The Illinois Attack held a workout and run on Saturday that I attended featuring some players from all four classes. Here are some of the standouts from the day.
Aamir Shannon (Guard, Romeoville 2026)
For a freshman, Shannon is a very good athlete that was explosive in the open floor. He got to the rim pretty well against some older players and used his length (about 6-foot-2) to score around defenders. As he adds strength, Shannon should become a good guard for Romeoville.
Adam Walker (Center, Romeoville 2025)
The 6-foot-8 big is still incredibly raw, but he has some tools that you can’t teach. Only a sophomore, he probably has close to a 7-foot wingspan and uses the reach around the rim. As he gets stronger, his rim-running ability should improve as he can take contact more as a roll man. Walker runs the floor well at his side and was rotating over quickly to help on defense. There is upside to tap into with Walker.
Anish Buddaraju (Forward, Geneva 2025)
Buddaraju’s activity on the inside as a rebounder and defender was notable. With some size and instincts, he grabbed boards and made outlets to guards to initiated the break. It looks like he’s still growing and will be able to wall up in the paint or contain some guards off of ball screens.
Ben Grunloh (Guard, Aurora Central Catholic 2023)
A rock-solid senior, Grunloh cut well and showed some driving ability during drills. He is a capable outside shooter who does a nice job of picking his spots. There is some versatility to his game, rebounding, guarding, and passing well throughout the scrimmages.
Blake Fagbemi (Guard, Benet 2025)
Fagbemi has a chance to be the next dynamic Benet guard. His mid-range game is advanced for his age, lifting up into shots around the foul line at various speeds and showing a smooth lefty shot. Creating in space as well, Fagbemi is a sound ball-handler who can collapse a defense with regularity. Fagbemi made an impact when he played up an age level for the Attack and should continue to develop.
Bryce Turner (Guard, Lockport 2025)
Overall, Turner was one of the more impressive players at the event. Turner is a quick and compact guard that plays with strength and urgency with the ball. He had defenders off balance all day, setting guys up with his speed and putting on the brakes a few times to score off of pivot shots. The Lockport guard got to the rim and scored through bumps. I like how well he guards in one-on-one situations, showing good upside as a disruptor.
Danny Podpora (Guard/Forward, Neuqua Valley 2025)
Podpara’s shooting was evident during drills. On a standstill, he loads up into his shot well and can make open threes. With decent size for a sophomore wing, Podpora provides some value as a rebounding perimeter player as well. He is part of a solid 2025 class at Neuqua Valley.
Donovan Neal (Guard, Waubonsie Valley 2025)
Neal showed flashes of being able to get his own shot on command. He changed speeds and directions in space to get an edge and connected on jumpers or layups against pressure. Neal has range to the three-point line and can heat up when given the opportunity. Waubonsie has a good guard to look forward to over the next few years.
Evan Czarnik (Forward, Plainfield North 2024)
Czarnik is a tall wing that has a great outside stroke. His release point is consistent and he’s a fluid shooter off of the catch. The ball came out of his hands nicely during drills and that continued into scrimmages. He’s probably around 6-foot-4 and has a good wingspan to work with defensively. He will be able to act as a premium floor spacer for Plainfield North this year and has the type of game and size that should appeal to D3 coaches.
Jaden Edwards (Guard, West Aurora 2025)
Edwards plays with strength and power as a guard. Early on, he was carving up the defense to score around the rim. He turned defense into offense and was a regular threat in transition to jet to the rim, take hits, and convert. Edwards is part of a promising young group at West Aurora.
Kendall Cutler (Guard/Forward, Bolingbrook 2025)
The Bolingbrook wing was slashing with athleticism. Cutler was able to finish off of straight-line drives and attack closeouts. His strength is getting to the rim, but he showed some flashes as a switchable perimeter defender as well.
Luke Adolfs (Guard, Oswego East 2025)
Adolfs is a good catch-and-shoot option that stayed on balance coming off of movement. He has a strong frame for a guard and used his upper body strength to slow down opposing guards defensively. There is some toughness to his game that should translate well.
Mac Doyle (Guard, Benet 2025)
Doyle is a skilled passer and shooter that plays like a pure point guard. The Benet sophomore made passes off of the dribble to find players when help sunk in and showed off a crisp-looking jump shot. Doyle was also active on the defensive end getting steals and tips before turning them into offense. He’s a solid lead guard who makes good decisions with the ball.
Marshawn Cocroft (Guard, Aurora Christian 2026)
Cocroft dominated at times with his shiftiness, competitiveness, and ability to score in the paint. Entering his first high school season, Cocroft is a seasoned ball-handler that operates efficiently and effectively to create offense. His end-to-end speed led to chances around the lane and he displayed court sense as a playmaker to hit teammates. He should be up on varsity this year and could receive the keys to the offense sooner rather than later.
Max Niesman (Guard, Oswego 2023)
Niesman plays with the tempo and feel that you want from a ball-handler. He excelled during drills, showing his comfort shooting off of the dribble from long-range and the ability to use his handle to cover ground and get to his spots. During the scrimmages, he ran the show by delivering timely passes for layups and encouraging teammates throughout the day. When he wanted to get to the basket to score, he didn’t have any problem sizing guys up and quickly getting the ball to the backboard. Niesman looks like a quality Division 3 point guard prospect who should attract eyes from some of the solid programs in the area.
Mickeis Johnson (Forward, Romeoville 2026)
Even as a freshman, Johnson was one of the strongest and most athletically impressive players in attendance. Built like a linebacker with explosive run-and-jump ability, Johnson bullied his way to the rim multiple times and was able to show touch within 10 feet to score. There were plays in transition where he effortlessly got above the rim and that leaping ability showed as a rebounder and shot contester as well. Johnson has a ready-made frame but also understands how to use his strengths.
Moses Wilson (Guard/Forward, Waubonsie Valley 2025)
Wilson impressed with his shooting ability, both off of the catch and off of the dribble. He has a lanky build and a very easy three-point shot. Wilson connected on multiple threes and was able to make one or two moves off the bounce to get shots. He is also a fearless defender who blocks shots, guards multiple spots, and projects as a tall wing as he fills out.
Reggie McWaine (Guard, Oswego East 2025)
McWaine can really score the ball in bunches. During the scrimmages, he knocked down threes and took it strong into traffic. He plays off of his hesitation well and knows how to cuff the ball on his drives to allow him to split defenders. McWaine showed some competitive spirt on the defensive end as well and will be able to contribute on both ends.
Simon Reng (Guard/Forward, Yorkville 2025)
Now at Yorkville, Reng has some clear upside on the defensive end with how well he moves and covers ground at his size. He looks to have grown and added strength which allowed him to hold his ground and contest shots. Offensively, Reng ran the floor in transition and knifed to the rim. He has a projectable game.
Jake Maquet (Forward/Center, Montini 2025)
Maquet is a bruiser that plays a role as an inside presence. He played with energy all day, running the floor hard, crashing the glass, and rotating on defense. His physicality is noteworthy for a sophomore, unafraid to mix it up in crowds. Maquet did a nice job playing with a motor.
Tyreek Coleman (Guard, Waubonsie Valley 2025)
One of the more gifted players in attendance, Coleman seems to have gotten stronger and refined his overall game since the summer. Very smooth and deliberate with the ball, Coleman has some quick-twitch burst but also knows how to play with pace to get his shots. He showed his value as a knockdown three-point shooter with shots a few feet behind the arc and did even more damage getting downhill. His handle, shooting, and scoring potential could emerge for Waubonsie.
Tyrell Mays (Guard, Oswego 2025)
Mays lacks some size, but he is a real competitor and fighter on both ends. Especially as a playmaker where Mays probed inside of the arc until he found a good shot for his team. He has floaters and scoop shots in his bag to score against size and did a nice job of drawing and dumping off passes. Mays gets up into opposing guards on defense which should help him going forward.