USJN Windy City Classic: Illinois Standouts (2026’s)

<!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Took the last couple of days to watch some games via BallerTV, and it's easy to say that some of the most talented prospects in the Midwest were on full display at this event. The competition level was high, and a lot of players showed why their names are starting to pop up on more and more college radars. Below are a couple of players that stood out and made a strong impression over the weekend.</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773814"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e76285fe5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Hackett impressed some of the scouts in person this weekend, as well as the ones watching via stream. She is a two sport athlete who just gets things done whenever she suits up. On the basketball court, she impacts the game in every category. She can get hot from a scoring standpoint, her defense is high energy, and she is relentless on the boards. She had countless high scoring games during the high school season, and she is picking up right where she left off this weekend.</em><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["839246"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e6d5ba6e99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Skinner has sharp fundamentals and knows how to get to her spots with a minimal amount of dribbles. Her game is far from flashy, but it is efficient and impactful. She has a smooth shot that she can get off from all angles, and her defensive instincts are a big reason why she is such a problem in the passing lanes.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["840879"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e76285fef5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Hinton is back to 100 percent and it seems like she has not missed a beat. She is one of the toughest players in this class, and it shows on both sides of the ball. She is a top notch playmaker and relentless on the defensive end. Her length is a big reason why she is so impactful whenever she is on the court. Tremendous amount of upside and potential.<br></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["624982"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e6d5ba6f11"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Buono does a little bit of everything for you, and that is on both sides of the ball. She plays the game with strength, hustle, and a ton of energy. She is one of those players who can win games for you by doing all the little things that do not always show up in the stat box.<br></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["901779"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-680e76285ff5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><em>Every team needs a Colin on their roster, a kid who can do a little bit of everything and is more than content playing a role while still being impactful. She had a big game this past weekend where she poured in 20 points, and she did it from all over the floor. She can stretch the court, get to the rim, and has a knack for making plays for her team without wasting movement or energy.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->