Part two of the standouts that I saw at the Riverside Brookfield live event.

Bobby Grganto (6’6 PF, Downers Grove North 2025)

Grganto always seems to produce on both sides of the floor. He’s used his strength in the post to move defenders out of the way and score around the rim with jump hooks and dropsteps. The slick footwork for a player who has the physical nature to overpower defenders is hard to find. Grganto was a focal point inside offensively, also getting on the offensive glass for putbacks. He was pulling in misses on both ends at a high volume and seems to have the ability to reach into crowds and come away with misses. Athletically, he moves well laterally and runs very well at 6-foot-6. Look for him to continue to show his three-point range as well. He’s a big-time D3 recruit who could appeal to certain scholarship level schools.

Jonah Funk (6’10 PF, El Paso Gridley 2025)

There is evident potential for the 6-foot-10 forward. He actually has more swingman tendencies than low-post activity. Funk went to the wing and showed his outside touch while doing a lot of his work as a slasher and cutter. He generates a ton of second chances with his athleticism and length inside. Those traits served him well defensively, where he probably made the most impact. Funk has excellent recovery speed when rotating back to contest shots and had numerous blocked shots coming over from the help side. He’s still developing physically, but there are tools there to like down the line.

Ben Ojala (6’0 PG/SG, Evanston 2028)

Ojala didn’t look like a freshman with how hard he played and how confident he looked. He took on tough defensive assignments and was making guys work all game, showing quickness and competitiveness guarding the ball. Ojala fit in well with Evanston’s experienced group on offense as well, picking his spots to attack, handling versus pressure, and shooting it very well from three when he had rhythm looks. He’s got some shake to him with the ball and dribbles with a purpose. This 2028 group looks solid already and Ojala is one of the more varsity-ready guards.

Kaidan Chatham (6’3 PG/SG, Evanston 2025)

A transfer for the Wildkits, Chatham was showing well as a primary playmaker and decision maker. His athleticism stands out, particularly in the open court where he has speed and explosiveness to get by guys and put pressure on the rim. Chatham can playmake for others but also has the off-the-dribble scoring ability to go on some offensive bursts. When help was late, he got all the way downhill and made the defense pay for giving him too much space. At around 6-foot-3, Chatham has ideal positional length to be a disruptive defender at the next level, similar to how he showed over the weekend. Scholarship-level guard.

Theo Rocca (6’4 SG, Evanston 2025)

Rocca had an explosive weekend, showing his whole scoring package in the games that I saw. He was lighting it up from the three-point line with catch-and-shoot looks and some one or two dribble shots to get back behind the line after letting defenders flew by on closeouts. Rocca is a top-of-the-line shooter, but doesn’t rely solely on the long-range game. In that 12-to-17 foot range, he attacked with a sense of urgency and made short pull-ups. He also looked really good taking contact and using his frame to power up for layups on dribble penetration. From a college projection standpoint, the shot-making seems obvious to translate. But he also defended on the wing well and was very good on the defensive glass to elevate in traffic and initiate the transition game. Rocca remains a high-academic D1 target.

Josh Abushanab (6’5 SF, Glenbard West 2026)

The versatility and IQ of Abushanab was on display during the game I saw. Long and active in the zone, he was able to force looping passes side to side and create tips and steals. He did a little bit of everything, chipping in with a number of aggressive rebounds, making sound decisions in the half court on offense, and getting some transition and straight-line points. Abushanab still has a good runway.

TJ Williams (6’3 SG, Glenbard West 2026)

Another high-upside talent for GBW, Williams was playing above the rim all weekend. He is a powerful two-foot jumper who drew fouls and finished inside the paint against size with regularity. Whether he was cutting, sprinting his lane in transition, or exploding off of counter moves, he was finding his way to the rim. His jumper showed some flashes as well in spot-ups. Williams continues to excel as a defensive playmaker who can change games with his active hands, quickness, and recovery. He still a ways to go to refine his all-around game, but Williams has a Division 1 ceiling.

Bryce Heard (6’6 SG, Homewood Flossmoor 2025)

Heard continues to look like one of the best players in the state regardless of class. The smooth yet explosive two guard was finishing with flare at the rim, both on the break and in the half court. He confidently popped up into dribble pull-ups from 15-to-19 feet and was efficient from the three as well. There isn’t a perfect way to defend Heard with how skilled and smart he is with the ball. When helped came, he was a willing passer and also showed that defensive fire that will travel with him to college. High-major guard.

Darrius Hawkins (5’9 PG, Homewood Flossmoor 2028)

There were moments of brilliance from the incoming freshman. Hawkins had the ball on a string and was shifting and shaking defenders all weekend. He’s not just a dynamic ball-handler either. Hawkins truly understands pace, flow, and tendencies to find gaps in the defense to expose. He shot it well from the perimeter with a variety of tough twos and deep threes. It’s easy to see the projectable nature of his playmaking and vision, picking apart the defense on his drives. I also loved how active and tenacious he was defensively in space.

Jayden Tyler (5’10 PG, Homewood Flossmoor 2025)

Another D1 guard prospect for HF, Tyler has the ability to star in whatever role he is needed. For stretches over the weekend, he was a productive off-ball scorer making quick reads off of kick outs and hitting jumpers when he was spacing. There is still a level of mastery that he shows in ball screen actions with how he uses his body and feels out where the help is coming from. He’s got deceptively long arms and good athleticism that he used to rebound and disrupt things defensively. Low-to-mid majors continue to pursue him.

Dom Mordini (6’4 PG, Lake Forest 2026)

There aren’t a ton of true 6-foot-4 point guards in the state, but the skilled and assertive junior plays the part well. Mordini looked best putting his head down and getting paint touches where he played off of two feet well and used his size to score and see the open man. He continues to bulk up to complement his aggressive nature as a dribble-drive player which led to fouls and contact finishes. When he was off the ball, he made some open threes as well and projects as a nice three-level scorer. Mordini should be one of the breakout backcourt players in the area this year.

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

Another one of those under the radar D1 prospects who boosted their stock over the weekend. Scroggins, a do-it-all lefty with big upside, showed well operating in the middle third of the court. He made a good number of downhill pull-ups, looked good in the catch-and-shoot game, and was excellent when breaking down defenders off the bounce. The lefty forward is a unique talent with his height, athleticism, and two-way impact. He scored in bunches, but also was one of the best rebounder I saw all weekend and defended on the wing very well. To this point, I have him graded out as a Division 1 forward. I expect more schools to jump in over the next few weeks.

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

There isn’t a better low post scorer in Illinois. Even against a gauntlet of a slate in terms of opposing bigs and defenses, Strelnikov was impressive inside. Against single coverage, he was either scoring or drawing fouls with strategic bumps, very good footwork, and natural reactions to how he was being guarded. Strelnikov has the type of interior touch and tough layup-making that you can’t really teach. In addition, he was the main man on the boards for LZ and battled defensively. He’s shown the ability to pop out and knock down open threes with time and space as well. Already with a couple Division 1 offers, Strelnikov will continue to trend up.

Zach Mazanowski (6’8 SF, Lane Tech 2025)

The Champions weren’t at full strength, but thewiry, 6-foot-8 wing stood out from a projectability standpoint. He got going in transition with dunks and long-stride finishes utilizing his wingspan well inside to find angles to score. His overall athleticism for a player his size is notable, and it still seems like there’s some untapped explosiveness that will come with time. Mazanowski rebounded well and was able to push the break himself. On open kick outs, the lanky wing drained a number of deep-range threes off of the catch. D2 programs will continue to monitor his growth.

Ahmad Lee (6’2 PG, Lincoln Park 2026)

Among the calmest, collected point guards I saw all weekend. Lee was getting his teammates involved early, doing a nice job of collapsing and kicking. As the game went on, he started to look for his shot more, lifting up well into his pull-up and weaving his way inside for some difficult, double-clutch shots. Lee doesn’t seem to be phased by pressure moments and rose to the occasion as things got tight. Only a junior, Lee looks to have scholarship-level game.

Chayse Turner (6’3 SG, Lincoln Park 2025)

Turner is a modern power guard who can bully smaller perimeter players inside. He was given numerous isolation plays on the wing where he dribbled into post ups or used his speed to get a step on guys before rising up in traffic. There is a lot to like about his physicality and comfort handling the ball when he’s on an island. Turner will be one of the better players in the Chicago Public League this season.

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

A volume scorer for LWE, Powell made multiple threes beyond the college line and was doing some nice things at the rim to his left hand. He’s wired to create shots, using a quick first step and handle to dance with the ball and get space. Powell utilized his floater inside on multiple occasions, which will be an important tool as he continues to progress. He stayed in attack mode throughout the weekend and filled it up for stretches. Powell is one of the higher-scoring returning juniors in the area.

Brent Taylor (6’2 SG, Lincoln Way East 2025)

Taylor was very impressive on both ends during the weekend. He’s got elite athleticism but also shot it well from college range and was a spark plug on defense. Taylor is an unselfish guard that balances scoring with getting off of the ball at times. He was regularly getting up near or above the rim when he found driving lanes and made some slick moves to get there in the first place. Defensively, he challenged shots inside like a big, timing guys up and trying to contest everything in rotations. The more you watch him, the more his scholarship-level ability jumps out.

Ian Polonowski (6’7 SF, Lyons 2025)

Polonowski was a bright spot for a Lyons team that lost a ton to graduation. He helped break pressure as a ball-handler, was a focal point as a shooter and scorer, and rebounded well throughout the weekend. There is a lot of upside physically, already looking like he’s added good strength since last season and seeming like a classic late bloomer. The 6-foot-7 wing hit multiple threes in the games that I saw and made some mid-range shots off the dribble. He’s got a smooth form with a high release point. Polonowski’s defensive profile is intriguing as well with his ability to move laterally and block shots. High-D3 with some scholarship level potential.

Stephen Brown (6’8 SF/PF, Marist 2026)

Brown is one of the most complete two-way players in Illinois. When he had an opportunity to run the floor, he sprinted out well for layups and dunks with great speed and explosiveness. He’s an effortless athlete that has a constant motor and good instincts as a driver, cutter, and defender. The long arms at 6-foot-8 made him a nightmare when switching screens, rebounding, and altering shots. Brown has continued to progress as a jump shooter, with good form and some feel for his pull-up shot. The ceiling is through the roof for Brown, who will also be a Power 5 football target.