Guards Shine at Denard Bros Spring Chicken All-Star Game

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last weekend in March had me at Phillips High School for one final look at some of the top seniors in the 2026 class. The Denard Bros Spring Chicken Senior All-Star Game featured three competitive matchups loaded with talent from across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As expected, the guard play stole the show, with shot-makers, playmakers, and two-way competitors all making their presence felt. Here's a breakdown of the guards who stood out:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2298580' first='Kaydin' last='Williams'] | 6'3 | Simeon Career Academy (MVP)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams saved his best for last. The Simeon guard played with supreme confidence, especially during a key stretch where his team struggled to score against full-court pressure. Williams responded by knocking down five triples, completely shifting momentum. He led all scorers with 21 points and earned MVP honors in the first game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2435304' first='Ledarrel' last='Goss'] | 6'4 | Lake View High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Goss continues to impress. After catching attention at a Prep Hoops event last year, he showed his game hasn't missed a beat. A smooth, controlled scorer, Goss consistently got to the rim and absorbed contact, finishing through fouls. He totaled 14 points with an efficient, physical approach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2436956' first='Kamari' last='Hamlin'] | 6'1 | Simeon Career Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamlin's physicality stood out. The strong-bodied guard scored effectively in the post and knocked down timely jumpers. He played within himself and contributed 12 points, showing toughness and versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552417' first='Jordan' last='Walker'] | 6'2 | Kenwood Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Walker put on a shooting clinic. The Kenwood guard caught fire from deep, connecting on five-plus three-pointers and stretching the defense all game long. A true long-range threat, he finished with 16 points in an impressive scoring display.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lemar Williams | 6'3 | Butler College Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more intriguing surprises of the event. Williams brought a well-rounded game—finishing through contact, knocking down open shots, making the extra pass, and taking on defensive assignments. His motor and two-way effort stood out as he finished with 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2391336' first='Ian' last='Flowers'] | 6'5 | Perspectives Leadership Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flowers showcased his positional versatility. The bigger guard/wing hybrid started strong with a dunk and carried that momentum into perimeter scoring and downhill drives. He added a pair of threes and finished with 12 points, flashing a complete offensive package.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323265' first='Aamir' last='Shannon'] | 6'4 | Joliet West High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shannon brought the athleticism. Explosive and aggressive, he attacked the rim with force and delivered multiple highlight dunks. His bounce and energy were hard to ignore as he finished with 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552408' first='TJ' last='Williams'] | 6'3 | Bolingbrook High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even without a huge scoring night, Williams impacted the game in multiple ways. His defensive activity led to steals, which quickly turned into transition opportunities. A true two-way guard, he finished with 11 points while influencing the game beyond the box score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845355' first='Latrell' last='Kelley'] | 6'2 | Farragut Career Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh off a deep state run, Kelly made the most of his final showcase. He opened with a deep three and consistently used his speed and handle to attack the rim. Though he finished with 9 points, his scoring came in impactful moments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2338332' first='TyJuan' last='Hunter'] | 5'8 | Hope Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most entertaining players of the day. Hunter controlled the tempo with his quickness and shiftiness, breaking down defenders and setting up teammates for easy looks. While he didn't need to score much, his playmaking and pace-setting arguably made him the most impactful guard in the second game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2540107' first='Jamir' last='Ratliff'] | 6'0 | Hillcrest High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ratliff thrived in the up-tempo environment. Playing under control, he consistently made the right reads and never forced action. He quietly put together a strong 16-point performance and showed competitiveness against a talented guard group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamir Brown | 5'11 | Rich Township High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A state champion with Walter H. Dyett High School, Brown brought toughness on both ends. He applied strong on-ball pressure defensively and created offense with mid-range scoring and crafty finishes. He finished with 10 points in a solid outing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1845364' first='Morgan' last='Travis'] | 6'2 | Perspectives Leadership Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A natural scorer, Travis got going early, dropping 10 first-half points with aggressive shot creation. He cooled off slightly in the second half, settling more for jumpers, but still finished with 15 points and showed his ability to generate offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group of guards highlighted the depth and versatility of the 2026 class. Whether it was shot-making, playmaking, or defensive intensity, each player brought something different to the table. Events like the "Denard Bros" Spring Chicken All-Star Game continue to serve as a platform for seniors to leave one final impression—and this group made sure to do just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->