I was able to catch a few games out at in the suburbs at the Prep Hoops The Last Dance event. Of the games I saw, here are some of the players who stood out. We will also be compiling and releasing July AAU awards in the coming days.
Hoops4Health 17U
Xavier Sulaiman (6’3 SG, Oak Lawn)
Sulaiman continues to prove that he is a Division 1 level talent. He got to the rim whenever he wanted to and was playing above crowds once he got to his launching pad. The hangtime and body control that he displays is hard to find at the high school level. Sulaiman got to the foul line often, converted a high rate of his interior looks, and made some shots from the perimeter with a compact form. Scoring from three levels and defending with the pride and intensity that he showed should attract more college programs. He’s a high-academic prospect at the D1/D2 level.
Sonny Williams (6’0 PG, Notre Dame College Prep)
At this point, Williams is probably one of the more underrated pure point guards in the senior class from a recruiting perspective. From a competitor’s perspective, he was terrific as usual, turning opposing ball-handlers, talking teammates through actions, and attacking the lane fearlessly as a penetrator. Williams made some difficult layups and got the ball up the court on time and on target to shooters. He is also able to make one-dribble pull-ups or catch-and-shoot threes as he showed. Williams should be sought after by some low-major D1 programs.
Fundamental U 16U
Nick Taylor (6’7 SF/PF, Glenbrook South)
Finishing an impressive summer on a high note, Taylor was leaving a mark on multiple parts of the game. He was relentless in the paint off of post touches, direct drives, and as an offensive rebounder in traffic. The strong, 6-foot-7 forward fought through contact and completed and-ones or got to the foul line. His energy is contagious on both ends, blocking a few shots and switching out well in ball screens. Taylor also had a transition dunk and showed a good release on a made three. He’s a junior who will be a known name by year end.
Braeden Carlsen (6’3 SG, Wauconda)
Carlsen was aggressive offensively and drilled a couple of threes and layups off of hard cuts. He stays in motion off the ball to create space before the catch but also has the skill to manufacture shots off the dribble. There is a lot to like about how his frame, IQ, and shooting translates to the next level. He plays bigger than his 6-foot-3 listing and is engaged defensively and shows good instincts as a defensive rebounder. He’s a scholarship level two guard who is worth making the trip out to Wauconda to see this season.
Patrick Schaller (6’6 PF, Glenbrook North)
A high-impact defensive presence, Schaller was excellent around the rim going vertical and clogging up the paint with his strength and athleticism. He anticipates well and has a plus wingspan to challenge shots in his area. But Schaller is more than a rim protector, adding a lot of value containing guards on the perimeter and jumping passing lanes. Proven as a volume rebounder, Schaller owned the backboard and created a handful of second chances. As a screen and punch spot outlet, he showed touch and understanding for how to use his physicality to get angles down low. Schaller is a Division 1 football recruit who plays basketball with energy and discipline.
Nate Kasher (6’0 PG, Glenbrook South)
Since the spring, I haven’t been at a game where Kasher had an off shooting game. He pulled up throughout the game from long-range and hit at a high clip. Kasher had an and-one three from the corner and made a few more from the wing. He’s a gifted catch-and-shoot weapon but was impressing as an on-ball defender as well. At 6-foot, he has solid quickness, good balance, and enough upper body strength to take some bumps from guards. He was working hard to get through screens as well. Kasher is one of the best shooters in the state, regardless of class.
Owen Giannoulias (6’0 PG, Glenbrook North)
You don’t see a ton of true point guards anymore, but Giannoulias fits the bill to a tee. I don’t know how many assists he ended up with, but his vision, patience, and timing as a playmaker stood out. He broke presses, split double teams, and delivered pinpoint passes off of his drives. Always playing with his head up, Giannoulias didn’t hold onto the ball for too long, getting it up the floor to the many weapons on Fundamental U. He also had a quality game on the defensive end, being a pest on the ball and causing opposing guards to get out of rhythm. Giannoulias is a point guard who makes other guys better.
Tommie Aberle (6’2 PG/SG, Lake Forest)
Playing primarily off the ball, Aberle did a nice job of running his lanes and finding openings to cut for layups. The Lake Forest guard is a really good all-around athlete who plays with power on both ends. He didn’t give up much space defensively, chesting up guards and wings with his lateral quickness and upper body strength. Aberle had some points on timely face cuts and run outs while showing the passing ability and intangibles that will make him a triple-double threat again in the winter.
Josh Stewart (6’0 PG/SG, Carmel)
Another high-energy player for Fundamental U, Stewart collapsed the defense well off of his dribble penetration. He showed body control on layups and was an effective drive-and-kick passer. I really liked his defensive intensity on and off the ball, being early to the help or cut off a straight-line drive. Stewart competes.
Illinois Attack Miller 2025
Tyreek Coleman (5’11 PG, Waubonsie Valley)
There wasn’t much answer for Coleman’s aggressive scoring mindset. Shifty, skilled, and wiry, he got space to make multiple threes and set up his penetration. He showed good balance when he got hit on his drives and used some creative moves to finish in the lane. He also got it done on the defensive by pressuring the ball and getting a bunch of steals with his activity. Coleman is only going to get better.
Sincere Martin (6’1 SF, Waubonsie Valley)
Martin is a high energy wing that doesn’t have an off switch. He sprinted the floor, got on the glass, and bullied opponents on drives to the rim. An effective slasher that has a strong frame, Martin was able to score in traffic with ease. He really gets after it on the defensive end as well and possesses the instincts you look for in a wing stopper. Another Waubonsie sophomore who should be a good piece.
Illinois Attack Jelani 2025
Whitman Charboneau (6’2 SG, Neuqua Valley)
Fluid and smooth off the dribble, Charboneau did a nice job of getting to the paint to make plays. When he got to the paint, he showed touch and balance to decelerate and pull-up before getting all the way to the rim. Charboneau can shoot it at a high rate from three as well, but also acted as a playmaker guarded the ball well in space using his length to his advantage. He should be next in line of knockdown shooters at Neuqua.
Chicago Hoops 2025
Khalil Jones (5’11 PG, St. Laurence)
Jones put on a number of nice moves off the dribble to get separation. He’s got a quick but deceptive pace that left defenders in the rearview more often than not. After sizing up, he hit a couple of tough stepbacks and also made some double clutch layups around the paint. He looks like he will continue to add strength to his frame and already has a one-on-one game that should translate well.
Caleb Lindsey (6’5 SF/PF, St. Laurence)
Very active, lanky, and athletic at 6-foot-5, Lindsey was terrific on both ends. Whether he was defending on the perimeter or protecting the rim, he was covering ground and contesting everything. For a sophomore, he already understands how to use his reach to take away passing lanes and time up blocks. Offensively, Lindsey worked well from 15-feet with a rhythm pull-up and some takes to the rim using his long strides to get around defenders. He’s got a ton of upside and is a forward to track in the 2025 class.
Jacob Rice (6’3 SG, St. Laurence)
A big, strong two guard that has a developed mid-post game, Rice was operating with his back to the basket frequently. He dribbled into a number of post-ups early in the offense and either found teammates off of double teams or maneuvered off his pivot to get to turnaround jumpers. Rice’s strength is his combination of size and outside shooting, both of which will aid him as a returning varsity player.
Brady Sehlhorst (6’6 SG, Notre Dame College Prep)
Sehlhorst is a tall guard that knows how to create. It seemed like he was getting two feet in the paint more often than not off of his touches and made a handful of shots in there. He’s rangy and has some potential as a wing defender who can get steals and deflections as he showed. Sehlhorst has the ability to fill it up in a hurry and has the look of a promising shot-maker.
Fundamental U 2025
Reid Olson (5’11 PG, Niles North)
Olson is a high-level three-point shooter that continues to show that he can lead and impact games in multiple facets. He knocked down some triples early on and hit a difficult baseline pull-up with a defender on his hip. Olson has a textbook one-motion shot and can quickly lift up into his shot. His passing prowess, especially once defenders started to shade his way, was notable. The Niles North guard welcomed the double teams to find open teammates. He also showed grit as a rebounder and defender and a mature level of communication. Olson can really go.
Ayden Farrare (6’2 SG, Hinsdale South)
It was a bit of a breakout weekend for Farrare, who was had a solid freshman season on varsity for Hinsdale South. Farrare has an athletic build and explodes in transition. He had some big dunks, played through contact, and connected on a couple of threes while showing some flashes as a shot creator off the dribble. I liked how he got up and guarded the ball on the wing despite the score of the game, showing good reaction time and lateral quickness. He’s going to have a big sophomore year.
Full Package 2025
Colby Smith (6’2 SG, New Trier)
It’s safe to say that Smith is a bucket getter. His first step is very quick and he’s an unorthodox and creative finisher once he gets a head of steam. Smith’s athleticism and skill work well together and allowed him to break down the defense from the wing and shift gears to get easy shots in transition. Once he was given space, Smith was more than willing to deliver from the outside as well. When he is rotating and giving energy on the defensive end, the whole team responds. Smith is emerging as one of the top sophomores in the state.
Atticus Richmond (6’6 PF, Berkshire)
Richmond had a size advantage and used it to score over the top of the defense off of putbacks and interior passes. He had excellent end-to-end speed at his size, outpacing many of the opposing guards in transition to get open layups and to get back to the rim defensively where he was walling up nicely against dribble penetration. Richmond cleaned up the defensive glass and seemed to always be around the ball. There is no question that he has a projectable skill set as a face-up forward that can play inside or out.
Ian Miletic (6’6 SG/SF, Rolling Meadows)
Miletic had a big weekend showing many of the different tools that make him an intriguing long-term prospect. He was able to step out and hit a jumper, get to the mid post where he used clean footwork to get a face-up shot, and was active inside the paint off of cuts and direct drives. The 6-foot-6 lefty wing is a rangy and skilled open court player with good passing vision and the ability to push off of defensive rebounds. He was aggressive and assertive as a scoring option and has the length and athleticism that will continue to improve and aid him defensively. Miletic is just getting started.
Aidan Bardic (6’2 PG, Stevenson)
Another heady lefty for Full Package, Bardic acted primarily as a facilitator. There are slight changes of tempo and fakes that he has that really open up the floor and get teammates open. He is more than capable of scoring as well, driving hard to his left hand and getting to the foul line well. Bardic has a seasoned approach to the game at his age and has good size that will allow him to get to his spots. Stevenson is in good hands.