I was out at Wintrust over the weekend to check out some of the games for the UAA Finals. I saw a number of games, but here are a few of the players that stood out.

Atlanta Xpress (Georgia) 17U

Marcus Gillespie (6’5 PG/SG, Clarke Central)

Gillespie was overpowering at times as a driver, even against a team that had plenty of size to throw at him. He controls the ball well when trying to create separation, playing at his pace while being opportunistic with when he attacks. Gillespie was able to play bully ball when he got defenders to flip their hips but also shot it well from three. The 6-foot-5 guard has a consistent set shot off the catch with good arc and confidence to take it with time and space. A clear talent, Gillespie has high-major upside.

Breakaway 17U

Aidan Bardic (6’3 PG, Stevenson 2025)

What a month for Bardic. He was a catalyst once again for Breakaway with his leadership, playmaking, and timely shot-making. All of that while defending the star player for stretches of the game. The stout lefty was under control while getting to his pull-up, making mid-range jumpers and threes calmly. Very physically strong with the ball, he was shaking off any type of attempted ball pressure to get to where he wanted to on the floor. Bardic remains an excellent high-academic scholarship prospect who has seen his stock skyrocket with his consistent performance on both ends.

Breakaway 16U

Chris Bolte (6’6 SF/PF, St. Ignatius 2026)

You won’t go to a game without hearing Bolte’s voice, as both a defensive anchor and hype man for his teammates. He did plenty to produce on both ends. Whenever he got a quality look from three, he took and made shots confidently from the perimeter. But most of his production came at the rim off of backdoors and direct-line drives where he had a dunk and numerous aggressive attacks of the basket. Bolte’s side-to-side mobility and natural run-and-jump athleticism hint towards him being able to play on the wing down the line. While playing the five spot, he was a man on the boards and helped finish possessions in crowds. Will emerge as a Division 1 forward during his junior year at Ignatius.

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

Kelly has been dominant for the 16U Breakaway team since the spring. This was one of the best stretches I’ve seen from him. Kelly erupted for over 20 points in the first half with a ton of threes off of ball reversals and pick-and-pops. Notable in the showing was the fact that a high-major prospect was the primary defender who he still managed to create and finish plays against. Kelly has nice skill as a ball-handler and passer, weaving into the lane and making a couple of nice deliveries to cutters. The athleticism getting to the rim was evident. But again, hearing him try to communicate and give positive encouragement to his teammates stood out. Kelly’s talent is evident, but so is his passion for the game which only increases the chance of reaching that upside. He picked up his first offer from Illinois.

TJ Williams (6’2 SG, Glenbard West 2026)

It was seemingly a perfect fit for Williams with the current Breakaway group as a cutter, slasher, and off-ball mover. He was filling up the stat sheet with pure athleticism and energy. Williams scored on lobs, had a dunk in the open court, and made multiple hard basket cuts. He added a three as well, which is an area that has been a plus the last few months with time and space. His most intriguing college-level trait is his defensive ability when locked in. The rangy, quick-burst athleticism and positional length allow him to make plays in the passing lanes and as a backcourt shot blocker. Scholarship-level guard.

DC Premier (Maryland) 16U

Shane Pendergrass (6’9 SF/PF, Hargrave 2026)

Pendergrass was a mismatch for whoever ended up on him. Around 6-foot-9, he is a threat on the perimeter to get to his mid-range shot, knock down threes or make his way to the mid-post to score over the top of smaller defenders inside. He worked from the wing out of the triple threat with jabs and quick rip throughs effectively during the game before evading help side defenders at the rim. With how well he puts it on the ground and soft touch he has as a jump shooter, I would expect the versatile forward to wear multiple hats at the next level.

Fundamental U 15U

Rory Haas (6’6 SF/PF, Lake Forest 2027)

Haas continues to progress in the right direction. He shot it well from three, showing off a clean stroke with good balance as a drifter and floor spacer from the wing and corner. The 6-foot-6 forward contested some shots around the rim and has the ability to use his length to rebound in his area. From even the spring AAU season, Haas has shown tremendous growth in his confidence and assertiveness.

Vito Rocca (6’4 SF, Evanston 2027)

Evanston’s standout sophomore was made a huge impact with his physicality. Already built to deliver contact on the wing or in the post, Fundamental U was able to trust Rocca as a mid-post decision maker. When double teams didn’t come, he bullied defenders inside and drew significant contact, oftentimes finding ways to finish. He was unselfish and on-target as a passer, hitting 45 cuts and shooters when help loaded up. Rocca plays with such an intensity and effort that rubbed off on the entire team. Particularly defensively where he jammed cutters, used his wingspan to get tips, and crashed for rebounds. A lot to like about how he plays.

Fundamental U 17U

AJ Demirov (6’0 PG, Crystal Lake South 2025)

Speed kills and Demirov has been on a spree over the last few months. When plays broke down, he was able to get to his spots and hit turnarounds from the mid-range or put pressure on the rim. Demirov also showed some flashes as a playmaker, making pinpoint passes on the move and seeing a few plays ahead in ball screen actions. His threat as an explosive scorer has been on display all month and led to a number of D2 and low-major programs to ramp up their pursuit.

Colby Smith (6’3 PG/SG, New Trier 2025)

Smith was attacking well for stretches, putting his head down and using his speed to get by defenders. He’s got a sort of unorthodox rhythm as a ball-handler that blends well with his quickness to regularly gain advantages off of the dribble before scoring in crowds. Smith showed well at the point of attack as a defender by sliding his feet to keep the ball in front. Smith remains a player with serious upside as a Division 1 guard who will be a target for many high-academic programs across levels.

Theo Rocca (6’4 SG, Evanston 2025)

Rocca was excellent throughout the game that I saw scoring off of the ball. There is easy projection to the next level with how well he scores on the move. Rocca hit threes off of quick away screens, kick outs, and pindowns. A mechanically sound release and good feet allowed him to continue to pour in shots from the outside. In a few of those off-ball actions, he made the right reads once he got overplayed to pass to the open guys. There is both upside and production with his defensive profile as a 6-foot-4 guard with broad shoulders, long arms, and strength to stand his ground. Rocca has a nose for the ball and looks to jump lanes when possible. I feel like a broken record on this, but Rocca is an ideal floor-spacer with 3-and-D appeal for high-academic Division 1 programs.

Illinois Wolves

Ian Miletic (6’7 SG, Rolling Meadows 2025)

Miletic was cooking for the Wolves, hitting a bunch of threes throughout the game and finding different ways to get to his shot. The 6-foot-7 Marquette commit took on a leadership role in taking and making big shots while also showing the ability to cover ground and guard different types of players defensively. His quick trigger from three at his height was causing problems for defenders who were trying to get him off of rhythm. Miletic was crafty using his handle to get inside for floaters and extended to the rim for a few layups. He should be on the Mr. Basketball watchlist heading into the season.

Nick Allen (6’11 C, Bradley Bourbonnais 2025)

Once Allen got in rhythm, the mobile 6-foot-11 big was doing serious damage inside. He was best in the dunker spot where he caught drop off passes or made quick seals to get interior position. Once he caught it, he was patient in deciding which move to make and finished with power against smaller defenders. There wasn’t much answer other than to foul him or give up the easy two. Allen’s size and athletic upside continue to provide reason for optimism when walling up, blocking shots, and containing on switches. If Allen can put all of the pieces together, he’s got a good chance to make a high-level impact at the Division 1 level.

Tyreek Coleman (6’3 PG, Waubonsie Valley 2025)

The baselines were lines with college coaches for a number of different prospects during their game. But there were plenty there to see Coleman run the show. A classic late bloomer, the 6-foot-3 guard showed feel and IQ as a passer in transition and off of dribble penetration. His length is a big advantage when trying to utilize his vision. It also helped him finish over the top of help defenders or rise up for jumpers. Coleman is just a traditional, well-rounded guard that has a smooth game. Mid-major prospect at this point.

Illinois Wolves 16U

Jake Pollack (6’8 PF, Deerfield 2026)

The Wolves got a huge boost from Pollack. It was an immediate impact when he got in, scoring along the baseline multiple times, cutting hard, and hitting an open three. Pollack was physical and active defensively, rotating over to challenge shots while holding his own on the perimeter against forwards. He also created a few turnovers by getting his hand on passes and forcing errant passes. It continues to look like an exponential trajectory for Pollack.

Noah Mister (6’1 PG, Mount Carmel 2026)

Mister was excellent at times creating his own shot and scoring the basketball. He’s a quick, shifty point guard with next-level shake off of the bounce. When defenders cheated under screens, he made them pay with threes. He also connected on stop-and-pop jumpers around the elbows and used his speed to blow by defenders on command for layups. As a defender, he showed some flashes applying ball pressure and has solid height for a point guard at his age. Expect Mister to continue to trend up as a Division 1 guard recruit.

Oliver Gray (6’5 SG, Barrington 2026)

Shooters will shoot and scorers will score. Gray has proven to be both, showing off multiple layers of his offensive scoring package in the game. He made multiple three off of flairs and drifts with what may be the fastest release in the class. Gray has a size advantage at 6-foot-5 but looked good putting it on the ground and scoring with spins and runners inside. Throughout the game, Gray stayed in a stance defensively and showed his hands well in space. Among the better all-around perimeter shot-makers in the class, Gray is going to be a priority among Division 1 programs targeting floor spacers.

Rashaun Porter (6’7 PF, DePaul Prep 2026)

Porter didn’t have to score a ton of points to have a big impact on the game. From tip to tip, he was terrific on the glass, going up and snatching misses on both ends. Porter’s quick jump and strength make him a forceful presence as both a rebounder, but that quickness also showed with a few steals where he anticipated actions well to blow up plays. On offense, he scored on some active finishes inside and has shown that he can step outside to attack or go to work on the block. Porter has a bright future.

Martin Bros (Iowa) 17U

Davis Kern (6’9 PF/C, Linn-Mar 2025)

Kern was one of the more polished low-post scorers that I saw over the weekend. The South Dakota State commit understands angles well and has a knack for losing defenders with quick spins and drop steps inside. His physicality on the block led to some easy offense after bullying smaller defenders, but it was his swift footwork, IQ, and touch that really stood out at his size. Kern looked good popping on ball screen actions, hitting a couple of threes to complement his interior game. He also rebounded the ball very well on both backboards and helped spur their transition game with outlet passes. Kern is going to be a nice addition for the Jackrabbits.

Jack McCaffery (6’9 SF, Iowa City West 2025)

There aren’t many 6-foot-9 players who are comfortable initiating offense and pushing on the break. McCaffery is a unique talent with how he handled the ball, going coast to coast on multiple occasions, and either making moves to beat defenders or hitting pull-ups on the break. He also had a good number of possessions on the block, using his size, patience, and footwork to back guys down and make decisive moves with his back to the basket. McCaffery utilized his pivot and shot fakes well to give himself an edge on the interior where he made hooks, step throughs, and had a dunk. He flashed some natural vision making skips and interior passes as well. Defensively, he was incredibly vocal trying to orchestrate from the back line. McCaffery has an intriguing inside-out game that will blossom at the high-major level.

Mason Watkins (6’3 PG/SG, West Burlington 2025)

Watkins was making his living attacking off of the bounce and showing some impressive athleticism around the rim. He’s got some wiggle to his game as a ball-handler with the speed to just blow by defenders in space. Help defenders seemed caught off of guard with how well Watkins was exploding above the rim as a finisher. I thought his hustle really stood out, particularly on the defensive end with how he recovered to block shots and make sure he was the first one to loose balls. He also showed some composure hitting tough shots in crunch time for Martin Bros. Looks like a solid LM D1 combo guard.

Trey McKowen (6’0 PG, Cedar Rapids Kennedy 2025)

There was a clear competitive fire with the way that McKowen played. He played as a true point guard well, commanding the offense and also irritating opposing guards with his ball pressure. The gutsy lead guard elevated well for a couple of pull-up these in transition and off ball screens. He comes across as a natural leader with his decision making and communication level as well.

Middlesex Magic (Massachusetts) 17U

Daithi Quinn (6’4 SG, Tabor Academy)

Quinn exuded toughness throughout the weekend. A hardworking two guard, Quinn drove to the rim hard, fought for loose balls, and was battling bigs for rebounds. He’s got good positional size and strength at 6-foot-4 with a gritty play style that was key for Middlesex. On rotations within the offense, Quinn connected on threes or made quick decisions to attack and make the right play off of two feet. He possesses a lot of those intangibles that tend to translate perfectly to college.

Ryan Altman (6’6 SF, The Rivers School 2025)

Another player who stood out with his motor, Altman was a huge factor on the glass with rebounds out of his area. He had a bunch of putbacks where his quick leaping ability and nose for the ball allowed him to beat other guys to those misses. Once Altman got a head of steam offensively, the runway cleared and the Penn commit took off for some thunderous dunks. It’s always nice to see kids sprint the floor on both ends for the entirety of the game like Altman did continuously.

Ryder Frost (6’6 SG/SF, Phillips Exeter 2025)

Frost was among the players who really stood out from a projection standpoint. The 6-foot-6 wing with a strong frame and smooth offensive game was ultra-efficient with his touches. He’s got a textbook release from three with great elevation and repeatable finish that he replicates on pull-ups and spot-ups. His teammates did a nice job of finding him in trail situations and off of dribble penetration where he can hit from NBA range. When Frost went to attack off of the dribble, he used his body well to get separation for his mid-range shot and found creative ways to convert inside. Frost checks off a ton of boxes of a high-major floor spacer.

Multilevel (California) 15U

Tristan Anderson (5’8 PG, Olympian 2027)

In the mold of modern, undersized point guards, Anderson was a jet with the basketball and found ways to make plays in traffic and deliver passes in tight windows. The ball was on a string and he probed well to create offense as both a scorer and playmaker. Anderson made multiple tough finishes inside and also showed similar toughness as a scrappy, on-ball defender.

Seattle Select (Washington) 17U

Davis Fogle (6’7 SG, AZ Compass 2025)

Fogle was the most impressive and overpowering player that I saw. The Gonzaga commit was burying tough shots, getting where he wanted with the ball, and living at the free throw line. His fluid handle and toughness to play though contact made him a constant mismatch at 6-foot-7, drawing heavy defensive attention and still producing at a high level. Fogle made difficult stepbacks and rose up around that 15-to-18 foot range for long pull-ups over contested hands. His tempo and change of pace is uncommon for a player with his wiry length and proved to be insurmountable. In the biggest moments, he wanted the basketball and made the winning plays. Looked every bit like a McDonald’s All-American candidate.

Skills Center Elite (Florida) 16U

Braylen Moore (6’1 PG/SG, Lecanto 2026)

A highly-athletic scoring guard, Moore had multiple eye-popping plays. He had multiple dunks that you wouldn’t expect from a 6-foot-1 guard. Moore is a powerful two-foot leaper who is dangerous getting to his strong left hand. He shined in the open floor with top-end speed that was good enough to regularly collapse the defense. When he got his feet set, Moore knocked down a three as well. He brings a nice energy to the game.

Jerry Tipton (5’11 PG, Florida Virtual 2026)

Tipton was shooting it well all game, dropping in several threes against man and zone. Oftentimes catching with little air space, Tipton was quick to get on balance and fire shots from beyond the arc. His form is repeatable with good arc and distance on his shot. Tipton handles point guard duties well when he was on the ball and didn’t seem to let it stick at any point.

Joe Philon (6’8 SF, Howard W. Blake 2026)

The physical traits of Philon are advanced at this stage. Around 6-foot-8 with a huge wingspan and effortless athleticism, Philon was best when getting out in the open court and using his long strides to get around defenders. He showed three-point range with a high release point on his jumper and was more than comfortable working around aggressive defenders with a sense of urgency. Philon protects the ball on his takes to the rim and was able to get free throws as a result. The upside is evident for a Philon, who has some high-major tools to develop.

Stars Basketball (Tennessee) 15U

Davis Cochran (6’7 PF, Brentwood 2027)

Cochran impressed with his mobility, size, and perimeter skillset. On numerous occasions, he stepped outside the arc and showed a pure shot from three, making multiple in the game. There is no wasted motion on his shot and he didn’t hesitate when he had space. When defenders started to push up on him, he made strong moves with two or three dribbles to get downhill and finish. Cochran was showing his hands and altering shots inside defensively while cleaning the glass all game. It looks like he is still growing and filling out, but Cochran already shows a promising inside-out game.

Nolan Coffman (6’5 SF, Lyons County 2027)

Coffman is another player who you can tell is still growing into his body and tapping into his athleticism. The 6-foot-5 wing was a factor as a pick-and-pop threat with a couple of threes in ghost screen actions. When he caught it ready to shoot, the ball came out clean and he shot a high clip in catch-and-shoot jumpers. Coffman has a projectable build with the length to make an impact inside defensively. When he rotated over to the help, he was able to play bigger than his listed height. He also took a charge during the championship game.

Ty Cobb (6’1 PG, Upperman 2027)

A driving force for the UA Rise champions, Cobb is the type of tough, explosive point guard that you buy stock in early. He was incredibly quick to the rim and showed great body control as a finisher. Part of that is due to the upper body strength and solid base to absorb hits. The other piece is the skill to know when to elevate over defenders, where he’s capable of dunking in traffic, or making mid-air changes to finish around the help. His downhill decision making was very good, seeming to have a good chemistry with his teammates knowing where to drift and relocate to in order to receive passes. Cobb’s on-ball defense could potentially separate him with the tenacity to alter games on that end. It’s still early in the process and he will continue to refine his skillset, but Cobb has a lot of winning traits that align with the D1 level.

Storm Basketball (Michigan) 17U

Camden Thompson (6’6 SF, Whitehall 2025)

A dual-sport Western Michigan commit, Thompson was getting to the rim in straight lines at a high volume. With size, strength, and explosiveness, he was driving closeouts well and finishing with flare. Bumps and hits didn’t seem to affect him much, usually with defenders bouncing off of him on his takes. His springiness in the paint was a factor on the glass to get to missed shots before other guys could meet him near the rim.

Cameron Hutson (6’6 SG/SF, East Lansing 2025)

Hutson is a talented wing with ideal size and athleticism on the wing. He showed well off of the bounce with some efficient decisions and moves to get driving angles. Hutson looks the part with the length and frame that should progress well at the college level and continue to be an asset defensively. His activity guarding the ball and rotating to take away the extra pass helped stall out the opposing offense. While he didn’t take a ton of jumpers, Hutson has sound mechanics with range on his shot that will be an asset going forward. He’s got a number of mid-major offers right now.

SWISH Elite (North Carolina) 17U

Williams James (6’4 PG/SG, Holly Springs 2025)

A bigger guard, James has a physical nature to his game in the backcourt that is good to see. With a 6-foot-4 build and lateral quickness to boot, James was able to cut off and frustrate other guards defensively. It seemed like he was finding different ways to knife inside, whether he was acting as a primary ball-handler or catching and attacking from the wing. James gains leverage well and maintains his balance from different angles to finish plays. I thought his passing ability was solid as well while playing at high speeds. Low-to-mid major type of kid.

Team Accelerate (North Carolina) 15U

Oladeji Olorugbohunmi (6’4 SF, Grace Academy 2027)

Olorugbohunmi looked different amongst the other 15U players with supreme athleticism and a build that could easily pass for the 17U level. He was dominant inside off of post ups and hard drives to his left hand. The first-step quickness and open court speed led to finishes throughout the game, including a game-winner after making a quick move off of an inbounds. Olorugbohunmi also knocked down a three and showed a bit of feel for his pull-up. He already looks the part and has physical tools that should play well as he refines his game.

Team Sims (Massachusetts) 17U

Trevor Payne (6’4 SG, Tabor Academy 2026)

Payne shot the lights out in the first half, scoring from all over the perimeter. He moves very well off of the ball, setting up his cuts and getting his feet square quickly. The slightest glimmer of space was all that he needed to get his shot off, hitting an array of threes early on in the game. Payne was able to manufacture his own shot off the bounce a bit as well with crossovers to pull back into his jumper and nice athleticism on a few layups through contact. The 6-foot-4 guard is heading to prep school and will now be in the 2026 class where he should be a scholarship-level prospect.

Texas Impact (Texas) 17U

King Grace (6’5 PG/SG, Waxahachie 2025)

Grace played a good bit on the ball for Texas Impact in the game that I saw, though he’s capable of doing a lot of good things at the two-guard spot as well. His strong build and athleticism separate him, already looking like a college player with the way that he runs, jumps, and covers ground on the defensive end where he was excellent on the ball. As a point guard, he initiated offense and took care of the ball for the most part, waiting until the second touch in the offense to really look to attack. Grace turned missed shots and steals into highlight reel plays in transition where he was impressive.

Luke Laczkowski (6’8 SG, Dallas St. Marks 2025)

Laczkowski has great positional size for a perimeter shooter. His high release and cool, calm, collected offensive game helped give the Impact some life. He connected on a couple of catch-and-shoot threes and showed that one-motion release on one-to-two dribble pull-ups inside of the arc. Defensively, he’s got great length and looked committed to staying in a stance and being active with his hands during the game. 6-foot-8 wings with elite shooting ability and good feel tend to generate plenty of Division 1 interest. Laczkowski looks like a safe bet at the Division 1 level.

West Coast Elite (California) 17U

AJ Thomas (6’4 PG, Eduprize 2025)

Of the games that I saw, Thomas was one of the most impressive point guards that I saw. Highly explosive and under control, Thomas was living in the paint with constant dribble penetration. It didn’t matter who the defense threw at him, Thomas used his slick handle and speed to break guys down before uses all types of finishes inside. Thomas sees the floor well and plays the game with his head up to make pinpoint and timely decisions as a facilitator. He’s got that game-changing athleticism and feel offensively but is also a dynamo on defense with his point of attack intensity and recovery time. Elite point guard prospect.