I was out at the MadeHoops Midwest event on Saturday evening and Sunday to see some of the local teams in the packed event. Of the games that I saw, here are some of the players who stood out.
DeNard Bros 17U
Brent Taylor (6’3 PG/SG, Lincoln-Way East)
Taylor’s explosiveness stood out right away. He had a number of electric plays, including a putback dunk that got everyone out of their seats. The lanky combo guard weaved his way into creases of the defense and was comfortable challenging shot blockers. Taylor has the handle to snatch and cross up his man with a solid jumper that he has some feel for at this stage. The LWE guard is a rising player to track.
Calvin Worsham Jr. (6’7 SF/PF, Christ The King [2024])
It was attack mode all game for Worsham. Already a mismatch with his comfort handling the ball and using his physicality, he was punishing defenders inside and getting over that right should with regularity to score. It’s always good to see a player bring that type of competitive edge for the entirety of a game, seemingly getting more assertive as the game progressed. He even elevated for a strong dunk in transition. Worsham is a D2+ prospect.
Marvin Schindler (5’8 PG, Riley [IN])
Schindler impressed with his ability to fill it up offensively. Even at 5-foot-8, he creates separation and scores it off of the bounce over taller defenders. He knocked down a couple of threes, including one behind a screen, and got to his mid-range well. Schindler was also doing a nice job of picking the ball up in space and making opposing guards work to get into the offense.
Powerhouse 17U
Henry Marshall (6’2 SG, St. Viator)
Marshall was scoring it well from the perimeter, particularly in the second half. The All-ESCC guard made a long pull-up and three, showing a good stop-and-pop game that complements his athleticism. While Marshall didn’t have a lot of easy driving lanes, he absorbed contacted and played angles well to get inside and utilize different layups to finish. I like how committed and effective Marshall is defending the ball, looking like his most college-ready skill right now.
Hunter Gawron (6’6 PF, Niles North)
Gawron is a powerful, athletic forward who is coming off of another excellent high school season for Niles North. In a tough interior battle, he competed and challenged shots inside all game. Gawron’s activity is what separates him, shedding box outs to go get rebounds and making second and third efforts on the glass. There has been continual development in his face-up game, making a mid-range jumper off of the catch and showing sound mechanics.
Kaiden Chatham (6’3 PG/SG, Niles North)
Another special athlete for Powerhouse, Chatham’s ability to penetrate the lane and score in traffic presented itself early on in the game. Chatham has serious length and quickness that work well together with his play style off of the bounce to beat guys with his first step and extend out to the rim. Chatham added in a three as well and showed flashes of the multi-purpose defense that made him an irreplaceable piece for Niles North this year. Very versatile guard.
Breakaway 17U Red
Bobby Grganto (6’6 PF, Downers Grove North)
Grganto was a problem inside as a finisher and rebounder. He did a nice job of fighting for deep position on the block and was money in the bank whenever he got the ball inside. The interior productivity was on display with multiple hook shots over both shoulders and the ability to muscle up shots with defenders draped over him. Grganto was ripping down misses while showing some comfort on the perimeter by hitting a three and making sound decisions in the middle third of the floor. Grganto should be a high-priority frontcourt recruit at the D3 level.
Hudson Kirby (6’5 SF/PF, Geneva)
Kirby just plays with so much energy. Even on possessions where he didn’t have scoring opportunities, he was sprinting his lane, running to the rim, and hustling back on defense. Kirby altered a number of shots defensively and was battling for loose balls. On the offensive end, he had a few dunks in the open floor, hit a three on a kick out, and worked well as a cutter. After a solid junior year, he seems to be trending in the right direction.
Jack Duffer (6’0 PG/SG, Rolling Meadows)
The crafty lefty was active and aggressive looking for his shot. Duffer connected on a couple of threes and showed some toughness on the glass. He set up his cuts well and knows how to change speeds off of the ball and use bumps to get some extra space to operate. It was a solid showing from the Rolling Meadows guard.
Chicago Hoops 17U
Bradley Stratton (6’3 SG, St. Laurence)
The St. Laurence guard is a straight sniper from the three-point line. Any time he had space, his shot came out clean with tight rotation and ideal arc. Stratton sprayed in threes throughout the game and was an elite floor-spacing threat. That long-range shooting was present all season for St. Laurence and is likely going to make Stratton a prime target for a number of college coaches looking for reliable specialists.
Jacob Rice (6’4 SG, Western Reserve)
Rice is a scoring machine with great positional size and strength. He’s got that upper body strength to shed defenders, create separation, and hit jumpers from all over the floor. Rice drilled a number of threes and lifted up well in the mid-range to score. Even when he didn’t get calls, he was relentless attacking the rim and putting pressure on the help defenders. Rice’s improved strength made him that much more of a factor defensively when he stood up his matchups. A competitive and high-energy player on that end, Rice showed well all game. Definite scholarship-level two-guard.
Khalil Jones (6’0 PG, St. Laurence)
Jones leaned on his speed to regularly create an advantage to get inside. If defenders stepped over, he was a willing and accurate passer, oftentimes making the extra pass needed to go from a good shot to great shot. Jones finished some plays himself but was most effective setting up his teammates.
Breakaway 17U UA
Aidan Bardic (6’3 PG, Stevenson)
Bardic was rock solid handling pressure and getting Breakaway into their stuff. He’s a physically strong guard who is hard to knock off of his path, shielding the ball well with is body to avoid being sped up. Nothing was forced, but when the defense left a lane open, he used his speed and misdirection to attack and score. You can tell that Bardic studies the game with how well he goes through reads and manipulates the other team to get the ball where it needs to be on time. His hard-nosed on-ball defense, also aided by his strength, showed up as well.
Anton Strelnikov (6’8 C, Lake Zurich)
I still believe that Strelnikov is the best low-post scorer in the class. He went to work with his back to the basket, against length, athleticism, and size successfully. Any time he had a defender behind him, he gave a wide target and put on a clinic for how to feel out the defense and make counters when needed. He had a couple of and-ones, made some running hooks to the middle of the floor, and was efficient with his touches against a talented frontcourt. He was the most dominant offensive player in the game, but also had a commendable effort defensively guarding some wings in space. Strelnikov continues to produce. In the right system, he is a Division 1 big.
Grant Best (6’3 SG, Mount Carmel)
Forget purely scoring the basketball, which Best can do in bunches. The ability to make players work for everything and take them out of their rhythm is something that will separate the physical, athletic Mount Carmel guard defensively. Against Division 1-caliber guards, he was excellent when fighting through screens, throwing his hands in passing lanes, and knocking guys off of their spots all game. Best got to the rim in straight lines and showed some of his transition ability, but the aggressiveness and toughness in the areas that are unquantifiable were noteworthy. He has a D2 floor with D1 upside.
Kyle Waltz (6’7 SG, York)
Waltz’s versatility and skill stand out at 6-foot-7. On the defensive side of the ball, he neutralized the strengths of his matchups by closing airspace quickly, using his speed, and staying disciplined. When he was moving within the offense, he made decisive choices with the ball, oftentimes leading to positive results. The smooth swingman rose up for a pull-up around the free throw line and hit some big threes in the flow of the offense. Also a solid ball-handler, he was able to act as an additional pressure release when needed. Waltz rarely seems to get too high or too low, which should only add to the projection of a player who looks every bit like a Division 1 wing.
Meanstreets 17U EYBL
Antonio Munoz (6’7 SF, Whitney Young)
There are just some plays that Munoz made that you aren’t going to see many places in the country. Even with defenders trying to give him space, he got a head of steam on multiple occasions and rose up around the rim for and-ones and other tough finishes. Particularly along the baseline, Munoz was getting low on his dribble drives and drawing fouls or converting with reverses and shots over the front of the rim. He has a joy and activity level that is infectious and gave the team energy during different stretches of the game. Munoz is going to be a hot commodity this spring and summer.
Melvin Bell (6’5 SG, La Lumierre [IN])
Bell made an impression with his productive all-around play. He checks a lot of boxes with his basketball IQ, long arms, size, and the ability to guard the ball and beat you in a variety of ways offensively. Bell was doing a lot of damage off of the ball with some threes and straight-line drives off of kick-outs. He has a way of lulling the defense to sleep and then exploding by guys and going through the chest of help side defenders to help. There is real potential there as a shutdown defender, using his hands and length well to affect passing angles and contest without fouling. Bell remains a high-major prospect.
Will Ashford (6’6 SF, Metea Valley [2024])
The unsigned senior had a good showing. Ashford, who is a legitimate 6-foot-6, was making quick decisions off the catch, either driving with intent, swinging it, or knocking down an open three. When he did put it on the ground, he didn’t predetermine if he was going to pass or shoot, making quality reads to kick out to shooters or maintain his advantage and look for score. While I’m not sure what Ashford will do next year, he’s shown more than enough to be a solid D2 recruit at this point with the potential for higher.
Fundamental U 17U
Caleb Jett (6’4 SG, McHenry)
Jett has ideal length at the guard spot and was causing some issues defensively with how much ground he covered. Usually matched up with wings, he stunted well and got some deflections to help spur the fast break. In the half court, Jett was slashing to the basket frequently with some success as a finisher in and around the paint. He’s also got some appeal as a catch-and-shoot guy with time and space.
Sam Hanus (6’2 SG, Deerfield)
Hanus shot the ball well and got going early to help Fundamental U get off to a big lead to start. The 6-foot-2 guard is a savvy decision maker who brought the ball up at times and was spacing or running his lanes on other occasions. Hanus is a productive perimeter shooter, but it was nice to see him so aggressive driving the ball when closeouts were out of control or he had open driving lanes.
LVL Elite 17U
Zach Mazanowski (6’7 SG/SF, Lane Tech)
There is a ton of potential that Mazanowski shows on both ends of the floor. He got low on his drives and either finished over the help or got to the foul line. Mazanowski moves fluidly and seems to have improved his strength and balance to maintain his driving angles and defensive positioning. There is an innate advantage that his length posed on the defensive end with a ton of space that he can recover to block shots. The 6-foot-7 wing also has a sweet shooting stroke, maybe his most intriguing trait, that will translate well.
Fundamental U 17U UA
AJ Demirov (6’0 PG, Crystal Lake South)
Demirov dominated with his scoring ability in this one. Defenders were getting lost on an island in isolation situations with the quick-twitch point guard making shots from all over the floor. He got going with a mid-range shot and downhill drive early, but then erupted from beyond the arc, hitting three in a row at one point. Demirov finished with over five threes, but they all came in different scenarios with one off of a DHO, a few off the bounce after sizeups, and a catch-and-shoot as well. With how good of a ball-handler he is and the pace that he brings as a primary decision-maker, there was nothing the defense could do to keep him under wraps once he got hot. Demirov is a scholarship-level PG who can go.
Colby Smith (6’3 PG/SG, New Trier)
Another Fundamental U guard who lit it up from the outside, Smith had multiple threes of his own. He has excellent pre-shot preparation that aids his quick release from three, needing little time and space to get off looks from kick outs. While Smith rightfully gets recognition for his ability to score in a variety of ways, he is also a talented defender who doesn’t get his just due on that side of the floor. He was sticking a number of productive guards on the other team, forcing steals, and using his quickness and toughness to make an impact. Smith has the feel, playmaking skills, scoring tact, and two-way impact that you look for in a potential Division 1 guard.
Theo Rocca (6’3 SG, Evanston)
Rounded out what has been a three-headed monster for this group since last summer, Rocca had his own three-point barrage during the game. One of the more confident and comfortable shooters in the class, Rocca has compact mechanics that don’t change much when he is in different actions. The continued growth in finding other ways to score was notable. Rocca got multiple easy looks off of timely cuts, made a short turnaround off of the dribble, and wasn’t hesitant to drive closeouts when possible. Rocca is another player who looks primed to be a high-academic prospect with scholarship-level looks.
Team Rose 16U
Josh Abushanab (6’5 SF, Glenbard North)
Abushanab had a good impact on the defensive end with his huge wingspan playing a big factor. The 6-foot-5 wing defended both on the perimeter and inside admirably and had a few blocks and plenty of other possessions where he affected possessions with tips. Abushanab made some short jumpers and was active on the glass during the game as well. He’s got evident potential with his physical tools.
Tyjuan Hunter (5’6 PG, Chicago Hope)
Hunter took over during the game that I saw offensively. Very quick and shifty with the ball, he was creating space and making some tough shots all game. He hit a couple of long threes but shined inside the paint despite giving up multiple inches to the sea of defenders in the lane. Hunter is absolutely fearless as a driver and took it right to the nose of the defense. He showed heart as an on-ball defender and stuck his nose in there to act as an irritant and create turnovers. A great performance from Hunter.
Breakaway 16U UA
Chris Bolte (6’6 SF/PF, St. Ignatius)
Throughout the tournament, Bolte was one of the best rebounders that I saw from a timing, positioning, and sheer “go up and get it” standpoint. He overcame some holding and bumping and still powered up to get extra possessions for Breakaway. Many of his offensive boards led to free throw attempts where his touch and mechanics were on display. Bolte also had a powerful dunk and scored on a few backdoor sets. His athleticism and mobility are easily apparent, but what might go underappreciated is how smart of a decision maker he is in DHO actions and as a passer. Among the better long-term forwards in Illinois.
Cole Kelly (6’6 SF/PF, Neuqua Valley [2028])
Defense is one of the best indicators of a young player’s competitive fire. Kelly was locked in and playing with an edge as an individual and team defender. He was vocal and excelled in the gaps where he had the quickness and anticipation to stunt and recover while using his length to get a hand in the passing lanes. He turned steals into layups and quickly changed ends of the floor with his ball-handling ability and open-court speed. Kelly’s shooting continues to be a difference maker at his size, hitting pull-up threes in transition, popping for a few, and connecting on some deep ones off of kick outs. He fights to win possessions which is hard to find nowadays.
Marc Gamble (6’6 PF, Timothy Christian)
Gamble played and was a huge boost with his outside shooting. He was pouring in threes from the corners and off of kick outs, getting good arc and showing little hesitation. Gamble pulled bigs out of the lane with how well he was knocking them down. While he’s still developing, Gamble has really good feet, has grit on the glass and as a defender, and has a solid frame to build on going forward. He gives Breakaway another nice frontcourt piece who can step outside and wall up defensively.
Trey Williams (6’2 PG, Loyola)
Williams is going to start gaining more traction as more spectators and coaches get to see him in person. The big point guard picked apart a press with on-point full court passes, keeping his head up and putting some heat on the deliveries to get there before the defense could recover. Despite being more pass-first, he is more than capable of scoring in bunches off of his drives. Williams had a huge and-one dunk and went through contact for a number of other layups and paint shots. The defense is really what I’m highest on for Williams. Even against some gifted guards, his strength and ability to power slide to stay in front of the ball is elite.
Young & Reckless 16U
Charles Barnes (6’6 SG/SF, De La Salle)
The smooth wing is a Swiss-Army knife that has plus skill in a number of areas. His weapon of choice was dribble penetration due to the height advantage that he had when driving from the perimeter. Barnes utilized that length to show and affect the passing lanes. At 6-foot-6, Barnes is the type of wing that intrigues college coaches for his comfort adding value in different ways.
Jayden Madden (6’9 PF, Romeoville)
Madden is highly projectable with how well he moves and what looks like a 7-foot-plus wingspan. When Y&R went zone, he changed the game with how active and disruptive he was at the top of the zone. He’s still raw, but showed some initial ball-handling ability, and some decent mechanics on his shot. Madden looked best as a rim protector and roll man during the game. The upside is there.
Mason Lockett (6’5 PG, Oswego East)
A no-question Division 1 guard at this point, Lockett manufactured offense for his teammates well. He made sound decisions when the help came and used that height advantage to see over the defense. Smooth across the board, Lockett is an excellent on-ball defender who makes players get to their second or third counter. During the game, he picked his spots to get to the rim and knocked down a three when he had time. Lockett picked up an offer from UIC after the tournament.
Rokas Zilys (6’4 SG, Vermont Academy)
The physical wing from the Naperville area impressed with his strength and scoring ability. He was in attack mode all game, putting his head down and going around and through the help to finish plays inside of 10 feet. The body control of Zilys as a 6-foot-4 guard created a mismatch even against the bigs. Zilys also shot it well from the perimeter and showed a lot to look forward to from a projection standpoint.
Fundamental U 16U UA
Adam Anwar (6’7 PF, McHenry)
Anwar’s shooting gave Fundamental U a needed spark while they were a bit undermanned. The quick-trigger forward was pure on his spot ups and continues to look like one of the premier stretch bigs in the class. He was also active in and around the paint to battle for rebounds and draw contact. Anwar challenged shots against a team with length at just about every position. When you add in his high academics, it’s easy to see why college coaches are going to have Anwar on their radar.
Panayiotis Sotos (6’3 PG/SG, Maine South)
To help make up for some of their missing offensive production, Sotos flashed some of the scoring ability that made him such a problem at Maine South this year. He stepped into threes and looked good when he tried to drive closeouts. As usual, Sotos used his strength to hold his ground on the defensive end and show a solid presence guarding multiple spots.
Trey Brost (6’0 PG, Bolingbrook)
Brost handled a large percentage of the ball-handling duties against an aggressive defense that had multiple bigger guards in the group. Despite that, Brost had some impressive moments using his speed and slick ball control to navigate and put pressure on the rim. He’s a smart and fearless dribble penetrator who showed that he can convert amongst the trees and make passes on the move. Brost is also a fierce defender and a reliable long-range shooter who will continue to progress.
Mac Irvin Fire 16U
Jadin Schilb (6’5 SG, Champaign Centennial)
There were a number of promising long-term players on the Fire squad, with a lot contributing in different ways. Schilb’s fluid offensive package was good to see with his pull-up game and use of pivots and strep throughs once he got to two feet. I was probably most impressed with how well the active Centennial guard defended the basketball in individual situations. It seems like he truly takes pride in getting stops, which is refreshing to see.
Lincoln Williams (6’6 SG/SF, Kankakee)
Williams moves differently than most wings in his class. Smooth and gifted athletically, Williams was brilliant at times running his lanes and getting above the rim to finish. On a talented Fire squad, he was one of the better helpside defenders and helped spur some of the transition game that helped them blow open the lead as both a pass interceptor and passer. Williams trends up by the week.
Stephen Brown (6’8 PF, Marist)
Brown was a force to be reckoned with in the paint, creating mismatches however you want to slice it. Joining in on the transition game, he often initiated it with strong rebounds and swift rotations that made players second guess their decision to try to score inside. Brown is intelligent and explosive offensively, finding open space to attack with or without the ball and piling up offensive rebounds. He didn’t have to do anything fancy, but the highly-talented Marist sophomore made his presence felt.
Breakaway 15U Red
Brady Johnson (6’3 SF, Glenbard West)
In a commanding win, Johnson’s defense stood out. He compiled numerous deflections, forced turnovers, and made players think twice about going up in the paint. Johnson turned some of that into transition finishes for himself but also made a couple of textbook deliveries on the move to lead his teammates to easy buckets. His motor as a rebounder, lane filler, and switchable defender was notable.
Bennett Kammes (6’1 PG/SG, Glenbard West)
It was a big scoring output from the Glenbard West guard. Kammes, a dangerous outside shooter, was filling it up on a good volume of three-point looks. He used shot fakes well to get defenders off of their feet before side stepping to threes or throwing passes to the rim when help defenders sprinted over to guard him. Kammes did damage in the paint, primarily off of quick drives and transition, where he showed body control on a double-clutch reverse layup and was the recipient of some outlet passes.
Nate Woods (6’3 SG, Lyons)
Woods wasn’t wasting any movement on offense, getting to his spots and making in-rhythm decisions. He scored from different spots on the floor, knocking down a three, dribbling into a mid-range, and driving a closeout for layups. Woods is a good size at 6-foot-3 and looks like he’s still growing. As a taller guard that can shoot, handle it, and pass, Woods seems headed in the right direction.
Fundamental U 15U
Ryan Ritchie (5’11 PG/SG, New Trier)
Ritchie was a solid source of energy throughout the game that I saw. He gave them a much-needed spark with multiple threes and transition finishes. Ritchie sets his feet well on the outside and is advanced when it comes to getting to open space with urgency. When he didn’t have the ball, he sprinted to the corners and lifted from the wings. His ability to be a ball mover within the offense was valuable as well. Ritchie got things done.
Mac Irvin Fire 15U
Harper Baker-Lands (6’2 SG, Plainfield [IN])
Baker-Lands, who is from Indianapolis, took over for Mac Irvin down the stretch. With a crisp pull-up game and serious range, he was on a scoring tear from the perimeter. He connected on a handful of threes and mid-range shots while being efficient on and off of the ball with his touches. There is a lot of physical upside there as well with plenty of athletic movement and length to tap into down the line.
Michael Woods (6’1 PG/SG, St. Francis De Sales)
Woods was strong getting to the rim all game, picking up his aggressiveness as the game progressed. After shining on varsity during the season, the dynamic point guard was shining in the open court where his quick first step and nifty finishing ability were useful. He also looked solid as a rebounder from the guard spot and stuck his nose in there on defense. Woods is one of the better guards in the class at this stage.
Breakaway 15U UA
Ryan Dinnon (6’6 PF, Andrew)
Dinnon continues to have promising showings. More than comfortable in space, he showed the ability to space and take slower defenders off of the bounce. But when he decided to bang inside, he was hard to stop. Already with a good build, Dinnon used his strength to get position and score over defenders with simple, but effective moves. He’s going to continue to refine his all-around game, but the tools are there.
Tristan Trotter (6’4 SG/SF, Hersey)
Trotter has good size on the wing and made a positive impact with his hustle and energy. His motor showed up with a number of hard cuts, in-traffic rebounds, and pursuits for loose balls. For a freshman guard at 6-foot-4, Trotter is fairly skilled with the ball and has footwork on the defensive side to stay in front of the ball and guard multiple spots. Most of his points came on movement and extra effort. Hersey has a number of promising young pieces and Trotter is one of them to track.