Open gym runs: Evanston Township!!!!

I always start my open gym trips close to the crib. I'm an Evanston, Illinois resident and the high school is less than 10 minutes away from the house. I made the trip to famous Bearsley Gym to check out the 2025-2026 edition of the Evanston Wildkits Boys Basketball team. The varsity scrimmaged on Tuesday day after Labor Day. Here are some of the standouts of the evening:

DILLON POMPEY, Class of 2027 5'9" combo guard was one of the standouts of the evening. He pushes it in transtion, made some nice long passes to teammates for layups. Hit some threes, mid range pull-ups and a couple of layups. Set up teammates with nice passes to cutters in the lane leading to lay-ups. Played well off the ball and on the ball. Looked like he had the hang of the offense and running the team.

DION LANE JR, Class of 2027 6'0" combo guard was the other standout of the evening. Showed a nice lefty stroke from the corners and the wing. Quickness personified as he pushed it in transition, making some nice long passes. Drove to the basket using a quick first step to get to the rim and score. Moved well off the ball to get himelf in position to receive passes off dribble penetration. He's also a baseball player.

TIMI OGUNSANYA, Class of 2026 6'3" combo guard attacked the rim for baskets in transition. Hit some catch and shoot three pointers in halfcourt and transition. Made opposing guards work to get the team into the offense. Long arms and nice length in passing lanes.

BEN OJALA, Class of 2028 6'2" combo guard was running a lot of point guard in the offense. Hit some threes, but showed more of his mid range game in this setting. Hit a few two dribble pull-up jumpers. Grabbed some defensive rebounds. Made some nice passes of penetration out to shooters.

VITO ROCCA, Class of 2027 Living La Vito Rocca. The 6'5" forward was attacking the rim off the bounce, had some trouble finishing at the rim the first part of the run. Later on he started converting on attacks to the rim. Hit the glass on both ends of the court. Initiated the offense at times, usually attacking the rim off the bounce. Got on the floor for loose balls, hustled in transition on both ends.

CONCLUSION: Missing 4 players, 3 from football (Mekhi Collins (2027), Tristen Wilcox (2026), Ayden Payne (2027)) , one from golf (Tate Schroeder (2027)). Lost a lot from graduation and a transfer (Monte Dillard Jr (2026) to Indiana) from State Finalist that finished third in Class 4A. Not a lot of size on the interior though Collins (6'6" 300 pounds) will help. Will rely on three point shooting in the dribble drive offense that Coach Mike Ellis runs. Not sure how the Sectionals will look until December, but Wildkits could surprise some prognosticators (including myself), with chance of winning Central Suburban South again and make a deep run in the postseason.