Triple Threat Spotlight: Three Teams to Watch in 2026 – 27

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em>A brief overview of three teams and their standout players heading into the 2026-2027 season. Whether it's offensive upside, athleticism paired with skill, or prospects on the rise, these teams should be on everyone's watch list.</em></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mt. Vernon Rams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rams are on my watch list because all but two of their players will return next season after finishing this year with a 22-9 record and losing only by 11 points to the Centralia Orphans in the Regional Finals. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2455403' first='David' last='Barnes'] is a high-motor player who scores by driving hard to the rim and creating space in the paint, while junior [player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cale' last='Maurer'] has a smooth fadeaway jumper and can also hit the three when his feet are set. There's also junior [player_tooltip player_id='3430205' first='Lucas' last='Shelby'] Jr., who drives the offense and uses his size and athleticism to create plays in the backcourt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Belleville West Maroons</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Maroons are on my watch list because they have most, if not all, of the ingredients to build a winning team. The team is led by highly touted junior J'Dyn Lloyd, who can be an offensive threat from almost anywhere on the court. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='3427194' first='TJ' last='Cason'] IV and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3454780' first='Amauri' last='Fenton'] are two of the most intriguing Maroons. Both dominate the glass, but in different ways—Cason IV uses his vertical leap and length, while Fenton relies on his size and positioning. Both are effective scorers, but they do so differently: Cason IV depends primarily on his speed and athleticism to make plays in the backcourt and also shows flashes of a three-point shot, whereas Fenton uses his body to drive to the rim and get positioning for layups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danville Vikings</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Danville Vikings went 9–19 during the 2025–2026 season, but it wasn't due to a lack of prospects. In fact, their prospects are what put them on my watch list. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3454731' first='DeAndre' last='Burns'] Jr. led the team in scoring at forward. He excelled at working through double teams down low, finishing his shot or drawing fouls. Another sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='2395586' first='Amir' last='Beasley'], is big and plays more like a wing, crossing the defense in the backcourt or at the top of the key to drive to the rim. At 6'9,” he also shows flashes of a smooth stroke from beyond the arc. His length gives him the advantage to reach over his defenders to pull down rebounds and block shots. Junior Kindyn Mason is a point guard who likes to push the ball up the court at a fast pace, keeping the defense on their heels. Going into next season, Mason adds a level of seniority and balance to help foster the growth of a young, developing duo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->