Handing out Awards for 2026 All Class Showcase in Chicago

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The All Class Showcase powered by Jordan Brand showed off the top high school talent in Illinois girls basketball. With MJ's iconic Air Jordan signs everywhere you looked and top players from all four high school classes, the event truly highlighted the next generation of Chicago girl's basketball. Here are some of the players who we got most excited about saying, “I knew her when…”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["758886"],"_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-6a4c1f6db5a60"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for top overall player. With 16 points and the title of MVP of the All Girls Showcase, Damon was borderline unstoppable even against top talent. She exemplified her nickname “Mo' Buckets” with her offensive prowess. Shifty with the ball, Damon could draw fouls with ease and swish her mid-range jumper from various spots on the floor. Damon also had a nose for the ball on defense. There were multiple plays where the ball came free and somehow ended up in her hands. Her ability to snatch the ball out of the air is outstanding, especially for a smaller player. Damon wasn't the biggest player on the court, but she had the biggest presence and continues to solidify her status as one of the very best players in Illinois basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1225698"],"_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-6a4c1f6db5afa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for top newcomer. Before ever stepping foot on a high school basketball court, Pettigrew proved she can hold her own against some of the top talent in Chicago. What makes her special is her handles and the way she drives to the hoop. Pettigrew has the ability to make opposing players two or three years older than her miss and feel embarrassed. Pettigrew also has a pretty shot – a sharp fadeaway jump shot and mechanically sound free throw shooting that will serve her well as she continues to grow into one of the top prospects in Illinois girls basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["885956"],"_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-6a4c1f6db5b71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for most elite rebounder. Ellis towered above the competition on Monday. A great rebounder in the paint and one of the top players in the state, Ellis was nearly automatic on the boards when the ball came her way. Ellis' unique athleticism and skill-set was also on display - she could routinely split defenders with her handles, which you don't often see with a post player. Ellis was also scary in transition, overpowering opponents with her distinctive blend of height, length, and passing. Ellis proved why she's one of the most talented players on the floor when the top girls in Chicago square off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["900140"],"_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-6a4c1f6db5be1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for “you want the ball in her hands at the end of the game.” McGhee's talent shined the most at the end of the second half. Both she and her teammates wanted the ball in her hands and she looked comfortable being the main decision-maker with the game on the line. At one point, she dribbled through every single player on the other team to burn extra time off the clock and draw a foul. Multiple times near the end of the game, she drove to the hoop and scored. McGhee didn't settle for uncertain or ill-advised jump shots and proved that she's not just a talented basketball player, she's an intelligent one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["895640"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1878936,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-6a4c1f6db5c74"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for “most mature player.” With a prototypical forward's frame, Drayton displayed good size and rebounding throughout the Showcase. Drayton's game is all about energy – think former Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson but in a woman's body. Drayton played the role of “cleaner upper,” ensuring her team had second-chance opportunities and sometimes putting back her own shot. She also played well in transition, pushing the pace while always keeping her eyes up to find teammates down the court. One area of improvement for Drayton is her shooting consistency, especially easy shots in the paint. If she can become a more automatic shooter, the sky is the limit for Drayton's game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1243323"],"_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-6a4c1f6db5ce5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">…Would win the award for Class of 2029 player to watch. Once again, Calhoun showed why she's one of the most exciting young players to watch in Illinois. Calhoun shoots, distributes the ball, and defends fluidly and with ease. What impressed me most in the All Women's Showcase was her ability to hold her own against bigger and older players. Calhoun never looked intimidated or outmatched and even pulled the ball out of her opponents' hands for scrappy jump ball plays near the end of the game. Calhoun is one of the smoothest, “born to play basketball” players to watch in Illinois and we're lucky we get three more years of her high school play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->