Throughout this month, I have been to several events in the area that have featured a number of promising players in the state. One of those events was the annual High-Academic put on by Michael Weinstein, which is regularly one of the best showcases in the entire country for college coaches at some of the top academic institutions. From that event, here are several players who stood out.

Adam Anwar (6’7 PF, McHenry 2026)

Anwar carried the momentum from a lights-out summer where he reasserted himself as one of the better face-up forwards in the class. He regularly stepped into threes from past the college line as a trailer, off of screens, and in pick-and-pop situations where his balance and release point were consistent. Any time he got a low or mid-post touch, he created space with bumps and used his length to score over the top of defenders. Anwar has a good nose for the ball as a rebounder and has the type of physicality and wingspan that should allow him to play as a stretch four at the college level. There may not be a better shooter in the frontcourt in the state.

AJ Chambers (5’10 PG, DePaul Prep 2026)

Chambers has an ability to generate paint touches and control pace that stands out. While mixing in time playing on and off the ball, Chambers was working well as a primary decision maker in ball screen actions, where his vision and touch in the lane gave him an edge. The DePaul Prep guard was also in constant motion as a cutter and mover when he didn’t have the ball in his hands. Defensively, Chambers continued showing the type of toughness, pursuit, and IQ that you seek in a guard who lacks some height. A proven winner at this stage, Chambers has pulled in a slew of D2 offers to this point.

Carter Newsome (5’10 PG, Waukegan 2026)

Watching Newsome play with the energy and competitiveness that he has makes you really appreciate high school basketball. The four-year Waukegan guard was making others around him better while finding moments to look for his own shot. Defenders struggled to keep him in front, with his quick first step and deceptive change of pace setting him up nicely for counter moves. Newsome shoots it well with space, but really stands out as a creator and floor general. I would expect his recruiting activity to pick up in the coming months.

Cole Dubois (5’11 PG, East Peoria 2027)

A pure bucket-getter, Dubois went on a few scoring tears where he rattled off a combination of threes, difficult jumpers off the dribble, and floaters inside. He has an innate ability to find openings in defenses while also being comfortable converting when there is only a sliver of space. As the tempo of the scrimmages picked up, Dubois thrived even more while pushing the ball in transition and getting his team easy looks. Dubois was a standout over the summer and just has a moxie about him that leads me to believe in his long-term success as a scoring guard.

Colin Cimino (6’6 PF, Riverside Brookfield 2026)

Cimino was one of the winners of the day, particularly amongst D3 coaches at the event. Lanky and fairly skilled at 6-foot-6, Cimino was running his lanes well while knocking down threes and mixing in some dunks in the open floor. Cimino takes pride in playing hard and separated himself in a showcase setting with his willingness to provide energy. In the last month, college coaches have really started to key in on a senior who is destined for a breakout year.

Cooper Mellican (6’5 SF, St. Charles North 2026)

Another one of the seniors who opened eyes with his performance at the event, Mellican brought a blend of athleticism, strength, and craftiness that made a lasting impression. He had one of the best frames at the event with a college-ready build that he used well to finish through contact, win 50/50 balls, and stand up ball-handlers and bigs who tried to get around him. Offensively, Mellican hit a few threes off the catch and used a variety of pivots and fakes in the paint to get scoring angles. Mellican is a high-level student-athlete, even at an event like this, and has put himself in a position to attract some of the top academic D3s in the country.

Dawson Charles (6’2 SG, St. Viator 2027)

Charles was one of the most impressive juniors at the entire event. The open space and flow of the scrimmages really helped him showcase his talent as a slasher and three-point shooter. He hit an array of tough shots from the perimeter, some coming a few feet behind the three-point line. What really stood out was how explosive he was when he got straight lines to attack. Charles was flushing home dunks and converting acrobatic finishes inside during the live play. There is still plenty of upside for Charles to tap into as well.

Evan Nagler (6’3 PG/SG, Deerfield 2026)

Since last year, Nagler has taken significant steps as an all-around offensive threat. His three-point stroke remains a big selling point, making numerous deep looks at the showcase. But he also put it on the ground well, showed some shiftiness off of the dribble, and found teammates on the move. The dribble pull-up game is there with a good feel for his jumper from that 13-to-18 foot range. Nagler also has plus positional size and has added strength to a frame that should respond well to a college strength program. He’s a smart kid who will be a nice addition to a high-academic program.

Grant Mordini (6’10 PF/C, Avon 2026)

One of a few prep school players who played well at the showcase, Mordini brought the type of size and length that immediately catches the attention of college coaches. When you add how well he moves up and down the floor and the sound mechanics and range on his jump shot, it’s understandable why the appeal is there. Mordini had a few slick drives to the rim from the perimeter and was a threat as an outside shooter when given time and space. What stood out most was how well he manned the paint defensively to block shots and cause out-of-control layup attempts.

Hudson Scroggins (6’7 PF, Kimball 2026)

The avalanche of Division 1 looks was just a matter of time for one of the most versatile players and elite defenders in the state last year. Scroggins committed to Valparaiso prior to the event and looked every bit like a Missouri Valley player with how well he moved in space, his closing speed to contest shots or get back in plays, and his face-up game. Scroggins showed the whole package as a ball-handling threat, pushing the ball in transition and completing plays at or above the rim in crowds. He has added noticeable muscle and displayed that heightened sense of aggressiveness that made him one of the breakout players on the UAA circuit this summer.

Jackson Bohm (6’3 SG, Mahomet-Seymour 2026)

Probably one of the more underdiscussed guard prospects in the senior class, Bohm has been excellent all summer. The High-Academic Showcase was no different, as the smooth shot-maker picked his spots well as a catch-and-shoot option and aggressive downhill driver. He has good size and strength with the athletic pop to play near the rim and convert double-clutch shots inside. Bohm stopped on a dime at times to either lose defenders or rise up for mid-range shots with great balance and flow. He’s got a bit of wiggle to his game as well to and showed that he can get going from three when he’s in rhythm. I like the defensive outlook as well with his build and rugged approach. Bohm should be a hot name for high-level D3 and D2 programs.

Joe Morrow (6’9 C, United 2027)

I’m a big fan of Morrow’s long-term outlook. Already possessing a strong, athletic build, Morrow has a great motor and seems to value playing hard and with his teammates. Throughout the live play, he was one of the best rebounders on both ends and rolled to the rim with intent in transition and off of ball screens. While he didn’t have a ton of low-post touches, Morrow has solid footwork down low with the sheer strength to bury guys. From start to finish, he was as active and energetic as any player at the event, which is saying something with the talent that was present. He’s far from a finished product, but Morrow checks a lot of the physical and intangible boxes that lead to success for bigs.

Jordan Williams (6’6 SF, Fremd 2026)

Williams was another player who didn’t have to prove much after the type of dominant summer that he put together. The well-rounded lefty spent a lot of time as a primary ball-handler, where he excelled as a passer, pull-up shooter, and downhill driver. There weren’t many defenders who stood a chance at the event of stopping him in one-on-one situations once he got to his dominant hand. He has several Division 1 programs to choose from as the high school season approaches.

Nate Fridman (5’8 PG, Glenbrook North 2027)

You can’t put a price tag on the feel and grit that Fridman continues to display. In the scrimmages, he generated quality looks with a creative handle and decisive mindset off the dribble. He had the short pull-up jumper working inside after probing inside, while also delivering some dimes when he drew help. Always an effective defender, Fridman was hustling even in a showcase setting and applied ball pressure in the open court. He will be one of the top guards in the area this year.

Panayiotis Sotos (6’3 PG/SG, Maine South 2026)

Sotos had a strong showing in front of a good number of college coaches. His positional size was useful when attacking early in the offense, able to collapse the defense and shoot right over smaller guards. When he worked in P&Rs, Sotos was sound in his decision-making and facilitated well to find cutters, rollers, and shooters on the wing. A four-year guard for Maine South, Sotos has the experience, physical tools, and desire to be a high-level on-ball defender, which has been a calling card for him at times.

Rory Haas (6’7 SF/PF, Lake Forest 2027)

There continues to be significant growth every time I see Haas. Very skilled at 6-foot-7 with a great frame, Haas definitely caught the attention of some coaches, taking an early look at 2027s. He is known for his outside shooting ability, which showed on multiple occasions, but he put his strength to good use around the rim as a rebounder, generating putbacks and defensively, where he moved his feet well at his size and held his ground. Haas made several shots off the bounce after delivering some bruising bumps in the mid-range. Having now filled out and seemingly still growing, I see Haas having a huge junior year before emerging as a priority for premier high-academic programs across levels.