2025 Illinois Media All-State boys basketball teams
Here are the 2025 Illinois Media Boys Basketball Teams and Players of the Year.
The media all-state teams were formerly overseen by The Associated Press, but that organization dropped sponsorship several years ago. To keep the honors going, a group of Illinois prep writers and broadcasters took over, led by veteran Quad Cities sports writer Steve Tappa.
Steve passed away unexpectedly last summer, and it was decided to create the Steve Tappa Player of the Year award in his honor. The award goes to the top vote-getter in each class in balloting by a statewide media panel.
First-team votes were worth five points and second-team votes were worth three points. All players who did not make the first or second team but were named on at least two ballots received honorable mention. Players are listed with their school and point total.
Steve Tappa Players of the Year
4A, Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook
3A, Matthew Zobrist, Metamora
2A, Docker Tedeschi, Benton
1A, Tyjuan Hunter, Hope Academy
4A first team
Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook, 70
Jaxson Davis, Warren, 52
Devin Cleveland, Kenwood, 48
AL Brooks Jr., Rich 46
Nick Allen, Bradley-Bourbonnais, 45
4A second team
Ian Miletic, Rolling Meadows, 44
Phoenix Gill, St. Ignatius 42
Tyreek Coleman, Waubonsie Valley, 42
Bradley Longcor III, Quincy, 36
Kobe Walker, Normal, 36
4A honorable mention (all other players named on at least two ballots)
Jaden Tyler, H-F, 28; Luke Smith, Addison Trail, 22; Blake Fagbemi. Benet, 17, Vincas Buzelis, Hinsdale Central, 14, Amir Danforth, Rockford Auburn, 9; Daniel Pauliokonis, Benet, 8; Lorenzo Shields, Simeon 6.
3A first team
Matthew Zobrist, Metamora, 74
Marcos Gonzales, Brother Rice, 72
Leshawn Stowers, Peoria, 69
Lincoln Williams, Kankakee, 63
Gabe Sularski, Lemont, 55
3A second team
Rykan Woo. DePaul Prep, 51
Rashaun Porter, DePaul Prep, 51
Grant Best, Mount Carmel, 47
Wes Gudeman, Morton, 26
Darius Harrington, Dixon, 25
3A honorable mention (all other players named on at least two ballots)
EJ Breland, St. Patrick, 16; AJ Demirov, Crystal Lake South, 16; Nasir Rankin, Morgan Park 16; Lyncoln Koester, Mount Zion, 15; J.C. Anderson, Mount Zion, 13; EJ Mosley. St. Laurence, 12; Quinton Kitt, East Peoria, 12; Kyrese Lukens, Herrin, 10; Dustyn Collins, Centralia, 10; Cameron Appenzeller, Glenwood, 8; Ethan Simmons, Marion, 6; David Barnes, Mount Vernon, 6; Archie Goeway, Centralia, 6.
2A first team
Docker Tedeschi, Benton, 88; Dietrich Richardson, Peoria Manual, 76; Darien Green, Christ the King, 47; Keison Peoples, Bismarck-Henning, 41; Sam Donald, Columbia, 40.
2A second team
AJ Keith, Pinckneyville, 39; Dierre Hill Jr., Althoff, 37; Maddox Ritzel, Nashville, 34; Jayden McKinnon, Dyett, 28; Micah Meiss, El Paso-Gridley, 27.
2A honorable mention (all other players named on at least two ballots)
Christian Cummings, Rockford Christian, 26; Noah LaPorte, Princeton, 25; Paxton Giertz, Seneca, 24; Andrew Hill, IC Catholic, 20; Rylan Carton, Sherrard, 18; Mitchel Edwards, Carmi-White County, 17; Aaron McClure, Christ the King, 16; Kaden Rakers. Breese Central, 15; Colton Hawkins, Carterville, 11; Hunter Webb, Vienna, 8; Brayden Strombaugh, Tri-Valley, 8; Kutim Heald, Rock Falls, 6; Ray Lee, Manteno, 6; Ruben Velasco, Peotone, 6; Jalon Ellis, Harrisburg, 6; Cason Newton, Byron, 6; Blake Shoufler, Williamsville, 6.
1A first team
Tyjuan Hunter, Hope Academy, 60; Ross Robertson, South Beloit, 56; Nathaniel Marlow, Webber, 55; Cooper Hoffman, Pecatonica, 50; Jayden Riley, Yorkville Christian, 41.
2A second team
Malachi Persinger, Peoria Christian, 40; Adam Awender, Eastland, 34; Brock Fearday, St. Anthony, 30; Luke Blackford, Calvary, 26; Antonio Flenoid Jr. Mounds Meridian, 24.
1A honorable mention (all other players named on at least two ballots)
Ryan Schmidt, St. Anthony, 17; Cole Tripp, Goreville, 16; Parker Krogman, Eastland, 14; Kyle Cooper, Waltonville, 12; Gage Peterson, Waltonville, 10; Hamzah Shouman, Lombard College Prep, 9; Lucas Westendorf, Dieterich, 9; Colin Monan, Mounds Meridian, 9; Sam Edmundson, LeRoy, 8; Blake Brown, Grant Park, 6, Chris Link, St. Anne, 6; Luke McKay, Woodlawn, 6; Nick King, Goreville, 6; Isaiah Lintker, New Athens, 6; Martin Ledbetter, Hinckley-Big Rock, 6; Devon White, Illini Bluffs, 6; Bryson Mossman, Routt, 6.