Oswego East Shootout was a showcase in West Suburb talent and then some!!!!!!

OSWEGO, ILLINOIS: It was held over a two day period on Saturday and Sunday, May into June. Thanks to the coaches, concession people, and parents that worked the door, for putting on a first class event. Great start to the June period with some stupendous performances by players experienced and young guns. Summer basketball is to use players to see whom a coach can count on during the high school season. There was a lot of that this weekend and is good to see. Here we go:

WHAT A TITLE GAME:

You had the Class of 2026 experienced gun (6'5" combo guard) Mason Lockett IV) of Oswego East on one side. You had the young mega Class of 2028 talent (6'7" wing Cole Kelly) of Neuqua Valley (Naperville) on the other. They were going shot for shot. play for play in the title game. They guarded each other most of the time, but Kelly got some buckets in the post on switches. Oswego East would break out to a six point lead and then Neuqua Valley would make some plays to get it back to a one possession game. Key point in the game was when Lockett IV went out with about 6 minutes left, and Neuqua Valley extended the lead to six. Oswego East would come back to take a lead with over a minute left, but Kelly cuts back door, and receives a big time pass from Class of 2027 6'1" point guard Carter Coviello for a layup to give them the lead for good. Kelly then made two big free throws for a five point win. Supporting players who played a big role for both teams were:

Oswego East:

Michael Rembert, Class of 2026 6'2" combo guard who hit big three after big three to keep Oswego East in range, and gave them the lead a couple of times.

Dshaun Bolden, Class of 2027 6'5" forward is an athletic King of Bounce and showed it with athletic finishes on passes from Lockett IV, and a big time dunk in second half.

Neuqua Valley (Naperville):

Carter Coviello, Class of 2027 6'1" point guard is a great third wheel for this team. He hit threes at a high rate most of the weekend. The title game he set up Kelly and their other teammate Mason Martin in scoring positions. Speaking of Martin?

Mason Martin, Class of 2027 6'4" combo guard is a layup from three. YOU CANNOT LEAVE HIM OPEN!!!! Now though he's more dangerous because he attacks the rim off the bounce and finishes. Accentuates his offensive package with a nice two dribble mid range pull-up, and gets high on his jump shot. Great second option to Kelly.

TWO SPECIAL TALENTS:

I LOVE THIS AGGRESSIVE VERSION OF MASON LOCKETT IV:

This young man has a chance to be #1 in the upcoming senior class. He read the defense and made plays either for himself, or others. He can score from three, or on nasty drives to the rim. Finishes in a variety of ways, up and under, scoring through contact, or finishing with a nasty dunk. Unofficially had 30 points 7 rebounds 6 assists in title game. He's unstoppable getting downhill partly because he can hit pull-up three point shots. He either scores, is fouled, or both when attacking the rim.

COLE KELLY IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! 40/15/5 CRAZY STAT LINE IN TITLE GAME!!!!! NUMBER 1 IN THE LOADED 2028 CLASS (FOR NOW)!!!!

Not only did he go off for a nasty double/double in the title game, he killed it the entire weekend. Had a double/double in some other games too, and had three consectuvie dunks vs Oswego to put that game away. Scored on threes mostly off the dribble, and is tough on straight line drives to his left hand. Wing plays all over the court for Neuqua Valley and even made some nice assists over the weekend.

SENIOR VS SOPHOMORE TAKE TWO:

I talked about Lockett IV vs Kelly in title game, well in pool play there was another experience vs youth matchup. Yorkville Christian vs Oswego. Class of 2026 6'2" point guard Jayden Riley vs Class of 2028 6'3" point guard Ethan Vahl. These two guarded each other most of the time and frankly they had a tough job holding each other down. Riley is unstoppable off the dribble getting downhill. Finish strong with well built low center of gravity body. He led the state in assists last season, and sets up teammates for threes.Can hit long range threes at times. Vahl gets to his spots in mid range and can hit fall away jumpers. Deep range on his three point shot. Vahl doesn't back down from a challenge and competed on both ends of the court. Class of 2027 5'10" combo guard Tray Alford hit a driving layup in double overtime sudden death to give Yorkville Christian the victory. Class of 2028 5'9 point guard MJ Johnson of Oswego hits threes, and used his quickness to help keep game close. Great duo with his cousin Vahl.

YOUNG COLT OF A BIG AMARI WILLIAMS OF SHEPARD IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT TON OF POTENTIAL:

Williams, a 6'10" Classs of 2028 center has a bright future. He crashes the glass on both ends, but did an excellent job on the offensive glass. Not quite as polished as Cole Kelly, but has the tools to be just as good, or better when it's all said and done. He has a nice touch from mid range, and changes ends very well. Developing rim protector, blocked more than a few shots this weekend. Big men develop more slowly and there's a lot to work with here. He's doubled in the post as soon as he catches the ball, this tells you teams are aware of what he can do on the block. Effort is there, doesn't take plays off, just a matter of polishing some of his skills. One to watch folks.

SOME UNDER THE RADAR TALENTS:

EAST AURORA DUO IS ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR:

RYAN ROBINSON, Class of 2026 6'1" point guard is an attacker to the rim who can finish through contact. Defends like a hawk, had game winning steal in sudden death overtime win over Romeoville. Lefty has a nice floater in the lane, and sets up teammates when he touches the paint. Has ball on a string and is a true floor general. Look forward to when he matches up with rival Class of 2027 Travis Brown at West Aurora.

DAVION JACKSON, Class of 2026 6'5" forward can attack off the bounce, as well as post up on the block. Athleticism allows him to rim protect with block shots, and hit the glass on both ends of the court. High motor who changes ends of the court very well. Makes a great duo with Robinson.

RJ LEWIS IS NEXT UP AT POINT GUARD POSITION AT HINSDALE CENTRAL:

Hinsdale Central had one of it's best teams in years last season. Season ended in heartbreaking loss at Curie (Chicago) in regional final when they were a higher seed. Lost a lot of talent but looks like the floor general position is covered. Lewis, a 5'8" Class of 2027 talent can run a team, get the ball to shooters, penetrate into the paint and make plays for himself or others. Showed he can shoot long range from three in this event. Quick off the bounce gets where he wants on the court.

JOHNNY SHANNON OF ST FRANCIS (WHEATON) IS AN UP AND COMER:

Class of 2027 5'10" combo guard hit threes on the weekend and made nice cuts to the rim for layups. Team made surprising run to the semifinals and won their Pool.

TRE WATKINS OF METEA VALLEY (AURORA) IS A KING OF BOUNCE WHO CAN ALSO SHOOT FROM THE PERIMETER:

Class of 2026 6’2” combo guard is a rare talent in that most athletic leapers are not such great shooters from the perimeter. It's the skill that jumps out when you watch him the explosiveness off the floor, and bodies that he catches (WATCH YOUR HEAD). He can go off the dribble and create his own shot off the three and the mid range. Was slowed down a bit by a shoulder injury , but showed enough as a player to watch in the Chicago Area.

DAYLYN PORTER OF ROMEOVILLE IS EMERGING WITH EACH GAME AS A PLAYER TO BE RECKONED WITH:

If you watched him last year, you're wondering, is he on the floor because of his big brother division one talent Damion "DJ" Porter, who's headed to Tarlton State (Division One)? You had to watch closer because he was improving by the game last summer. This spring was when I saw a jump in the Class of 2026 6'5" forward's game. He played travel bsketball for Greater Purpose. Skill level is night and day as he can go off the dribble and finish at the rim with either hand. He always hit the glass on both ends, playing strong and finishing through contact. Has become a leader for his team, more vocal. Late bloomer.

WEST SUBURBS HAS SOME TALENTED PLAYERS:

Riley (Yorkville Christian), Lockett IV (Oswego East), Watkins (Meteta Valley) all rising seniors to go along with juniors (Martin, Alford, Jordan Purvis (Yorkville Christian)), sophomores (Kelly, Vahl) played in this event. There are a few more that didn't play here but it's an up and coming area for talent in the Chicago Area.