Who Are The Top Players To Watch for the High School Season?

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Before the IHSA high school season tips off, fall ball is the next opportunity for players to get back on the court and start building chemistry with their teams. The AAU season gave us plenty of separation. Some players have been at the top of their game since before the spring and summer even started, while others enter the season with a ton of hype. Then there are the players who spent all summer putting in the work to get their name on the map. Now, they get the opportunity to show what they can do in this setting before the games truly start to count. Below are my top players across the state. No matter the class level from 1A through 4A or the graduating class, these are the players who currently sit at the top of the pack heading into the high school season. *IHSA PLAYERS ONLY*</h3>    There's no doubt that Khloe is the best talent in Illinois regardless of class. If we're going by offers, she had a bundle of high level offers before even stepping foot into a high school gym, and those have only continued to grow over the past couple of years. Her game is beyond smooth, and she plays this sport with a sense of confidence that can't be taught. She's lengthy, athletic, and has a sense of pace to her handle that doesn't allow defenders to speed her up at all. As time goes on and the defensive end of her game continues to develop, she'll become just as much of a problem on that end as she is offensively. Quincy will be fighting for another deep playoff run this year, and Nicholson will be at the helm of that. It wouldn't be a surprise to see her in Miss Illinois conversations by the end of the season.     Once again.. Whitney Young is home to a ESPN ranked talent.. and Ellis is that player for them and the city. I have highlighted the major growth in her skill set over the past couple of years, and especially from last year to this year. She is a talent that is well beyond the players in her class. But has a ton more room for growth, which is scary to think about. The ability to defend at a high clip will always be something that she can hang her hat on, especially being a pint blanket. She has the length, the mobility, and the discipline to cause havoc just on that end. The offensive side of her game is where she has been deelioping it that development time is shaping up quickly. She has the mid range going, isnt afraid to snipe it from the three..and around the rim her athelticism helpswith easy finishes there. If shes able to bulk up a little, the traffic and contact wont be a issue for her at all. One of my favorite players to watch.     Johnson has put herself in the category of a top talent, and not just a top talent in her class. She's a player who could honestly win Miss Illinois in her sophomore season. Coming off an EYBL MVP, Liv has everything you need out of a top tier prospect: the size, the athleticism, the frame, and most importantly, the ability to be coachable. During AAU, her game was played more off the ball in a slasher or catch and go type of role, but heading back to Carmel, she'll find herself with the ball back in her hands. When it comes to overall skill, there is still a ton for her to sharpen and learn, but she still has time on her side. If she's able to continue to be dominant while figuring it all out, we could be looking at another great Illinois talent as things continue to take shape. She is nowhere near her peak.     Gradually over the past couple of years, Towne has made a name for herself, and this year she truly put a stamp on being the best combo guard in the state. Having all the individual awards is great, but when you're able to top it off with a State Title in the hardest class (4A), that, in my opinion, holds even more value, and she did just that. Heading into the summer, she joined an EYBL program full of other high level talent and still found a way to stand out. Whether it was leading the group as their point guard or falling back and playing off the ball, Towne was the main attraction during most games. She capped that off with a commitment to Northwestern, a program in a rebuild led by a defensive minded head coach, which fits exactly how Sophia has always made a name for herself. Pesky. As of now, she heads into the school year as the top senior. By the end of the year, she could find herself as the top prospect in the state.     London has the most intriguing story heading into her final year. Suffering a major injury that kept her out of a chunk of the high school season and all of AAU, the question of how she'll return still remains. In my opinion, after watching London over the past few years, her game isn't predicated on being more athletic, faster, or quicker than everyone else. It's the energy and aggression she plays with from the moment the ball is tipped until the final second on the clock. Yes, her offensive game is strong. She has a strong handle, can score at all three levels, and can make reads with and without the ball. But it's on the defensive side where she's really separated herself over the years, and why those offers followed. She's someone who will pick you up 84 feet and pressure you to give the ball up, then come back down and put 15+ on your head while also giving you 4+ assists and rebounds. She's an all around talent, and if she's able to get back on the court and repeat those types of performances, we're looking at a player who could be in the conversation for the state's top individual awards.