Recruit Look Chicago Showcase Wrap-Up!!!!

I'd like to thank Coach Trell Holland II, the officials, the folks running the event as they did a wonderful job. They had games at multiple sites, but I spent most of my time at Supreme Courts In Aururoa, Illinois. Here we go:

CLASS OF 2026:

There were some very good performances and players in this class.

LINCOLN WILLIAMS, 6'6" combo guard, MAC IRVIN FIRE (ILLINOIS):

My opinion the #1 player in the state in this class at this point. His consistent two end play in this event gives him the edge. He has multiple division one offers and made things look easy out here. Scored on slashing drives and dunks, hit some threes, and defended multiple positions. Kankakee product.

MASON LOCKETT IV, 6'5" combo guard, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Had an injury plagued junior season at East (Oswego), but looked healthy here. Seems to play better on the travel circuit than on his high school team. Showed three level scoring, was explosive off the dribble and finishing at the rim. He was hitting his jump shot in the two games I saw.

TYJUAN HUNTER, 5'7" point guard, MAC IRVIN FIRE (ILLINOIS): Pound for pound and inch for inch the best point guard in Illinois. His play on the court gives you a feeling his size or lack of it doesn't matter. He scores on three's, nice floaters, and smooth crafty finsihes at the rim. Defends you 94 feet and makes life miserable for opposing guards. Led Hope Academy (Chicago) to Class 1A State title last month. Dominated the game with scoring and assists.

JAYDEN RILEY, 6'2" point guard, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Explosive off the dribble attacking the rim either finishing with layups, or making crisp passes. Led the state in assists last season. Showed a nice pull-up jumper and hit a few threes this weekend. Christian (Yorkville) product.

STEPHEN BROWN, 6'7" wing, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Showed ability to attack off the bounce, hit threes on the catch, and crash the defensive glass. Blocked a couple of shots off help side defense. Caught a couple of alley oops in the dunkers spot running the floor. Marist (Chicago) product.

ANDRE TYLER, 6'5" combo guard, MEANSTREETS NIKE EYBL (ILLINOIS): He's a tantalizing talent when focused. He was very focused letting his game speak loudly. Gifted three level scorer, can hit threes off the bounce or off the dribble. Attacks the rim and finsihes high above the rim. Defended on the ball and off the ball at a high level. Played very good defense in the post. Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) product.

NOAH MISTER, 6'2" point guard, MEANSTREETS NIKE EYBL (ILLINOIS): Playmaking ability has made leaps and bounds over the last 18 months. He has improved his vision as a passer to go along with his elite deep shooting from well beyond the three point line. Gets to the basket and finshes with either hand. DO NOT GO UNDER SCREENS AGAINST THIS YOUNG MAN!!!! Might as well get ready to take the ball out of bounds. Mount Carmel (Chicago) product.

MARQUIS CLARK, 6'2" point guard, MEANSTREETS NIKE EYBL (ILLINOIS): Strong finisher at the rim that plays well through contact. Good at getting downhill off the dribble with deceptive stop and go moves. He can also get there on straight line drives especially in transition. Whitney Young (Chicago) product.

MID PRO ACADEMY (ILLINOIS) HAD A GOOD SHOWING:

Based out of Central Illinois. Got off to a slow start on Friday losing to a very good Wisconsin Playground UAA team. Beat Meanstreets EYBL in overtime and PSA Cardinals EYBL. Lost to Breakaway Basketball Adidas 3SSB. As usual Gavin Sullivan does a great job developing his players. He has a few more under the radar players on this edition.

COOPER KNOWLES, 6'9" wing: Very athletic player who finished at the rim with some impressive dunks, a couple against Meanstreets. He can step out and hit jumpers as well as slash to the basket off the bounce. Hits the glass on both ends of the court, and blocks shots off helpside defense. Changes ends very well. Comes from a small school called West Hancock in downstate Illinois.

JAXON CLARK, 6'10" center: An absolute load in the paint!!!!!!!!! Finishes through contact against multiple defenders, nice post up game finishing shots at the rim. Rebounds well on both ends of the court. Gets other bigs in foul trouble as you cannot guard him one on one in the paint. Runs the court well for the big frame that he has. Keokuk (Iowa) product.

SEAN LEE, 6'5" combo guard: Underrated player not many know about. He can hit threes, run a team from the point as well as play off the ball. Well built young man allows him to finish through contact at the rim with either hand. High IQ that makes smooth passes to teammates in the offense. MacArthur (Decatur) product.

JOSH HUMBLES, 6'2" combo guard: He's next up at perennial state power Manual (Peoria). Showed he could hit catch and shoot threes at a high rate. This will help accentuate his elite slashing and finishing game off the bounce at the rim.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS FINEST BIG TIME SLEEPER:

SEMAJ STAMPLEY, 6'2" point guard, SW JETS (ILLINOIS):

He just continues to come to the Chicago Area and impress in Recruit Look events up this way. Impressive two end athlete who puts pressure on defenses in a number of ways. He can score at all three levels hitting threes, pull-up jumpers, and finishes at the rim whether with Euro steps, or just simply dunking on you (WATCH YOUR HEAD). He gets in your shirt defensively and gets a number of steals with his quick hands. Division one point guard. Alton product.

WISCONSIN PLAYGROUND WAS THE BEST TEAM I SAW THIS WEEKEND:

They have three stone cold scorers and a Wisconsin commit. Had a tight one point win over Breakaway Basketball Adidas 3SSB.

LATREVION "TRE" FENDERSON, 6'4" combo guard: Wisconsin commit ran a lot of point guard this weekend. Good facilitator of the offense. Can't be sped up. Scored on strong drives to the rim, powering through defenders for finishes at the rim. Gets downhill off the break or in the half court. DME Academy (St John, WISCONSIN) product.

ZAVIER ZENS, 6'7" wing: Smooth operator who glides around the court. Seems like he's not goin fast but is getting by defenders on a consistent basis. Scored at all three levels, hit the glass on both ends, and slashed to the rim for strong finishes. State Champion at Wisonsin Lutheran.

JAKARI SMITH, 6'5" combo guard: AN ABSOLUTE KING OF BOUNCE!!!!! Gets up so high can be scary. He was OVER THE TOP OF THE SQUARE on one of his alley oop finishes. Uses his athleticism to catch alley oops at the dunker spot, hit the glass, and block shots on or off the ball. Bradely Tech (Milwaukee, WISCONSIN) product.

BREAKAWAY BASKETBALL ADIDAS 3SSB WAS IMPRESSIVE WITHOUT CLASS OF 2028 STAR COLE KELLY. LOOKS READY FOR FIRST TIME ON MAIN CIRCUIT:

Cole Kelly is out with an elbow injury. Expected to be back by session one of Adidas 3SSB.Teammates soldiered on with a 3-1 record for the weekend.

MICHAEL NEE, 6'2" combo guard: Shot the cover off the ball this weekend from three point range. He's dangerous off the catch and shoot in this offense. Hit 5 threes in one game. Two sport star (football quarterback) is a great floor spacer and makes defenses pay for helping off him. Glenbard East (Lombard) product.

CAMERON MERCER, 6'2" combo guard: CAM.....OH CAM.... This young man can knock down threes off the dribble or off the catch. Had a game where he made 5 threes mostly off the catch. Two end standout as he's a big time defender on or off the ball. Causes turnovers with steals or making the opposing guard give it away. Son of former Kentucky star and NBA player Ron Mercer. Riverside Brookfield product.

BRYCE WEGRZYN, 6'8" forward: He can stretch defense with catch and shoot threes. Inside/out force who rebounds at a high level. Finishes at the rim at a high rate. Gives the team a threat on attacks to the rim by teammates. Good hands to catch passes in the post or on the perimeter. Libertyville product.

CHRIS BOLTE, 6'6" wing: Lefty can shoot the three at a high level. He has improved attacking the basket off the bounce. He can hit two dribble mid range pull-ups at a high rate. He can also go down in the post and score there if needed. Rebounds well for his position. St Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) product.

FUNDAMENTAL U AKA ELEVATE UAA HAD A GOOD START TO BEING ON A MAIN CIRCUIT:

Mike Weinstein's outfit went 2-1 on the weekend only loss to PSA Cardinals Nike EYBL.

CHRIS KIRKPATRICK, 6'3" point guard: Did his usual floor general stuff. Two time Big TIm All-Area player scored at all three levels, hitting deep threes, mid range floaters, and Euro step finishes at the rim. Touched the paint off the driblle and kicked out to three point shooters. New Trier (Winnetka) product.

ADAM ANWAR, 6'7" wing: He's an inside/out force as he was knocking down threes over the weekend like they were layups. Can post up on the block and score over either shoulder. Hits the mid range jumper from the baseline or at the free throw line. McHenry product.

JORDAN WILLIAMS, 6'6" wing: Slashing wing who can score from three off the catch or off the bounce. Lefty is a big time scorer at the rim, either off rebounds, or post ups. Double/double machine as he's a high level rebounder for a wing. Fremd (Palatine) product.

CLASS OF 2027:

Some good players in this class in Illinois.

COLE DUBOIS OF ELEVATE UAA GOES ABSOLUTELY OFF VS PSA CARDINALS NIKE EYBL:

5'10" point guard is a monster floor general. I had heard about him and recorded some of his performances under my top performers posts I do every night during the high school basketball season. The performance of the weekend, as he hit 9 threes, alot of them from one step past half court off the dribble. He hit them all over the court and off the catch. He made a few slick passes to teammates. He's one of the top point guards in the class in Illinois. He has a nice mid range floater in his repetoire as well. Plays at his own pace, and good change of speed on the dribble. East Peoria product.

MOUSSA KAMISSOKO IS A BIG TIME NATIONAL TALENT:

6'8" PSA CARDINALS NIKE EYBL (NEW YORK) wing showed why he's a Top 15 talent nationally in the class. Do it all talent can score from three off the catch or the bounce, take it off the defensive board, push it to create for himself, or his teammates. Had some nasty powerful dunks whether catching alley oops from the dunk spot, or finishing off dribble drives. Long lanky wing that is a King of Bounce. Long Island Lutheran product.

OMAR AJANOVIC, 6'6" wing, Elevate UAA: Next up at first time State Finals participant St Patrick (Chicago). Athletic and can run the floor, had a head tap dunk (WATCH YOUR HEAD) against SW Jets. Runs the floor well has a nice touch in the paint area.

MARIST (CHICAGO) HAS A COUPLE OF PLAYERS WHO WILL FIGHT FOR PLAYING TIME ON A LOADED REDHAWKS SQUAD NEXT SEASON:

JAYDEN BULLOCK, 5'11" point guard, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Explosive socrer from all three levels. Scored 34 points on night one in a variety of ways. Can get to the rim off the bounce and finish with floaters and driving layups. Shoots the deep ball (three) at a high rate.

KENDALL MEYERS, 6'5" combo guard, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Had a 35 point game on Saturday vs Mid Pro Academy (ILLINOIS).Versatile player who can play a number of positions on the court. Had a number of steals and finishes above the rim. Attacked the basket for a mid range floater and it a couple of threes.

JAMIER MONTGOMERY, 6'2" point guard, YOUNG N RECKLESS (ILLINOIS): Mid range king as he has a nasty pull-up jumper. Can hit it bringing the ball up full court, or on two dribble pull-ups. Two end player as he defends on the ball with a nasty dispostion. off the bounce or off the catch. Handles are ridiculous and yes he can hit threes Still growing as Dad is 6'8". Bright future and look for an explosion in travel season and during the high school season. Crane Medical (Chicago) product.

ALEX SIRBU, 6'8" forward, Breakway Basketball Adidas 3SSB: An absolute double/double machine. Plays hard all the time. Good footwork in the post, can score over either shoulder. Showed a nice 15 foot jumper in this event. Hits the glass on both ends with a firece disposition. Might be the best big man in the class. Buffalo Grove product.

DAMARI STEPHENS, 6'5" combo guard, Mac Irvin Fire Nike EYBL: Big bodied guard who attacks attacks attacks downhill with full force. Has a nice handle and uses his body to shield defenders off to get where he wants. Finishes with either hand at the rim, and can dish the ball off to shooters. Kenwood Academy (Chicago) product.

PEYTON MIAMBA, 6'6" wing, Mac Irvin Fire Nike EYBL: Athletic mid sized wing who can get to the basket, as well as hit a pull-up mid range jump shot. Defends multiple positions on the perimeter as well as slash and dunk on defenders at the rim. Hits the glass on both ends. Penn (Mishawaka, INDIANA) product.

PRECUOUS SAM, 7'0" center, Mac Irvin Fire EYBL: Athletic big man who runs the floor well, rim protects. Very raw but is getting better by the game. AZ Compass Prep (AZ) product.

Class of 2028:

This is an absolute nasty class folks. A lot of players have made splashes on the varsity already. There are some that did not that have potential to be monster talents. They are everywhere around the state in this class.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS HAD IT'S IMPRINTS ALL OVER THE PLACE THIS WEEKEND:

WELCOME BACK KAYDEN TURNER:

Kayden Turner, 6'4" combo guard, Mid Pro Academy (ILLINOIS): Sustained a fractured hip in early January. Before that he was out with pain in his hip because of growing pains (literally). He played his first basketball in three months. Was rusty the first game, started hitting some threes and mid range shots in second game vs Mac Irvin Fire. Had a game winning tip in at the buzzer that was wiped off for offensive basket interference. Moves well off the ball, hits the glass, and made some good passes to teammates. Struggled shooting in his third game, but was almost back to his self in the final game. Look for him to explode scoring as the weeks move on and he gets his legs back to form. Hard worker on his game, so naturally the shooting touch will come back. Metamora product.

JACOB "JJ" DUFFIN, 6'4"wing, Mid Pro Academy (ILLINOIS): King of Bounce who's an athletic finisher at the rim with dunks or hanging finishes. Hits the occasional three, but his calling card is as a versatile defender. He can guard all perimeter positions on the ball, and quick hands gets deflections off the ball. Central (Peoria) product.

JACKSON GOLDEN, 6'4" wing, Mid Pro Academy (ILLINOIS): Rugged tough wing attacks the rim strong and finsihes through contact off the bounce. Can attack in the half court off on the break. Fierce rebounder on both ends of the court. Mahomet Seymour product.

COLE TILLMAN, 6'5" wing, MId Pro Academy (ILLINOIS): Smooth shooting lefty who can hit the three with a nice release point off the catch or off the bounce. Had some nice drives and finishes at the rim. Defended multiple positions.Mendota product.

AMARION SMITH-HOLLEY, 6'0" point guard, Mac Irvin Fire (ILLINOIS): Epitome of toughness. He's small in stature but is not afraid to go into the trees in the paint and finish over taller players. He puts his body into the shot blocker to get space to finish over him. Gets into opposing guards defensively and doesn't let them breathe. Finishes with either hand. Nice change of pace on his dribble. Quick on quick pushing the ball up the floor. Big time passer. Richwoods (Peoria) product.

ANFERNEE MOORE, 6'4" wing, Mac Irvin Fire Nike EYBL (ILLINOIS): Tough in the interior, hits the glass hard on both ends. He can take a rebound and push it up the floor for a finish at the rim or can pass it to a teammate for an open three. Richwoods (Peoria) product.

AMARI WILLIAMS GETS BETTER EVERYTIME I SEE HIM:

The 6'9" forward for Mac Irvin Fire Nike EYBL (ILLINOIS) is doing different things since I last saw him play in January for Shepard (Palos Heights). He's running the floor better, finishing with his left as well as his right hand, rebounding out of his area, as well as rim protecting. He can hit 15 footers at the free throw line. Looks very fluid out on the court. Footwork is very good in the post. Biggest upside in the loaded class.

ROOSEVELT THOMAS, 6'3" combo guard, Mac Irvin Fire (ILLINOIS): Secretary of Defense. Physical and can guard multiple positions on the perimeter. He does it without fouling using his compact body and quick fet to make life miserable for guards. He scores in the mid range, and on strong finishes at the rim. DeLaSalle Institute (Chicago) product.

BLAKE CHOICE, 6'3" combo guard, Illinois Wolves UAA: Next up at 3 time defending state champ DePaul College Prep (Chicago). He can get anywhere he wants off the driblle, setting up teammates for open shots, or can score himself at the rim, or from three point range. Big time defender.

CHASE KASTEN, 6'5" combo guard, Illinois Wolves UAA: Versatile scorer. Scores at all three levels on the catch or the bounce. Attacks the rim off the bounce and uses height to finish at the rim with flip shots, or Euro steps. Normal Community product.

BEN OJALA, 6'2" combo guard, Breakaway Basketball Adidas 3SSB: Ran some point and made some good passes to teammates for open threes, or on cuts to the basket. Showed his nasty three point shooting ability by hitting them off the catch or off the bounce. Evanston Township product.

KELECHI ENYIA, 6'2" combo guard, Breakaway Basketball Adidas 3SSB: Bouncy scorer who can do it in a lot of ways. Hits threes, has a mid range floater, and can finish at the rim with powerful dunks, as well as through contact. Compact strong athlete. Providence Catholic (New Lenox) product.

DJ CALDWELL, 6'3" point guard, Breakaway Basketball Adidas 3SSB: He was injured a lot in the regular high school season. Showed his floor general ability this weekend. He can score on all three levels, hit threes, mid range floater, and smooth finishes at the rim. Defends on and off the ball at a high level. Biggest sleeper at the guard position in the class. Could end up the best of the bunch in a loaded class.