I watched a lot of events this summer on the high school circuit and then the travel circuit. Lots of outstanding performances and consistent play from a lot of players. Sleepers came alive and some of the players already at the top levels cemented their positions in the pecking order. This will be Class of 2023 only with exception of Under Armour Finals description. Here we go:
Travel program of the summer: Team Thrill out of Baltimore, MD (Under Armour Finals): They had all three top level teams make the Under Armour Title Game with 17U and 16U winning titles, and 15U getting second place. Class of 2024 6'9" Derek Queen dominated having 18 points and a bunch of rebounds in 17U title game playing up. He has exquisite footwork in the post and can step out and hit mid range jumpers. Class of 2024 6'10" forward Luke Bamgboye for 16U was the best shot blocker in the event. His timing on when to jump and block a shot is impeccable. Gets a lot of rebounds and his defense is ahead of his offense at the moment. Class of 2025 6'2" point guard Tyler Jackson tried to will his team to a win in 15U but came up short. He had 30 points in the title game on 5 three pointers and some nifty assists.
Canada Elite won the Under Armour Finals 15U title with balanced scoring. Class of 2025 6'2" guard Darius McGlashen 15 points, Class of 2025 6'7" Babatunde Durodola had 11 points, Class of 2025 6'3" guard Sanuel Nuga had 10 points. Total team performance in title game.
Blue Cain vs Vasean Allete was the individual matchup of the summer. Cain a Georgia Tech commit had a pretty good game hitting threes, drives and finishes at the basket, and fancy passes. Allette won this matchup though scoring on all three levels with explosive bounce off the floor and gave his team the win. I hope they matchup again on the college level.
Top performers:
Rihards Vavers, 6'7" Team Thrill (MD)
Jordan Burks, 6’9” wing Atlanta Xpress
Eren Banks, 6’2” combo guard Atlanta Xpress
Blue Cain, 6’4” point guard B Maze Elite (TN)
Arius Alijosius, 6’3” guard Breakaway Basketball (IL)
Nicklaus Polonowski, 6’6” wing Breakaway Basketball (IL)
Bobby Durkin, 6’7” wing Breakaway Basketball (IL)
Vasean Allete, 6’4” point guard Canada Elite (ON)
MalekSalam Gomma, 6’8” forward Elite Sports Academy (WA)
George Bellevue, 6’7” wing Fundamental U
Jackson Kotecki, 6’9” forward Fundamental U
Triston Nichols, 6’4” point guard Grand Rapids Storm (MI)
Grant Gondrezick, 6’1” combo guard Grand Rapids Storm (MI)
Asa Thomas, 6’7” wing Illinois Wolves
Cameron Christie, 6’6” combo guard Illinois Wolves
Jake Hamilton, 6’3” combo guard Illinois Wolves
Jasai Miles, 6’6” combo guard Team Breakdown
Rihards Vavers, 6’7” wing Team Thrill
Jenkins Adeji, 6'5" wing, Brooktown Force
Trevon Roots, 6'6" wing, Brooktown Force
Eduardo Chiquito, 6'3" wing, Brooktown Force
Jakhi Gray, 6'1" point guard, Brooktown Force
Cameron Kuhl, 6'4" guard, Ignite
Adam Beasley, 6'2" point guard, MidPro Academy North
Ahmad Henderson, 5'9" point guard, Brother Rice(Chicago)
Mekhi Cooper, 6'0" Bolingbrook
Cordy Johnson, 5'11" Michele Clark (Chicago)
Robert McCline, 6'0" East St Louis
Ethan Thulin, 5'11"North (Downers Grove)
Benji Zander, 6'0" Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Jackson Niego, 6’0” Lyons Township (LaGrange)
JaKeem Cole, 6'0" Rich Township (Park Forest)
Jalen Griffith, 5'9" Simeon Career Academy (Chicago)
Eli Aldana, 6'0" St Viator (Arlington Heights)
Darrion Baker, 6'9" Hillcrest (Country Club Hills)
Drew Scharnowski, 6'8" Burlington Central (Hampshire)
Macaleab Rich, 6'6" East St Louis
Hunter Duncan, 6'2" Evanston Township
Josh Thomas, 6'6" Evanston Township
Quentin Jones, 6'5" Marian Catholic (Chicago Heights)
Jack Fiegen, 6'4" New Trier( Winnetka)
Tyler Smith, 6'0" Leo Catholic (Chicago)
Grant Welch, 6'4" Moline
Owen Freeman, 6'10" Moline
Brock Harding, 6'0" Moline
Brayden Fagbemi, 6'0" Benet Academy (Lisle)
Antwan Robinson, 6'5" East St Louis
DJ Wallace, 6'8" Hoffman Estates
Niko Abusara, 6'5" Benet Academy (Lisle)
Brady Kunka, 6'3" Benet Academy (Lisle)
Donovan Younger, 6'9" Bolingbrook
Khalil Ross, 6'6" Brother Rice (Chicago)
Jeremy Harrington Jr, 6'5" Curie (Chicago)
Chkasi Ofoma, 6'7" Curie (Chicago)
Evan Jackson, 6'6"DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago)
Finn Kramper, 6'3"North (Downers Grove)
Logan Brown, 6'5" Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Ryan Cohen, 6'3" Glenbrook North (Northbrook)
Matt Moore, 6'8" West (Joliet)
Matas Castillo, 6'1" Lemont
Rokas Castillo, 6'1" Lemont
Aidyn Boone, 6'7" Libertyville
Graham Smith, 6'5"Lyons Township (LaGrange)
Tyler Van Gorp, 6'10" New Trier (Winnetka)
Quinn Finerty, 6'1"New Trier (Winnekta)
Jehvion Starwood, 6'4 East (Oswego)
Mason Blanco, 6'2" East (Oswego)
Eli Love, 6'6" Peoria
Jaloni Johnson, 6'3" Proviso East (Maywood)
Ray Austin, 6'1" Rich Township (Park Forest)
Mark Nikolitch-Wilson, 6'7" Rolling Meadows
Foster Ogbonna, 6'4" Rolling Meadows
Troy Cicero, 6'2"Romeoville
Miles Rubin, 6'9" Simeon Career Academy (Chicago)
Wes Rubin, 6'8" Simeon Career Academy (Chicago)
Richard Barron, 6'5" St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago)
DJ Douglas, 6'5"Christian (Yorkville)
Mekhi Lowery, 6'6" East (Oswego)
Alex Jackson, 6'5" East (Belleville)
Prince Adams, 6'6" Evanston Township
Luuk Dusek, 6'1" Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Vincent Rainey, 5'8" Thornton Township (Harvey)
Isaiah Giles, 6'0" Westinghouse (Chicago)
Marcus Pigrim, 6'3" Whitney Young (Chicago)
Dalen Davis, 6'0" Whitney Young (Chicago)
I saw lots of talent this summer and some of these guys have committed to division one schools already.
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