The eight annual Academic Elite Showcase took place earlier this month and featured plenty of talent from across the region. Here are some of our top performers from the showcase. 

Taji Alexa (2027 Mother McAuley HS IL): While just a freshman, Alexa was still one of the most impactful players of the entire showcase. She is a guard with some size who excelled out on the perimeter making plays off the dribble but was also very effective down inside playing big. Alexa is an incredibly versatile player who also played with good energy, was tough on the glass, and can match up defensively effectively with multiple positions. 

Jazzlyn Foster (2024 Plainfield South HS IL): Throughout the entire showcase the wing was one of the top playmakers on both ends of the floor. A highly impactful player who has good length and athleticism. She moves very well with the ball and was getting to the rim with ease with her long strides and was finishing everything in traffic. With her physical tools plus quickness and energy she was also a standout on the defensive end locking down multiple positions on the perimeter. 

Madison Kenyon (2024 Marian Central Catholic HS): One of the more versatile and impactful players of the entire showcase. She is a wing guard with some length and knows how to play. A slasher who plays well through contact and effectively finishes all around the paint. One of the better rebounding guards of the showcase who also defended one through four well and played with good energy all event long. 

Aniela Machalski (2024 Plainfield Central HS IL): All showcase long Machalski was scoring the ball in bunches. The point guard plays exceptionally well off the dribble with a great ability to create for herself. With her handle, quickness, and vision, Machalski does a great job getting to her spots and hitting shots and finishing all around the paint. 

Destynia McGruder (2024 Plainfield South HS IL): At 6’1” with her length and energy, the senior was a dominant player inside. A highly aggressive rebounder that who was grabbing every board near her on both ends. She scored the ball at a very high rate inside playing with her back to the basket with good moves and finishing over both shoulder but also showed the ability to play facing up to the basket plus shooting range out to three. 

Francesca McLain (2026 St. Joseph Catholic Academy WI): After making the honorable mention section of this list at the Midwest Elite 90 Showcase back in March, McLain makes this top performer list. While one of the top scorers of the entire showcase, the sophomore also played well on the defensive end. She has good size in the backcourt at 6’0” with some length and a good skill set to go with it. McLain showed a good ability to create her own shot from the outside all showcase but was also getting it done going all the way to the rim. McLain showed she can be one of the better sophomores in the area. 

Corinne Reed (2025 St. Charles East HS IL): One of the more versatile players of the entire showcase. She is a point guard with some size with a well-rounded game too . She excelled the most with her distributing ability making countless dazzling passes and showing great vision but also did so much more. While one of the best passers of the event she also scored it herself in a number of ways, is a versatile defender, played with good energy and was tough on the glass. 

Michayla Stone (2026 Neuqua Valley HS IL): For long stretches of games, the 6’1” post was dominant down in the paint on both ends of the floor. With her size and strength, she was often overpowering opponents in the paint to keep making plays. A tough scorer finishing at a high rate inside playing through contact and can also put the ball on the floor but was also aggressively rebounding everything around her and was one of the better shot blockers of the showcase. 

Talya Tillman (2024 Libertyville HS IL): During the entire showcase, Tillman was one of the most dominant forwards of the event. She has a nice blend of size, strength, motor, and athleticism to be a force in the paint on both ends. Offensively she showed a good ability to score posting up as well as hitting some shots in the mid-range. She’s a tough defender in the paint but also moves well to defend out on the perimeter. She recently picked up an offer from McKendree. 

Taleah Turner (2025 Kankakee HS IL): Throughout all three of her games as well as in the 3-on-3 mini games, Turner showcased her great scoring ability. Whether it was knocking down threes at a high percentage with a smooth jumper, getting to the bucket, or creating in the mid-range, the junior guard was scoring the ball at a high rate. Turner has an exceptionally high skill level and knows how to play. 

Honorable Mention: Jazmyne Bynum, Amillya Henigan, Lilly Golson, Joslynn James, Brooklyn Love, Demi Page