First summer high school weekend wrap-up!!!!

I was at three difference venues over the weekend. Friday at Hoop Mountain Midwest at Batavia HS, Saturday at Loyola Academy (Wilmette) Summer Shootout, and Sunday at IYBA Summer Shootout at Hope Academy (Chicago). Here we go:

Friday:

Top players:

2027:

Mason Martin, Neuqua Valley (Naperville): 6'5" combo guard Illinois commit was on fire from deep on this day vs Lockport Township. He also attacked the rim and scored off the bounce.

Duo of Lamari Carpenter (#1) and Oturo Redento (#5) should make Glenbard North (Carol Stream) state contenders in Class 4A. Carpenter is a 6'5" combo guard that attacks off the bounce, hit threes from long range, and defend multiple positions. Redento is a 6'6" wing who can do a number of things, shoot from deep, post up on the block, rebound, and defend a number of positions.

It's Lockport Township's time with their three senior guards showing the way. Twins Nedas and Nojus (6'3" combo guards) (#21) can do a number of things. Nedas is more the scorer and can do it at all three levels. Can catch fire quickly. Nojus is more of the playmaker with passes, can gert to three levels and score as well. Both are sneaky athletic. Point guard Nathan Munson (6'0") runs the show. Strong penetrator off the bounce, uses strength to score through contact at the rim, makes passes to the perimeter shooters, and defends on the ball using quickness and strength.

Brother Rice (Chicago) has three seniors who will make them competitors in the Chicago Catholic League. Adam McBrearty, a 6'5" forward scores on ther block, and from three, hits the boards hard on both ends. Aiden Henderson, (#20) a 5'11" point guard runs the show, gets to the basket, and scores or makes assists. Uriah Davis (#3) 6’2” combo guard scores on threes and attacks to the rim.

Hayden Schroeder, Wheaton Academy (West Chicago) is a 6'8" forward who was scoring in the paint with back to the basket with up and under moves, two handed dunks, and crashing the glass on both ends of the court.

Jordan Weeks, West Aurora is a 6'9" burly center who's getting better and better using his big body to carve up space on the block. Scores over right shoulder through contact, runs the floor very well, and hits the glass.

Kris Mporokoso, Waubonsie Valley (Aurora): 6'5" wing is known as a three point shooter, but he was attacking the rim going left and scoring consistently off the dribble.

KJ Miller, East (Plainfield): 6'6" combo guard was making some nice passes to teammates in transition and halfcourt. Made some threes mostly off the dribble, and got out in transtiion for some nice finishes and two handed dunks.

Kayden Maxwell, Christian (Yorkville): 6'1" wing was attacking off the bounce in transition and the halfcourt. Hitting the glass and running the wings in transition.

Ben Whorlow, St Francis (Wheaton): 6'9" forward has continiued his quality play from end of last season leading his team to a surprising supersectional appearance. Scores in the paint, can step out and hit threes, as well as hit the glass. He sticks to what he does best and doesn't get outside of that. Disciplined big who can pass out of the post.

Tommy Donahue, Deerfield: 6'4" combo guard can shoot the lights out from three, in mid range, and attacking the rim. Hit a long three to tie game vs Thornwood to send game into overtime.

Jack Bratthauar, St Francis (Wheaton): 5'9" point guard was scoring off the bounce on attacks to the rim, and hitting threes either off the bounce or the catch. Using quickness to get where he wanted off the bounce, and made nice passes to shooters and in the post.

Class of 2028:

Thornwood (South Holland) junior duo might be the best scoring backcourt in the Chicago Area and South Suburbs:

Mekhi Young (#24) and Lester Watson (#2) are 6'0" guards who interchange the point and shooting guard positions depending on possesion. They are three level scorers who can get where they want off the dribble, and use scoring package in a number of ways. They had about 20 apiece in sudden death overtime loss to Deerfield.

Look for a huge jump for the explosive Riverside Brookfield point guard:

Noah Van Tholen is a tall rangy 6'4" point guard. Last year he had to defer to seniors. He's showing he'll have an explosive season on the hardwood. He showed he could score on attacks to the rim, mid range pull-up jumpers, and hit some threes off the bounce. He had the dunk of the day driving baseline and dunking over two Nazareth Academy (LaGrange) defenders. Did it two handed off vertical. He's going to surprise some people this year with his play and athleticism.

Daniel Salkauskas, Brother Rice (Chicago): 6'7" wing who was scoring effectively from three, getting into the mid range and shooting fadeaway jump shots. Changes ends in transtion usually for a spot up three, or a ball fake to get dribble penetration.

Jayde Wyett, Lockport Township: 6'4" combo guard transferred from Providence Catholic (New Lenox) is a lefty who can score from three, and in mid range. Scores off the catch and off the bounce attacking the paint.

Matt Cowen, East (Plainfield): 6'4" wing is a lefty who can fill it up from three off the catch and can attack the paint off the bounce scoring from mid range.

Cole Kelly, Neuqua Valley (Naperville): 6'7" wing was attacking downhill and scoring in the paint through and around contact. Strong driver going lefty getting into the paint, rebounds on both ends of the paint. Hit some threes off the catch and the bounce.

Tyler Sale, Deerfield: 6'1" combo guard made the clutch game winning free throw in sudden death overtime win over Thornwood (South Holland).

JP Brock, Wheaton Academy (West Chicago): 6'4" combo guard was scoring in a number of ways in this event. Hit threes, attacked the rim, scoring on up and unders and straight line drives.

Derrick Moore Jr, Lincoln Park (Chicago): 6'6" forward was scoring in the paint with back to the basket. Used spin moves and a jump hook to score on the block. Rebounded well and changed ends.

Jacob Coleman, Deerfield: 6'0" combo guard is a nice three point shooter specifically from the wings. He hits them off the bounce or the catch. Can also get into the lane and score in the midrange or create for teammates.

Amari Williams, Shepard (Palos Heights) :6'9" forward scored on a couple of nice spin moves in the post. Changes ends well, and hit the glass at a high level on both ends of the court.

Brendin Thomas, Shepard (Palos Heights): 6'6" combo guard has shown improvement in his perimeter game to go along ewith his athleticism. He attacks the rim and can rise up and dunk on you. Loves to get out in transition with improved ball handling and perimeter shooting. Agent 0.

Ray Rienow, Wheaton Academy (West Chicago0: 6'5" wing can shoot the ball from three at a high rate specifically off the catch and shoot. Showed ability to attack off the bounce from the perimeter.

Kyler Payne, Waubonsie Valley (Aurora): 6’7” forward showed he can step out and hit threes. Scored posting up on the block, rebounded, and threw some nice outlet passes for assists.

Class of 2029:

Zyler Mason, St Francis (Wheaton): 6'7" forward played strong for his frame on the interior. Made some nice moves to score around the basket and in the mid range. Changes ends well and had a high level crashing of the offensive glass.

Loyola Summer Shootout:

Leo Catholic (Chicago) won the title over Benet Academy (Lisle). They made it to Class 3A Semifinals last season. Return all over their starters and most of the reserves. Asa Harris (5'11") (#10) runs point made some nice passes and a couple of threes. Brian Kizer (6'2" wing) (#21) made multiple threes in semifinal and title game. Class of 2028 6'8" Elon Henderson hit 3 threes in semifinal vs St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) as well as attacks to the rim.

Oswego starts 4 guards. Class of 2028 Ethan Vahl (6'3") runs point, Alford brothers are three point sniping lefty's who can attack downhill and score at the rim as well. Tray (6'0") is Class of 2027, and Jayden (6'1") is an up and coming Class of 2029 talent. Class of 2028 MJ Johnson is the other guard.

St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) made the semifnals. Class of 2028 6'3" point guard Amir Tucker runs the offense, while the Ross's can score in a number of ways. Duke (6'6" wing Class of 2027), and Walker (6'3" combo guard) are dangeous in full and half court.

DePaul College Prep (Chicago) is starting over with some young and talented players. Five straight appearances at the state finals in three different classes. Class of 2028 Blake Choice (6'3" combo guard), and Class of 2027 Gus Johnson (6''8") (#33) are the most experienced players back. Choice can run the show and hit timely three point shots. Johnson can step out and hit a three as well as post up on the block. Class of 2028 St Viator (Arlington Heights) transfer Jacob Only (6'2") is a swiss army knife combo guard who's explosive off the bounce. Elie Ghattas (6'7" forward) (#15) is a Class of 2027 who's now getting time as a do it all player on both ends.

IYBA Summer Shootout:

Unity Christian Academy (South Holland) will be a threat again next season in Class 2A. They have a three headed monster with Class of 2027 Donovan O'Neil Jr (6'2" point guard) (#2) Class of 2028 Dylen O'Neil (5'10" point guard) (#1), and jack of all trades Class of 2027 Vincent Allen (6'7" forward) (#5). Donovan can fill it up from deep and run an offense, as can Dylen. Allen can do it all, score from deep, mid range, and in the paint. Rim protects as well as start a break to finish it himself or find a teammate.

Look for a breakout year from this young man from the West Side. Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago):

Jonathan Costello, 6'4" combo guard, Class of 2027: Missed a year with a torn ACL just getting back into the groove. Showed he has good handle, can run a team, see the floor, and get to the rim and finish. Likely biggest sleeper in Chicago Public League for upcoming season.

Class of 2027:

TJ Eaton, 6'4" combo guard, Rich Township (Richton Park): Looks like he's ready to step forward as a scorer from three and attacking the rim off the bounce from the perimeter. This is what he did here.

Romell Palmore, 5'9" point guard, Prosser (Chicago): Quick on quick who can get where he wants off the dribble. Scores from three off the bounce and gets into the lane for mid range pull-up jump shots.

Lebron Rogers, 5'9" point guard, Michele Clark (Chicago): Quick with the ball on a string, gets where he wants off the dribble. Scores from mid range and at the rim. Defends like a hawk on and off the ball.

Malik Slaughter, 6'3" wing, Michele Clark (Chicago): Got out in transtion and scored at the rim on attacks off the bounce. Hit some mid range jumpers.

Jayce Trigg, 6'2" wing, Butler College Prep (Chicago): Slashing wing who can get to the rim off the bounce, crashes the glass, and scores from 15 feet and in.

Blake McPherson, 5'9" point guard, Butler College Prep (Chicago): Floor general who gets to his spots off the dribble. Floor general who gets the ball to the scorers and can attack the rim for baskets.

Tysean Davis, 6'3" combo guard, Lake View (Chicago): Athletic wing who should be in takeover mode this year. Showed it here with attacks to the rim in transtion through and around contact. Nice smooth mid range game with a pull-up and fadeaway jumper.

Ethan Gray, 5'7" point guard, Lake View (Chicago): Can run a team, uses his quickness to get into the paint to create for others. Nice dribble to get off his three point shot as he's a sniper from long distance.

Xavier Johnson, 6'4" wing, Westinghouse College Prep (Chicago): Gifted scorer from all three levels, can get his off the bounce, or the catch. Hits threes, scores from mid range, or on attacks to the rim.

Class of 2028:

Bonheur Balita, 6'4" wing, Lycee De Francais (Chicago): Powerfully built guard who can get to the rim with his strength and finish through and around contact. Nice stroke from three, and a mid range pull-up game. Pushes the ball in transition and gets the ball to teammates on the fly.