X-Factors in 3A Playoffs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we know the stars are going to have a big say about what happens in the state tournament we wanted to examine some of the X-Factors on top teams in the 3A field that will be key if their teams make a run to Champaign!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385297' first='Jonas' last='Johnson'] (DePaul Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The DePaul walk on commit is the definition of a glue guy on a top team as he rebounds and finds ways to impact the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2538949' first='KJ' last='Morris'] (Brother Rice)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris is a tough and athletic guard that can score in the paint and defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125677' first='Reggie' last='Stevens'] (St. Laurence)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the veteran St. Laurence squad Stevens is the top 10 sophomore that can provide a spark with his shooting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874852' first='Myair' last='Thompson'] (Kankakee)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson is a quick guard that can fill it up as a microwave scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex Mckie (Morton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gudeman has to have some help!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321401' first='Ashton' last='Grieves'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grieves has grown into a rock solid PG that can score when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323290' first='Claude' last='Mpouma'] (Mt. Carmel)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state's top 2026 offensive tackle brings a whole different thing that opponents of Mt. Carmel haven't seen as a big body inside with their three stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2538995' first='Grant' last='Mordini'] (Lake Forest)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another legit sized big man for the Scouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2391672' first='Jeffrey' last='Hassan'] (Kaneland)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top 10 sophomore is the highest ceiling prospect on his team, but for this squad they just need him to board and defend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2422531' first='Devin' last='Meier'] (Centralia)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meier is the type of player that flies under the radar, but if he shoots it well can steal a win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2724313' first='Sam' last='Hanus'] (Deerfield)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hanus provides some perimeter help for Pollack inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shea Glotzbach (Lemont)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lemont has plenty of scorers and Glotzbach is the guy who brings all the intangibles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2632037' first='Landon' last='Mays'] (Marian Catholic)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big bodied forward that brings toughness and secondary scoring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2724288' first='Nathaniel' last='Marshall'] (Fenwick)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall is headed to Michigan for football, but the tough post has been huge for the success of Fenwick this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2734391' first='Fenix' last='Foy'] (Peoria)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Foy has proven to be a good complimentary piece next to Stowers as a versatile wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2750020' first='Carson' last='Trivellini'] (Crystal Lake South)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trivellini has emerged this season as a wing that plays well off his lead guard Demirov.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Navaeh Hawkins (St. Patrick)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Super bouncy four man that brings energy getting second chance points and defending.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766476' first='Race' last='Hickey'] (Marion)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion has flown under the radar, but is having a really good season.&nbsp; Hickey is the big man inside that brings it all together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2724420' first='Caden' last='West'] (Burlington Central)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West is a great glue guy that Burlington Central will need to make a run into March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2334401' first='Cale' last='Maurer'] (Mt. Vernon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plus spot up shooter that has sneaky athleticism for the Rams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sean [player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''] (Decatur MacArthur)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2403249' first='Lee' last=''] is the tough and athletic wing that brings everything together for MacArthur.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2724415' first='CJ' last='Thomas'] (Hyde Park)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continues to emerge as a legit scoring combo guard for Hyde Park.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323307' first='Lucas' last='Johnson'] (De La Salle)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long and lanky wing that can shoot it and brings plus athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323269' first='Max' last='Carmicle'] (Hillcrest)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will play football at the next level, but this junior posts toughness, rebounding, and post scoring are key for Hillcrest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125608' first='Dawson' last='Charles'] (St. Viator)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charles is a sophomore two guard that has bounce and can really shoot it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->