I was out in the Cincinnati area for the UAA Live Session to watch a bunch of games throughout the weekend. Of the Illinois teams that I saw, here are some standouts.

Breakaway 15U

Brady May (6’5 SF, Palatine)

May is a lanky wing with a chance to be really good once he fills out physically. He shot it well with a couple of threes and a very efficient, compact release from the outside. The long arms suggest some more growth potential there, but May is already a nice height to play on the perimeter and score over the top of smaller defenders. In terms of spacing, May seems to understand how to fill the corners and move off of the ball to find extra space for his shot. He’s able to drive in straight lines and battle for rebounds as well.

Ryan Dinnon (6’6 PF, Andrew)

Dinnon was a standout rebounding and finding a variety of ways to score the ball. He stepped outside to hit threes and was aggressive going to his right hand when attacking closeouts. Even when there were help defenders coming over, Dinnon managed to muscle shots up and score. I thought he rebounded well for the majority of the game with a number of offensive rebounds to generate more looks. It seems like Dinnon is headed towards a breakout June with Andrew.

Timmy Sloan (6’4 PG, Lyons)

True point guards are a dime in a dozen nowadays, but Sloan’s vision, passing feel, and ability to orchestrate the offense were a breath of fresh air. Pass first didn’t mean passive though, as Sloan was in attack mode getting by his defender and absorbing help before finding teammates, often in rhythm despite the shot outcomes. Sloan glided to the rim and used his length to get up near the rim on finishes. He’s athletic and strong at the point guard spot to alter games as a rebounder and defender as well. Sloan is a future star for Lyons.

Tyler Cibulka (6’1 PG/SG, Benet)

Cibulka took it strong to the cup on numerous occasions with a sense of urgency while applying pressure on the rim. In doing so, he managed to still take care of the ball and make plays in the flow of the offense. Cibulka has a scrappy, fearless mentality that aids his natural quickness to be able to guard all across the board on the perimeter. With his current build, Cibulka seems like he’s going to continue to add muscle and be even more effective playing through contact. He was mainly getting to the rim, but Cibulka has shot the three very well for portions of the spring too.

Fundamental U 15U

Elias Fleming (6’2 PG/SG, New Trier)

Wiry and fairly skilled at this stage, Fleming had some good moments. He found a way to penetrate and maintain enough concentration to finish floaters and push shots inside. There is a little bit of shift to him off the bounce with a feel for how to create an initial advantage to get room for his jumper or drives and can be a secondary ball-handler when needed. Fleming looks like he’s going to add a few more inches in the coming years.

Grant Smith (6’4 SF, Lyons [2028])

Playing up an age group, Smith was impressive with his athleticism and versatility. A solidly built rising freshman, he is a decisive ball-handler who drives to the rim with power and speed, taking good angles and handling contact well. The slashing led to multiple free throws and paint points. Smith also showed well as a ball mover within the offense and as a rebounder capable of high-pointing misses in traffic. When he had space on the perimeter, Smith’s mechanics were clean on his jump shot with naturally soft touch. On the defensive end, he covered ground well and went up to challenge shots. There is a lot to like about his profile as a multi-purpose defender with his instincts, IQ, and physical tools. Smith has a calm demeanor and a steady, competitive spirit regardless of the score that stood out. To this point, Smith is one of the more promising current and long-term 2028 players that I’ve seen.

Matthew Logue (6’3 SF, Loyola)

The first thing that stood out for Logue was his length. A reported near 7-foot wingspan from the event measurements, Logue has a ton of physical upside. He was able to finish up over the top of a taller defender inside working rip screens and timely cuts to score in the lane. Logue lacks some strength at this stage but that didn’t stop him from sticking his nose in and rebounding or taking hits. His activity was noteworthy in and around the paint all game.

Rory Haas (6’5 SF/PF, Lake Forest)

Haas continues to be an intriguing floor spacing forward. He’s got length and a sweet stroke from the perimeter. Throughout the game, he buried threes from the corners and provided a consistent offensive source. His footwork is efficient when spacing off of the ball and seems like a prime target to develop into a premium pick-and-pop option. Haas has the type of frame that should fill out exponentially. A lot to like down the line.

Tommy Donahue (6’3 SG, Deerfield)

Energy is contagious and the 6-foot-3 guard brought it. His cuts led to layups for himself or forced help that got a teammate open. Donahue is a promising scoring threat with his pull-up game, but he impacted the game off of the ball. The rebounding on both ends to gain extra possessions was critical as well to extend their lead. Donahue will continue to progress as he fills out.

Breakaway 16U

Cam Anderson (6’6 PF, Schaumburg)

Anderson gave Breakaway terrific minutes off of the bench. A springy finisher, he was playing above the rim with dunks and blocked shots. The comfort switching defensively and moving his feet in space was good to see against some quick offensive players. Anderson also hit a three and was relentless on the glass, going through multiple bodies to secure boards.

Chris Bolte (6’6 SF/PF, St. Ignatius)

The motor and communication of Bolte separate him from other kids. On a weekend where countless games were dead quiet, Bolte’s enthusiasm for his teammates and talk as a defensive anchor were noteworthy. That was in addition to his regular displays of high-level athleticism and face-up game. Bolte threw down multiple forceful dunks and mixed in jumpers off the catch from beyond the arc. He is closer to a guard with how he moves in space but delivers punishment as a driver to get separation to score. Around 6-foot-6, Bolte played on the wings and as the five man at times effectively. He possesses magnetic hands that showed up with a heavy dose of rebounds throughout the game. Division 1 programs should at least be keeping tabs on Bolte.

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

It was another productive weekend from the gifted eight grader. Kelly was as shot-ready off the catch as I’ve seen him this spring, quickly lifting up into threes off of kick outs when defenders were slow to closeouts. The lefty hit long stepbacks, spun back to his strong hand off of drives, and was a difference maker on the offensive glass fighting for second chances. Kelly seems to be becoming more physical by the week, battling guys for position down low and using his lower half well to box out and go get missed shots in crowds. I’m looking forward to seeing Kelly in June.

Mike Nee (6’0 PG/SG, Glenbard East)

Nee did what he does best: shoot the lights out. He was hitting jumpers off of staggers and standstill kickouts, generally hitting nothing but net. The little details off of the ball, like his start-and-stop ability and reads on how his defender is playing him were key in helping him get space once he was identified as a shooter. Nee put on significant muscle that helped him during the high school season and helps him finish those quick drives to the rim.

Trey Williams (6’2 PG, Loyola)

Williams continues to look like a budding point guard prospect. He operated off of the ball at times with their lineup and was equally effective at making hard cuts and driving off of kick outs. The first step quickness combined with his body control make him a tough matchup for most guards in one-on-one situations. As a primary decision maker, the ball popped out of his hands when snapping the ball up the court. Williams remains in the discussion for best on-ball defenders at the lead guard spot in the 2026 class as well. June 15th should be an active day for Williams.

Fundamental U 16U

Adam Anwar (6’7 PF, McHenry)

Understandable intrigue comes when watching Anwar. He put on a nice scoring display against one of the better forwards in Georgia by knocking down pick-and-pop jumpers, putting it on the deck for some finishes on straight lines and spins, and maintaining his efficiency from the post. Anwar has great shooting mechanics that play well at 6-foot-7 and help him be a tough matchup in space. The arrow continues to point up.

Bryce Wegrzyn (6’8 PF, Libertyville)

Wegrzyn’s rim protection was valuable to both block shots and deter future attacks in the paint. While still lanky, he rotated over well to show his body and contest inside. Wegrzyn made a short corner jumper and seems to have the type of touch and form that hints toward a consistent expansion of his range. Another FU frontcourt piece to track.

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

A big, strong combo guard, Sotos was assertive around the rim throughout the game. He finished off an and-one and had a few other contact finishes off of downhill drives. While he probably had double-digits on the game, his activity creating turnovers and causing issues defensively may have been most impactful in a game that went down to the last few minutes. Sotos has continued to step up in the backcourt while Chris Kirkpatrick has been out.

Trey Brost (6’0 PG, Bolingbrook)

A pace-setter who took care of the ball for the majority of the game, Brost is a winning lead guard who balanced facilitating and scoring. When he worked in ball screens, he had good pace and made precise passes to pop guys and cutters. The shooting and overall scoring ability stand out, particularly off of the dribble. He drilled a pull-up and made floaters in the lane. Brost has deep shooting range to go with repeatable mechanics. I like his speed and activity on the defensive end as well. The team just ran better when Brost was in the game.

Illinois Wolves 16U

Jayden Wright (6’0 PG, Benet)

Wright is such a tough kid. He fought through contact on his dribble drives and was able to manufacture shots for himself and others with regularity. Wright shoots it well from the perimeter, hitting a pull-up jumper and showing range as a spot-up three-point shooter. His tenacious defense was notable as well, particularly for a point guard who doesn’t have the height to get away with taking possessions off. He’s a real point guard who can space the floor and play with or without the ball in his hands.

Noah Mister (6’1 PG, Mount Carmel)

Mister scored the ball well, hitting a three, pull-up, and showing confidence weaving into the lane for shots. The Mount Carmel guard is a gifted ball-handler with serious shift to his game to get to his spots and make things happen. The skillset is evident and is something that will travel with him to the next level.

Oliver Gray (6’5 SG, Barrington)

The deadeye two-guard was able to score a lot of his points inside of the arc. Known for his elite outside shooting, Gray showed his quick one-to-two dribble pull-up game and got to the rim to his right hand for some finishes. Gray continues to develop as a ball-handler and in-space creator, which is allowing him to take more strides as an offensive threat. Still growing, he has a ton of upside.

Rashaun Porter (6’6 PF, DePaul Prep)

A big, physical forward, Porter was playing bully ball all game. He’s got a strong build and finishes well over his right shoulder with the tendency to draw contact well to get to the foul line. Even in traffic, Porter showed good hands to snatch passes out of the air and go up strong. He had a dunk early and was an impact full rebounder throughout. Expect Porter’s game to continue to expand and the Division 1 offer list to grow.

Rico D’Alessandro (6’5 SF/PF, Maine South)

D’Alessandro was too big and too athletic for his matchup. Playing with tremendous energy, he finished strong and made his money around the rim as a dump off guy and cutter. He has a knack for finding loose balls and understands where missed shots are going as well. I have liked how D’Alessandro defends and uses that strength and explosiveness to guard multiple positions and finish possessions. He was excellent at times.

Rykan Woo (6’0 PG, Whitney Young)

Another highly skilled point guard for the Wolves, Woo looked to drive, dish, or get wide open looks for others. He scores with floater and touch finishes in and around the lane while looking like a dynamic one-on-one ball-handler who controlled pace. Though a bit undersized, Woo is savvy and deliberate with his movement to get the most out of his touches and ability.

Breakaway 17U

Aidan Bardic (6’3 PG, Stevenson)

The quintessential point guard whose teammates felt comfortable giving the ball to in crunch time. Bardic had a good weekend controlling things, making timely jumpers, and showing a level of grit that everyone in the gym had to appreciate. He never got sped up and kept his dribble alive until he had a plan to either turn on the jets to score for himself or facilitate. Bardic has excellent basketball IQ and leadership qualities that will make him a favorite wherever he ends up. Keeps trending up as a scholarship guard.

Anton Strelnikov (6’8 C, Lake Zurich)

Who says you need to be flying above the rim to be an elite finisher? Strelnikov went up against players with excellent size and athleticism on the interior and still managed to produce at a high level using pivots, bumps, and flat-out advanced footwork and feel. He made second and third efforts on the offensive glass as well to either secure it himself or tap it out to teammates. Strelnikov was best in ball screen actions where he took good angles, forced switches, and buried guys inside. The floor continues to rise for Strelnikov, who looks like a true big in the right Division 1 system.

Kyle Waltz (6’7 SG/SF, York)

One of the winners of the weekend, it was the first time many coaches were able to see Waltz live. An array of thunderous dunks, silky jumpers, crafty takes to the rim, and flashes of shutdown defense made a great impression. He runs the floor like a deer and was outworking kids with his end-to-end speed and effort on the glass. When he had pick-and-pop situations or general catch-and-shoot looks, Waltz showed a smooth stroke that dropped at a good clip. It’s probably a broken record at this point, but Waltz will have an array of Division 1 options.

Fundamental U 17U

Colby Smith (6’3 PG/SG, New Trier)

Smith’s defensive intensity stood out. He maintains a wide base and can power slide to stay in front of quick guards while also having some strength to hold his ground against wings. Smith shot it pretty well, hitting a couple of threes and mid-range shots throughout the game. The ability to make stop-and-pop shots on command and use his quickness and straight-line speed to get defenders off balance is going to translate well as he progresses. A high-IQ, high-skill guard with plus athleticism, Smith will have a number of interested programs.

Hudson Scroggins (6’7 PF, Lake Forest)

Scroggins was a beast on the glass for Fundamental U. He has that tireless effort to contest every shot, attack any shot off of the rim, and pull it in out of the air. Throughout the weekend, he was one of the best rebounders that I saw. And that’s not even what will stand out most to college coaches. Scroggins pushed off of rebounds and was a workhorse in the paint off of direct-line drives to his left hand and inside of 10 feet off of dump offs and quick seals. He’s a dangerous mid-post player with his quickness as a forward and also a capable three-point shooter with a nice release. Scroggins already plays with a natural want-to, but as he fills out what is a highly projectable frame, he is going to be a force. One of the sleeper Division 1 kids of the weekend.

Theo Rocca (6’3 SG, Evanston)

Rocca is without question one of the premier shooters in the state. He knocked down numerous threes off of the catch, hitting a few off of movement and showing a textbook, effortless release. What is most impressive is the sheer consistency that he shows. He never gets too high or too low, just tactically picks you apart throughout a game. Rocca has a great frame with broad shoulders, long arms, and a solid build that he is using increasingly well. Particularly on the defensive end where I have seen noticeable growth in how he shows his hands and uses his upper body to redirect ball-handlers off of their lines. The Evanston product also looked good responding to aggressive closeouts by making one-to-two dribble reads to either take pull-ups or draw help and dump off passes. Rocca is a super-high-academic kid who is a no-brainer for any high-academic Division 1 program.

Illinois Wolves 17U

Bradley Longcor (6’4 PG, Quincy)

Longcor worked that middle area well throughout the game, leaning on using his body to navigate and feel out defenders. He hit several mid-range shots off the bounce and played with good pace in tight windows. At 6-foot-4, he created a mismatch with how well he could stop on a dime, give a little bump, and elevate into his shot. He’s also a nifty passer who got his guys some quality looks in ball screen actions and showed that he’s a capable off-ball threat to score in bunches. Mid-major-plus guard prospect.

Ian Miletic (6’7 SG, Rolling Meadows)

A lot of college coaches were in the gym to see the rising, 6-foot-7 wing. Miletic showed the fluid movement, shot-making, and precise playmaking that makes him a unique prospect. He connected on threes throughout off of pindowns and kickouts while showing the ability to get defenders on their heels and use his size and length to get to the paint and make two-foot decisions. His defensive versatility has continued to make strides, showing that he can frustrate players at times with his length. Miletic is an all-around player with some serious athletic pop and skill that is appealing. But when you add on his comfort in being vocal on the floor, continued improvement, and competitiveness, it’s not a surprise why he has high-majors in pursuit.

Nick Allen (6’11 C, Bradley Bourbonnais)

Allen has a huge frame and the type of agility and coordination that coaches only dream of for 7-footers. When he got touches with his back to the basket, he was productive making strong moves and using swift footwork to score. Allen has really good hands and did a great job running the floor to try to get early paint touches or force his man to get worn out at a minimum. There was a noticeable impact of Allen’s presence as a rim protector with players second guessing and settling for jumpers instead of challenging him again. While Allen struggled with some foul trouble, he showed a lot of that should make him a high-level five man at the next level.