Five High Upside Prospects from Illinois’ 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Illinois 2026 class is full of top talent, but it also offers some players who have a ton of potential as well. Check out a scouting report on some of the players with the most upside from this class below. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["105555"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eMaison Champaneri is a wide player on the FC United 08 GA team. She can play either outside back or winger. I think she has a bright future at either position, but I do believe there is a higher ceiling with her as an outside back. Her combination of pace, tenacity, and skill offers a weapon in that role especially from a two-way player who has the skill to make a difference in the final third. Champaneri has some room for improvement in her game so it's going to take the right program at the next level, but the potential is endless for her. She had a stellar Fall season, which should give scouts a good idea of the type of player she is and the possibility of her being an immediate contributor at outside back as the next level.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66294c157b5e3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFXps-xeae0","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFXps-xeae0 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["105655"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eClaire DeCook is an attacking talent on the Galaxy SC 08 squad. She is back from an ACL injury that kept her off the field for most of the past season. She is playing high school this season. And was recently invited to the US Soccer Talent ID event. DeCook has the potential to be the best player in this class. With her returning to the field this Spring, she should be ramping up just in time for the Summer Playoffs and Showcase events. Her recent play at the high school level revealed the quality she offers from this class as one of the sophomore stars.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629700870f94"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19212941/66282ddd10269a92fe74ae4c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662970087104d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["171140"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eSmith is an outside back for Galaxy SC 07 squad. She can also play as a defensive midfielder. Smith is probably going to end up as one of the top outside backs in this state. She offers some elite attributes. She is intelligent and reads the game well. Her positioning is great off the ball, she does well seeing the mark and the ball. She could be a bit more aggressive in trying to make a play on the first touch or when the winger waits on the ball. I'd like to see her use her speed to shut down chances or 1v1 situations earlier. It's an aspect of her game that will grow with time. Smith has the mentality and technique to be an impact player in this game for a long time.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66297008710b9"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k16g3sbYwRs","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k16g3sbYwRs </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["171387"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eGrigg is a midfielder on the Rockford Raptors 08 ECNL team. She can play a variety of positions including among the forward line, but her future is most likely at attacking midfield. Gregg is a skillful, creative mastermind in the center of the field. She is excellent at creating opportunities for her teammates with her vision and passing. Grigg is the type of player who could shine in ID camps. She has a dynamic burst that makes her difficult to mark and a playmaking mindset that lifts the play of her teammates.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629700871120"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywzYOOcuIR8","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywzYOOcuIR8 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["171388"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eLaskowski is a defender on the Chicago Inter 08 ECNL team. I think the Inter side might be overlooked due to the record, but they had a good close to the regular season and were very good in their last two ECNL showcase events. Laskowski was a key part of that as one of the center backs for the side. There are a few elements to her game that standout - her distribution with her left foot is near the top of the list - but it was her 1v1 defending that suggested she should be a top target in this class. She could slot into an outside back role in the future and have a shutdown type of impact on the game against top wingers. The potential is there for her to be among the best 1v1 defenders in this class.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6629700871185"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://x.com/macey_laskowski/status/1746290107064222005","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://x.com/macey_laskowski/status/1746290107064222005 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->