Once again there was a lot of talent in the building from states in the midwest, a few young men from the southwest and east. Location was Park District in LaGrange, IL. Dinos Trigonis once again outdid himself in getting the best talent possible from the region into the gym. Here we go:
BEST PLAYER: Xzavion Mitchell, North (Oshkosh, WI)- 6'6" Class of 2025 wing did it all throughout the weekend. He hit threes, rebounded, hit guards on outlet passes, pushed the ball up himself and created buckets. He was hitting threes in the half court, attacking the basket and finishing with either hand, and rim protecting. He proceeded to do the same in the Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game. He was named Camp MVP and I don't think anyone disputed the matter.
MOST UNLIKELY MVP OF TOP 30 ALL STAR GAME: Rykan Woo, Whitney Young (Chicago)- 6'0" Class of 2026 point guard may not pass the look test, but he's very efficient. He can hit threes, get to the basket and create shots for his teammates, has a nice mid range floater. He's scrappy on defense and gives opposing point guards fits. Just consistent the entire weekend with good shot selection, knowing when to pass and when to shoot. Keeps his dribble so he doesn't get trapped and makes good decisions on the break as well as in the half court. Co-MVP of the Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
MADE A GOOD CASE FOR CAMP MVP: Macari Moore, Huron (Ann Arbor,MI)- 6'3" Class of 2025 combo guard could have easily been the best player in the camp. Versatile do it all was doing what he wanted slashing to the basket and scoring at the rim. Did not shoot a lot of threes but showed he can hit those too. Hit the boards on both ends, showed a nice pull-up mid range jump shot, made steals on the ball and off the ball. Oh and he showed he can pass on the break or penetration to the basket. Preformed very well in the Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game. Co-MVP of Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
BEST PLAYER WHO DID NOT MAKE ANY ALL STAR GAMES: Anthony Demirov, South (Crystal Lake,IL)-5'11" Class of 2025 point guard was consistent all weekend with his outside shooting, mid range game, and finishes at the rim with either hand. Had a lot of steals on the ball defensively, and hit the defensive glass at a high level. He ran the offense getting the ball to open shooters behind the arc for catch and shoots. He was every where in each game and did not have any lags in hustling and helping his team. My opinion should have been in one of the all-star games.
UNDERRATED: Jacob Rice, St. Laurence(Burbank,IL)- 6'2" combo guard is another one who made a great case to be in one of the all star games. He went about his business using his versatile game to affect the proceedings. Hit threes, mid range jumpers, ran the floor, scored on rebound put backs, passed the ball to the right places on the floor. This young man knows how to blend with teammates in any environment, even this setting. May not do the wow stuff, but is just consistent in going about his business on the court. High academic young man.
OUT OF STATE STANDOUTS:
Juan Guerrero Hernandez, Class of 2025 6'4"wing, Grafton(WI) is one of those King of Bounce athletes. He had some watch your head dunks with so much bounce off the floor he had other courts watching him work. He gets up and down the court well, rebounds, can take it coast to coast and finish with acrobatic dunks and finishes. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
DeZhon Hall, Class of 2026 6'3" wing, Tindley(Indianapolis, IN) another King of Bounce young man who dunks on guys off two feet. He did this consistently running the floor, received passes on alley-oops and on the wing. He would drive to the basket and finish off the floor with powerful dunks. Made Top 60 Cream of The Crop Game.
Michael Wilson, Class of 2026 6'2" wing, West(Madison, WI)- 6'2" combo guard big time slasher from the wing, who can also play point and run an offense. Scored a lot on passes from the wing and finishes at the rim. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Tylan Lewis, Class of 2025 6'1" point guard, Independence(Spring Hill,TN)- One of the top five players in the camp scored in a variety of ways. He hit threes, slashed to the basket and finished at the rim, mid range jump shots. Defended on the ball and off the ball with steals, blocks, rebounds. Impressed many scouts in attendance with his two end game. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Jaymen Townson, Class of 2025 6'5" wing, Marion(IN)- Another one from this basketball factory in Indiana. Big time wing scorer who was effective getting to the basket and finishing in a variety of ways. Dunks, up and unders, Euro step around defenders. Another of the many big time athletes at this setting. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Brady Koehler, Class of 2025, 6'7" wing, Cathedral, (Indianapolis,IN)- Lefty who can fill it up from three on catch and shoot, or off the dribble. He also showed he can do a ball fake and get into the middle of the lane and score. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
EJ Hazelett, Class of 2026, 6'7' wing, Franklin Central(Indianapolis,IN)- Big time slasher and finisher at the rim who can rebound on both ends with his energy and quick jumping in the interior. Long, lanky player who can hit the three. Made Top 30 Cream of the Crop Game.
Devin Brown, Class of 2025, 6'7" wing, Milwaukee Academy of Science(WI)- Can score slashing off the wing, or gobbling up rebounds in the paint and finishing at the rim. Made Cream of The Crop Game.
Gabe Weis, Class of 2026, 6'6" wing, Washington County(Springfield,KY)- Big time shooter from any pot behind the three point line. One of the top young players in the State of Kentucky. Showed some slashing ability to get to the basket and into mid range jump shots. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop game.
Claude Mpouma, Class of 2026, 6'7" power forward, Culver Academy(IN)- Has a lot of tools in the tool box, nice spin move in the lane to get away from defenders and score. Can step out and hit threes, get a defensive rebound and take it himself to the rim. Good passer in the interior and out to three point shooters. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
OTHER OUT OF STATE STANDOUTS:
Luca Asanaka, Class of 2025, 6'2" combo guard, LaLumiere School(LaPorte,IN)
Davis Kern, Class of 2025, 6'8" forward, Linn-Mar(Marion,IA)
Wiliam Higgs, Class of 2026, 6'11" center, Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft(NJ)
Damon Friery, Class of 2025, 6'9" forward, St Ignatius, Cleveland(OH)
ILLINOIS STANDOUTS:
Jameson Coulter, Jr, Class of 2026, 6'2" point guard, Rich Township(Richton Park)- Big time slasher to the basket and athletic enough to finish strong at the rim. Can hit threes off the dribble. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Noah Mister, Class of 2026, 5'9" point guard, Kenwood Academy(Chicago)- Can run a team and hit threes from long range. Good at getting to the basket and creating for teammates. Floor general. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Justin Bowen, Jr, Class of 2025, 6'5" wing, Oak Park River Forest- Can guard four positions on the court, his outside shot was going down this weekend. Loves to slash to the basket from the wing. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Gabriel Sularski, Class of 2026, 6'5" wing Benet Academy(Lisle)- Big time shooter on the wing that can also create for himself off the dribble. Finished at the rim exceptionally well this weekend. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Ian Militec, Class of 2025,6'6" wing, Rolling Meadows- Did most of his damage this weekend on drives to the basket and finishing at the rim. Has a nice lefty stroke which he showed at times. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Terrence Smith, Class of 2025, 6'4" wing, Aurora(West)- Showed his slashing and finishing game at the rim all weekend. Rebounds well for his position and showed he can take it coast to coast to the rim. made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Aleks Alston, Class of 2025, 6'9" wing, Kenwood Academy(Chicago)- Smooth lefty stoke with deep range. Hit multiple threes from about 25 feet out, great passer out of the post to shooters and cutters to the basket. Made Top 30 Cream of The Crop Game.
Other Illinois Standouts:
Amari Edwards, Class of 2025, 5'8" point guard, St Rita(Chicago)
BJ Powell, Class of 2026, 5'9" point guard, Lincoln Way East(Frankfort)
Damion Pearson, Class of 2025, 6'0" point guard, Lincoln Park(Chicago)
Brent Taylor, Class of 2025, 6'2" combo guard, Lincoln Way East(Frankfort)
Marquis Clark, Class of 2026, 6'1"point guard, Whitney Young(Chicago)
Andre Tyler, Class of 2026, 6'2" combo guard, St Rita(Chicago)
Charlie Barnes Jr, Class of 2026 6'4" wing, DeLaSalle Institute(Chicago) Jocahana Pullum, Class of 2026 6'4" wing, Hyde Park Academy(Chicago)
Patrick Irvin Jr, Class of 2026, 6'5" wing, Whitney Young(Chicago)
Adam Page, Class of 2025, 6'4" wing, Hillcrest(Country Club Hills)
Stephen Brown, Class of 2026, 6'5" wing, Marist(Chicago)
Chayse Turner, Class of 2025, 6'2" combo guard, Lincoln Park(Chicago)
Alexander Gossett, Class of 2025, 6'4" wing, Oak Park River Forest
Shaunassey Hatchett Jr, Class of 2025, 6'3" combo guard, Lanpher(Springfield)
Zion Gross, Class of 2025, 6'3" combo guard, Crete Monee
CLASS OF 2027 STANDOUTS:
Peyton Kemp, Ferndale(MI), 6'0" point guard did a great job running his team while hitting three pointers off the dribble in bushels. He showed an ability to hit threes off catch and shoot in a few situations. He gets to the lane at will and uses Euro step finishes and high arching floaters in the lane. Made Top 60 Cream of The Crop Game and looked ready for high school ball.
Howard Williams, Freedom Elementary School(Chicago) 6'4" combo guard also looked ready for high school. Big time slasher and athletic finisher at the rim, who showed he can hit from three point territory. Handles the ball well enough to run point and get to any shot on the floor off the dribble. Nice floater in the lane and hit the glass on both ends of the court. High academic young man who's getting looked at by a lot of the high schools in the Chicago Area. Made Top 60 Cream of The Crop Game.
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