Who's Leading The Second Tier Of Talent In Illinois?

<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 the players who, in my opinion, are leading the second tier of talent across the state. No matter the class level from 1A through 4A or the graduating class, these are the prospects who are right on the doorstep of that top group and have every opportunity to make that jump this season. *IHSA PLAYERS ONLY*</h3>    Campbell is a gamer, and I personally love watching the kid play. She is all confidence and all aggression, and gives me the feeling of a player who wants none of the glory when they win, but all of the criticism when they lose. She'll go 0-25 before she'll go 0-5, because she knows what she's capable of as a talent.. and an off day is just an off day. Offensively is where she has always shined, and her high school program puts her in positions to show that talent off. Being the focal point of a team usually means having to take a subtle break on the defensive end, but she doesn't give up easy points. She is no slouch on that end of the floor and has the frame and strength to bully guards while pressuring them all game. As she continues to sift through her options and decide where she'll land next year, one program is going to be very happy to add a talent of her caliber.     A conversation can be had about who the best on ball defender in the state is, and Keniya's name will come up every time. Todd has that dog mentality of, I'll guard whoever, whenever, however, which causes a lot of frustration for her matchups. What had been a knock on her game was her consistency on the offensive end, but she's developed that quickly. She's more of a slasher and a clean up player around the rim, but if there's stagnation at the top, she can come to the ball and create her own bucket when necessary. She has really shown growth in her skill set, and whether it's due to being coachable or her discipline in the gym, she's proved she can take criticism, work on those things, and come back a better player because of it. Big fan.     The talent runs in the family, and Fisher is another example of an all around basketball player who can legitimately get close to a triple double every game she plays. The length, the muscle, and the ability to switch in and out of scorer and playmaker seem to come with ease, and Villanova has noticed. Before she heads there to start her college career, she'll have one more year with her hometown high school team to keep them in playoff contention, continue breaking records, and further cement her name in the record book. She is a player who, when locked in, can control the entire game on both ends of the floor. A big senior season is ahead for her.     Bryant has been under the radar for a strong stretch of her high school career, but not anymore. She has earned every offer that's come her way, and I don't think she's done. Her game is smooth, purposeful, and she never seems to be in a rush. She has good size, good length, and can play in both the half court and full court. She's just as dangerous with the ball as she is without it, and it's due to her low maintenance style of play. Even though having a possession without her involved may not be the best decision. She can score at all three levels, and on the opposite end, she's not someone you're going to score over easily. Evanston has reloaded with talent this year, and if they're able to get back to where they were, or even farther, it would be great to see.     The Washington program has had plenty of years of dominance, and this past year, with a bulk of their talent graduating, Kate played a key role in keeping that standard alive. Now, she'll be at the helm of keeping Washington competitive. As a freshman, she had key moments in helping them win the 3A State Title, and she carried that confidence into the AAU season, where offers seemed to come in almost every week. She's at her best when she's playmaking, but if you get too comfortable as a defender thinking she'll pass, she has no issue getting by you or giving the ball up to relocate for a better catch and shoot opportunity. The leadership qualities are there, and if she's able to continue playing with the same confidence and poise she's shown over the past five to seven months, Washington will be in good hands for a long time.     Avani is another player who continues to come up in conversations about the top talent in the state. She has the qualities of a player who can truly separate herself from others at her position in Illinois, let alone her class. Consistency is where her game will continue to take another step, and her aggression has to remain constant regardless of who she's playing with. The scoring ability is high, and she can do it at all three levels. She also has the lengthy frame to be a pest on the defensive end when it comes to slowing down opposing guards. She is right on the cusp of being in that category, and as she continues to sharpen her skill set, the offers will keep coming. The upside is high.. and this might be the year she truly takes that leap.