Top 20 Juniors in Illinois

Here’s my list of the state’s top 20 class of 2009 players. This list is not based soley on potential but on current skill level, athleticism, AND they way the player affects a now. Please, do not be afraid to leave comments.

1. Chris Colvin 6’2” 175 lbs PG Chicago Whitney Young (Rising Stars) - Skilled PG with good athleticism, a strong body, and good defense. Has a high IQ, gets to the basket well, and is a great passer. Consistent with a college ready game. Has an offer from Iowa. Also considering Illinois and Michigan among others.

2. D’mitri Riggs 6'3" 175 lbs Guard Bloomington (Spiece Indy Heat) - A great offensive player with great size and strength for his age and position. Shoots it extremely well but streaky. Creates well going to the basket, rebounds well, and a capable defender. Has relied a little too much on his 3point shot and takes plays off but still has great ability.

3. Marcus Jordan 6’3” 190 lbs Guard Chicago Whitney Young (Rising Stars) - Strong guard that can take over a game. Is a good ball handler, passer, and defender. Gets to the basket well, rebounds well, and is clutch but needs to improve shooting touch and play more consistent.

4. Jordan Prosser 6’8” 215 lbs PF Eureka (Indiana Elite-ONE) - Very skilled. Passes it extremely well and uses the backboard well around the basket. A strong rebounder that runs the floor well and has good athleticism but is a bit mechanical. When playing aggressive, he is the state's best player, no doubt in my mind. Has offers from Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois State, Bradley, Xavier, and Notre Dame. Also considering Illinois and Georgetown.

5. D.J. Richardson 6’3” 165 lbs SG Peoria Central (Illinois Stars) - A hard worker. Good at everything, great at nothing. An inconsistent shooter but is very good when his shot's falling. A little overrated in my opinion but he's still a great player with a lot of potential. Has offers from over 15 Division I schools including Illinois, Georgetown, Indiana, Bradley, Notre Dame, Baylor, Southern Illinois, Miami-FL, and others.

6. James Kinney 6’1” 170 lbs PG Champaign Centennial (Illinois Stars/Illinois Elite) - Very skilled player. Lefty that can light it up from the outside. Probably the best shooter in the state for his age when he's on but is a very inconsistent shooter. Handles the ball like a wizard. Plays hard defensively. A great passer. He is the state's best point guard when all of his weapons are clicking. Has 1 D1 offer and a lot of high major interest.

7. Michael Haynes 6’4.5” 225 lbs PF Chicago Washington (Illinois Bobcats) - Another skilled player. Undersized at the PF. Very athletic with good strength. Rebounds well and can run the floor. If he improves his ball handling and extends his shooting range he could play the 3 at the high major level. A year and a half older than the rest of those in his class so I don't know if he'll grow much more. Has an offer from Marquette.

8. Jordan Walker 6’6” 165 lbs SF Chicago Hales Franciscan (MeanStreets) - A lot of potential. A GREAT athlete. Jumps with the best of them. Rebounds and shoots the ball well from the midrange area. Is starting to extend his shooting range. Handles it well for his size but can stand to use some improvement on his dribbling. I love the kid's game and I think he has a chance to be the most successful player in this class. Was very underused at Champaign Central though he was a fulltime starter.

9. David Smith 6’3” 175 lbs Guard Lake Forest Academy (Full Package) - Very athletic. Good ball handler, passes well, and plays defense. Very long and plays hard. Can score the ball but has an unselfish mindset. Considering Florida Atlantic, Wisconsin, Marquette, and others.

10. Steve Walker 6’6.5” 275 lbs PF Chicago Simeon (Illinois Stars) - Strong inside player. Very wide but deceptively athletic. Scores well with his back to the basket and is good at controlling the boards. May be undersized in the post if he doesn't grown much more.

11. Brandon Paul 6’3” 170 lbs SG Warren Twp. (Team NLP) - A good athlete with a long frame. Gets to the basket well. Has a quick first step. Rebounds well and is active. Plays hard and has really seen his stock rise. Xavier is big on him and Illinois is beginning to show high level interest.

12. Joseph Bertrand 6’3” 165 lbs SG Sterling (Illinois Wolves) - Has good potential. Good athlete with good passing ability. Plays defense and goes for rebounds. Capable shooter as well but needs to put his game together better. Has offers from Marquette, Iowa, Wisconsin, Southern Illinois, Bradley, and Notre Dame. Also considering Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State and others.

13. Xavier Humphrey 6’3” 175 lbs SG Fenwick (Illinois Wolves) – A strong guard with a versatile game. Good scorer from everywhere on the floor. Rebounds well. Solid ball handler. Very good defensive player. Would be a top ten player if he played more consistently. Has been plagued by injuries the last two summers.

14. Cully Payne 6’0” 165 lbs PG Burlington Central (Rising Stars) – A point guard that came in to high school overhyped but is now becoming underrated. Very skilled. Has a high IQ and is a strong ball handler. Shoots it well. Good passer. Strong build but becoming a bit to bulky. Verbally committed to DePaul.

15. Nik Garcia 6’5” 170 lbs SG Niles West (Rising Stars) – A great shooter than shoots with consistency from beyond the arch. Handles it well for his size and is a good passer. Often gets knocked for lacking athleticism but has more than you would think. Lack of foot speed is what holds him out of the top ten. Good potential. Has offers from Northern Illinois and Loyola-Chicago.

16. Seth Evans 6’0” 165 lbs PG Seneca (Illinois Stars) – Smart guard with a very high basketball IQ. Great ball handler. Shoots it well from the outside. Good passer. Poised…plays within himself. Has an offer from UW-Green Bay.

17. Darius Smith 6’2” 175 lbs Guard Chicago Marshall (Team Illinois Hawks) – Struggles to identify a natural position but has skills to play multiple ones. Good ball handler and passer. One of the best rebounding guards on the market. Strong with the ball and good defender. Good transition player. Has an unproven shot but makes his presence felt on both ends of the floor. Had a bigtime freshman season.

18. Tony Ahlers 6’6.5” 215 lbs PF Putnam County (Illinois Wolves) – Strong inside presence. Very good rebounder. Can hit the intermediate jumper and has the ability to step out to shoot the 3. Handles it well for his size and improving his interior scoring game. Considering Illinois State, Evansville, Valpo, IPFW, UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, and others.

19. Tywon Howard 6’1.5” 170 lbs SG Bloomington (Team Illinois) – A scoring guard. Handles it well. Good at going to the basket. Great shooter when he’s consistent. Rebounds well for his position. Good strength. Has shown he can be a great defender. Good athlete. Near unstoppable to guard one on one when his shot’s falling.

20. D.J. Cooper 5’10” 150 lbs PG Chicago Hales Franciscan (MeanStreets) – Proved to be the leader and glue for a talented Hales team last season as he was the only all-state member. Shoots it very well from the outside. Good ball handler and passer with leadership qualities. Size is an issue. If he was a true 6’0”, he might be the state’s best point guard, if not #1, he’d be #2 or #3.

Others Just Missing Top 20:
Kannon Burrage 6'1" 165 lbs SG United Township (Quad City Select)
Jack Cooley 6’7.5” 230 lbs Center Glenbrook South (Rising Stars)
Kyler Market 6’5” 175 lbs SF Willowbrook (Illinois Wolves)
Derek Needham 6’1” 175 lbs Guard Chicago De La Salle (Chicago Ferrari)
Lawrence Thomas 5’10” 150 lbs PG Springfield Southeast (Illinois Warriors)
Glenn Wallace 5’10” 170 lbs PG Chicago Hales Franciscan (MeanStreets)

I have yet to see Diamond Taylor (St. Joseph ), Ronald Stewart and Markus Yarobrough (Zion-Benton), or Kyle Rowley (Lake Forest Academy) play therefore they will go unranked.