Meet the 2026 Chicago Sun-Times All-Area High School Boys Basketball Team

The All-Area team, comprised of players in the Sun-Times’ entire coverage area, is voted on by a select committee. Players from nearly 400 schools are eligible. More than 150 players were nominated. Check out the full list.

Tony Balanganayi, Palatine, 6-4, F, Sr.

Illinois football recruit. Averaged 18 points, 8 rebounds and shot 64% from the field. As the only Palatine player averaging double digits he was the focal point of defenses all season, but still produced at a high level for one of the area's best teams.

Charles Barnes, Marist, 6-5, G, Sr.

Uncommitted. First Team All-City. Averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds and posted multiple games of 30 or more points. Recovered from an injury last season to become one of the best shooters in the area after transferring from De La Salle.

Chris Bolte, St. Ignatius, 6-7, F, Sr.

Yale recruit. Second Team All-City. Averaged 17 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists while shooting 48% from three-point range. His leadership and toughness helped a young team to a 27-4 regular season record, which included handing Benet its only defeat.

Marquis Clark, Young, 6-1, G, Sr.

Tennessee recruit. First Team All-City. Averaged 36 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Shot 51% from the field and 40% from three-point range. His scoring efficiency, rebounding and playmaking led an inexperienced Young team to the Red North title and a 21-7 regular season.

Jaxson Davis, Warren, 6-1, G, Jr.

Sun-Times Player of the Year. Three-time All-Area selection. Averaged 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Led Warren to the Class 4A state championship game last season and a 28-3 regular season this year as well as the North Suburban conference championship and the Big Dipper Holiday Tournament title. Topped the 2,000-point mark this season.

Darrius Hawkins Jr., Homewood-Flossmoor, 5-11, G, So.

Steady, dynamic point guard turned Homewood-Flossmoor into one of the surprise teams of the season. Averaged 18 points, 6 assists and 3 steals while leading the Vikings to a 26-3 regular season record and the SouthWest Suburban conference title.

Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley, 6-7, G, So.

Two-time All-Area selection. Averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals while shooting 52% from the field. Posted five double-doubles and one triple-double. Led Neuqua Valley to a 30-1 regular season record, the DuPage Valley conference championship and the DeKalb Holiday Tournament title.

Mason Lockett IV, Oswego East, 6-5, G, Sr.

DePaul recruit. Averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Led Oswego East to a 19-11 regular season. One of the few high-major recruits in the state and passed the 1,000-point mark for his career this season.

Michael Nee, Glenbard East, 6-3, G, Sr.

South Dakota State recruit. Averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Scored more than 1,800 points in his career and led Glenbard East to 27 wins this season, the second-most in school history.

Justin Oliver, Curie, 5-11, G, Sr.

Uncommitted. First Team All-City. Led Curie to a 26-1 regular season record, the Red West title and the city championship this year. Unselfish play and knack for making big plays at key moments led Curie to back-to-back city title game appearances.

Brady Pettigrew, Bolingbrook, 6-3, G, So.

Top 20 sophomore in the country. Averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Led Bolingbrook to the Southwest Prairie West title and a 22-7 regular season. Slam dunk champion at the prestigious Iolani Classic in Hawaii.

Jake Pollack, Deerfield, 6-9, C, Sr.

Dartmouth recruit. Averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Scored more than 1,000 points in his career. All-Tournament selection at the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament and Lakes MLK event. Three-time CSL South All-Conference selection.

Rashaun Porter, DePaul Prep, 6-7, F, Sr.

Toledo recruit. First Team All-City. Averaged 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Teamed with Rykan Woo and AJ Chambers to lead DePaul to a 27-3 regular season and the Catholic League championship. Helped Rams to the Class 3A state title in 2025.

Jayden Riley, Yorkville Christian, 6-2, G, Sr.

SIU-Edwardsville recruit. Topped 2,000 points and 700 assists in his career. Averaged 23 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals this season. All-Tournament selection at the St. Ignatius Thanksgiving Tournament and the Plano Christmas Classic.

Colin Stack, Benet, 7-1, C, Sr.

North Dakota State recruit. Averaged 13 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Shot 77% from the field and 39% from three-point range. Teamed with Jayden Wright to lead Benet to a 30-1 regular season which included the Pontiac Holiday Tournament championship and the ESCC title. Key player on Benet's 2025 Class 4A state championship team.

Ethan Vahl, Oswego, 6-3, G, So.

Spearheading Oswego's basketball turnaround. The Panthers won just 4 games the year before he arrived. Led them to 12 wins as a freshman and 22 this season. Averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Jordan Williams, Fremd, 6-6, G, Sr.

Illinois State recruit. Four-year varsity player averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists while leading the Vikings to a 25-2 regular season, the Mid-Suburban championship and the Wheeling Holiday Hardwood Classic title.

Lincoln Williams, Kankakee, 6-6, G, Sr.

Uncommitted. Generally regarded as the best player in the school's long history. Averaged 26 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks. Shot 77% from the field while leading the Kays to a 26-1 regular season and the Southland conference title.

Rykan Woo, DePaul Prep, 6-1, G, Sr.

Brown recruit. First Team All-City. Two-time All-Area selection. Averaged 17 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Shot 49% from the field and 47% from three-point range. Teamed with Rashaun Porter and AJ Chambers to lead DePaul to a 27-3 regular season and the Catholic League championship. Helped Rams to the Class 3A state title in 2025.

Jayden Wright, Benet, 5-11, G, Sr.

EIU recruit. Averaged 14 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. Won the prestigious AC Williamson award while leading Benet to the Pontiac Holiday Tournament title. Teamed with Colin Stack to lead Benet to a 30-1 regular season and the ESCC title. Key player on Benet's 2025 Class 4A state championship team.

Looking back:

2025 All-Area Team
2024 All-Area Team
2023 All-Area Team
2022 All-Area Team
2021 All-Area Team
2020 All-Area Team
2019 All-Area Team
2018 All-Area Team
2017 All-Area Team
2016 All-Area Team
2015 All-Area Team