Season Preview: Rockford Area Teams and Players to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High school basketball is just around the corner in Illinois. Here's a look at some of Rockford's top names to watch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1385303"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Robertson has lots of potential. The 6'10u0022 big man displayed excellent court awareness and lots of strength inside. He's the definition of a stretch big and can knock down shots from all over the floor. Robertson will be one of the top small-school names in the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1282464"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Guilford had more than an impressive season with Johnson as its lead guard. He's capable of scoring 3 with ease and confident driving to the basket. I remember a time where he sealed an OT win last season with a dunk in transition at Hononegah. Solid point guard size at 6'2u0022 and an underrated defender.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1541244"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"It wasn't exactly a splendid season for the J-Hawks. But they have a very exciting player to watch in 6'5u0022 [player_tooltip player_id='1541244' first='Randy' last='Johnson']. Stretches the floor well and earns buckets in challenging ways. Long arms on defense and can play as a rim protector. Jefferson will look to make a leap in the NIC-10 with Johnson leading the way.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1553123"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A smaller floor general, Cummings has superb ball-handling abilities and can swift pass defenders with ease. He put up impressive numbers as a freshman on varsity and gave Rockford Christian a push in their 2A sectionals. Played with the [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] over the Summer.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1537962"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hoarde is poised for a big senior season. The 6'6u0022 wing/guard gets it done the hard way. He fights for every rebound and makes opponents earn it on the glass. He averaged 13points to lead his team to go along with 5 rebounds and 1.3 seals per game.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1537961"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Agee can score from all three levels. His longer arms give him an advantage on the defensive end. He's also a solid decision maker and loves to get his teammates involved. He'll play a bigger role for Auburn this season with other key players departing the program. Averaged 12 ppg as a junior.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1431502"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"One of the top shooters in the area, Andre will look to build off a first-team all-conference selection. Andre can knock down shots from all over the floor.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-64df82cca2080"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Names</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1541240' first='Vontez' last='Dent'], Lutheran 2024<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1215293' first='Mekhi' last='Doby'], Guilford 2023<br>Braydon Savitsky-Lynde, Auburn 2023<br>Walter Hill, Lutheran 2023<br>Antonio Lewis, East 2023<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1845353' first='Amir' last='Danforth'], Auburn 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Top 10</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>1. East</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>2. Guilford</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>3. Auburn</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>4. Lutheran</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>5. Hononegah</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>6. Boylan</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>7. Harlem</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>8. Belvidere North</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>9. Jefferson</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>10. South Beloit/Rockford Christian</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list -->