2025-26 Morton College men's basketball outlook

General overview
When Morton College coach Jon Rush looked at assembling the 2025-26 roster, the top priority was finding a way to replace 66 percent of the scoring lost to graduation from last season's 21-11 Skyway Conference championship team.

"From a talent standpoint, we knew we had to bring in a lot," Rush said. "We lost a huge core of our scoring. Our thought process was to do a good job in getting local talent. We've brought in a ton of local kids with the ability to get excited about."

They're back
When your two starting guards are back, that's a positive indicator. Rush is ramped up about the back court of sophomores Jordan Brooks and Kevin Cathey Jr., the Panthers' third and fourth-leading scorers a year ago.

Brooks averaged 12.1 points per game and tied for the team lead with 68 three-pointers. He also shot a team-best 84.6 percent from the free-throw line.

Cathey Jr. put up 11.5 points per contest. He led the Panthers in steals (62) and visits to the free-throw line (112). His 105 assists were second-best.

"Both of them are guys who are a reflection of me on the floor," Rush said. "They've taken into the culture here. Both are leaders who show up every single day and do the small things that go into winning. They are two guys who we're going to rely on from day one offensively."

Cristian Revenco, a 6-10 sophomore, offers a great deal of flexibility.

"He's mobile for his size," Rush noted. "He can guard you on the perimeter or post up on the block. He's definitely someone we're going to go through and try to make the other teams stop."

Stanislav Toderasco, a 6-4 sophomore, averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in 24 games a year ago.

"He had an up and down season last year," Rush said. "He's really progressed and done a really good job in the off-season."

The Panthers also welcome back 6-2 Trey Dixon.

New kids on the block
Simon Tesfit – 6-7 guard
A transfer from NAIA West Virginia Tech, Tesfit played against a former Panther in Kedric Anderson when the Golden Bears took on Indiana Kokomo.

Coach's comments: "He'll help us stretch the floor and with shooting from the perimeter. He's an older player and will provide us with some experience."

Jyson Kim – 6-5 guard 
Amir Speights – 6-4 guard
Both come to Morton College with a year of prep school experience under their belts. Kim played at PHH Prep in Arizona and Speights at Lakeview Basketball Academy in Florida.

Speights scored close to 1,000 points in his high school career in the Philadelphia hotbed of basketball. He averaged 11.2 points per game at Lakeview, a place where every player on last year's team moved to play college basketball.

Kim was a team captain and honor society member at his high school in Tulsa.

Coach's comments "Both had a lot of offers at the NCAA Division II level. They're going to be a big part of what we want to do."

Zion Young – 6-8 forward
Coach's comments: "He's another player with a huge upside. His dad's coached high school basketball and being the son of a coach, Zion has a high basketball IQ."

There's a Morton College connection to the Young family. Zion's dad, Tony, played on Schaumburg's 2001 Class AA state championship basketball team that beat a Thornwood team featuring future Chicago Bull Eddy Curry.

Schaumburg defeated Lyons Township in the semifinals. And that LT team was coached by Conte Stamas, who coached the Panthers from 1985 to '87 and again from 2011 to '15.

Javerion Banks – 6-0 guard
Banks was a big contributor to Warren's Class 4A runner-up finish in 2025. He scored a game-high 22 points in the championship game against Benet.

Danny Thompson – 6-3 guard
Standout guard at Romeoville, home of the fifth all-time leading scorer in Morton College history – Demarius Miller. 

Jeremiah Lesure – 6-6 guard
A potential hidden gem because he missed senior year of high school last season due to transfer-related  issues. Illinois Hoop Scoops calls Lesure coming to Morton College as a "nice snag for Panthers." Hoop Scoops also says Lesure is one for "four-year schools to closely monitor with his high upside and versatility."

Coach's comments on Banks, Thompson and Lesure: "They are very athletic. They're learning how to adjust to the college game. We need them to grow up quick and have them ready to contribute in the second half of the season."

Loaded schedule
The Panthers face a number of teams nationally ranked in the NJCAA Division II pre-season poll with:
# 6 - South Suburban
# 11 – MATC
#15 - Bryant & Stratton
#23 – Waubonsee
RV - Rock Valley, Chandler-Gilbert & Marian Ancilla

Rush to success
Rush's 58 wins over his first three seasons at Morton College is second-best of any coach in the program's 100-year plus history.
Rick Kilby's 64 wins from 1987-90 is tops, followed by Rush. Other past coaches with quick starts out of the gate included Aaron Rolle (57 from 2017-20), Frank Lollino Jr. (55 from 2007-10) and Conte Stamas (54 from 2011-14).

Thanks for the memories…
Dre Nobles – team-leading 18.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Now at NCAA Division II Hawaii-Hilo.
Adrian Anderson – second-leading scorer at 14.5 points per game. 68 three-pointers tied for tops and first overall with 463 points. Scored 753 points in two seasons.
Nathanael Lewis – Averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds, a quantum leap from previous year's 0.8 points and 1.3 rebounds. Made 45 three-pointers, 44 more than past season. Now at NCAA Division II Southern Wesleyan.
Ethan Norman – Appeared in 60 games in two seasons. Averaged 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds as a sophomore. Career line – 294 points, 225 rebounds and 52.2 percent from field.
Charlie McCarthy – Played in 52 games over two years. Averaged 2.1 points and 2.5 rebounds sophomore year.
Devlyn Rowe – Made 4 of 5 three-pointers and scored career-high 14 points in over Kishwaukee last season.

Season opener
Morton College opens at Illinois Valley at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 1st.