Some nights are bigger than basketball, and last night in Harvey turned into one of those moments for Kankakee High School.
What started as a regular conference matchup ended with records falling, milestones being reached, and the Kays walking off the floor knowing they had just made history.
Kankakee cruised to a 70–43 win over Thornton, but the score only told part of the story.
Lincoln Williams surpasses the single-season scoring record, EJ Hazelett reached a career milestone of his own, and the Kays locked up a perfect conference run in a night that felt special from start to finish.
Williams, a 6-foot-6 senior small forward and shooting guard in the Class of 2026, passed the previous single-season scoring mark of 575 points, officially setting a new standard for the program.
Wearing No. 1, he played with the same confidence and control he has shown all season, adding another chapter to what has already been a standout year.
A Kankakee native, Williams has been the engine behind the Kays’ dominant 2025–26 campaign.
Game after game, he has delivered big scoring nights, often finishing in the 20- to 28-point range.
His season has featured a 28-point performance against Thornwood and a 25-point outing versus Mt. Carmel, along with several MVP honors, including MVP of Game 7 at the 21st Annual Ronald “Chops” Billinger Memorial Shootout.
What separates Williams is how he impacts the game beyond the box score.
He plays above the rim, throwing down what fans often describe as “video game-like” dunks, while also rebounding, defending, and setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
His ability to slide between small forward and shooting guard has made him a tough matchup all season.
While Lincoln Williams surpasses a major scoring milestone, his teammate EJ Hazelett made the night memorable in his own way.
Hazelett scored his 1,000th career point and led all scorers against Thornton with 24 points.
The Williams-Hazelett duo has powered Kankakee’s run this season, consistently putting pressure on defenses and controlling games from the opening tip.
The win also carried historic meaning for the program. With the victory, Kankakee became the first team in the Southland Athletic Conference to finish 12–0 in league play since Thornton, Thornwood, and Thornridge, known as the “Thorns,” joined the conference.
Furthermore, Williams, senior at Kankakee High School, sits at 22–1 overall and 11–0 in conference play, ranking No. 4 in the state.
With the help of Lincoln Williams, the Kays have regularly won by double-digit margins and continue to look like a serious 3A state title contender.
Williams’ performances have not gone unnoticed beyond high school gyms. He ranks among the top players nationally in the Class of 2026.
At the position level, he ranks No. 46 among small forwards nationally and No. 52 in composite rankings, while standing as the No. 1 small forward in Illinois.
College programs have taken notice. Williams currently holds offers from Southern Illinois, North Texas, Arizona State, Illinois, and TCU, part of a growing list that includes 14 total offers and three visits.
He also competes on the AAU circuit with Mac Irvin Fire, continuing to sharpen his game against elite competition.
For now, though, the focus remains on the season in front of him.
Lincoln Williams surpasses records, leads by example, and anchors a Kankakee team that continues to roll through its schedule. On a night when history was made in Harvey, the Kays didn’t just win another game; they reminded everyone why this season is shaping up to be one of the best the program has ever seen.
