This is my summer travels. I’ve gotten around to a number of places. Vegas for Pangos All-American Camp at Bishop Gorman High School amongst other locations. Here are some of them.
OSWEGO EAST SHOOTOUT:
VINCAS BUZELIS OF HINSDALE CENTRAL HAS MADE A HUGE JUMP IN HIS GAME:
The 6’4” Class of 2025 wing has stepped up his game to the next level. Followed a great Spring with a monster performance in this event. He’s way more confident than at anytime I’ve seen him. He’s attacking defenders off the bounce, going by them and dunking on secondary defender, most of the time with two hands. He accentuates his attacking with a nasty pull-up mid range jump shot. He’s jumping passing lanes and getting into transition for nasty dunks in unsuspecting defenders. Led team to the title. Younger brother of 2024 NBA Draft likely Top 10 pick Matas Buzelis.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS AT THE EVENT:
Class of 2026 6'4" combo guard Mason Locket IV of East (Oswego)
Class of 2025 6'4" wing Jacob Johnson, Burlington Central (Hampshire)
Class of 2025 6'3" wing Whitman Charboneau, Neuqua Valley (Naperville)
Class of 2026 6'2" point guard Jayden Riley, Christian (Yorkville)
Class of 2027 6'0" combo guard Jay Alford, Christian (Yorkville)
PANGOS ALL-AMERICAN CAMP, BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL, LAS VEGAS:
Here's the writeup for that event:
LOYOLA ACADEMY (WILMETTE) SUPER SUMMER SHOOTOUT:
Here's the writeup for that event:
HOOP MOUNTAIN MIDWEST:
My guy that runs Midwest Hoops Spotlight Dan Gibbs did a good job as usual with this event. Main gym is Batavia HS, but held part of it at M14 Training Facility in Aurora, and Marmion Academy HS (Aurora). Here are some of the top players:
MASON LOCKETT IV OF EAST (OSWEGO) IS A TOP 5 PLAYER IN CLASS OF 2026:
The 6'4" combo guard has seen his game raise big time over the past year. He was a role player last year as a sophomore, but has exploded this spring playing for YNR 16U team. Three level scorer that can run point and defend wings on the other end of the court. This event he showed his passing chops setting his teammates up for layups, open threes whether half cout or on the fast break. Starting to show his athleticism in dunking on players at the rim. He's gotten his first division one offers from a couple of mid majors. Look for high majors to come calling.
CAMERON MERCER OF RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD IS A TWO END FORCE IN CLASS OF 2026:
This combo guard is one to watch out for and division one coaches need to take notice. The 6'2" is a two way force and a layup with an open three point shot. He has a nice step back from mid range, and finishes at the rim with explosive drives and finishes using Euro step, or straight line drives. Gets after you defensively whethe one the ball, or uses his smarts to get steals in bunches off the ball. He was outstanding at Jr Raptors Shootout too. He can run the team and set up teammates for threes on drives to the rim, or set them up for layups. Son of former NBA player Ron Mercer.
KEWON MARSHALL OF WEST AURORA IS A THREE SPORT MONSTER:
The 6'1" forward is a King of Bounce in basketball. Catches alley-oops and is cleared for takeoff if he gets to the basket off the bounce. He blocks shots of unsuspecting offensive players who think they have an easy layup. State Class 3A high jump champ, and a big time wide receiver in football. Should be an exciting year in the gym at West Aurora.
COLE KELLY OF NEUQUA VALLEY (NAPERVILLE) MIGHT BE THE TOP CLASS OF 2028 TALENT COMING INTO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
He looked like he's ready for high school basketball with no problem. The lefty 6'6" wing played well at Oswego East Shootout and at this event. He's a three level scorer with range out to 25 feet, can take a player off the dribble and score in a variety of ways at the rim. He can dunk on you, or use great footwork, take his time in the post and score through contact. Is pretty good at rim protecting, and rebounding. Can also start the fast break off the dribble or with long outlet passes. Yes he'll make freshman mistakes like all do, but look for a pretty good high school career here.
OR MAYBE IT'S ETHAN VAHL OF WEST AURORA THAT'S THE BEST CLASS OF 2028 TALENT COMING INTO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL:
The suspense is over. He's next in a long line of talent that has walked through West Aururoa High School. The 6'2" point guard, I'll call him that but he can also play off the ball, is an all around uber talented player. He can pull up from 30 feet and kill you, mid range floater, or make a nice Euro step around you to score at the rim. Can do it with either hand. Has vision to make exquisite passers to teammates with no looks, squeezing a bounce pass through traffic whether on the break or in the half court. Sees the floor at a high level as he throws pinpoint alley-oop passes. He has a couple of King of Bounce teammates. He'll also get into you as a defender, who's versatile enough to guard all perimeter positions in high school basketball.
WEST SUBURBS HAVE TWO TOP NATIONAL CLASS OF 2028 PLAYERS:
That would be the aforementioned Cole Kelly, and Ethan Vahl. Haven't seen two talents like this out of the West Suburbs in the same class in awhile. Maybe Ryan Boatright of East Aurora and Frank Kaminsky of Benet Academy (Lisle) in Class of 2011?
THADDEAUS "TJ" WILLIAMS OF GLENBARD WEST (GLEN ELLYN) IS A SLEEPER IN CLASS OF 2026:
He's next at Glenbard West. This young man was a starter last year as a sophomore and was very productive. The 6'3" point guard can score from three, nice mid range pull-up jumper, and is an explosive athlete who can dunk on you at any moment. He can hit threes off the catch and off the bounce. Gets after it defensively the skinny rangy point guard with good size for the position.Long arms is perfected for the famed 1-3-1 zone the Hilltoppers run. He's pretty food at man to man defense too. This goes definitely for the high school level and college too.
OTHER TOP PLAYERS:
Class of 2025 6'6" forward Logan Glover, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Class of 2025 6'5" wing Dominic Seaney, Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn)
Class of 2025 5'11" point guard Vincent Dockendorf, Riverside Brookfield
Class of 2025 6'7" forward Tyler Thick, Hinsdale Central
Class of 2025 6'8" forward Michael Howell, Hinsdale Central
Class of 2027 6'7" forward Hayden Schroeder, Wheaton Academy (West Chicago)
Class of 2026 6'6" wing Gabe Sularski, Lemont
Class of 2025 6'4" wing Matas Gaidukevicius, Lemont
Class of 2025 6'2" combo guard Matas Castillo, Lemont
Class of 2025 6'4" wing Theo Rocca, Evanston Township
Class of 2025 5'11" point guard Ian Peters, Evanston Township
Class of 2026 6'0" combo guard Michael Nee, Glenbard East (Lombard)
Class of 2025 6'0" point guard Josiah Calvin, Glenbard East (Lombard)
Class of 2025 6'7" wing Al Brooks Jr, Rich Township (Richton Park)
Class of 2026 6'4" combo guard Jayden Williams, Rich Township (Richton Park)
Class of 2026 6'2" combo guard Jamson Coulter Jr, Rich Township (Richton Park)
Class of 2025 6'2" combo guard Lawrence "EJ" Horton, Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago)
Class of 2025 6'4" wing Phoenix Childs, Wendell Phillips Academy (Chicago)
Class of 2025 6'7" forward Bobby Grganto, North (Downers Grove)
Class of 2025 6’8” wing Jake Nosek, Metea Valley (Aurora)
WARREN (GURNEE) SUMMER LEAGUE:
WAUKEGAN VS WARREN TOWNSHIP (GURNEE):
THE MOST LIT SUMMER LEAGUE GAME I'VE EVER SEEN!!!!! These teams are long time rivals and it extends past the regular season and state playoffs. Warren won all three meetings last season including the Regional Final at Warren Township. Warren still has the backcourt duo of Class of 2027 Jaxson Davis and Class fo 2026 Braylon Walker along with Class of 2025 wing Javerion Banks. Waukegan returns Class of 2026 talents Simereon Carter and Carter Newsome. It was ratcheted up with Waukegan adding two transfers Class of 2025 Xavi Granville from Central (Grayslake) and Class of 2026 Jaali "Rico Suave" Love from Manley (Chicago). Game started with Love hitting a three and bringing his West Side of Chicago dog mentality to the Wisconsin border of Lake County. Technical fouls one and two. Game continues as Warren Towsnhip takes control going into the second half. Waukegan gets back in the game, more trash talking, technical foul number 3. Davis makes a big time move dribbling through four defenders to score a layup.Waukegan ties the game in the last few minutes, then another entanglement. Technical fouls number four and five. Warren Township takes a two point lead in the last seconds, but Davis as usual makes a nice pass up court to Banks who clinches it with a dunk and hanging on the rim for a 46-42 high intense victory. Warrren Township won with help from a couple of role players, Class of 2025 Jack Wolf, the football quarterback and another playerwho's name I did not get. Waukegan made some nice alley-oops dunks, Newsome to Carter, than Newsome to Love at key times to keep it close. The most intense summer league game I've ever seen. The regular season matchups will be ridiculous as they will play at least two times especially the one at the Dawg Pound, Waukegan's home court. I would not be surprised if there is a third meeting in a Sectional Final with real high stakes.
These are some of my June travels folks as Big Tim's express got around. Not over though as basketball never sleeps. Till next time.
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