High school hoops in Illinois is basically a religion. If you’ve spent any time in a freezing gymnasium in Peoria or a packed house in the Chicago Public League, you know the atmosphere is unmatched. But trying to make sense of illinois high school basketball player rankings right now? It’s a lot. Between the mid-season transfers, the sudden growth spurts, and the way "recruiting experts" change their minds every Tuesday, keeping track of who is actually the best is a full-time job.
Most people just look at the star ratings on recruiting sites. That’s a mistake. Honestly, the real story is in the consistency of guys like Jaxson Davis at Warren Township or the raw ceiling of Lincoln Williams down in Kankakee. Rankings are just a snapshot, and in January 2026, the picture is getting very interesting.
The 2026 Class: Who Really Sits at the Top?
The Class of 2026 is where the most heat is right now. We’re seeing guys finally settle into their frames and starting to look like the college players they’ll be in a couple of years. If you’re looking at the top of the list, Lincoln Williams from Kankakee is usually the name you hear first. He's a 6'6" wing who can basically do everything—score from three levels, defend the perimeter, and finish with some serious authority at the rim.
Then you have the Chicago heavyweights. Marquis Clark out of Whitney Young is a Tennessee commit for a reason. He’s a 6'2" point guard who plays with a level of aggression that most high schoolers can't handle. He gets to the rim whenever he wants. It's almost unfair.
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The Mid-Season Stock Risers
- Jamison White (East St. Louis): A 6'8" Penn State commit. He's a transfer who has absolutely transformed the dynamic of his team with his ability to hit threes at that size.
- Jaxson Davis (Warren Township): A 6'1" point guard who might be the most "pure" basketball player in the state. He's averaging big numbers because his IQ is just higher than everyone else's on the floor.
- Rashaun Porter (DePaul College Prep): He's a winner. Period. Three state championships in a row, and he's headed to Toledo. He’s that 6'6" interior presence every coach dreams of having.
Why Player Rankings in Illinois Are Kinda Controversial
Rankings aren't science. You've got different outlets like Prep Hoops, MaxPreps, and various scouting services all saying different things. One scout might value a kid’s "upside" (how good they could be in four years), while another just cares about who is dominating the IHSA right now.
Take a guy like Cooper Knowles from West Hancock. He’s 6'10", he’s athletic, and he’s probably the best small-school player in the state. Because he’s not playing a Chicago Catholic League schedule every night, some rankings might sleep on him. But if you watch him protect the rim or step out and hit a three, you realize he belongs near the top of any illinois high school basketball player rankings discussion.
It's also about fit. Michael Nee at Glenbard East is a South Dakota commit who might be the best pure shooter in the state. Is he the #1 overall prospect? Maybe not. But if you need someone to knock down a catch-and-shoot triple to win a game, he’s your first call. Rankings often miss that nuance.
The 2025 Seniors: Finishing Strong
We can't forget the seniors who are currently leading the charge for state titles. The 2025 class is led by guys like Ian Miletic (Rolling Meadows) and Phoenix Gill (St. Ignatius). Gill, in particular, has that "it" factor. Being the son of an NBA player (Kendall Gill) brings pressure, but he’s carved out his own identity as a fierce defender and playmaker.
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- Ian Miletic (Rolling Meadows): A 6'6" SF who has stayed at the top of the Prep Hoops 2025 rankings for a while now.
- Phoenix Gill (St. Ignatius): The shooting guard everyone wants to watch. He’s a 6'3" spark plug.
- Matthew Zobrist (Metamora): Represents the Central Illinois talent. He’s 6'5", can shoot, and plays with a grit that’s hard to find.
What Scouts Are Looking for in the 2027 and 2028 Kids
It’s never too early to look at the freshmen and sophomores. The 2027 class is already being headlined by Jaxson Davis (who is technically 2027 but playing like a senior) and Quinton Kitt out of East Peoria. Kitt is a 6'6" small forward who is already picking up major Division I interest.
In the 2028 class, it's a lot of "wait and see," but names like Caleb Tucker and Darieon Prescott are already buzzing in the Chicago suburbs. These kids are often ranked more on their physical tools—height, wingspan, and vertical—than their current stats. It's a projection game.
Real Talk: How to Use These Rankings
If you're a parent or a player, don't obsess over being #12 versus #18. College coaches don't care about the specific number. They care about film and "translatability." Can your game work in the Missouri Valley or the Big Ten?
To stay truly informed, you should check multiple sources. Prep Hoops Illinois is great for deep-dive scouting. MaxPreps is the go-to for raw stats and box scores. The Massey Ratings are better for team strength than individual player evaluation, but they help you see who is performing against the toughest schedules.
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Actionable Next Steps for Following Illinois Hoops
- Watch the Live Streams: If you can't make it to Lisle for a Benet game or to the South Side for Whitney Young, use NFHS Network. Watching a full game tells you more than a 30-second highlight reel on Instagram.
- Focus on the Highland Shootout or City-Suburban Showdown: These events are where the rankings actually get tested. When a top-ranked kid from the suburbs has to guard a top-ranked kid from the city, that's when you see who's real.
- Follow Regional Scouts: People like Scott Burgess or the Prep Hoops Illinois staff are at these games every night. Their Twitter (X) feeds are usually more up-to-date than the official ranking pages.
- Check the Stat Leaders: Sometimes the best players aren't the highest-ranked recruits. Look at guys like Keison Peoples (Bismarck-Henning) who is putting up over 30 points a game. He might not be a "high-major" recruit, but he’s one of the best high school players in the state right now.
The landscape changes every Friday night. A single 30-point performance in a regional final can skyrocket a kid up the board. Keep your eyes on the court, not just the spreadsheet.