We released the 16U evaluations earlier today from Breakaway’s practice, now we are posting the insights from the 17U 3SSB group.

Trey Williams (6’2 PG, Loyola)

Williams was among the best on-ball defenders in the state for Loyola this year, and you shouldn’t expect any fall-off over the spring. The athletic lead guard showed well at the point of attack, using his strength and lateral quickness to cut guys off. His playmaking ability stood out as well, living in the lane off of his downhill drives where he sprays the ball around on time and on target.

His jump shot is still developing, but the rotation and follow-through have improved out to the three-point line. Throughout the shooting drills, he was hitting a decent volume of jump shots. Even as that area progresses, his understanding of how to run a team, eliminate other guards from the picture with his defense, and generate looks off of his dribble-drive game are high-level. Williams is a tough, high-IQ point guard who has so many physical and mental tools that translate to the Division 1 level.

Mike Nee (6’1 PG/SG, Glenbard East)

Nee knows where his strength lies offensively and doesn’t stray away from it. He is a marksman from three and put that on display during shooting drills and live portions. Nee remains a dangerous off-ball scorer due to the way that he sets up cuts and understands spacing. All he needed was a sliver of space to knock down shots. He’s also got that ability to push out with a few dribbles to get space for his 15-to-18-foot pull-ups.

With improved strength and a general pitbull mentality, Nee has developed into a solid defender who battles through screens, chests guys up, and excels at stunting and closing out with high hands. The rebounding and on-ball ability have progressed since last year as well, looking very poised with the ball and sticking his nose in there to get on the glass. He’s solidly on the radar as a scholarship-level guard.

Chris Bolte (6’6 SF/PF, St. Ignatius)

Bolte broke out for Ignatius this year and all signs point to him being a likely candidate to do the same this spring and summer. The 6-foot-6 lefty shot it really well throughout the practice, hitting a high percentage of catch-and-shoot looks and connecting on one-to-two dribble pull-ups consistently. He has natural athleticism and ball-handling ability to complement his shooting prowess, particularly in DHO situations or when pushing in transition.

Bolte is also a smart passer who keeps his eyes up as he attacks and was a presence on the offensive glass during live drills. What he often differentiates himself from other high-skill forwards is on the defensive end. Bolte fought over screens, clogged gaps, and moved his feet well on the perimeter. He also adds value as a college-level communicator who can quarterback a defense. He’s another kid who is going to draw some Division 1 interest over the next few months.

Bryce Wegrzyn (6’8 PF, Libertyville)

Wegrzyn’s offensive ability jumps out at 6-foot-8. He’s got the ability to put the ball on the ground, making several slick counter moves in the middle third of the floor on his dribble penetration. With his footwork and comfort handling the ball, he’s going to make some opposing bigs uncomfortable in space. He also knocked down a few threes and looked confident, hitting standstill shots when he was given space. Another area where Wegrzyn impressed was on the block, where having that touch and nimble footwork paid off.

As a defender, he will need to be able to use that footwork to stay in front of the ball, which he showed he can do for stretches when they went to 5-on-5. Wegrzyn will be playing the five a lot and was able to contain in drop coverage without giving up open looks on rolls or pops. The Libertyville product is also a plus rebounder who did a nice job of keeping the ball high. The tools are there for Wegrzyn to cement himself as one of the better bigs in the class.

Cam Mercer (6’3 SG, Riverside Brookfield)

The categorization of 3-and-D would be a reduction of his all-around game, but Mercer is an excellent shooter and lockdown defender. He has the long arms to play bigger than his height and a solid frame to absorb contact as an on-ball defender. Mercer excels at getting his hands on the ball and impacting the comfort level of other guards. His best defensive traits may honestly be his discipline and IQ.

Throughout practice, I didn’t see him take possessions off. Similarly, as a shooter, he’s got a consistent, clean release with good arc and range. His instincts as a cutter and ability to attack closeouts should add an additional layer to the team this spring. Mercer is another kid whom I’d expect scholarship-level programs to lock into by the summer.

Cason Newton (6’1 PG/SG, Byron)

The springy, All-State guard from Byron always brings a level of energy to the table that is infectious. Newton was flying around on the defensive end and making an impact with second-effort plays to get steals, stop dribble penetration, or quickly close space on the catch. He is an excellent athlete with plus speed who got above the rim well during drills and shot it very well from three with improved body control on movement shots.

After averaging around 20 points a game at Byron, Newton looked solid as a complementary point guard who initiates offense well, uses his first step to get into the paint, and makes the right decision in traffic. Every time I watch Newton, it becomes more apparent that he’s solely focused on doing whatever is required to contribute to team success. Newton is a winner who will be a favorite for some of the better D3 programs in the country.

TJ Williams (6’3 SG, Glenbard West)

Williams is another player who had an All-State type of season for the Hilltoppers and showed some of that athleticism, scoring ability, and defensive activity that flashed during the high school season. His ability to go vertical off of two feet is impressive for a player of his height, showing true explosiveness and power once he got to that launching pad in drills. When given a straight line in the half court, Williams used a few dribbles and attacked with purpose.

Another area that has become a serious tool for Williams is his outside shooting ability and quick pull-up game. The ability to spring up and shoot over the top of defenders, even some with more length, is a translatable skill that will benefit him as he progresses. Defensively, Williams is a menace in the passing lanes with the length and anticipation to get tips and steals. Williams has scholarship-level appeal with a good amount of upside.

Mickeis Johnson (6’3 SG/SF, Joliet West)

From a pure power standpoint, Johnson is one of the better swingmen in the class. He has a strong lower half, gets off the ground in a hurry, and has innate body control once he’s up in the air. While his dunks during drills were showtime, what stood out most was the number of hustle plays that he had throughout the day. Johnson was the first to the floor for loose balls, rarely got beat while guarding the ball, and went into traffic to rebound during live portions.

Johnson did a nice job of beating his initial defender, getting two feet in the paint, and making under-control decisions when help came over. Nothing seemed forced. With his frame and ability to take contact, he poses issues for smaller guards or wings once he gets hip to hip. I’d expect Johnson to be the type of spark plug who can sway the momentum of games with the way that he guards, wins 50/50s, and attacks paint.

Jake Nosek (6’8 SF/PF, Metea Valley/Cushing Academy)

Nosek recently reclassified to the 2026 group prior to joining Breakaway. It’s great to see the 6-foot-8 sniper back on the floor healthy after having some bad luck with random injuries over the last few seasons. He is a top-of-the-line shooter at the frontcourt spot, making a few contested ones from past the college line. His stroke is fluid and his high release makes it hard to block or impact once he gets his eyes on the rim.

The smooth forward seems to be challenging himself to seek tougher defensive matchups to develop that part of his game. When he gets his feet moving, he does a nice job of contesting and showing his hands. He was guarding a lot on the perimeter as well, which should pay dividends from a recruiting and comfort standpoint. Nosek has added good muscle since last year and showed more mid-post work during the practice. He made a few difficult turnaround jumpers a used step-throughs and pivots all day to get space. Nosek could break out this spring.

Cam Anderson (6’6 PF, Schaumburg)

Anderson is a tremendous athlete at 6-foot-6, seemingly dunking it with ease as if he were five inches taller. His open-floor finishing was impressive, but so was his ability to change ends of the floor quickly. He played both on the wing and in the post for Schaumburg at times and is built to do both at the next level, depending on the team makeup. There were a lot of promising signs during the high school season that seem to be continuing to come to fruition.

Anderson’s jump shot progresses by the week, able to make open spot-ups and the occasional dribble pull-up. Where he really looked best during the practice was in ball screen actions, where he acted as a screener who had the speed and coordination to roll hard, catch with defenders on him, and go up strong to finish. Anderson is also a switchable defender who is comfortable slowing down guards or battling with bigs and using his bounce to challenge inside.