Player of the Year: Checking in at Midway Point of Season

<a>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</a>   Now that we are halfway through the regular season we wanted to take a look at the race for Player of the Year and how it is shaping up.  We have a clear favorite, dynamic duos on top teams, senior stars that can make a run, and the sophomore sensations! This list will be narrowed down over the next month to the finalists before the winner is selected!     Clear Favorite   [player_tooltip player_id='2323571' first='Jaxson' last='Davis'] (Warren)   Odds: 3/2   Davis came into the season as the favorite and has done nothing, but cement that reputation as the year has gone along.  The Warren point guard dropped 51 points in the Big Dipper Championship game as he had led them to wins over ranked teams Whitney Young, Kenwood, and Waukegan.  He then lit up the Highland Shootout for 33 points against St. Louis power Vashon showing southern Illinois his game changing ability.       Top Three Teams with Two Stars   This section is for the three best duos in the state.  They are the stars of the three best teams in the state right now.   [player_tooltip player_id='2105360' first='Lincoln' last='Williams'] (Kankakee)   Odds: 4/1   Williams is the top ranked senior in the state and a dominant presence each and every time he steps on the floor.  He set a school record for points in a game then followed that up by leading his team to a win over Georgia power Pace at Chicago Elite Classic.  Game in and game out he has posted numbers.  Has the best chance to make a run at Davis with a big close to the season!   [player_tooltip player_id='1552625' first='EJ' last='Hazelett'] (Kankakee)   Odds: 15/1   Hazelett has fit in great at Kankakee.  The top 10 senior Indiana State commit moved to play with the Kays as a senior.  Most dominant performance we saw from him was at [program_tooltip program_id='2078408' first='Team' last='Rose'] against DePaul Prep in a loss where he went head to head with Porter having a huge game.   [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] (Benet)   Odds: 6/1   Wright is coming off the AC Williamson award at Pontiac where he led his team to the title of the toughest tournament in the state.  He has always been known as a plus shooter, but his growth as a distributor is what has taken his game along with his team to new heights.  They have not lost in over six weeks with wins over Curie, DePaul Prep, Loyola, and more!   [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] (Benet)   Odds: 8/1   Stack is the ultimate cheat code in the state as no one else has a 7'1” guy they can just throw the ball up to and he will dunk it.  That has happened more times than I can count this season.  Rim protector, good post scorer, and shoots it from deep.  Also one of the top rebounders in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'] (DePaul Prep)   Odds: 10/1   Porter is headed to Toledo as a power forward who plays with strength and athleticism.  Really like how he is taking it right at opponents this season with quick and assertive moves in the paint and off the bounce.   [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] (DePaul Prep)   Odds: 10/1   Woo is the PG for the current #2 Rams.  He has ran the show like a conductor all year with his leadership, on the money passing, and elite feel for the game.  Can also score when needed with his soft touch finishing game and pull up jumper.       Seniors With Chance to Make Run   [player_tooltip player_id='1873523' first='Jamison' last='White'] (East St. Louis)   Odds: 5/1   Mr. Double Double is White!  He has been excellent this year for the Flyers who have flown a bit under the radar, but have not lost a game yet to a team in Illinois.  They have wins over everyone in the metro east and rolled the competition by 20+ every game at a weak Proviso West tournament.  The Penn State commit is one of the most dominant players in the state and he will continue to show that through deep in March!   [player_tooltip player_id='2734369' first='Justin' last='Oliver'] (Curie)   Odds: 10/1   Oliver has had some big moments this season against the toughest schedule in the state.  To this point Curie has been the best team in the CPS and he is the primary reason.  Dropped 39 points in a win over Bolingbrook on Saturday.  Also has led them to victories over Warren, St. Ignatius, New Trier, and St. Pats.   [player_tooltip player_id='1552475' first='Marquis' last='Clark'] (Whitney Young)   Odds: 12/1   Clark is carrying a young Dolphins squad on his back and showing the young guys how it is done!  Super productive lead guard that stepped up to every challenge all year long. Four of their six losses are out of state and the others are to top 10 squads.  He will have an opportunity over the next month into the city tournament to make his case.   [player_tooltip player_id='2839970' first='Jordan' last='Williams'] (Fremd)   Odds: 15/1   Williams is an Illinois State commit who has been consistently productive for a Fremd team that just racks up win after win.  He carried them to a championship over the holidays at Wheeling capturing the MVP trophy.   [player_tooltip player_id='2323283' first='Chris' last='Bolte'] (St. Ignatius)   Odds: 15/1   The Yale commit has continued to step his game up after a massive June.  He has been the veteran leader for a young St. Ignatius team that is a mainstay in the top 10 including wins over top ranked Benet and a Jack Tosh Title.   [player_tooltip player_id='2323268' first='Tishawn' last='Clemmons'] (Decatur MacArthur)   Odds: 20/1   Clemmons is the leader of the least talked about top team in the state.  Floor general that can get all his weapons involved while dropping 25+ on any night.  MacArthur won the Prairie Farms title and is still undefeated!       Sophomore Sensations   [player_tooltip player_id='2531981' first='Cole' last='Kelly'] (Neuqua Valley)   Odds: 10/1   Kelly is on fire right now!  The skilled wing has led his Neuqua Valley squad to a 15-1 record to start the season.  They won their conference tournament and he has been posting crazy numbers night in and night out.   [player_tooltip player_id='2531973' first='Brady' last='Pettigrew'] (Bolingbrook)   Odds: 10/1   Pettigrew has had a big year for the Raiders as a sophomore being one of the top bucket getters in the Chicagoland area.  He has taken the momentum from the summer over into the high school season.   [player_tooltip player_id='2467517' first='Darrius' last='Hawkins'] (Homewood Flossmoor)   Odds: 15/1   Hawkins has taken the reigns as the go to guy for HF this season leading them to a spectacular record under their first year head coach.  He is a bucket getter and elevates the play of those around him.   [player_tooltip player_id='2531961' first='Amarion' last='Smith-Holley'] (Peoria Richwoods)   Odds: 30/1   Smith-Holley has been electric during the first half of the season with his exciting style of play and leading Richwoods to big wins including getting MVP of Pekin Holiday Tournament.  Unfortunately he is out for about a month with an injury.

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