WILMETTE, ILLINOIS: There was a one day shootout today at Loyola Academy (Wilmette). Each team played three games and worked their way through winners bracket and losers bracket. Here are some of the superlatives and early looks on some teams.
Warren wins two come back overtime games in semifinals and title game:
They came into the last five minutes of semifinal game vs Whitney Young (Chicago) and title game vs Brother Rice (Chicago). Came back to tie both games at end of regulation on clutch plays from Class of 2027 6'1" point guard Jaxson Davis. Both games went into overtime with Class of 2026 6'2" combo guard Braylon Walker hitting a three point play on a driving layup with 2 seconds left. In title game Davis hit two clutch threes to tie the game on two different occasions. Warren had the ball for last shot with 20 seconds left, Davis drives left, hesitates, freezes the defense, then drives in for an open layup at the buzzer to win the title. Amazing. Warren is small but feisty and all hit the defensive glass to counteract size issues.
WATCH YOUR HEAD:
Two crazy dunks in same game, the Warren Township (Gurnee) vs Whitney Young (Chicago). First Class of 2025 6'2" wing Javerion Banks had a nasty follow-up dunk on a rebound over two unsuspecting Whitney Young (Chicago) defenders. Then Class of 2025 6'7" wing Antonio Munoz took a dribble drive off the wing and dunked two hand over a poor Warren Towsnhip (Gurnee) defender.
KAIDAN CHATHAM IS HAVING IMMEDIATE IMPACT AT EVANSTON TOWNSHIP:
Niles North transfer the Class of 2025 6'2" point guard is making things easier for the other Wildkits. Middle of first game he blew though a shoe and had to wear a teammates shoes the rest of the day. He gets it through dribble penetration and kicks to open three point shooters. He scores in mid range and on drives to the rim. Two end player as he puts pressure on opposing defenses. Class of 2025 6'3" combo guard Theo Rocca and 5'11" Ian Peters are getting wide open looks from three. Chatham will be one of the biggest transfer additions to any team in the state.
BROTHER RICE HAS A NASTY 1-2 COMBO IN THE BACKCOURT:
Class of 2025 6'3" guard Marcos Gonzales and Hinsdale South (Darien) 1000 point scorer Jack Weigus both can hit threes, score at the mid range, and especially Gonzales getting a piece of the paint and creating shots for himself and others. Led team to the title game and took an overtime loss to Warren Township (Gurnee) at the buzzer.
MAINE SOUTH HAS A NASTY 1-2 COMBO THEMSELVES:
Class of 2026 players 6'2" combo guard Panayiotis Sotos and Whitney Young transfer 6'5" wing RicoAntonio De'Alessandro are a tough combo. Sotos can score from anywhere on the court with range to the parking lot, and De'Alessandro is a big bodied wing who can score from three, on strong drives and finishes at the rim. Will not be an easy win in the Central Suburban South this coming year. If they find a consistent third scorer they will be dangerous.
LOYOLA ACADEMY WILL BE THEIR USUAL DEFENSIVE PRESENCE: Missing three football players that give them toughness, they still went 2-1 in the event. Look for Class of 2026 6'1" Trey Williams to be a force at point guard.
WHITNEY YOUNG (CHICAGO) HAS A TON OF TALENT AND WILL PUT IT TOGETHER:
Class of 2025's 6'7" wing Antonio Munoz, 6'0" point guard Damarjay Richardson, Class of 2026's 6'2" point guard Marquise Clark, 6'5" wing Patrick Irvin Jr, and Class of 2027 6'6" wing Howard Williams. A lot of wing length with Munoz, Irvin Jr, and Williams. Good guard play with Richardson and Clark. They can kill you on the glass and have some three point shooting. Despite losing some Class of 2026 talent, they will be in the running again in the Chicago Public League Red.
Teams are still working through what lineups they can trust as the coaches are playing a lot of players, as they should in the summer. It will great to see the progress of these teams. Did not see all of the sqauds in the event, but hope to see many of them in the month of June.
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