2026 City/Suburban Hoops Report Player of the Year: Warren's Jaxson Davis

As Editor/Publisher of the City/Suburban Hoops Report, a longtime recruiting service for college basketball programs across the country and a high school basketball publication that began in 1996, I have awarded a Player of the Year in Illinois for the past 30 years. Here is the 31st recipient of the award.

With three high school basketball seasons in the books, Jaxson Davis has become a no-doubter and in a multitude of ways.

The Warren star is no doubt the best player in the state. He’s no-doubt a high-major college prospect. And with 2,000-plus points already scored, a state runner-up finish as a sophomore and 88 wins in three years, he’s no doubt put himself in the discussion of being an all-time great in this state.

Even with the season ending prematurely in the sectional — earlier than the previous two years — the junior guard put together yet another fantastic season. He led the Blue Devils with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists a game while helping them win 30 games.

With a chance to become the first player ever to score 3,000 points in Lake County history, Davis could also make a significant climb up the state scoring records during his senior year.

There are only six players in state history to finish their careers with 3,000-plus points. The most recent one to do so was Jon Scheyer at Glenbrook North, who is the fifth all-time leading scorer in state history with 3,034 points.

Davis took some time to discuss a whole lot of different topics. The conversation included the tough, unfortunate ending to his season, the continued drive to win a state championship, staying humble and hopefully adding some “Blue Blood” attention to his recruitment.

Here is Davis, the City/Suburban Hoops Report’s Player of the Year and Chicago Sun-Times Player of the Year, in his words.

"The ending of last year just kept playing in my head while sitting there in State Farm Center. There was definitely some bitterness. I was down there [IHSA State Finals] on Saturday to get the first-team all-state award and recognition. I saw the 3A game, but I got out of there before the 4A game."

"The ending this year was tough. It was really tough. I got hurt in practice, so it really wasn’t in my hands. My freshman year and last year it really, really hurt losing those games because the game was right there in my hands. I was 100 percent fully able to be out there. But it hit different this year, because I wasn’t able to be myself, play like myself after getting hurt in practice. I was hit in the head in practice [the day before the game]. Tried to battle it out. I wanted to play it out with Braylon. I’ve been playing with him since third or fourth grade. That really hit hard."

"It was bad. People thought it was my vision. There was that sectional feel and all loud and my head was pounding. I couldn’t keep my focus, nothing felt right. My head was pulsating. I had a headache for three or four days."

"People talk about how fast it will go and don’t take it for granted, but I feel like I see it right before my eyes. Like it’s crazy that I’m going to be a senior next year and it’s my last ride. It really doesn’t mean anything unless you win at the end, so that’s the goal. It’s extremely important."

"I’ve accomplished a lot as a player, not everything, but a lot. The only thing left off is a state championship. It’s really the only thing that matters to me now, especially with it being my senior year next year. It motivates me a lot."

"The enjoyment I get playing in high school and in AAU is displaying what I’ve been working on as a player. There are a lot of days and a lot of nights in the gym. It gets tough and is a lot of work. So every time I step on the court and eyes are on me, I feel like the enjoyment is to go play free and to show all that I’ve been working on and display that on the floor."

"The goal in the spring and summer is to have Blue Blood programs take a look and start contacting me, play well in EYBL, and hopefully get an invite to the USA trials in June. I feel like I hit the weight room really hard last year, but I think that will be a focus for me in the offseason, hitting it even harder. I know at the next level you need to be bigger and stronger, obviously."

"The Big Ten schools are really pushing me hard. Purdue, Michigan State, Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and Marquette in the Big East. I would say those are the five or six schools that have been recruiting me the hardest."

"I want to be part of a winning program and be at a place that can really develop players. I really watch what the point guards are doing at these schools and how they utilize them, how they develop their point guards. I want to win, but I want to also fulfill my dreams of playing at the next level in the NBA, so development will be important."

"Being mentioned with past great high school players, it’s an extreme honor. It’s a huge honor to be mentioned with those names, those types of guys at an early age. With how much those players have accomplished, and that they are playing at the highest level, I don’t take it for granted in being mentioned with them. I’m not there yet, but it feels good that my name has been included with those at this point."

"I just know I need to stay humble and stay in the gym. I’ve been in gyms where I haven’t been the best guy or the best player, so there are always things to push for. There is a lot ahead of me. There are places I want to go that I haven’t yet."

"Staying humble. That came from my parents at an early age. When I was younger, I was pretty good at basketball, but my parents and grandparents always told me to stay humble, even at a really young age. I feel like that was naturally ingrained in me. I watch players at the college level that are humble, and I think people really like and appreciate that. Stay grounded. Stay humble."

Past City/Suburban Hoops Report Player of Year Winners

2026: Jaxson Davis, Warren

2025: Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook

2024: Morez Johnson, Thornton

2023: Brock Harding, Moline

2022: Braden Huff, Glenbard West

2021: Max Christie, Rolling Meadows

2020: DJ Steward, Young

2019: EJ Liddell, Belleville West

2018: Talen Horton-Tucker, Simeon

2017: Mark Smith, Edwardsville

2016: Charlie Moore, Morgan Park

2015: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson

2014: Jahlil Okafor, Young

2013: Jahlil Okafor, Young

2012: Jabari Parker, Simeon

2011: Wayne Blackshear, Morgan Park

2010: Jereme Richmond, Waukegan

2009: Drew Crawford, Naperville Central

2008: Kevin Dillard, Homewood-Flossmoor

2007: Derrick Rose, Simeon

2006: Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North

2005: Jon Scheyer, Glenbrook North

2004: Shaun Livingston, Peoria Central

2003: Shannon Brown, Proviso East

2002: Dee Brown, Proviso East

2001: Pierre Pierce, Westmont

2000: Dwyane Wade, Richards

1999: Leon Smith, King

1998: Quentin Richardson, Young

1997: Brian Wardle, Hinsdale Central

1996: Ronnie Fields, Farragut