Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (1/2/2024)?
Here are the candidates for SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week as nominated by fans, readers and SBLive’s staff.
Read through the nominees and cast your vote at the bottom of the page. Voting will conclude on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced the following week. If you would like to nominate an athlete in the future, please email athleteoftheweek@scorebooklive.com.
THIS WEEK’S SBLIVE ILLINOIS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK NOMINEES:
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes that receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Brooke Carlson, Batavia girls basketball
The Colorado State recruit was named tourney MVP after the Bulldogs finished second in the Morton College Christmas Tournament. She had 15 points in a 57-39 loss to Alton in the final after scoring 39 in a 72-61 semifinal win against Fremd.
Troyer Carlson, Kaneland boys basketball
The senior hit a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left to lift the Knights past the host Reapers 55-53 in the title game of the Plano Christmas Classic. He finished with 17 points, including Kaneland's last nine.
Zach Chambers, Collinsville boys basketball
The senior center had a double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds as the Kahoks stayed perfect and won their own holiday tournament, beating previously undefeated Quincy 44-39 in the final.
Angelo Ciaravino, Mount Carmel boys basketball
The Northwestern recruit scored 62 points in four games as the Caravan won the Pekin Holiday Tournament for the third straight time, beating Lake Park 60-41 in the final.
Jaxson Davis, Warren boys basketball
The first freshman to be named MVP in the 62-year history of the Proviso West Holiday Tournament, Davis had 36 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals in a 78-52 title-game win against Lincoln Park.
Devion Grant, DeKalb boys basketball
The sophomore had 26 points and 11 rebounds as the host Barbs beat Phillips 74-55 to win the Chuck Dayton Classic.
Carlos Harris, Curie boys basketball
The UIC recruit won the prestigious AC Williamson Award after leading the Condors to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title. He scored 22 points in a 69-66 double-overtime win against Benet in the final and also had 22 in a 52-47 semifinal victory against New Trier.
Bryce Heard, Homewood-Flossmoor boys basketball
The tourney MVP had a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Vikings edged Thornton 53-52 to win the Big Dipper title.
Morez Johnson, Thornton boys basketball
The Illinois recruit had a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds in a 53-52 title-game loss to Homewood-Flossmoor in the Big Dipper title game.
Nikki Kerstein, Montini girls basketball
The junior averaged 16 points per game as the host Broncos won the Montini Christmas Tournament. She had 21 points, five rebounds and two assists in a 54-46 title-game win against St. Charles East.
Luke Kinkade, Neuqua Valley boys basketball
The senior was named tourney MVP after scoring 25 points to lead the Wildcats past Glenbrook North 59-57 in overtime to win the Wheeling Hardwood Classic.
Tyler Mason, Metamora boys basketball
The senior averaged 19 points and 6.2 rebounds and was named tourney MVP as the Redbirds went 5-0 to win the Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament at York.
Jaylan McElroy, DePaul Prep boys basketball
The senior was named tourney MVP after contributing 14 points and eight rebounds in a 57-35 victory against Marian Catholic in the championship game of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic.
Jairus Powers, Alton girls basketball
The junior scored a game-high 16 points as the Redbirds beat Batavia 57-39 to win the Morton College Christmas Tournament.The senior scored 45 points -- the second-highest single-game total in Cliff Warkins Memorial Tournament history -- as the Comets beat Orion 80-67.
Lucas Simpson, Newman boys basketball
The senior scored 45 points – the second-highest single-game total in Cliff Warkins Memorial Tournament history – as the Comets beat Orion 80-67.
Je'Shawn Stevenson, Lindblom boys basketball
The Cleveland State recruit had a game-high 40 points in a 78-66 loss to the host Kays in the Maroon Division final of the Kankakee Holiday Tournament.
Gabe Sularski, Benet boys basketball
The sophomore scored 43 points on the final day of the Pontiac Holiday Tournament as the Redwings finished second. He had 18 points in a 59-58 double-overtime win against Bloom in the semifinals and scored 25 in a 69-66 double-overtime defeat against Curie in the title game.
Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook boys basketball
The freshman averaged 22.8 points and 5.0 rebounds, earning all-tourney honors as the Raiders went 4-1 to take second in the 32-team Jack Tosh Holiday Tournament at York.
Larenz Walters, Kankakee boys basketball
The senior won tourney MVP honors after scoring 20 points to lead the Kays past Lindblom 78-66 in the Maroon Division final of their own holiday tournament.
Jaheem Webber, Normal boys basketball
The senior center scored 23 points as the Ironmen beat Metea Valley 72-58 to win the State Farm Holiday Classic big-school title and give coach Dave Witzig his 500th win.
• Check out our Illinois Athlete of the Week page
PREVIOUS WINNERS: Homewood-Flossmoor's Jaeda Murphy (Nov. 27-Dec 3), Bloom's Elijah Lovemore (Nov. 20-26), Joliet Catholic's Andres Munoz (Nov. 13-19), Wilmington's Reid Juster (Nov. 6-12), Blue Island Eisenhower's AJ Abrams (Oct. 30-Nov. 5), Althoff's Antwan Strong (Oct. 23-29), Breese Central's Griffen Becker (Oct. 16-22), Mater Dei's Markus Kehrer (Oct. 9-15), Hersey's Thomas Mulder (Oct. 2-8), Dixon's Katie Drew (Sept. 25-Oct. 1), Barrington's Scout Storms (Sept. 18-24), Neuqua Valley's Andrew Hoffman (Sept. 11-17), Naperville North's Cole Arl (August 28-Sept. 3), Joliet Catholic's Patrick Durbin (August 28-Sept. 3), Waubonsie Valley's Tyler Threat (August 21-27).
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- Mike Clark | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL
