I was out at the Chi-Town Showcase that was put on by XPosure Runs earlier today. The event featured traditional runs and a single-elimination tournament for the latter part of the day. There were nearly 40 players in attendance, with varying performances. With the volume of players, we are going to provide some brief thoughts on every player from the event.

Dwayne Flowers (6’4 G, Prosser 2024)

Flowers is a long-armed guard who did most of his damage around the mid-range with dribble pull-ups. There weren’t a ton of three-point looks, but that 15-and-in game was solid when he got touches. He has a natural nose for finding soft spots in the defense to get his shot off. Flowers has a body that should translate well to the next level and serve him well during his senior season.

Gianni Cobb (6’0 PG, Homewood Flossmoor 2024)

The Columbia commit was impressive as a creator with his quick bursts to the rim and court vision. It didn’t matter if he was matched up against size or speed, he dictated the tempo and got where he needed to with the ball. He got the ball up to the backboard in a hurry as a finisher while burying some jumpers off of the bounce. Cobb has that innate ability to constantly create an advantage while having the savvy and wherewithal to whip passes to teammates as he showed throughout the day.

Devin Cleveland (6’2 PG/SG, Kenwood 2027)

One of a few freshmen in attendance, Cleveland’s mechanics from three stood out. Kind of in the mold of a traditional rangy, smooth guard, Cleveland controlled his handle against pressure and lifted up into his shot well. I liked the confidence that he showed to take shots even after missing some. Everything about his physical profile suggests him adding multiple inches to his frame in the coming years.

RJ McKinnie (6’2 SG, Simeon 2024)

McKinnie played with a ton of energy and intensity on the defensive end. He took on some tough challenges and made guys work for everything. The combo guard showed well as a scorer at different points of the day, knocking down some stepback threes and probing inside to that close-range area for shots. The solidly-built senior remains on the scholarship-level radar heading into his senior year.

Shaheed Solebo (6’4 SG, Lane Tech 2024)

Overall, I thought Solebo had one of the better showings in terms of making plays on offense without forcing things. He was tactical and patient, spacing out to the deep corner as a shooter and picking those straight lines to expose holes in the defense. Normally more of a downhill player, it was nice to see Solebo look so comfortable making reads off of the ball where he is likely to spend more time once he gets to college. He also brought good energy in general to the event, which is always a plus.

Rajan Roberts (6’2 PG, Kenwood 2026)

There were a couple of plays during the day where Roberts reminded everyone why he is considered such a promising prospect. Aggressive defenders found themselves with their hands in the cookie jar, typically being left in the rearview mirror after Roberts weaved and shook primary defenders. While he didn’t have a big scoring day, at least for his standards, Roberts showcased the ability to dance with the ball and get whatever space he needed.

JayQuan Ratliff (6’0 PG, Hillcrest 2024)

I hadn’t seen much of Ratliff, who missed time last season at Hillcrest. But he came across as a sound decision maker who kind of lets the game come to him. He’s not the high-volume shot-taker that typically stands out in showcases, so it was important to focus in on the little parts of his game. Laterally, he moves well and has a low defensive stance that leads to tips and impactful ball pressure. When he did get the ball, he was often in transition where he was looking to make the right play. Though a bit undersized, Ratliff looks primed to take over the PG spot at Hilcrest.

JeShawn Stevenson (6’3 SG, Lindblom 2024)

During certain stretches, Stevenson went on some serious scoring tangents. On his dribble penetration, he has that forward lean that pairs with his physical power to regularly get by the top hip of defenders and force help. Unfortunately for the second level defenses, he took it up strong and was able to convert on numerous difficult finishes and and-ones inside. Stevenson sprayed in a few deep threes during the day while looking engaged and assertive as a one-on-one defender. Cleveland State got a good one.

Elijah Lovemore (6’3 PG, Bloom 2025)

Certain skills are hard to teach. Vision and passing instincts are two of them that Lovemore excels in, as he showed. The lanky, deliberate lead guard uses eye-fakes and ball-fakes well to manipulate the help side defense. He brought a much-needed pass-first mindset that helped his teammates get great looks from the perimeter. Lovemore is more of a below-the-rim finisher who relies on his craftiness and finesse inside. The huge wingspan and anticipation will make him a quality defender in college as well.

Chris Riddle (6’5 SG/SF, Kenwood 2024)

Recently committing to DePaul, Riddle was playing like he had something to prove. I lost track of the number of forceful dunks that he had from a variety of different angles. There were mismatches that he created all over the floor with a grown-man build, range to make defenses pay for giving him a step, and that tough finishing package. Riddle got well above the rim to secure rebounds and was particularly effective as an on-ball shot-blocker while recovering.

Malachi Johnson (6’2 SG, Rockford Guilford 2024)

Johnson won MVP of the first open run portion of the showcase in large part because of a tireless scoring mindset. He shot the ball pretty well throughout the day, shading more to the wings where he plays off of his hesitation well. Early on, Johnson also had some one-handed dunks in transition and came ready to go while other players seemed to be feeling things out. Johnson will play the role of instant offense at the college level.

Stephen Brown (6’7 PF, Marist 2026)

Despite not necessarily taking a ton of shots or getting a bunch of looks, I thought Brown was one of the players who I came away thinking even more highly about. And that’s saying something for a kid who has high-major talent and athleticism. Brown was excellent defensively out in space, moving his feet like a guard but protecting the rim like a player three or four inches taller. He had dunks during the day and made a number of good, hard cuts that he continued to do even though he didn’t always get rewarded for them. Typically kids with his ability can float in events like this, but he was locked in.

Drake Washington (6’3 PG/SG, Proviso West 2024)

Washington operated primarily off of the ball with the teams that he had during the day. A bit of a tweener at the guard spot, it was good to see him get out and run his lanes for some easy looks. Washington will be primary scoring option for Proviso West, looking comfortable playing off of some other talented players.

Kris Hills (5’11 PG, Walter Christian Academy 2024)

I hadn’t seen much of Hills in the past. The senior has a stout frame and plays low to the ground on both ends as a dribble drive threat and as an on-ball defender. He had no issue mixing it up with some of the other guards, taking bumps well and showing his hands without fouling. Hills projects as a spark-plug type of guard who is going to be able to irritate other guards and battle on both ends.

Solomon Ford (5’10 PG/SG, Roman Catholic [PE] 2026)

The Philly product looks like a kid who will continue growing and becoming more of a factor as he fills out. Ford dribbled into short mid-range jumpers on a couple of occasions with a natural one-to-two dribble approach. You can tell that he’s got a plus wingspan that allowed him to contest shots and provide resistance as a gap defender. He’s still young and developing, but Ford is going to be a solid player in Philly.

Ikee Brooks (5’11 PG, Hansberry 2025)

Brooks was fearless. He took it right into the teeth of the defense and utilized both hands to finish among the trees. His first step is quick, yet deceptive, going into different gears well to keep defenders on their heels. Brooks excelled on drives from the middle third of the court, but did add a three and deliver some passes that showed the vision responsible for his double-digit assist showings last year.

Kaleb Jackson (6’2 PG, Carmel 2024)

Jackson was on a heater from the jump. One of the more productive shooters on the day, Jackson didn’t hesitate to play off of the ball and drill open threes at a high clip. It was the type of performance that actually helped evaluate him from a college perspective, working as a creator for stretches but playing his role as a spot-up shooter during the scrimmages. Within that, Jackson was solid on the defensive end and looked committed to doing what was needed to win.

Samar Bures (5’9 PG, Rich 2024)

Only 5-foot-9, Bures gets off of the ground in a hurry and has some quick-twitch athleticism that showed well. As the games got going, he was picking guys up in the open court and turning them to make them uncomfortable. Bures didn’t have a ton of moments offensively in the half court but did have some runouts. From today, Bures looks like a kid who will thrive in an up-tempo, full-court defense.

Karter Freeman (6’0 PG/SG, Delaware County Christion [PE] 2027)

Another freshman at the showcase, Freeman has good size for a guard at his age. He wasn’t often a focal point, as can be the case with younger kids at showcases. But in the flashes that he showed, Freeman has solid ball skills that will pair well with his ability to use his long strides to get into the paint. It will be nice to see what Freeman looks like in a few years.

Cailen Shadrick (6’2 SF, Bettendorf [IA] 2025)

Among the stronger perimeter players at the event, Shadrick put his head down with bad intentions. On catches from the wing, he sought out contact well. While possessing the strength more of a post, Shadrick at 6-foot-2 is a big undersized to play on the interior. Even so, he was banging inside against some of the talented bigs.

Al Brooks (6’6 SF, Hansberry 2025)

A hot prospect in the 2025 class, Brooks was one of the standouts in a loaded event. The first thing that stood out early was the extension and body control as a finisher inside. When it seemed like there were no angles to finish, the athletic wing found creases to get the ball up on the backboard. He’s a developing perimeter shooter, but did hit a couple of tough ones and has workable mechanics. Brooks shined on the other end of the floor as well. One of the premier shot blockers in the group, he has great closing speed and timing to reject shots while possessing the tenacity and quickness to guard in space. Clear Division 1 talent.

DeKwon Brown (6’3 PG, Simeon 2024)

As the day went on, Brown got more and more effective with his shot creation. He had defenders slipping and leaning with crossovers and behind the back moves before ultimately hitting an array of threes or using the space to get a head of steam for drives. On a few occasions, he made some well-timed dump off passes as well. Brown has pulled in multiple D1 offers and will be a focal point at Simeon.

Donte Montgomery (6’2 SG, Oak Lawn 2025)

Easily the most impressive defender, Montgomery was locking down whoever he was responsible for covering. He’s got very long arms, but also showed good technique with the angles he took and active feet that were never stagnant. Even as a guard, Montgomery had a couple of volleyball spikes to go along with countless deflections. He was effective offensively as well, stepping into shots from beyond the arc and knifing into the lane while using his length to finish. He really stood out in a setting that wasn’t necessarily conducive to elite-level defense.

Brady Sehlhorst (6’7 SG, Notre Dame College Prep 2025)

Sehlhorst had his moments putting the ball in the hole, which is something that separates him as a 6-foot-7 guard. When left open, he showed his shooting ability and nice release point. He got up above the rim on fast breaks and gave a glimpse of his run-and-jump athleticism out in the open floor. It doesn’t take long to see why Sehlhorst is a Division 1 prospect.

Uriah Davis (5’11 PG, Homewood Flossmoor 2027)

Davis seemed to have a good confidence level despite being a freshman. He lacked some size relative to other players at the showcase, but saw the floor well and kept his composure. From a form perspective, his shot comes out cleanly and he shows the signs of being a reliable catch-and-shoot player in the coming years for HF.

Quentin McCoy (6’1 PG, Lindblom 2024)

McCoy was a multi-purpose player for his teams during the showcase. When the pace of games picked up, he got into passing lanes, crashed the glass, and pushed the tempo. McCoy is another point guard who did more things off of the ball with the groups that he had for the scrimmages. He is more than capable of cutting and finding the right time to look for his own shot, though he will also be a triple-double threat for Lindblom.

Santana Flowers (6’5 SF/PF, Bloom 2024)

At 6-foot-5, Flowers ended up being a de-facto big to cover the Division 1 recruits in the frontcourt. There was no backing down on his end, challenging shots and rebounding in crowds. Flowers ran the floor well and was the recipient of a couple of passes and dunks. He may end up being an undersized four at the next level, so it was good to see him battle down low.

Caleb Chavers (6’0 PG, Homewood Flossmoor 2024)

Chavers plays a lot bigger than his 6-foot listing. There were a couple of occasions where he challenged shots at their apex, not necessarily blocking them, but affecting them on jumpers and layups. Chavers brought energy that was notable, looking to turn defense into offense.

BJ Powell (6’0 PG, Lincoln-Way East 2026)

Powell won the Rising Star award after scoring a lot during the run portion. It was a high-volume showing, with a bunch of stepbacks and difficult jumpers off the bounce that Powell was able to connect on during some games. There is a slick, skilled creativity about his game that allowed him to manufacture shots around the rim as well. Now up around 6-foot with more strength, Powell is now better equipped to scoring in the lane.

Angelo Ciaravino (6’6 SG, Mount Carmel 2024)

Ciaravino came on strong during the single-elimination tournament, showing the versatility and killer instinct that make him a promising prospect. The 6-foot-6 Northwestern commit has great length and defensive impact, turning steals and chasedown blocks into dunks and layups on the other end. Throughout the day, he played the right way as a passer and rebounder, while upping his intensity and aggressiveness without sacrificing his unselfishness. Ciaravino’s motor, athleticism, and skillset were evident.

Jamarri Fears (5’8 PG, Joliet West 2027)

Bigger players tried to take Fears down to the post, but he fought and worked to use his quickness as much as possible. Fears keeps his dribble alive offensively, with some shiftiness and stop-and-go ability to his game. I would expect the lefty to be a dangerous transition player as he matures with the moments that he had probing and delivering the ball.

Jaheem Webber (6’10 C, Normal 2024)

Some of Webber’s standstill dunks left the backboard shaking. The big center was dominant at times with deep seals, showing his hands, and either discarding defenders entirely or turning and scoring. Offensive rebounds were coming in bunches, sometimes getting third or fourth chances for his team by high-pointing misses. The Wright State commit threw away a number of shots as well and looks primed for a big senior year at Normal.

Ehi Ogbomo (6’1 PG, Plainfield East 2024)

We had Ogbomo at our showcase earlier this month and his lack of recruitment seemed confusing. That was reaffirmed today, as the Plainfield East guard was terrific on both ends of the floor. The emphatic dunks, difficult pull-up jumpers, and relentless pursuit of the ball defensively were all notable. Ogbomo has a unique explosiveness that is both powerful and elusive, knowing how to do just enough with his ball-handling moves to get space for stop-and-pop jumpers. He made multiple efforts defensively and had opposing guards going east-west to try to get room to operate. A big winner from the day.

Jahkil Jackson (6’2 SG, Curie 2025)

Jackson passes the eye test for a guard with broad shoulders and an athletic frame. The junior is a capable straight-line driver with some potential as a spot-up shooter. When he went to the rim, he plays with force that will create gravity during the season. Jackson also handles the ball fairly well in tight spaces.

JT Pettigrew (6’7 PF, Bolingbrook 2025)

Pettigrew fit right in against the other bigs in the group and in some games was a standout. When his guards dropped the ball off to him, he finished with strong two-hand finishes and used the rim as protection. Pettigrew needed some space and time with his jumper, but his range and comfort on the perimeter showed. In the ball screen game, he is a good outlet. Defensively, he used his length to get a hand on some shots. Division 1 offers will continue to rise for him.

Lathan Sommerville (6’10 C, Richwoods 2024)

Sommerville took home the MVP of the single-elimination tournament after dominating inside. He played with an edge all day, fighting for positioning, being vocal, and seeking out misses on both ends. Sommerville took it coast to coast multiple times, looking like a freight train in transition. The Rutgers recruit’s outside shot looked good as well, hitting all net on a handful of threes. When help came, his passes were right in the shooting pocket. Seemingly always a factor inside, Sommerville was a powerhouse with dunks and dump offs.

Yaris Irby (5’10 PG, Niles North 2025)

Irby has the ability to make most of the passes in the book that you need from a high-level PG. Irby’s willingness and vision to create open looks for others made a good impression. He was manufacturing offense out of high ball screens well for portions of the day, exposing mismatches and either keeping it himself or using some innovative passes. Irby is a playmaker who can shoot the three and pick up defensively as well.