Prep Hoops Illinois Freshman Showcase Review 2025!!!!!

Showcase took place at Batavia High School. Thanks to Scott Burgess, Steve Parham, Teddy Bahu, and the rest of the Prep Hoops crew for putting on a great event. This was my introduction to most of Class of 2029. I don't watch much of middle school basketball, so this was my first time seeing most of the players. Some of these players will get varsity time, but most will be on Junior Varsity or freshman teams. Run your own race, every player develops at their own pace.

TOP PLAYER I SAW:

This was a hard one as there were two outstanding players. I'm going with a Lyons Township (LaGrange) player for the second year in a row.

QUINN CARROLL, LYONS TOWNSHIP (LAGRANGE): 6'1" combo guard did a little bit of everything at the event. Knocked down threes like they were layups, crashed the glass on both ends of the court, made some nice passes in transtion, and hit mid range jumpers. Defended at a high level as he got deflectiions, steals, and got out in transtition. Another one that will likely play junior varsity or freshman basketball, as Lyons Township brings their players along slowly.

DAKARI NESBITT IS NEXT IN THE STORIED PROGRAM AT THORNTON TOWNSHIP (HARVEY): This school has a great history of star talent. Tai Streets (the current head coach), Erik Herring, Antwan Randle-El, Napoleon Harris, Ty Rodgers, and Mr Basketball Morez Johnson Jr to name a few. Nesbitt was very close to being the top player at this event. A 5'10" explosive King of Bounce point guard is great at finishing through contact at the rim. Showed a nice jump shot, as well as quick hands to get steals in transition and dunks. Look for him to either get lots of time on varsity or start.

KUMASI JONES JR IS NEXT IN POINT GUARD LINE AT POWERHOUSE DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP (CHICAGO):

3 time defending state champ in multiple classifications (2A,3A), have now moved up to Class 4A. Will be looking for 4 straight this coming season. Jones Jr though is the future. A 5'11" point guard is very creative off the bounce, makes nice up and under layups as well as hit the three point jump shot. Floor general who creates for himself and others.

TINLEY PARK HAS A BIG GUARD WITH TREMENDOUS UPSIDE:

TITUS PAYTON, TINLEY PARK: 6'5" combo guard can handle, pass, and shoot. Gets where he wants off the dribble, he can penetrate to the rim backng smaller player down, or wiggle off the bounce. Finishes at the rim through contact using size and long arms. has up and unders, turnaround jumpers on the block. Nice passer off the block or off the bounce. Good chance to get a lot of varsity minutes.

TRAVIS JAMISON OF WHITNEY YOUNG IS A THREE POINT SNIPER: The 6'4" combo guard hits them off the bounce, off the catch, or step backs. He showed point guard abilities in this camp. Handled the ball a lot going off the dribble scoring on up and under layups, straight line drives. Made some nice passes off the bounce and in transition.

MR BASKETBALL JAXSON DAVIS REPLACEMENT AT POINT GUARD WHEN HE GRADUATES:

SHAQUILLE HENRY, WARREN TOWNSHIP (GURNEE): Davis has two more years left at Warren Township but they'll have a ready made replacement. A 5'9" point guard attacks the rim off the bounce, scoring with either hand at the rim. Made some nice passes in transition using his athleticism to finish through and around contact.

OTHER TOP PLAYERS:

JALONNY BILLINGSLEY, SIMEON CAREER ACADEMY (CHICAGO): 6'5" wing is a King of Bounce, slashes to the basket off the dribble, finishing at the rim, or dropping off passes in transition. Developing jump shot and a two sport athlete (football).

EVAN LEMONS, ST LAURENCE (BURBANK): 6'1" combo guard is a King of Bounce had a couple of dunks as well as a mid range jump shot. Changes ends well in transition ansd tough to keep from getting to the rim.

ELON HENDERSON, LEO CATHOLIC (CHICAGO): 6'8" forward might be the best big man in the class. Rim protects, hits the glass on both ends, changes ends well in transition. Can take a player off the bounce from the three point line.

MAAZ DINCA, VON STEUBEN (CHICAGO): School used to be a powerhouse on the North Side. Might be making a come back starting with this young man. The 6'7" forward changes ends well, finishes around the rim, has a nice mid range jump shot.

AJ KROLL, EAST (OSWEGO): 6'1" combo guard attacks the rim and finished through contact. Hit some threes, mid range pull-ups, and pushed the ball in transition. Made some nice passes in half court and transition.

MOSIAH TANG, EAST AURORA: 5'10" point guard relentlessly attacks the rim off the bounce and finishes through contact. Pushes it in transition and attacks in the halfcourt.Does it with quickness and strength.

JONNY UDOLWOD, WHEATON ACADEMY (WEST CHICAGO): Was listed as Geneva but is at Wheaton Academy. The 5'9" point guard showed three level scoring. Hit threes off the bounce and the catch, mid range jumpers, and attacks to the rim. Got teammates involved with nice passes.

ELI POTTHAST, NILES NORTH (SKOKIE): Niles North just graduated four year starters at the guard position. This young man is next up. A 5'9" point guard finished strong through contact finishing at the rim. Scored on mid range pullups, and a few threes. Will be good for the dribble drive offense the Vikings run.

DAJUAN BROWN, BRADLEY BOURBONNAIS: Young man received a lot of playing time off the bench and spot starting in the summer. A 6'1" combo guard who can run a team or play off the ball. He's a three point sniper who hit a bunch of them here. Hit some mid range pull-up jumpers and finished at the rim. Made some nice passes in transition and hit the glass.

CODY (DUECE) JOHNSON, MARIST (CHICAGO): Next in line at the point guard positon at the South Side Catholic school. A 6'0" long armed floor general who gets his shot off at all three levels. Uses slick ball handling to get dribble penetration and nice passes. Gets high on jump shot.

RILEY WATSON, ST PATRICK (CHICAGO): Next star for the Shamrocks. A 6'3" long combo guard is a smooth operator on offense. Scored with no problem on attacks to the rim, pull-up jumpers, Has a smooth release on his shot hitting some threes off the bounce and off the catch. Rebounded on both ends with some good athleticism.

DECLAN WILSON, BURLINGTON CENTRAL (PRAIRIE RIDGE): 6'5" wing showed rim protection, rebounding on both ends, attacking the rim off the bounce, and scored on mid range jumpers. He can get it off the glass and push in transition.

DANILO VAZIC, GUILFORD (ROCKFORD): 6'4" wing used his length to bother shots in the paint. Scored on drives to the rim in transition and attacked the rim. Has a nice mid range jump shot.

ASHTEN POWELL, LANE TECH COLLEGE PREP (CHICAGO): 5'7" point guard is a floor general who can get to the rim off the dribble. Made some nice passes to shooters and finished in a variety of ways at the rim. Used quick hands to get steals.

TYLIN LOTT, SACRED HEART GRIFFIN (SPRINGFIELD): 6'0" combo guard hit threes from all over the court as well as attacked the rim. Scored through and around contact, as well as made some nice passes.

LIAM BAZIN, CROWN POINT (IN): 6'1" combo guard brought a Hoosier flavor to the proceedings. He's a knockdown three point shooter who was knocking them down from all over the court. Attacked the rim off the bounce for baskets.

MARION SABOURIN, CENTRAL (CRYSTAL LAKE): 6'1" combo guard got to the rim off the bounce and finished through contact. Quick step off the dribble and hit mid range pull-up jumpers. Made some nice kickouts to shooters.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, CATHOLIC ACADEMY (JOLIET): 5'9" point guard showed quickness off the dribble, penetrating, scoring, passing, and hitting threes.

NOAH LAWRENCE, MARION: 5'10" point guard was scoring at all three levels of the court. Made some nice passes to three point shooters in transition and in the half court. Nice Euro step finishes at the rim.

ORLANDO BOHLEN, WALTER PAYTON COLLEGE PREP (CHICAGO): 6'0" combo guard is a lights out three point shooter. Hit 7 of them in one game. He also showed he can get downhill to the rim off the dribble and score.

EMRAN ALISPAHIC, NOTRE DAME COLLEGE PREP (NILES): 6'4" forward hits the glass strong on both ends of the court. Plays hard and hustles for loose balls, Rim protects and gets steals.

FITZ MCDERMOTT, ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP (CHICAGO): 6'2" wing can shoot the three off the catch or off the bounce. Attacks the rim off the bounce and scores in a variety of ways.

NICO PRIMOZIC, LOCKPORT TOWNSHIP: 6'1" combo guard is a knockdown three point shooter off the catch and off the bounce. Made some nice passes in transition.

ALLIANCE WILLIS, KENOSHA INDIAN TRAIL (WI): 5'7" point guard showed dribble penetration and kickout to shooters as well as finish at the rim. Hit some three point shots in event.

CHADWICK WILLIAMS II, PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC (NEW LENOX): 6'1" point guard had the ball on a string gets him wherever he wants off the dribble. Created baskets for himself and others. Got to the basket at will.

KADEN MCCLELLAN, BLOOM TOWNSHIP (CHICAGO HEIGHTS): 5'8" point guard used his quickness to get where he wanted on the court. Hit a bunch of threes and scored on nice floaters at the rim.

JAMES RYBERG, UNDECIDED: 6'3" combo guard is a long armed wing that can shoot it from three and get to the basket off the bounce.

JAMES HAUNTY, HINSDALE CENTRAL: 6'2" combo guard can shoot it from three specifically off the catch and shoot variety. Gets to the three point line quickly in transition.

JAEDYN REID, WAUBONSIE VALLEY (AURORA): 5'8" point guard is a lefty who can get to the rim and score through contact. Nice stroke from three off the dribble or off the catch. Creates for himself and others.

JONAS JACKSON, VERNON HILLS: 5'9" point guard created off the dribble for teammates on attacks to the paint. Creative floor general that got where he wanted.

TEDDY DANA, ST IGNATIUS COLLEGE PREP (CHICAGO): 6'3" combo guard who can get where he wants off the dribble. Scores at the rim through contact as well as hit threes off the catch and the bounce. Creates for himself and others.

KING GASTON, KANELAND: 5'7" point guard is a slick ball handler who uses quickness and guile to get to the paint off the dribble. Hit some three point shots.

NOAH YOUNG, LINCOLN PARK (CHICAGO): 5'9" point guard is a good ball handler who gets to his spots to shoot long three point shots. Attacks the rim off the bounce and hits the glass well for his size.

KINGSTON TAYLOR, MARION CATHOLIC (CHICAGO HEIGHTS): 5'8" point guard is a nice ball handler who got to the rim at will. Shifty ball handler who hits threes off the bounce, can get shit shot in the mid range.