CHAMPAIGN—There are two distinct levels of high school basketball stardom in Illinois.
The first is the local star. It might be in Chicago, Lake County, Joliet or Aurora. It’s the guy that everyone in the area knows is a special talent. The one kid with a chance to make it big.
The second and highest is the rarely achieved state superstar. That level can only be reached at the state finals. Some of the best players in recent Illinois history never managed state stardom. Tyler Ulis and Max Christie are examples of two dominant high school players who never had the chance to play at the state finals.
Jaxson Davis’ moment came Friday and he grabbed it.
Warren’s sophomore sensation completely controlled the Blue Devils’ 66-49 victory over Rich in the Class 4A seminals at State Farm Center.
Davis finished with 27 points, five rebounds and seven steals. He had just two turnovers and shot 9 of 17.
“It’s just a special moment for all of us,” Davis said. “The moment came and we were prepared.”
Warren’s entire rotation was prepared. Junior Braylon Walker handled Rich’s pressure. Senior Javerion Banks scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds and gave the Raptors a dynamic offensive talent to worry about other than just Davis.
Seniors Jack Wolf and Zach Ausburn contributed on offense, but their defensive effort on Rich star Al Brooks Jr. was key to the win.
“The past week we’ve been studying [Brooks],” Wolf said. “We knew it was going to be a battle. Zach and I had to be physical with him, lock him down and stay in the gaps. It had to be a team effort and that’s what it was.”
Brooks finished with 13 points,13 rebounds and four blocks. Junior Jayden Williams scored 18 points for the Raptors (25-9).
Williams, Brooks and junior guard Jamson Coulter are Rich’s leaders. Coulter, who has battled health issues all season, played just four minutes.
“Losing Coulter was really tough,” Rich coach Lou Adams said. “You lose a player like him you are missing 20 points a game.”
Warren (27-10) jumped out to a 14-4 lead and never trailed. Davis had two three-pointers and an assist in the first three minutes.
“Jaxson’s phenomenal,” Adams said. “They have some pretty good ball handlers and they never got rattled. I saw them a few times. I didn’t know they were that good. That’s the best game they played all year.”
Davis and Warren agreed it may have been their best performance of the season.
“We should have played like this all year but you know how it goes,” Davis said. “The season was a roller coaster. But this is the right place and the right time to play like this.”
The Blue Devils will face Benet in the state championship game on Saturday at 8 p.m The Redwings have lost three state title games.
Warren lost the Class 4A title game in 2011 to Robert Smith’s Simeon and the AA title game in 1999 to Gene Pingatore’s St. Joseph.
“We are lucky and excited to be here but these guys are built for this,” Blue Devils coach Zack Ryan said. “They’ve backed it up with how they’ve acted and performed.”