I was at M14’s facility last night to check out some of their high school teams practice for a few hours. Here are some of the players who stood out.

17U

Carson Loughlin (6’3 SG, Naperville North)

Coming off a good season with Naperville North, Loughlin is a productive Swiss-Army knife type of player. His positional length showed up on the defensive end while closing out, stunting in gaps, and contesting shots on rotations. A true guard at 6-foot-3, Loughlin seemed to understand the timing and flow of the offense to get open looks for his teammates in live portions or find soft spots in screen actions. He is also more than capable of stretching the floor, as he showed during the year for Naperville North. One of multiple high-academic kids for M14 for D3 programs to keep an eye on.

Cooper Mellican (6’5 SF, St. Charles North)

Mellican had one of the highest motors of the night. The 6-foot-5 wing has a nice competitive edge and contributes across the board. His shot mechanics were solid during shooting drills, with a consistent, deliberate release from three and range past the three-point line. I really like his game inside of 15 feet where he utilizes pivots and shot fakes well and has the body to deliver contact while staying on balance. Mellican is an energy-giver, creating second chances on the offensive end and showing his hands defensively. The St. Charles North product was one of the better players in the gym.

Drew Lundberg (6’3 Guard, West Aurora)

Lundberg has plus positional size with a big wingspan and a knack for scoring on the wing. He showed some prowess scoring on mid-range pull-ups after driving closeouts, on spot-up threes, and at the rim where his size was an advantage. Lundberg is a decent vertical athlete with the length to lift up over smaller defenders in traffic. When he put it on the ground, he had some force as a driver in direct lines that should translate well. He has a frame that should be able to add muscle at the next level, which should help his long-term outlook.

Evan Frieders (6’5 SG, Kaneland)

The lanky guard for Kaneland checks some boxes as a taller, playmaking backcourt player. During the full-court segments, his comfort pushing on the break and making timely passes on the move stood out. He’s spent time playing on and off of the ball at Kaneland and showed the ability to do both effectively. Frieders is a reliable downhill threat, mainly going to his right hand, where he can extend to the rim and finish off of counter moves. There is a lot to like about his defensive profile as well as he continues to fill out physically.

Gabe Jensen (5’11 PG, Geneva)

What stood out most about Jensen was his playmaking and on-ball defense. The Geneva lead guard has the passing gift of knowing where his teammates are, looking off defenders, and hitting guys in stride or right in their shooting pockets on the perimeter. He made a good impression as an instinctual defender as well who can irritate other guards and take calculated risks to force turnovers. Jensen should be one of the catalysts for the Gold team.

16U

Ben Whorlow (6’8 PF, St. Francis)

Whorlow is a face-up big man with some skill at 6-foot-8. He has a projectable frame that should help him battle inside more as he matures, but the ability to knock down open jumpers, put it on the ground, and finish off of dumps inside is there. Whorlow can rebound in his area and is fairly mobile at his size to rotate over to challenge shots. He wasn’t on the block a ton during the day, but with his size and touch, that’s an area where he would be a tough cover as he develops with his back to the basket. His best basketball is ahead of him, and he could be on the brink of a breakout spring after a solid sophomore year at Francis.

Bryce Goss (6’0 PG/SG, Kaneland)

A physical, athletic guard from Kaneland, Goss can generate offense off the bounce. During live segments, he took bumps and converted shots inside. He has a rock-solid build for a sophomore, and it allows him to maintain his driving angles, get separation against tight defense, and apply constant ball pressure on the other end. When he took outside shots, he got off of the ground well and showed a solid base to stay on balance. Goss can play multiple roles offensively, but I think his potential as a point-of-attack defender could be his best trait with his strength, quickness, and tenacity.

Collin Booker (6’0 PG, Metea Valley)

In the team portions of practice, Booker was driving hard to get to the rim to create quality looks for himself or kick out to teammates. His quick first step was apparent, often winning in one-on-one situations without having to make more than a single move. Booker played primarily on the ball, showing that speed in the open floor off missed shots and turnovers. The Metea Valley guard is a valuable dribble penetration threat for M14.

David Showman (6’2 SG, Wheaton Warrenville South)

Showman was impressive for stretches as a slasher and all-around scorer. With plus athleticism and bounce around the rim, he was able to go over defenders or get it up to the backboard before the help came over. He can create his own shot a bit, handling the ball with some confidence and getting space for his middle game a few times. Showman’s outside shooting looked solid throughout practice, with some upside as a catch-and-shoot three-point guy. I wouldn’t be shocked if he had a few more inches to grow, which could be a big plus given his explosiveness already at this point. Showman had a strong day.

Oskar Vengelin Eriksson (6’8 C, Naperville Central)

Another big to watch for M14, Vengelin Eriksson is a bigger body inside with decent feet, some range, and upside as a high-post decision maker. When he goes inside, he is able to demand attention when he tries to carve out space. More of a mid-post, 15-foot face-up type of big, Vengelin Eriksson was able to see over defenses to swing the ball or take jumpers. There was no one to challenge him for rebounds inside on either end, and that will be the case for many games this spring. Still growing into his body, Vengelin Eriksson has some intriguing perimeter skills to complement his physical size.

15U

Brandon Otten (6’2 SF, Benet)

Otten is a projectable wing/forward who seems to just be scratching the surface. He’s agile and fairly athletic getting to the rim, with good body control to convert in the paint. Mechanically, he has nice form with good rotation on his shot. He looked best driving closeouts and sprinting out in transition, where he ran hard for layups. It seems like Otten had a general level of intensity during practice that is great to see from a freshman.

Solomon Morrison (6’3 SF/PF, Metea Valley)

Morrison impressed with his athleticism and physical tools. Currently at 6-foot-3, the Metea Valley freshman looks like he’s going to grow a good amount and already has the wingspan and activity inside that you look for in a young frontcourt player. He always seemed to be around the ball and challenged shots inside. Morrison moves more like a wing and could end up being more of a combo forward as his game gets refined.