This Shootout once again lived up to billing. Thanks to Mike Reingruber and the Riverside Brookfield Staff for putting together a wonderful and organized shootout. College coaches were all over the gyms and more than a few offers went out. I will talk about top performances, who improved their stock along with other tidbits.
Class of 2023 has some monster guards. Henderson II, Craig, Tillery, Christie, and Williams are all quality guards which will make my rankings very interesting in that class.
Top performance: Asa Thomas, Lake Forest- 6'6" Class of 2023 standout guard had a 37 point performance against Proviso East(Maywood). He scored every way imaginable, threes, mid range pull-ups, turnaround jumpers, cutting off the ball for layups. I also counted double digits in rebounds and very close to the same in assists. He rebounded and made outlet passes on the money for layups to his teammates. The game was not close and led to a 4-0 weekend for the Scouts. He received offers from Illinois and DePaul and I'm sure a few others will come.
Top performance runner-up: Ahmad Henderson II, Brother Rice- 5'9" Class of 2023 point guard had a 26 point performance vs Curie(Chicago). He hit threes, floaters, finished at the rim with both hands, set up teammates for assists in the blowout. Total dominance of the Public League Red South Central power. I counted two missed shots from him in this game. Henderson II was in charge in all facets of the game. I saw one stat where he hit 17 for 21 from three FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!!! It is a crime he has not received any offers yet for his performance in the Shootout. Team went 4-0 for the weekend. Come on college coaches where are the offers for this young man? He does have an offer from Northern Illinois.
Biggest stock riser of the weekend: Orlando Thomas, Rolling Meadows- 6'3" Class of 2022 guard has grown a couple of inches over the past few months. He had a couple of big scoring games this weekend. He has been a standout three point shooter from the corners in his career. He showed in this setting he can run point guard full time. He had 31 points against Timothy Christian. The lefty has expanded his game from being just a shooter and it should show in division two or low division one offers. Look for a big senior season from him.
Sleeper who impresses me every time I see him play: Deandre Craig, Mount Carmel(Chicago)- Class of 2023 6'0" point guard showed out again in the game against West(Joliet). He scored from three and impressive drives and finishes at the rim. Floats around the floor and seems to make it look easy scoring, passing, and being the leader of the Caravan offense. It would seem he should have more traction on the recruiting front. I haven't seem him play a bad game yet in the games I've seen in person and online. Colleges need to get on the boat with this young man. Team went 4-0 for the weekend.
Player I think is a high major talent but will likely be a mid major player: Caden Pierce, Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn)- Class of 2022 6'6" guard did it all against Simeon(Chicago) and St Rita(Chicago). He scored from three point range, two dribble pull-ups, finishing at the rim, using his long arms in the 1-2-2 zone to get steals. Not a bad man to man defender when Glenbard West played man to man. Team went 4-0 on the weekend and showed he can play in a major conference in college.
Team of the weekend: More than a few teams went 4-0 for the weekend but Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn) was most impressive to me. They are long, athletic, and have players at every position that can shoot, pass, dribble, rebound, and run the floor. Their 1-2-2 zone will be tough for teams to score on. Their starters go 6'3"(Warden), 6'6"(Pierce), 6'6"(Durkin), 6'8"(Renfroe), and 6'10(Huff). They could be my preseason #1 team when the high school season starts.
Player that played most like a big man: Michael Osei-Bonsu, Bolingbrook- Class of 2022 6'5" forward made strong moves inside when he received the ball and went to work, He played through defenders to finish at the rim and rebound hard on both ends. He knows he's a big and is not trying to play on the perimeter. He tried to finish against players 4 to 5 inches taller. No presumptions about who he is as a player. He received an offer from Governors State University.
Sleeper teams:
Mount Carmel(Chicago)
Rolling Meadows
Barrington
Riverside Brookfield
Marian Catholic(Chicago Heights)
Brother Rice(Chicago)
Lake Forest
Top players:
Braden Huff, Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn), Class of 2022
Caden Pierce, Glenbard West(Glen Ellyn), Class of 2022
AJ Casey, Whitney Young(Chicago), Class of 2022
Daniel Johnson, Whitney Young(Chicago), Class of 2022
Kyle Thomas, Fenwick(Oak Park), Class of 2022
Rashawn Bost, Evanston Township, Class of 2022
Nathan Boldt, Barrington, Class of 2022
Michael Osei-Bonsu, Bolingbrook, Class of 2022
Orlando Thomas, Rolling Meadows, Class of 2022
Ben VanderWal, Timothy Christian(Elmhurst), Class of 2022
Cooper Noard, Glenbrook South(Glenview), Class of 2022
Nick Martinelli, Glenbrook South(Glenview), Class of 2022
Ahmad Henderson II, Brother Rice(Chicago), Class of 2023
Asa Thomas, Lake Forest, Class of 2023
Cameron Christie, Rolling Meadows, Class of 2023
Bryce Tillery, Hillcrest(Country Club Hills), Class of 2023
Deandre Craig, Mount Carmel(Chicago), Class of 2023
Sonny Williams, Notre Dame College Prep(Niles), Class of 2023
Isaiah Green, Hillcrest(Country Club Hills), Class of 2024
Morez Johnson Jr, St Rita(Chicago), Class of 2024
Jeremiah Fears, West(Joliet), Class of 2025
Big time talent at a big time event. Looking forward to next year.
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