TOP RATED JUNIORS (2021) IN THE STATE

THIS CLASS WILL BE HEADLINED BY A COUPLE OF FUTURE McDONALD ALL-AMERICAN’S

NAME / HT / POS / LEVEL / RANK / SCHOOL

• Bryce Hopkins 6-6 G HM 2 Fenwick
“Louisville recruit pumped in 37 points and 14 rebounds in a marquee match-up versus Mr. Christie Saturday night. He was daunting.”

• Max Christie 6-6 PG HM 1 Rolling Meadows
“Consensus top 20 nationally ranked prospect. Played with poise & precision in the side’s collide shoot-out vs Hopkins. Northwestern’s Chris Collins & staff was positioned up close.”

• Chris Hodges 6-8 PF HM 3 Schaumburg
“Wisconsin recruit has been a force in the paint all season and has lived-up to his lofty status. He’s going to be a really good College player.”

• Louis Lesmond 6-5 WG HM 4 Niles Notre Dame
“You can see some of his physical gifts. He hasn’t put the whole package together yet. Mentally understanding/learning how to insert himself during big games. Very talented though.”

• John Poulakidas 6-5 G/F HM 5 Neuqua Valley
“Left-hander put in one of top individual performances we’ve seen all year when he riddled Bolingbrook for 49 points in a road victory. J.P. should have had 60, he missed 6 free-throws and sat out most of two overtime periods with leg cramps. Notre Dame, Rutgers, Stanford, & Northwestern, where are you?”

• Isaiah Barnes 6-6 WG HM 6 Oak Park
“Sleek performer dropped 27 points at the Spot-Liter’s MLK Classic in a win versus Lincoln Way East. Good look’n prospect. Pac 12 needs to recruit this kid.”

• Troy D’Amico 6-7 F HM-MM+ 7 Niles Notre Dame
“Vastly undervalued, very versatile can play inside or outside exceptionally well. Good perimeter shooter & passer. Has those long arms which really makes him an effective rebounder & defender. Moving up the charts.”

• Tevin Smith 6-5 G MM+ 8 Danville
“Starting to really regain his form from an injury he suffered last spring. Smith has recorded some high-scoring outings several times this season. Recruitment picking-up.”

• Ahmad Bynum 6-2 G MM+ 9 Chicago Simeon
“Black-cat” did not serve much notice during the heavily viewed ‘sides collide shoot-out’. Just didn’t have any rhythm and wasn’t in much flow of the game. Re-set button needed!”

• Grant Newell 6-7 F MM+ 10 Whitney Young
“Top notch prospect currently plays in the shadows of other highly acclaimed teammates, so his number doesn’t always resonate with what his game entitles to. Look for a huge senior season.”


Note: Rockford Auburn’s Josh Ausler highly viewed in many hoop circles as a Top 5 high major prospect in 2021 Class has failed to do his academic work, so his tale is to be shared at a later time/year.