The majority of high school basketball fans will check out following the IHSA State Finals in March and patiently wait for the next season to tip off in November.
The diehards, those who can’t get enough and pore over player rankings and recruiting, immediately rev it back up in the spring months for the club basketball circuit.
Here is a look at the top Chicago area programs and how their 17U teams, made up of mostly players in the current junior class, stack up.
Meanstreets
Meanstreets, started by current Thornton coach Tai Streets in 2001, has churned out its share of high-profile talent, including Anthony Davis, Derrick Rose and Tyler Ulis to name a few.
They are a part of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL), considered to be the top youth basketball circuit in the country.
Headliners: Andre Tyler and Marquis Clark
Sensational sophomores Davion Thompson of Bolingbrook and Jaxson Davis of Warren fuel the 16U team. They form a dynamic duo in leading the younger Meanstreets team.
But the 17U team is powered by two Public League stars — Tyler, the athletic 6-5 wing from Simeon, and Clark, Young’s power-packed guard. Both are trying to elevate their recruiting stock nationally this spring and summer.
Tyler and Clark are aided by Mount Carmel’s Noah Mister and Rich’s Jayden Williams, two talented players fresh off breakthrough seasons with their high school teams.
Illinois Wolves
The respected, high-level program has now been around for over a quarter century. The Wolves, always consistently strong with Division I talent, have been a staple and one of the leading programs for Under Armour. They won an Under Armour Association championship in the summer of 2021.
Headliners: Rashaun Porter and Rykan Woo
There are a surplus of familiar local names, including Barrington’s Oliver Gray, Joliet West’s Ethan Hillsman and others, but the DePaul Prep tandem of Porter and Woo are the backbone. Fresh off winning a state championship in March, their proven winning mentality not only translates but reverberates through this team.
Mac Irvin Fire
The history of Mac Irvin Fire speaks for itself. The Irvin name has been synonymous with basketball in the city for decades, and the Nike-sponsored program has been a showcase for top talent during that time, featuring names like Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Jalen Brunson, Ayo Dosnunmu and dozens of others.
Headliners: Lincoln Williams, Tyjuan Hunter and Justin Oliver
This is a team and a group of players with a little extra to prove during this club season.
Williams, the Kankakee star who fills a stat sheet about as well as anyone and is the top-ranked senior prospect in the state, looks to make his mark nationally.
The city backcourt of Curie’s Justin Oliver and Hope’s Tyjuan Hunter, who put together monster finishes to their junior seasons, remain relatively unknown to college coaches. They both look to change that on the AAU scene.
Elevate
An off-branch of the already established Fundamental U program, Elevate shined in its debut weekend in the Under Armour Association and are currently 4-0 in UA play.
Headliners: Christopher Kirkpatrick and Jordan Williams
Kirkpatrick has produced in a big way over the last two seasons for New Trier. He’s now putting up significant numbers in leading his club basketball team. And after leading Fremd to a 27 wins and a sectional title game appearance, the 6-5 Williams is one of the spring’s hot names in the Class of 2026 in Illinois.
Breakaway
After recently making a name for itself playing in the Rise Division of the Under Armour circuit, Breakaway is now playing on the Adidas circuit. This is one of the relatively new go-to club programs for players and one that has raised the stakes in recent years.
Headliner: Cole Kelly
There are some rock solid seniors Breakaway will lean on, including Glenbard East’s Michael Nee, Loyola’s Trey Williams, Riverside-Brookfield’s Cameron Mercer and Libertyville’s Bryce Wegrzyn, but it’s the state’s top-ranked sophomore that makes this team go.
Even while playing two age groups up, Neuqua Valley’s Cole Kelly is the centerpiece of this team. An injury has set back the start of his club season, but he’s expected back very soon.
Young and Reckless
When it comes to non-affiliated, independent programs, this has truly been one of the best in the country. There are no shoe sponsors with Y&R, yet Justin Brim’s program battles for players — they have two of the top six prospects in the senior class — and compete on the floor with the best.
Headliners: Stephen Brown and Mason Lockett
The spring and summer for Young and Reckless rests on the shoulders of this 1-2 punch: the versatile 6-5 Lockett of Oswego East and the athletic 6-7 Brown, who stars in both football and basketball at Marist. Both are looking to establish themselves as high-major prospects.