I was out at the Southland Center in Lynwood today to check out some games at the RecruitLook Chicago Showcase that wrapped up. While I was only able to see a few games, there were a number of promising local teams that played in the event. Here are a few of the players that stood out today.

Breakaway 15U UA Rise

Joey Cwik (6’1 PG/SG, Bartlett)

For a freshman, Cwik’s power and speed were impressive. He excelled in the open floor where he played through contact and elevated well to finish. Cwik was putting pressure on the rim throughout the game and was able to create advantages and put the defense in early rotations. There is clear defensive potential there with how explosive Cwik is moving side to side and recovering in short periods of time as well.

Ryan Dinnon (6’6 PF, Andrew)

Dinnon has some characteristics that are appealing down the line at 6-foot-6. From a physical standpoint, he already has some upper body strength and changes ends of the floor with some speed. The soft hands, touch, and coordination stood out as well, stepping outside to hit a three, rotating over to block shots, and snatching a number of rebounds in his area. Dinnon should only improve as he becomes more assertive and experienced.

Timmy Sloan (6’3 PG, Lyons)

Point guards with size, vision, and scoring ability are always at a premium. The 6-foot-3 lead guard ran the show for Breakaway by making passes over the top of pressure, throwing quick outlets, and finding teammates for backdoors and spot ups. He put heat on his passes to get the ball popping around and was cutting up the defense with dribble penetration. Sloan has an athletic frame, long arms, and excellent IQ on the defensive end to stay in front of the ball, disrupt actions, and go into traffic for rebounds. Even without scoring a lot, Sloan was highly impactful.

Tyler Cibulka (6’1 SG, Benet)

Cibulka had a big game shooting the ball and showing a toughness to him that you like to see. He made the defense pay on multiple occasions for giving him space off of downscreens, kick outs, and designed sets. His jumper has nice, high arc on it and was falling throughout the game. Cibulka moved well within the offense and was the recipient of a few passes off of hard cuts to the rim when defenders turned their heads. Very active and confident, Cibulka was solid on the defensive end and gave them a much-needed spark.

Breakaway 15U National

Brady Johnson (6’3 SF, Glenbard West)

Johnson was a force all game in transition. Big, physical, and athletic for a wing, Johnson had a couple of and-ones and defenders bounced off of him on his drives. When he did miss initial looks, he sprung up in crowds and went back up for putbacks. He’s got a nose for the ball on both backboards and attacked rebounds against a smaller front line. Johnson was a standout from the game I saw them play.

Fundamental U UA Rise 15U

Crayton Schnierle (6’1 SG, Bloomington Central Catholic)

Schnierle had some flashes during the game. For a freshman guard, he has nice length and size at 6-foot-1 with a good-looking jump shot that he displayed in different situations. He really gets off of the ground well and should be a productive perimeter option. When he was aggressive off the dribble, he was able to get a step on defenders and make the right play on the move. I’d expect exponential growth throughout the spring as he acclimates.

Luke Alvarez (5’10 PG, Loyola)

Alvarez was an energy generator all game. He handled point guard duties for stretches and directed traffic, made on-time passes, and cut hard off of the ball. There were also a few occasions when he got into the teeth of the defense for floaters and layups. Defensively, Alvarez was trying to take charges, pressured the ball as soon as it got to half court, and sprinted to the help side. The scrappy point guard was a bright spot today.

Y&R 15U

Aiden Henderson (5’6 PG, Brother Rice)

Henderson thrived on breaking down the defense with a variety of moves off the dribble, getting to the back line help, and finding a way to finish around two or sometimes three defenders. The acrobatic, double clutch layups came in bunches, despite giving up some height to the challengers. Henderson has both quickness and flat-out speed with the ball, making him a tough cover in space. That speed showed up when Y&R started to apply full court pressure, with Henderson being the head of the snake and forcing multiple turnovers. He’s going to be a problem in the Chicago Catholic League.

Breakaway 16U

Chris Bolte (6’6 PF, St. Ignatius)

Bolte was all over the glass in this one. That second jump came in handy while going up with two hands to bring down missed shots. Typically, he scored off of them or went to the foul line where he was productive with his looks. Bolte has quick-twitch athleticism that posed an issue for opposing bigs who weren’t able to muscle him or beat him to spots. A two-year varsity player already, Bolte is in for a big spring as a player and leader for Breakaway.

Cole Kelly (6’6 SF/PF, Neuqua Valley [2028])

I think this weekend was a coming out party for Kelly to a lot of basketball observers in the state who hadn’t seen him in person. Kelly stayed disciplined with his defensive responsibilities in the game that I saw, showing his hands while sliding and contesting without fouling. Offensively, he shined playing from the perimeter with a few spot-up threes, a nice spin move on a downhill drive, and athletic finishes after making baseline and 45 cuts. Breakaway was able to play through him in quick post isolations or allow him to make reads and facilitate out of empty pick-and-rolls. As usual, his comfort being vocal on the floor at his age, enjoyment after seeing his teammates make big plays, an general passion and energy on the floor were starred in my notes.

Trey Williams (6’2 PG, Loyola)

I never get bored with seeing kids lock down on the defensive end, particularly in an AAU setting where that is so uncommon. Williams, at 6-foot-2 with a huge wingspan, brought physicality, traditional savviness, and elite athleticism to his matchups, ultimately causing opposing players to settle or give the ball up. The passing prowess that he has offensively didn’t show up with a ton of assists on paper, but was critical in spurring the flow and rhythm of the offense. Any time he had a crevasse, he jetted by defenders and made things happen. Although Williams has yet to play a full varsity season, I think he will be a Division 1 guard prospect.

Fundamental U UA Rise 17U

Adam Anwar (6’7 PF, McHenry)

The sweet-shooting forward was making his presence felt with step-in threes as a floor spacer. He’s got a natural, soft touch and that high release that negates defenders. Anwar had some nice stretches on both ends, bringing energy to the defensive end with multiple blocked shots and a good number of rebounds. The interior defense and shooting will be a unique combination and selling point to college coaches, particularly for high-academic programs.

Bryce Wegryzn (6’8 PF, Libertyville)

Wegryzn had moments where he looked like a monster in the paint in a highly physical game. A couple of and-ones and physical, efficient post moves led to a double-digit scoring output for the Libertyville big. It seems like he has a sense for what moves to make inside and should only improve as his footwork improves. He brought some attitude on the help side with Anwar, throwing away some shots of his own in emphatic fashion. Wegryzn moves very well and can handle the ball a lot better than bigs his size. Lots to look forward to from a developmental standpoint over the next four months.

Chris Kirkpatrick (6’3 PG, New Trier)

Kirkpatrick was the top scoring option for a well-balanced Fundamental U team. The stop-and-pop game was on display from three and around the elbow, hitting the brakes in a number of ways to get separation. He never seemed to be off balance, even when altering his body in mid-air to get a cleaner look. Kirkpatrick played well in ball screens and off of DHOs with quick and decisive reads to identify coverages. Kirkpatrick is one of the best point guard prospects in the 2026 class and has the makeup to thrive as he continues to develop physically.

Panayiotis Sotos (6’2 PG/SG, Maine South)

Sotos was excellent on the defensive end for the majority of possessions that I saw. He was using his strength to hold his ground, bumped cutters off their spots, and was making extra effort plays with regularity. The Maine South standout added some timely shots on the offensive end, providing value as a spot up shooter and ball-handler when needed. Sotos is a winning guard who looks to be rounding out into a complete, two-way combo player.

DeNard Bros 17U

Calvin Worsham (6’7 SF/PF, Christ The King [2024])

Worsham was one of the more effective interior scorers that I saw during the day. He drove into the paint, got deep post touches, and cleared out defenders for putback opportunities. The bruising lefty changed speeds and utilized a crafty handle to get a step before holding off defenders on drives. College programs will continue to tap into the unique skillset of the unsigned senior.

Marvin Schindler (5’9 PG, Riley [IN])

The undersized point guard controlled temp and brought a level of energy that was admirable. With solid strength and speed, Schindler got the ball up the court in a hurry and was a willing passer throughout the game. When defenders backed up, he hit a three and got a head of steam to attack. The lead guard from South Bend is in the mold of creative lead guards under 6-foot who can change games.

Gavin Van Wie (6’5 SF, Sun Prairie [WI])

Van Wie has great size and shooting ability on the wing. A big bodied floor spacer, he drilled a handful of shots from beyond the arc. He showed that he can put up points in a hurry, particularly when drifting off of penetration. Van Wie, who goes to high school in Wisconsin, gave some value on the backboard as well and looks able to defend two or three spots. Quality college wing.

Full Package Black 17U

Colin Stack (7’0 PF/C, Benet [2026])

Stack checks a lot of boxes that you look for in modern bigs. He was dominating on the glass on both ends, high pointing boards, and sticking back misses. Players found little success trying to finish when he was in the area, constantly patrolling the paint with a few blocked shots and a bunch of contested looks. Offensively, he was a key outlet against the run-and-jump defense by flashing to the middle, facing the rim, and either making close-range shots or whipping passes on the money to teammates. While most of his work came inside, Stack has a pure three-point stroke and comfort in two-to-three dribble situations. Stack continues to get stronger, more athletic, and more confident. He has high-major potential as a 7-footer that can shoot, block shots at a high rate, pass, and operate in different actions.

Sam Hirsch (6’4 SG, Fremd)

Hirsch just knows how to fill it up. His weapon of choice during the game was the three-point shot, stretching the floor against the traps and zones. Hirsch comfortably made threes on the move and has a repeatable shot that he can make off of the dribble. The ability to knock down threes was a highlight, but his slashing and athleticism should not be undersold either. College coaches will be intrigued with Hirsch’s impact.

Vince Buzelis (6’4 SG, Hinsdale Central)

Buzelis plays with force and tenacity on both ends. As the ball swung around the perimeter, Buzelis showed a strong first step with great body control to get inside. He attacked the rim with bad intentions and got above the rim on a few occasions. Buzelis competed on the defensive side of the ball as well with active hands shown on and off the ball. Look for Buzelis to build off of a breakout junior year at Hinsdale Central.

Fundamental U 17U

AJ Demirov (6’0 PG, Crystal Lake South)

Still among the fastest guards in Illinois, Demirov faced off with an aggressive, quick defense in a scrappy matchup. He found some success shaking initial defenders and making plays for himself and teammates going to the rim. Demirov thrives off of his hesitation dribble where he can lull guys to sleep and explode by them or hit pull-up threes off the bounce. No-question scholarship level guard.

Colby Smith (6’3 PG/SG, New Trier)

Smith is a well-built guard who welcomes contact but also has the speed to blowby defenders. The 6-foot-3 New Trier product leaned on his dribble-drive game, getting to his right hand and converting some tough layups inside. Fundamental U had the luxury of playing him on or off the ball, showing to be a capable floor spacer and talented shot creator. Smith is another guard who will be sought after this summer.

JJ Hernandez (6’5 SF, Glenbard North [2024])

Hernandez gave them a needed punch on the defensive end with blocked shots, steals, and a general intensity and ability to switch. The unsigned senior got out in transition and had some powerful finishes off of two feet around the rim. When the pressure picked up, he was able to come in the backcourt and bring the ball up comfortably against opposing bigs. The name of the game for Hernandez is versatility, but his multi-purpose defense, slashing ability, and upside as a growing, young 2024 graduate should lead to some nice looks these next few months.

Theo Rocca (6’3 SG, Evanston)

Rocca’s game just seems easily translatable to the college level. He’s a gifted shooter who showed off his range during the game as a catch-and-shoot guy. Over the last year, his frame has continued to fill out and he should be able to add strength to his build going forward. Rocca ran the floor well and was able to finish in transition when he beat defenders down the floor. I like Rocca’s instincts, shooting, and overall knack for finding ways to contribute. Expect high-academic programs across levels to lock him in to their watch list.

Mac Irvin Fire EYBL 17U

Bryce Heard (6’6 SG, Kenwood)

There is something easy and effortless about Heard’s offensive game. With one of the cleaner pull-up games in the class, he picked his spots and was efficient with his mid-range game. Heard’s defense across multiple positions may have been the best part of his performance. He combines range, athleticism, and attention to detail to make an impact in the passing lanes and on the ball. Heard will continue to be a Power-Five prospect.

Tristan Ford (6’4 PG/SG, Chi Prep)

Ford is a super-explosive combo guard who is a blur in the open floor. He manufactured shots off of the bounce both at the rim and around 15-to-18 feet for short jumpers. Ford worked off of quick isolations and drove the lane early in the offense despite defenses trying to load up on him. You could see the passing feel when throwing the ball up to guards or setting up his bigs as well. Ford, a reclassed 2025 with good upside, will keep trending up.

M14 17U

Alanas Castillo (6’4 SG, Lemont)

Castillo was critical in their comeback, really coming on from the perimeter. The slick shooting guard has smooth mechanics on his jumper with nice elevation to go with his plus positional height. He’s got a real knack for shot-making, taking a few dribbles into long twos as well. As Castillo grows physically, he will have a chance to be a microwave option going forward.

Jax Abalos (6’7 SG, Batavia)

Abalos has the type of shooting ability and size that every college coach seeks on the wing. Seemingly growing by the month, the 6-foot-7 sniper spaced the floor and showed some added ball-handling to drive closeouts and challenge guys inside. When you look at how he moves in the offense and runs the floor, he definitely looks the part of a serious Division 1 prospect. His shooting is ready for the college game right now, but it has been great to see the continued expansion of his game.

Machi Nelson (5’11 PG, Proviso West)

The Proviso West guard has some shiftiness to his game that allowed him to go at some solid individual defenders and give M14 some life early on as a scorer. The lift and consistency shooting off of the bounce looked routine with a couple of threes in space. Nelson just made things happen throughout the game and set himself and others up to score.  

Moses Wilson (6’5 SG/SF, Waubonsie Valley)

Athletic and wiry at 6-foot-5, Wilson was a constant source of offense throughout the game for M14. His ability to use his long strides to get by defenders and glide to the rim for dunks or layups was impressive. As a spot-up shooter, he worked the corners well and knocked down open looks. As we saw during the season, Wilson’s defensive impact is hard to quantify with the opportunities that he takes away with his length. Likely to be a big stock riser.