Here’s a look at the best boys basketball players in the NewsTribune area from the 2025-26 season.
FIRST TEAM
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Braden Curran, sr., Hall: Curran was one of the area’s top players at both ends of the floor. He led the area in steals at 2.6 per game and ranked fifth in scoring at 14.8 points per game. Curran also ranked top 10 in rebounds (6.5 per game) and averaged 1.9 assists. Curran surpassed 1,000 career points. He was unanimous All-Three Rivers Conference East Division and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State special mention.
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Gino Ferrari, sr., St. Bede: Ferrari led the Bruins to a regional final appearance. He scored 15.3 points per game, fourth in the area. Despite being a guard, Ferrari led the area in rebounds at 7.7 per game. He also averaged 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists. Ferrari was All-Tri-County Conference second team.
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Kash Klendworth, sr., Fieldcrest: Klendworth made the Knights’ offense go as he led the team in scoring (16.3 points per game), which ranked third in the area, and assists (3.9 per game), which ranked second in the area. Klendworth, who helped Fieldcrest to an 18-14 record, was named All-Heart of Illinois Conference first team.
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Marion Persich, so., La Salle-Peru: The 2025-26 NewsTribune Boys Basketball Player of the Year helped the Cavaliers to their third consecutive regional title. He led the area in scoring at 18.4 points per game, ranked second in rebounds (7.5 rpg) and was fifth in steals (1.8 spg). Persich was voted IBCA Class 3A All-State special mention.
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Cole Tillman, so., Mendota: Tillman was one of the area’s best all-around players as he ranked top five in the area in points (18.2 ppg), rebounds (7.2 rpg) and assists (3.2 apg). He surpassed 1,000 career points and led the Trojans to a 27-6 record and a share of the Three Rivers Conference East Division title. He was unanimous All-TRC East and IBCA Class 2A All-State second team.
SECOND TEAM
Dane Doyle, sr., Mendota
Carson Gruber, fr., Bureau Valley
Carson Rowe, sr., Henry-Senachwine
Erick Sotelo, sr., La Salle-Peru
Aden Tillman, sr., Mendota
HONORABLE MENTION
Drew Becker, jr., Mendota; Layten Gerdes, sr., Fieldcrest; Jameson Hill, sr., La Salle-Peru; Gavin Lanham, sr., Princeton; Traxton Mattingly, sr., Putnam County; Oliver Munoz, sr., Mendota; Chace Sterling, so., Hall; Gavin Stokes, fr., La Salle-Peru