Crossover Series: Edition #3

In our Crossover Series we take a look at what is going on with both boys and girls hoops across the state of Illinois diving into a variety of topics. Here Prep Hoops Illinois’ Scott Burgess and Prep Girls Hoops Illinois’ Jacob Wohlwend each dive into a variety of topics including under the radar teams we were most looking forward to watching this year, seniors not getting enough recruiting attention, and potential breakout 2022s if we were playing now! Check it out below in the Crossover Series!   Want to “Crossover” and get more coverage on the other side. You can sign up for the other site right here! Prep Hoops Illinois Boys Basketball <a href="https://prephoops.com/product/illinois-all-access-pass">https://prephoops.com/product/illinois-all-access-pass</a> Prep Girls Hoops Illinois Basketball <a href="https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/product/illinois-all-access-pass">https://www.prepgirlshoops.com/product/illinois-all-access-pass</a>   Who were Five under the radar teams you were looking forward to watching this high school season? Jacob St. Charles North – A 20-win team from a year ago loses a couple role players but brings back many of its key contributors. Seniors Talia Pellegrini and Tatum Settelmyer lead a talented upperclassmen group and will see big minutes from standout Sophomore Alyssa Hughes and skilled Freshman Reagan Sipla. Fenwick – The young Friars continue to grow together and now have as much varsity experience as anyone around. Senior Shooting Guard Lauren Hall and Junior Posts’ Audrey Hinrichs and Elise Heneghan lead a now upperclassmen-heavy roster. Maine South – Perhaps a surprise to some last season, the Hawks won 26 games a year ago and bring back a great amount of talent. Now Seniors, Nicole and Niamh Gardiner are joined by a familiar roster with upperclassmen Emily Pape, Ellie Ronan, and more! Naperville North – Lead by Oregon State commit Greta Kampschroeder, the Huskies look to build on a 24-win season that ended in a playoff loss to eventual State Tournament participant, Bolingbrook. Kampschroeder is joined by a good mixture of veterans and experienced underclassmen including Sophomores Layla Henderson, Abby Drendel, Peyton Fenner, and Abby Homan. Burlington Central – A 29-win team last year, the Rockets lost standout Senior Kathryn Schmidt to graduation, but bring back All-State Point Guard Elana Wells to lead a talented group of players. Montini transfer Taylor Charles would be a great compliment to Wells on the wing.   Scott Springfield – This would have been a great year for all teams in the Springfield area, but I was especially excited to see Springfield High. They had a trio of legit college prospects in Bennie Slater, Tyvin Garrison, and Shane Miller which would have been their best core since the Obediah Church days. St. Rita – Potentially three of the top five freshman and a fourth that isn’t too far off. Combine the 2024 quartet of James Brown, Morez Johnson, Jaedin Reyna, and Josh Pickett with their other young talent in the sophomore class of Solmon Mosley, Darrion Baker, Evan Jackson, and Kaiden Space this is the team to watch in the Catholic League moving forward. Cobden – The Appleknockers had perhaps the best player in southern Illinois in 6’7” point forward Noah Franklin who would have been dominant this year in small school ball. His versatile 2023 brother Tyler Franklin and emerging 2022 post Elliot Lowndes would have made this a title contender. Glenbard West – They started to show growth last season and were primed for a breakout campaign! Their junior trio of high major post Braden Huff, shooting guard Caden Pierce, and wing Paxton Warden are the core of the team. More size up front with three excellent small college senior power forwards in Troy Glover, Aidan Murphy, and Danny Mulcare. Lake Forest Academy – Would have loved to have seen what this team would have done this season. Before he left back for Canada Nigel Hylton was a top 10 prospect in 2022. Danny Wolf is a D1 2022 that also left for prep school out east with no season. Their junior class is stellar still with Darius Duff, Shaedon Simpson, and Michael Nowak providing perimeter scoring. Jake Wolf inside was the rock this team needed as a senior.     Who are five 2021 Prospects that should be getting more attention? Jacob Ellie Wisner – The 5’11” Shooting Guard from Neuqua Valley HS is an athletic three-level scorer with an accurate jump shot from anywhere on the floor. Wisner has great length which she uses to shoot over defenders and convert at a high rate at the rim. Claudia Gallegos – Wisners’ teammate at Neuqua Valley HS, the 6’2” Forward is strong in the post and continues to develop an impressive game on the low block. Gallegos dominates the glass on both ends of the floor and has shown that she can knock down the mid-range jumper consistently. Lauren Huber – A 5’9” Combo Guard from Glenbard East, Huber can play the 1-3 with her ability to handle the ball, lead the offense effectively, and score from the wing. She is a terrific shooter from deep and uses her high basketball IQ to make winning plays all over the court. Niamh Gardiner – The 5’11” Shooting Guard from Maine South is a strong off-ball Guard who thrives at attacking the lane and finishing through contact at the basket. Gardiner provides versatility with her strength and height, being able to step in the paint and play/defend the Post position with success. Juliana Cutrara - A 5’5” Point Guard with Marian Catholic, Cutrara is an exceptional Lead Guard with great maturity and skill with the ball. Her court vision and passing ability allows her to set her teammates up for easy buckets or keep defenders guessing and open up looks to score herself.   Scott Anthony Sayles (Niles Notre Dame) – Just do not understand why more schools are not involved here. He is the best point guard in the class with his athleticism, toughness, and playmaking. Someone late is going to get a steal as he can be the leader of a team that makes multiple NCAA tournaments at the mid-major level. Grant Newell & Jaehshon Thomas (Whitney Young) – The Dolphins inside/outside duo have elevated their games during the summer/fall/winter. It might not be in regular season games, but both have improved their stocks. Newell is a versatile forward that is playing with a motor now. Thomas is a bowling ball point guard that gets the job done. Both are D1 prospects. Ola Ajiboye (Evanston) – Ajiboye is a long and lanky post that can protect the rim with the best of them, runs the floor with ease, and has an emerging face up game. Soft touch around the hoop. Should be on more low-major radars. [player_tooltip player_id="920970" first="Aaron" last="McQueen"] (Lane Tech) - McQueen is a rock solid small college prospect that should even get some consideration at the D2 level. He might not wow with athleticism, but his production game in and game out scoring and on the glass is undeniable.     Which three players were bound for breakthrough Junior Seasons? Jacob Joy Bergstrom – Already an All-State caliber player as a Sophomore, Bergstrom took her game to a new level last Summer on the AAU circuit. The 5’9” Combo Guard from Saint Viator scores the ball at a high rate from everywhere and constantly makes the right play for her team to succeed. Lola Lesmond – The 6’0” Shooting Guard from Evanston has been a solid piece on great Evanston teams the past couple of years, but you could sense a breakout coming this year. Lesmond is a high-level shooter with deep range and has the strength/length to make an impact in the lane on both ends of the floor. Jayda Bowen – A 5’7” Combo Guard at Crete-Monee HS, Bowen is an outstanding playmaker with the ball in her hands. She has a smooth jumper with great confidence and regularly uses her terrific court vision to make impressive passes to her teammates.   Scott Nick Martinelli (Glenbrook South) – Martinelli showed flashes playing alongside his brother last year and over the last six months has emerged as a better prospect at the same stage. Good athlete that has a knack for getting buckets all over the floor. Tavari Johnson (Lyons) – Never playing on the varsity level Johnson was primed to have a monster debut with LT. Elite basketball IQ running the show and getting others involved with his passing. Good pull up jump shooter. [player_tooltip player_id="863631" first="NJ" last="Benson"] (Mt. Vernon) – Benson has made strides since playing limited minutes for the Rams last high school season. We liked what we saw this winter out of Benson with his strength and ability to play with power around the hoop.