Warren’s Jaxson Davis and Young’s Destiny Jackson are the 2025 Mr. and Ms. Basketball of Illinois winners, as voted by statewide coaches and media. And both made a little history in the process.
Davis, a 6-foot-1 guard, is the first sophomore winner in the 45 years of the Mr. Basketball award. And Jackson, a 5-6 senior guard, is the first Ms. Basketball from Young.
The prestigious awards given to the top players in the state are presented by the Chicago Tribune in conjunction with the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association. Mr. Basketball has been handed out since 1981 and Ms. Basketball since 1986.
Davis received 41 first-place votes and was named on 87 of 150 ballots, finishing with 315 points to easily outdistance another sophomore, Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson, who took second with 140 points. Docker Tedeschi, a Benton senior, was third.
The Ms. Basketball voting was much closer, with Jackson narrowly defeating Loyola senior Aubrey Galvan 230-219. Jackson received 28 first-place votes and was named on 68 of 129 ballots, while Galvan received 29 first-place votes but was named on five fewer ballots. Kenwood senior Ariella Henigan was third.
Players received five points for a first-place vote, three for second and one for third.
Davis averaged 19.5 points, 4 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.8 steals for Warren (27-11), the Class 4A state runner-up. He was the Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois and a first-team IBCA All-State selection for the second consecutive year.
Jackson, an Illinois signee, led Young to a 25-9 record and a fourth straight city championship, averaging 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals for the 4A sectional finalist. Ranked the No. 1 player in the state by 247Sports, she was the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year and first-team IBCA All-State for the third season in a row.
Davis and Jackson will be honored at an IBCA luncheon May 3 at Illinois State University in Normal.
Mr. Basketball of Illinois winners
- 2025: Jaxson Davis, Warren
- 2024: Morez Johnson Jr., Thornton
- 2023: Brock Harding, Moline
- 2022: Braden Huff, Glenbard West
- 2021: No award (COVID-19)
- 2020: Adam Miller, Morgan Park
- 2019: EJ Liddell, Belleville West
- 2018: EJ Liddell, Belleville West
- 2017: Mark Smith, Edwardsville
- 2016: Charlie Moore, Morgan Park
- 2015: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson
- 2014: Jahlil Okafor, Young
- 2013:
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