I was up at Carmel Catholic in Mundelein for the full slate of games for the AAYou fall league on Sunday. Of the group of teams that played, here are some of the standouts.

Dominic Mordini (6’2 PG, Lake Forest 2026)

The attacking guard was on a tear in the second half. Seemingly getting inside at will, he put it on the ground with intent and was able to expose soft spots in the help side. Mordini has the wingspan to make plays in traffic and improving athleticism to elevate in crowds to score. Also a gifted shooter, he can stretch the defense to open up those lanes. I continue to be high on Mordini’s potential.

Hudson Scroggins (6’7 SF/PF, Lake Forest 2025)

Scroggins had a big game as a scorer and defender, leading the way for the Scouts as they extended their lead. He hit a couple of threes and got to the foul line early and often with his physical takes to the rim. The defense struggled to keep him out of the paint and his length forced multiple turnovers on the other end. High-scoring output for the rising junior.

Andrew Hill (6’5 SF, ICCP 2025)

I saw Hill play two games on the day. The effortless shooting stroke is what stands out. Though he didn’t shoot as well as he normally does; he was able to create and hit some shots from three and in the mid-range. He’s more of a wing but did a nice job using his frame and athleticism inside to rebound and challenge shots. His versatility seems easy to translate to the college level.

Jake Gallagher (6’1 PG/SG, ICCP, 2024)

Strong and smart at the guard spot, the experienced ICCP guard had a big first half pounding the ball inside to score or make plays for others. He picks his spots well within the offense, understanding when to curl or backdoor away from the ball. There is value on the defensive end for Gallagher as well with his activity and side-to-side movement. Should be a leader for ICCP this year.

Hamzah Shouman (6’0 PG/SG, CPSA 2025)

From the onset, Shouman was aggressive getting to the rim. He’s got a quick first step with the slashing skill to use his ball handling to get to his spots. Shouman weaved in and out of the lane with an active handle before ultimately rising up well to make layups or draw contact to get to the line. He added a couple of threes over the two games that CPSA played and was engaged in the passing lanes to poke balls loose. Shouman will be a big part of a good CPSA backcourt 

Ibrahim Elagha (6’1 PG/SG, CPSA 2024)

Even in some tough matchups against other talented guards, Elagha was a standout. Often making things happen off of the dribble, Elagha managed to make some acrobatic layups inside, spread out some jumpers over their two games, and set up his teammates for open looks when needed. Elagha has the speed and body control to be a force on dribble penetration. He should be a difference-maker right away for CPSA.

Ethan Henderson (6’4 SG, Carmel 2025)

Among the more impressive players that I saw during the day, Henderson is a multi-purpose guard who seemingly did everything in Carmel’s win. The physical stature and fluid movement that he had with the ball stood out. Henderson was a willing playmaker and had full control on his drives to the rim. With his 6-foot-4 frame, he’s going to be a terror defensively when he is locked in. While guarding the top option on the other team, he gave no air space and was getting blocks, deflections, and steals at a high rate. When his outside shot is falling as well, he was throwing the whole kitchen sink at them. Potential breakout player at Carmel.

Carter Newsome (5’10 PG, Waukegan 2026)

Newsome came in off the bench ready to let it fly. The skilled PG has a quick; easy outside stroke and played well off of the ball to hit jumpers. I also liked the toughness and speed he showed on defense during the entirety of the day. Newsome understands how to be active without fouling and also showed well as a passer in the open court. The IQ continues to be what puts him apart from peers 

Jeezy White (5’11 PG, Waukegan 2024)

White is a ball-handling and passing maestro with excellent open floor vision and creativity. He was the main table setter and lob thrower in both of their games. The ball really pops off the ground when he’s dribbling; allowing him to have full control to get his own shot or use his court sense. White forced a bunch of turnovers by picking crossovers and reading eyes. Glad to see him at Waukegan where he should be a great example for the younger guys.

Simereon Carter (6’3 SG/SF, Waukegan 2026)

The best overall athlete I saw, and also among the best in the class, Carter plays like a man possessed on both ends. He attacked any and every missed shot, using his speed and leaping ability to go secure the ball. A lot of the showtime plays came in the open court where he caught lobs and finished with flare. But Carter’s shooting form really stood out to me. The mechanics are there, and he seems more confident pulling up. He is trending up and is coming off one of the better freshman campaigns in the state.

Conrad Okulshi (6’3 SG/SF, Palatine 2025)

Okulshi is a workhorse who has continued to expand his game and was efficient on a high volume in their game. Able to play bully ball or stretch out to the three-point line, Okulshi got it done in a variety of ways. He used his strength to score on some inverted post ups while mixing in some spot-up jumpers and aggressive straight-line drives. The high-energy play was constant despite not having a sub. It was an all-around excellent performance.

Ricky DiVito (5’9 PG, Hersey 2025)

DiVito has a non-stop motor and was looking to score from the tip. He got to the elbows often and used his vertical to shoot over taller defenders. The open court speed and knack for making difficult shots in the lane through contact was noteworthy. He just found ways to finish. DiVito is a highly-athletic point guard who can be a pest defensively from baseline to baseline. His effort was a large part of the outcome of the game.

Anton Strelnikov (6’8 C, Lake Zurich 2025)

It was just another day at the office for Strelnikov. He went for nearly 40 points, towering over the smaller defenders and keeping it simple inside with dropsteps and hooks. There was nothing the defense could do with their personnel. He sealed hard and got most of the offensive rebounds in his area. Strelnikov also hit a three during the game and a bunch of foul shots. He was dominant.

Kain Kretschmar (6’3 SG, Lake Zurich 2026)

Kretschmar didn’t play like a sophomore in this one. Even on the tougher shots off of the dribble, he was knocking them down. He hit a couple  of stepbacks after using his ball skills to create some space and took advantage of the lack of rim protection with some athletic drives inside. Kretschmar is capable of going for 20 on any given day if the defense isn’t engaged.

Nick Popovic (6’3 SG, Lake Zurich 2024)

The leader of this team, Popovic was unshaken by tight defense and attempts to speed him up. He converted off of physical penetration and lost defenders with crossovers. Popovic can fill it up from the outside, making some threes and showing great feel for manufacturing his own shot. On drives, he found Strelnikov inside when help came and didn’t force anything. He’s got a lot more athleticism than he gets credit for, nearly catching a body in transition. Popovic is an underrated guard who Division 3 coaches will be tuning in to see during the season.

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