The biggest tournament in the Midwest this weekend, the Bill Hensley Run N Slam, featured many top programs from Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio alike. Of the teams that we saw, here are some of the standouts.
All-In 2024
Cam Lathos (6’6 PF, Conant)
Big and skilled, Lathos got off to a great start. He hit a three from the top of the key, flashed to the mid post for a jumper, and got a defender up with a pump fake before dribbling into a tough mid-range shot. Lathos is not a high-flyer by any means, but the angles he takes and use of his lower body to create space is advanced. On a few putbacks and low post opportunities, he used a couple of bumps and finished well. I like his future playing out of the high post with how well he shoots it and his ability to pass when faced up. Lathos will be a high-priority stretch four D3 recruit in the Chicago area.
Jack Dabbs (6’5 SF, Stevenson)
Dabbs generally plays within himself, making the simple plays and scoring with efficiency. Against an active full court press, Dabbs did a nice job handling the ball and making on-time deliveries off of the dribble. Very rangy with the ball, he drove the ball hard to his right hand and glided to the basket for layups. He also showed good lift and a high release point on his jumper. As the transfer portal settles down, Dabbs should catch the eye of a number of college coaches.
Sam Lappin (5’10 PG, Glenbrook North)
It’s so refreshing to see a point guard battle where both kids are going at it on the defensive end. Lappin was working to stay in front of the ball and was physical off of the ball to make things uncomfortable. There was a toughness that Lappin brought offensively, finding sneaky ways to use his speed to score and get into the teeth of the defense. He lived at the foul line later in the game and was reliable as a passer, as he is accustomed to being for All-In.
Big 3 2024
AJ Levine (6’0 PG, York)
Levine was the primary source of offense for Big 3, hitting some outside shots early on and creating a few open looks for teammates after drawing more defensive attention. He’s got a nose for scoring the ball from all three levels and connected on two early shots beyond the arc. A very athletic guard at 6-foot, Levine has a first step that you have to respect and the burst in the paint to score over length. Expect for a number of high-level D3 programs and some D2s to take a look at Levine.
Alec Schmidts (6’4 SF, Barrington)
The size and shooting ability of Schmidts stands out. His jumper is pure coming out of his hands and he’s got a big frame for a wing that should continue to be refined. He can go inside and bang with taller players to get rebounds as he showed, but his perimeter game offensively is what should be his biggest value-add for college coaches.
Full Package Gold 2024
Aidan Bardic (6’3 PG, Stevenson [2025])
Playing up an age, Bardic played a little bit on and off of the ball. He kept the ball moving on the offensive end and got going more to the basket in the second half. Once he got a head of steam, Bardic took hits and scored through contact. At 6-foot-3, he had no issue challenging bigger help defender. He’s also a high-energy defender who was stunting and recovering well. The tough lefty will continue to be a point guard who produces consistently on both ends of the floor.
Colby Smith (6’3 PG, New Trier [2025])
Smith was among the most impressive sophomores I saw this weekend from a maturity standpoint. Even while playing against the older competition, he picked his spots and stayed ready when his number was called. He’s got a tight handle and very good acceleration, completely losing his defender a few times to get to the paint. It also looks like he his release and footwork on the catch have become quicker, wasting no time firing and connecting on a couple of catch-and-shoot threes. Smith plays with a killer instinct that you can’t teach and has the matching skill to be one of the better 2025 guards. D1 upside.
Kaleb Jackson (6’0 PG, Carmel)
The point guard of the 2024 group for Full Package, Jackson was hunting for his shot with the 2025 guards taking some ball-handling duties off of him. He diced up the defense a couple of times to get some short-range shots and finesse layups inside. For a few stretches, he made a handful of tough shots around the lane.
Mark Nikolich-Wilson (6’7 C, Rolling Meadows [2023])
The best uncommitted senior big in the state, Nikolich-Wilson was flashing those point center skills that make him a one-of-one prospect. He used slight change of pace moves when pushing with the ball to get defenders off balance and got to the rim well on multiple occasions. Very technically sound down low, he had a great up-and-under move and spin along the baseline well. He also impressed as the quarterback and decision maker while split actions occurred off of the ball.
Vince Buzelis (6’4 SG/SF, Sunrise Christian [2025])
Another 2025 player who was making an impact at the 17U level, Buzelis gave Full Package quality minutes on the defensive end with his athleticism and consistent activity as a primary and help defender. Buzelis was another good ball and body mover who fit right in with how he spaced the floor, cut for layups and a dunk, attacked closeouts, and got on the glass. He has added noticeable strength, bounce, and refinement to his game in the last year.
Indiana Elite 2024
Colin White (6’6 SG, Ottawa-Glandorf [OH])
White has a level of grit, versatility, and size that is very intriguing. He’s a strong kid that was able to use his body to shield off defenders and make moves to get downhill where has a nice set of pivot shots, physical finishes, and crafty interior passes to use. The 6-foot-6 guard was at the line often and then got loose for a couple of threes spacing the floor. From a form standpoint, White has a compact shot with minimal wasted movement. There is some serious athletic pop that he showed going up for rebounds as well and he plays with a nice edge on both ends. White should be a high major recruit that can fit a role well. This kid can go.
Cooper Koch (6’8 SF, Peoria Notre Dame)
The shooter label doesn’t adequately represent all that Koch brings to the game. His on-ball defense was rock solid, staying in a stance, cutting off drives, and forcing some turnovers with his active hands. Koch sprinted out in transition for a one-handed dunk and got a couple of quality looks from three after outrunning defenders to the deep corner. The smooth 6-foot-8 forward had a mid-range pull-up around the elbow and got to the foul line after getting on the offensive glass. Koch just seems to make plays seamlessly, which should have huge value once he gets to Iowa.
Flory Bidunga (6’9 PF/C, Kokomo [IN])
Bidunga is different when it comes to changing games in the paint on both ends. He has legitimate end-to-end speed at 6-foot-9 and was getting to the front of the rim early for easy lob entries before the defense could get set. The sheer power and explosive leaping ability that he showed as a shot blocker/changer and vertical threat offensively was impressive. At times, he was essentially playing volleyball with himself on the offensive glass before deciding to dunk in crowds. I think what really makes him intriguing is the ball-handling and soft touch that he showed when keeping it in DHOs or facing up to attack. Bidunga is among the best bigs in the country with lottery pick potential.
Travis Perry (6’2 PG, Lyon Country [KY])
Perry was orchestrating to perfection all game. The bruising point guard got to his spots in ball screens, kept defenders on his back, and picked apart the back line of the defense with pass fakes leading to lobs and well-timed wrap around passes. On a loaded team, he didn’t have to look for his shot as much during the game. But Perry has a tough dribble penetration game, aided by his comfort manipulating angles and using his body control to create advantages and finish through contact. Also a plus shooter, Perry had defenders trying to chase him off of the line. Perry’s all-around game is reminiscent of a few college PGs who led their teams deep into March.
Mac Irvin Fire 2024
Chris Riddle (6’6 SG/SF, Kenwood)
The physical wing found ways to score from all over the floor. His jump shot form has been solid and we are seeing good output. He hit a three with a hand in his face off of one dribble and looked comfortable pulling it from a few feet behind the college line. From a slashing perspective, he is so aggressive and athletically gifted when he puts his head down. Riddle is a strong candidate to blow up during the June periods on a Kenwood team who is graduating their top scorers.
Team Rose 2024
Gianni Cobb (5’11 PG, Homewood Flossmoor)
Cobb controlled the game at times on both sides of the ball, particularly with his ferocious defensive intensity. He was constantly in pursuit of the ball and forced numerous turnovers by sliding his feet and getting back to the ball. Cobb hit a couple of threes in the first half and was effortlessly getting to the basket using crossovers, start-and-stop moves, and direct drives. He not only has the ball on a string but can make a lot of difficult passes on the move. Cobb has Division 1 point guard skills.
Lee Marks (6’5 SG, Mount Carmel)
Marks was all over the floor defensively, shutting down a couple of spots and displaying those quick-twitch, high-IQ defensive traits that make him a projectable Division 1 wing. He scored on some hard baseline and 45-degree cuts and was able to make plays around and above the rim once he caught it. The physical ability, constant focus, and natural instincts for where to be on the floor make him a very promising player to track.
Y&R 17U
Darrion Sutton (6’10 SF, Accelerated Prep [CO]}
Sutton is a walking mismatch his handle, athleticism, and length. The 6-foot-10 wing worked in ball screens on the right side to attack to his strong left hand well and either facilitate or finish plays himself. He had a few impressive finishes at the rim and showed some shooting range. Sutton genuinely pushes tempo and makes moves off of the dribble like a guard and should be considered a high-major prospect.
Davius Loury (6’7 PF [2023])
Formerly of Kenwood, Loury looks to be at full strength and was shooting the lights out. He’s got ideal size for a combo forward and projects best as a stretch four who can attack other bigs in space. Loury drilled multiple threes and covered ground when he put the ball on the ground. After a prep year, I’d expect him to regain some Division 1 traction.
Justus McNair (6’3 SG, Joliet West)
McNair has been so good for Y&R all spring and it was more of the same this weekend. Known for his explosiveness, McNair does a lot of good on both ends of the floor. Without some of their usual guards there, McNair manned the point guard spot at times and was effective off of high ball screens. His body control and ability to contort himself in the lane to get around size. McNair, who was also guarding the ball well, is another future Division 1 player.
Big 3 2025
Andrew Hill (6’5 SF/PF, ICCP)
Hill had a very impressive offensive showing for Big 3. Around 6-foot-5 with good strength, Hill handles the ball pretty well in space and can shoot it. He made shots from around the arc, hitting a pick-and-pop three and a handful of other standstill looks. When he did put it on the ground, he delivered some punishment before finishing. He had to have around 20 points during the game and showed nice instincts to put the ball in the hole.
Michael O’Connell (6’7 C, Glenbard West)
For a sophomore, O’Connell has a wide frame that made him a force whenever he got opportunities on the inside. It seemed like every time he got the ball within 10 feet, he found a way to score. The Glenbard West big rebounded well within his area and scored over his left shoulder with a hook shot and a short one-foot jumper off of a drive from the wing. O’Connell is nearly impossible to move and has some raw touch and post instincts to track if he can get more assertive on the inside.
Illinois Wolves 16U
DJ Porter (6’3 SG, Fenwick)
Porter was selective offensively, often moving the ball in the flow of things and making strategic attacks to the basket. Without having to force anything, he was able to create downhill and show some range on his jumper in route to a double-digit scoring output. What stood out most was how physical and solid he was defensively. Porter is among the most physically developed guards in the class and takes pride in locking down his matchups.
Ian Miletic (6’6 SG, Rolling Meadows)
From the early going, Miletic was ready to score off of the catch. The lanky two-guard made a number of threes throughout the game and was shooting the ball with a ton of confidence. He made some sound passes in transition and showed good flashes using his long arms defensively to force tough, contested shots. With how well he can get to the rim in straight lines, Miletic is going to be a problem if he continues to shoot like this.
Nick Allen (6’10 C, Bradley Bourbonnais)
Often the focal point of their early offense, Allen got a ton of touches with his back to the basket. And for good reason. He gets wide and shows his hands to keep defenders on his back inside. Once he caught it, he used a series of drop steps and efficient low post moves to score around the rim, including a lob dunk off of a turnover. The effortless movement at his size and nose for the ball make him a tremendous long-term defensive prospect who should be able to anchor a defense. Allen keeps getting better.
Sean Reynolds (6’1 PG, DeKalb)
Building off of a huge spring thus far, Reynolds got the Wolves into their offense and knocked down perimeter shots at a high clip. As a floor spacer from the wing, he hit a couple of threes on kick outs, showing great shot preparation to get the ball out quickly. He does such a good job of using misdirection to lull defenders to sleep before sprinting into flares or curls to get his looks. Reynolds dribbled with purpose and understood when to turn on the jets or slow things down. His value as a passer on the move shouldn’t go unmentioned as well. Reynolds was a catalyst for the Wolves.
Indiana Game Elite 2025
Grant Best (6’2 PG/SG, Mount Carmel)
Best went right at the Wolves defenders, doing most of his work from the perimeter. He has a good stop-and-pop game from 15-to-19 feet and made a couple of difficult pull-ups around the foul line. The 6-foot-2 combo guard got some separation with decisive moves to get to his spots, while looking good drifting off of penetration and lifting up into shots beyond the arc. Best already has some strength and size at the guard spot, along with athleticism that should help him guard both backcourt spots. A scoring guard, Best could be a breakout player for Carmel in the June live events.
Mac Irvin 2025
Aleks Alston (6’9 SF, Kenwood)
Alston did a lot of his work from the three-point line, catching and hitting from the outside. He towered over other wings at 6-foot-9 but didn’t have any issue handling the ball against quick defenders. Alston didn’t get a ton of looks throughout the game, but it was easy to see how gifted he is with the way he manufactured a few shots around 15 feet and moved with the ball. Power 5 programs have begun to target Alston after he showed well at the EYBL live periods.
Davion Hannah (6’5 SG, Nicolet [WI])
Hannah’s combination of athleticism, agility, and budding skill is hard to find for sophomores. In the open floor, he made a quick move to split the defense for a dunk and was constantly looking to get to the rack when he had space. His springs around the rim were crucial defensively as well with him altering shots and sending a few back with force. Hannah has high-end talent and does so many things that should translate to high-major basketball.
Mike Jones (6’7 PF, Chi Prep)
Looking like a man amongst boys, the athletic forward has a mature frame and overpowered players all game. He sheds box outs well and is a forceful interion finisher who looks to dunk everything. As a roll man, he drew a lot of attention that opened up opportunities for his teammates. He made a step back mid-range shot around 17 feet and took it coast to coast on a few occasions after high-pointing rebounds. Jones is a difficult matchup for any position at this stage against other 2025 players and has been a difference maker on both ends all spring.
Tristan Ford (6’4 PG/SG, Chi Prep)
The explosive lefty ran the show well with the starting unit. His length allows him to play a lot bigger than his listed height, particularly defensively when getting in passing lanes and offensively as a finisher and rebounder. He has that long-stride approach as a penetrator that helps him deliberately weave into the lane and his elevation can catch help side defenders off guard. Ford is very shifty and showed that he can step into outside shots off the catch. He will continue to garner Division 1 interest.
Yaris Irby (5’10 PG, Niles North)
Irby plays with a ton of swagger that allows him to make big plays both as a scorer and facilitator. He had a couple of the best passes I saw this weekend, delivering no-look drop offs to rollers and cutters that left defenders confused. Irby probed and sized up other guards off of the bounce before creating space to get into his jump shot. In addition to a couple of long jumpers, Irby showed straight-line speed to jet to the rim when he had a sliver of open space. He added an offer from NIU earlier in the week.
Breakaway 2026
Chris Bolte (6’5 SF/PF, Hinsdale South)
Despite giving up a few inches and a lot of bulk to the opposing big, Bolte held his own defensively in the early going, boxing out well to control the glass and blocking a shot. Offensively, his versatility forced them to change their matchups. He got out in the open floor for a layup, scored off of a dump off, and connected on a corner three. Bolte’s motor is really what will separate him.
Michael Nee (5’9 PG/SG, Glenbard East)
Nee was automatic from three, making a high percentage of his looks on a good volume. The defense quickly realized the level of shooter he is, but he did a nice job of finding open space in transition and staying in motion off of the ball in order to get clean shots. Nee did a majority of his damage from beyond the arc, taking the game over with his shooting ability. But he also has good court sense and can handle it well.
Ryan Walsh (6’3 SG, Benet)
Walsh came in the game and immediately went to work from distance. In the first half alone, he hit four threes coming off of handoffs, trailing into a shot, and having his hands and feet ready on a corner kick out. Walsh is a premium shooter in the class with great arc on his shot and above average size for a freshman two-guard.
Meanstreets 2026
Gabe Sularski (6’6 SG, Benet)
Sularski continues to grow exponentially, both physically and with his game. The hard drives that he made to the basket led to multiple trips to the foul line and a couple of finishes. He’s a willing finisher with either hand and has some unorthodox rhythm to his ball-handling that gets defenders off of balance. Sularski was mainly going to the paint, but he’s got a nice lefty shot that comes out of his hands consistently. One of the more promising long-term perimeter prospects in the freshman class.
Marquis Clark (6’2 PG/SG, Whitney Young)
The best box to put Clark in is “basketball player”. When he was acting as the lead guard, his vision while playing at high speeds was notable. He can pass guys open and is a team-first decision maker. When he had chances to score for himself, he made hard and decisive moves and showed some explosiveness getting up to the rim. Clark hit a three as well and was a factor guarding both backcourt spots. Another player with a promising future.
Rico D’Alessandro (6’4 SF, Whitney Young)
On a loaded team, D’Alessandro had some dominant moments. At his size, he has elite athleticism and power to drive through contact and bully smaller defenders. He converted on a couple of bruising finishes and flashed his bounce with a two-handed dunk off of a steal. I like his versatility defensively guarding off twos and threes while using his length and quickness to frustrate bigs. D’Alessandro is going to break out for Whitney Young this year.