Recapping this summer’s high school basketball breakout stars and overlooked gems
High school summer basketball is a wrap with all the player evaluations completed. Here's a recap on several players with noteworthy performances.
Breakout senior: Noah Mister
Following in the footsteps of recent Mount Carmel stars DeAndre Craig, Angelo Ciaravino and Grant Best, who are all playing Division I basketball, the 6-2 senior is next in line.
The dynamic guard showcased a penchant for scoring as a junior — he averaged 16.5 points — but finally garnered college interest this summer. He has added offers from SIUE, UC-Davis, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Jacksonville, Toledo and Miami-Ohio.
Breakout junior: Edward Stasys
Although he was a key role player — Stasys averaged a modest 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds as a sophomore for a state championship team — Benet’s 6-7 Stasys was an unknown heading into the offseason. Thanks to an impressive summer, he’s raised his stock, climbed the rankings and opened some eyes of college coaches.
Still overlooked: Michael Nee
From a recruiting standpoint, the Glenbard East standout remains arguably the most neglected prospect in the state.
The elite shooting 6-1 guard put together a summer, both with his high school team and on the Adidas club circuit with Breakaway, that should be more recognized among college coaches.
Nee has one offer — from Dartmouth. That’s far too few for a player who has produced and shot it as well as he has over the past two months.
A monster junior season, which included averaging 19 points, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc (98 made three-pointers), was passed over by most. But he followed it up with more production in the spring and summer.
He averaged 16.7 points with Breakaway on the Adidas circuit while continuing to sizzle from three. He knocked down 80 of 178 (45 percent) from the three-point line. He had one game where he made 11 three-pointers en route to a 35-point outburst.
Biggest winner: Rashaun Porter
If being an integral part of three straight state championships wasn’t enough, there was no player in the senior class who created more of a buzz over the course of the summer than the DePaul Prep star.
He’s a known name, yes, but the improvement in his game and his body has resulted in emerging as one of the most coveted prospects in the class. Programs throughout the Missouri Valley Conference and Mid-American Conference are all in on the 6-7 Porter.
Pair of newsmakers around the state
There were two players outside the Chicago area who made headlines and grabbed people’s attention throughout the summer.
East St. Louis is a team to watch this winter, thanks in large part to the addition of Jamison White, the son of former NBA player Jahidi White. The powerfully built 6-8 White transferred in from St. Louis and already has proven he’s among the top five prospects in the state.
White has seen his recruitment explode following a big June and July, adding several recent offers and expanded interest. The list of those who have either offered or are involved include Saint Louis, Loyola, Vanderbilt, George Mason, Kansas State, Illinois, Penn State, North Texas and Murray State.
While Warren’s Jaxson Davis is the state’s top player and prospect in the Class of 2027, his Meanstreets teammate Quinton Kitt of East Peoria is the No. 2 junior. The 6-6 wing has made a big impression and has picked up offers from local programs, including Illinois, Northwestern, Illinois State and Bradley.