The State's Top Stars Shine at When Sides Collide
In a thrilling display of athleticism and skill, some of Illinois' top high school basketball players took to the court for the 14th edition of the When Sides Collide event at Benet. The packed gym saw an electrifying showcase of individual performances, competitive games, and clutch shot-making from the state's best teams and players.
For fans of the sport, events like this are a highlight of the season, offering a platform for standout talents to shine in front of college coaches, scouts, and other evaluators. This year's event did not disappoint, with several stars emerging as top prospects for high-major colleges.
Among them is 6-0 point guard Jaxson Davis of Warren, who cemented his status as one of the state's top players with a standout performance against Bolingbrook in last season's When Sides Collide. The sophomore has already won numerous games and led his team to within just a whisker of a state championship.
Davis's smooth playing style, exceptional ball-handling skills, and shooting ability set him apart from other prospects. He played with a level of confidence and poise that is rare in players at this age, showcasing an effortless ease and patient game that leaves defenders off-balance.
A bonafide high-major prospect with offers from top programs like Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue, Davis's future looks bright. When speaking to college coaching staffs, he has proven himself to be a recruit who Blue Blood schools can confidently target.
Other standout performers included sophomores Cole Kelly of Neuqua Valley and Brady Pettigrew of Bolingbrook, both of whom showcased impressive talent at such a young age. Kelly's 29 points and 11 rebounds in a come-from-behind win against a tough opponent demonstrated his growth as a player, while Pettigrew's versatility and all-around skills left fans wanting more.
These young prospects have already made significant strides in their development, but they still have two years of high school basketball ahead of them. The big stage and big crowd at When Sides Collide provided the perfect opportunity for them to take their game to the next level, showcasing clutch shot-making and impressive performances that will be remembered by fans and evaluators alike.
With another year of growth and competition on the horizon, these players are sure to continue making waves in the Illinois high school basketball scene.
In a thrilling display of athleticism and skill, some of Illinois' top high school basketball players took to the court for the 14th edition of the When Sides Collide event at Benet. The packed gym saw an electrifying showcase of individual performances, competitive games, and clutch shot-making from the state's best teams and players.
For fans of the sport, events like this are a highlight of the season, offering a platform for standout talents to shine in front of college coaches, scouts, and other evaluators. This year's event did not disappoint, with several stars emerging as top prospects for high-major colleges.
Among them is 6-0 point guard Jaxson Davis of Warren, who cemented his status as one of the state's top players with a standout performance against Bolingbrook in last season's When Sides Collide. The sophomore has already won numerous games and led his team to within just a whisker of a state championship.
Davis's smooth playing style, exceptional ball-handling skills, and shooting ability set him apart from other prospects. He played with a level of confidence and poise that is rare in players at this age, showcasing an effortless ease and patient game that leaves defenders off-balance.
A bonafide high-major prospect with offers from top programs like Illinois, Indiana, and Purdue, Davis's future looks bright. When speaking to college coaching staffs, he has proven himself to be a recruit who Blue Blood schools can confidently target.
Other standout performers included sophomores Cole Kelly of Neuqua Valley and Brady Pettigrew of Bolingbrook, both of whom showcased impressive talent at such a young age. Kelly's 29 points and 11 rebounds in a come-from-behind win against a tough opponent demonstrated his growth as a player, while Pettigrew's versatility and all-around skills left fans wanting more.
These young prospects have already made significant strides in their development, but they still have two years of high school basketball ahead of them. The big stage and big crowd at When Sides Collide provided the perfect opportunity for them to take their game to the next level, showcasing clutch shot-making and impressive performances that will be remembered by fans and evaluators alike.
With another year of growth and competition on the horizon, these players are sure to continue making waves in the Illinois high school basketball scene.
. Like, yeah okay, some kids were pretty good at hoops last weekend... whoop-de-doo? I mean, how many of these players are actually gonna live up to their promise and make it big in college ball or the pros? 
Not as many as you'd think, trust me.
. It's all just a bunch of flashy recruitment, if you ask me. What about the other players who worked just as hard but didn't get any recognition? 
like that one 90-second montage just showing a bunch of quick cuts from different angles... can't they just have a decent, slow-motion shot of the player making a sick dunk or something? 
anyway, i just remembered my favorite childhood food – meatball subs 
The thing is, When Sides Collide feels like a microcosm of what's great about high school basketball in Illinois - it's all about those individual talents that can take your team to the next level. I mean, Jaxson Davis is literally playing with a level of confidence and poise that you just don't see in players that young, you know? It's like he owns the court out there. And Cole Kelly and Brady Pettigrew, they're just so raw and talented at this point - it's easy to get hyped for what they can do when they have two more years of high school under their belts. The thing is, I think this event is what sets Illinois basketball apart from other states - the way these young players are being developed and showcased, and the fact that there's just such a level of competition out there... it feels like the perfect storm for talent to emerge. 
that's next level stuff! And the fact that they're already getting attention from top colleges shows just how serious the competition is going to get. 
These players are gonna have to up their game if they wanna stay on top... or maybe that's what makes this event so hyped, right? 
. His skills on the court are insane, and it's no wonder he's got offers from some top programs. The fact that Cole Kelly and Brady Pettigrew were even mentioned alongside him is just a testament to how deep the talent is in Illinois right now.
. The kid's got game and I love how confident he plays – it's not every day you see a high school player making shots from way downtown like that 
. And those stats? 
. When Sides Collide is like, the ultimate platform for these players to shine, and I'm so hyped to see them take it by storm 
️. Two years of high school basketball ahead of them, though... that's a lot of growth potential 
! Can't wait to see what they do next season 
. It'll be exciting to see how they progress in their high school careers and maybe even get recruited by top colleges!
his smooth playing style and exceptional ball-handling skills are straight fire! i wonder what kind of food they serve at these events, is it pizza and nachos or something fancy? 
but seriously, 6-0 and already making waves in the high school basketball scene is no joke! Illinois and Indiana are gonna be kicking themselves if they don't take him. And can we talk about Cole Kelly and Brady Pettigrew too? These sophomores are like the future of Illinois hoops 
! What really sets him apart though is his confidence and poise under pressure. He's like a seasoned pro out there 
? And which high-major programs are gonna come out on top in recruiting wars 
?
so I was thinking about this event When Sides Collide and I drew a simple diagram 
