF Warren Township | 2026 State IL is a lights out spot up threat for Warren!