What dog days? Prep sports is hopping right now

For the dog days of winter, it’s been a fascinating week on the prep sports scene.

Beat-shattering news emerged in the football world, and we enjoyed perhaps the most pivotal week of the boys basketball season. Outside of the playoffs, of course.

Let’s start with football, because it’s always football season around here.

Packing bags

The 2026 football season took a massive hit in Cook and Lake.

Two of the area’s top players announced they’re transferring to different states for their senior seasons in the fall.

Carmel quarterback Trae Taylor, committed to Nebraska, is moving to Lincoln to be closer to campus for any allowed contact he can get with the Cornhuskers. He’ll attend powerhouse Millard South in Omaha, a two-time defending state champion.

Barrington receiver Austin Coles, meanwhile, announced he’s transferring to Florida to play for St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale. All they’ve done is win four straight state titles.

The reasons behind the transfers make sense, albeit disappointing for their teammates and area football fans.

Taylor hasn’t wavered in his devotion to Nebraska since his commitment in May. He’s visited the Lincoln campus numerous times and he’s campaigned for fellow recruits to also commit to the Cornhuskers.

Wanting to be close to campus as soon as possible is natural. But as a mainstay behind center in Carmel’s offense, Taylor’s transfer is tough to swallow.

You simply don’t replace a guy who threw for 3,571 yards and 38 touchdowns in the fall while leading the Corsairs to the playoffs. And for his classmates hoping for a big senior season, the transfer announcement had to be crushing.

Coles told Rivals.com recruiting expert “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran his decision to transfer from Barrington was based on a higher level of competition with St. Thomas Aquinas, the opportunity to play spring football this year and the chance to be closer to his 7-on-7 team, the South Florida Express.

Coles hasn’t yet committed to a college. At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, he’s garnered offers from more than a dozen Power Four programs, including Iowa, Miami and Florida.

Taylor and Coles will be missed, but football marches on. IC Catholic Prep sophomore athlete Grant Bowen is the latest area player to blow up on the recruiting circuit.

At 6-4 and 210 pounds, Bowen in the past two weeks has picked up offers from Indiana, Miami, Florida, Texas A&M, Nebraska, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgia, Wisconsin, Kansas State, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Even in the “offseason,” prep football keeps hopping around here.

Hot hoops

The last week provided a bit of clarity for area boys basketball teams. Bigger than that, though, excitement for the playoffs kicked into overdrive.

Between Benet’s victory over Warren and Neuqua Valley’s over Bolingbrook in Saturday’s When Sides Collide shootout in Lisle, it almost felt like watching the Class 4A state semifinals two months early.

Of course it won’t work out that way in March. Benet (23-1), Neuqua Valley (22-1) and Bolingbrook (15-6) are grouped together in the Bolingbrook sectional, while Warren remains the favorite at Hononegah.

The Blue Devils (18-2) and junior superstar Jaxson Davis, three days after the Benet loss, beat Waukegan (16-6) 72-59 in what could be a playoff preview. Warren, last season’s runner-up to Benet, remains on track for a return trip to Champaign.

How great has the last week been for boys basketball? We wrap it up Friday with a Mid-Suburban West crosstown showdown between Fremd (18-2) and Palatine (20-3).

If that won’t get you excited for March, nothing will.