I took a trip to Batavia to watch some local teams play at the Prep Hoops Windy City War, which featured some of the best programs from the entire Midwest facing off. Of the games that I saw, here are some of the local standouts.

Big 3 17U

Aidan Renicker (6’0 SG, Benet)

Renicker can really shoot it from the perimeter. The Benet guard was confident stepping into shots and didn’t hesitate to make defenders pay for low-hand closeouts. He moves well off the ball and understands how to cut, space, and fill in the offense to optimize his chances to get good looks. At 6-foot, Renicker does have some length to aid him on the defensive side as he fills out physically. There were several nice moments from Renicker as a direct drive threat to get two feet in the lane and take what the defense gave him.

Marc Gamble (6’7 PF, Timothy Christian)

Gamble is an intriguing forward with his shooting ability and size. He was able to find space for several clean looks during the game, where he showed good mechanics and sound footwork. Outside of taking threes, Gamble was going up inside for rebounds and looking comfortable while guarding wings and bigs alike. Gamble has nimble feet and sound athletic ability and coordination with how he runs the floor, catches passes on the move, and gets off the ground. Gamble fits the bill of a modern pick-and-pop forward.

Matt Welch (6’3 SG/SF, Glenbard North)

Of the players that I saw this weekend, Welch had some of the deepest shooting range. He pulled up comfortably from the volleyball line multiple times and was able to hit some from a good distance. Following a breakout junior year, Welch looks to be in a great spot to carry that momentum. With his frame and face-up game, he also carries some appeal as a mid-post option who can back down smaller perimeter plays or hit turnarounds over the top.

Illinois Wolves 17U

Atticus Richmond (6’8 SF/PF, Stevenson)

Richmond, who will be taking a prep year, was a bright spot for stretches for the Wolves. He was an instant spark with his three-point shooting and decisive drives to the rim. When he got in the game, he was aggressive off the catch while also showing that he can rebound and flex defensively on wings and forwards when he’s locked in. It was a nice showing from Richmond, who continues to carry scholarship-level appeal and good upside.

Ethan Hillsman (6’7 PF, Joliet West)

Hillsman has already been one of the winners of the spring thus far. Tall, springy, and very active, Hillsman was disrupting shots around the rim and erasing some mistakes with his closing speed from the help side. The athleticism seems effortless for the 6-foot-7 forward who showed some interchangeability offensively. He worked out of DHO actions and as a screener in P&Rs effectively, making strong decisions on short rolls and making hard rim runs to put the hedge defender in conflict. Hillsman can also stretch the floor a bit and attack off the dribble before elevating to the rim. His arrow will continue to point up.

Moses Wilson (6’5 SG, Waubonsie Valley)

Another senior for the Wolves, Wilson changed the game with his length and activity on the defensive end. Tips, steals, blocks, and rebounds showed up across the board for the rangy Waubonsie wing. He got going offensively as the game progressed with a few big transition finishes. From a two-way impact standpoint, Wilson remains one of the better long-term guys in the class.

Oliver Gray (6’6 SG, Barrington)

Gray’s ability to score the basketball as a 6-foot-6 guard sets him apart. He drove into the lane, took bumps, and finished through contact early on. Then he was able to show some of the lethal outside shot-making that made him a standout in the Mid-Suburban League this year. Gray does so many things well on the offensive end and has the length to be a solid positional defender and rebounder as well. He should be another Division 1 recruit for the Wolves.

Rashaun Porter (6’7 PF, DePaul Prep)

Porter was excellent for the Wolves with his energy and scoring ability. The physical lefty was driving hard, cleaning up misses, and powering up and above the rim on several occasions. He’s got a mean streak inside that amplified his natural ability to dominate inside of 15 feet. There has also been nice growth in his range, hitting a three from the top of the key. Porter rebounded with intensity in traffic on the defensive glass and provided those extra effort plays to loose balls defensively that you like to see. The monster calendar year of 2025 continues for Porter, he is looking more like a solidified mid-major forward.

Rykan Woo (6’1 PG, DePaul Prep)

Another winner from DePaul Prep, Woo fought off tight ball pressure and came up big as the game got close. The savvy lead guard buried several threes late and was operating under control through the entirety of the game. Woo’s composure always stands out, but he’s become a more engaged and energetic defender in the last year. He has looked like a D1 guard.

Breakaway 17U 3SSB

Bryce Wegrzyn (6’8 PF, Libertyville)

Continuing the trend from the spring so far, Wegrzyn’s ability to score inside or out was on full display. He popped out for a couple of threes and was effective working in the lane with his footwork and IQ to read how he was being defended. Wegrzyn generates quality looks on a majority of his touches, including some nice passes out of the post. He has magnetic hands as a rebounder with multiple in-area rebounds during the game. The potential as a multi-purpose forward at the Division 1 level is there.

Chris Bolte (6’6 SF, St. Ignatius)

Bolte battled all game against a strong front line, scoring with mid-range shots and some tough takes to the rim. He has agility and power inside with an attacking mindset on post-ups and wing catches. Bolte guarded the ball well and was able to use his activity to his advantage against some size and athleticism. At 6-foot-6, Bolte is a true 3-level scorer who should have a chance to open some eyes in the next three weeks.

Mike Nee (6’1 PG/SG, Glenbard East)

Nee is as elite a shooter as there is in the class. It was nearly automatic when he got an open look from three, even making some of the contested ones look routine. Nee continued his hot spring with a barrage of long-range bombs for Breakaway in a back-and-forth game. There is a good reason to expect Nee’s stock to keep rising.

Chicago Lockdown 17U

Joe Niego (6’7 SF/PF, Brother Rice)

Niego was putting on a hook shot clinic throughout the game while the defense struggled to find a solution for his interior scoring. The 6-foot-7 forward was getting good position off of rip screens, staying poised on the catch, and making hooks all the way out to 12 feet with good extension and touch. Typically a deadeye shooter, Niego did a nice job of burying smaller defenders and identifying where the mismatch was for Lockdown. The size, shooting ability, and physical upside should lead to a variety of suitors this summer.

Team Get Better 17U

Colin Cimino (6’6 SF/PF, Riverside Brookfield)

Cimon’s defense stood out, acting as a quasi-five-man for the team and rotating over regularly to go vertical and either block or alter shots inside. He has a serious wingspan at 6-foot-6 with plenty of energy to make multiple efforts in the gaps or coming over in the help side. Offensively, he worked inside to finish off dump-offs while also outrunning opposing bigs for quality looks inside. Cimino also possesses three-point range and can heat up when he gets his feet set from three.

Danny Snyder (6’1 PG/SG, Glenbard East)

Snyder brings an edge on both ends of the floor with how he guards the ball, competes on the glass, and scores in a multitude of ways. The toughness getting to the rim with his left hand showed in transition and the half-court off of quick rip-through moves. Snyder is a reliable three-point shooter and connected on a couple of shots from beyond the arc in the games that I saw. He does a nice job of spacing when his teammates drive to give himself more time and space to step into his shot. Throughout the game, he showed his hands defensively, used his upper body strength to redirect ball-handlers, and was on time for his help responsibilities. I’m a big fan of the way that Snyder plays and how his grit translates to the college level.

Dom Mordini (6’5 PG/SG, Lake Forest)

The term versatility gets thrown around a lot, but the 6-foot-5 guard is a Swiss army knife for this team. He played on and off the ball at times, looking good handling it against pressure for stretches but also acting as a solid floor spacer with some catch-and-shoot threes and hard cuts. Mordini’s long strides and assertiveness attacking closeouts led to multiple layups where he caught defenders trying to run him off the line. That length also gave him an edge when making pinpoint passes over the top of pressure and on the defensive end, where he guarded multiple spots and challenged shots well. Mordini is going to be an intriguing player for college coaches.

Xavier Justice (6’0 PG, Batavia)

Justice is a quality point guard who seems to think the game like a more traditional floor general. He understands his pace, doesn’t rush things, and picks his spots depending on what the game flow calls for at that given time. In the last game, defenders were playing tight on him, and the help defenders were glued to their guys, so Justice took advantage with an array of aggressive drives to the rim through contact. He also got going from three with a few triples falling, as well as he led them to a commanding victory. Justice will be counted on to be one of the leaders for Batavia next year after a solid junior campaign.

Mike Glennon Elite 16U

Amir Tucker (5’9 PG, St. Ignatius [2028])

The freshman looked comfortable playing up on 16U, displaying a ton of ball control and creativity throughout the game. He has a toughness about him that you have to appreciate while attacking off the dribble and creating space. Tucker hit multiple jumpers, with a few coming off of crossovers and size-up moves. There is quickness there that should easily translate as he continues to fill out and grow. Tucker is a PG to watch in what is looking like a loaded 2028 class.

Coy Workman (6’4 SF, Brother Rice)

Workman has a chance to be really good if he continues to put his tools together. He attacked the rim with straight line drives and was initiating contact before finishing. The combination of length and hard-nosed mentality helped Workman cause problems on the inside with post-ups as well, often getting quality looks despite being fouled. Workman made timely passes on the move as well, and seems comfortable making plays in the flow of the offense. He’s also got a lot of defensive upside as a wing/forward defender capable of altering shots and affecting passing lanes. I am high on Workman’s potential.

Chicago Lockdown 16U

Malik Mahmoud (5’10 PG, Andrew)

Mahmoud delivered the game-winning three for Lockdown as time ran out and had a positive impact throughout the game. He shot it well off the catch with good arc and rotation on his shot. Mahmoud seemingly always had his hands and feet ready, making quick decisions to drive closeouts when needed. He’s a competitive kid who should be a breakout player for Andrew next year.

Illinois Wolves 16U

Hayden Schroeder (6’8 PF, Wheaton Academy)

Schroeder continues to look like the top big in the sophomore class. What stood out most in the game was how hard he ran the floor. He scored on multiple legitimate rim runs where he sprinted the floor for easy ones. The 6-foot-8 big man was very good getting over his left shoulder for hooks and bullying smaller defenders inside. He’s got the touch, athleticism, and IQ inside to consistently convert low-post touches. Expect Schroeder to start to attract some interest this summer.

Travis Brown (6’1 PG, West Aurora)

The smooth, intelligent guard was making things happen on both ends of the floor. He’s got a plus wingspan with excellent instincts as an on-ball defender, regularly forcing turnovers or making other guards uncomfortable. Offensively, he’s a fluid and crafty ball-handler who understands angles and change of pace. Brown was able to weave into the lane and extend up for finishes for the Wolves at opportune times. Another sophomore to keep an eye on heading into the summer.

Breakaway 16U 3SSB

Elton Jaegerskog (6’4 SG, New Trier)

Sheer competitiveness will always stand out in today’s game, and Jaegerskog was again doing that as well as anyone on the floor. The physical guard was flying in from the perimeter for rebounds, bodying up talented wings on drives, and was undeterred by the size and athleticism waiting at the rim on his drives. Jaegerskog finished off a couple of drives, but the speed and power that he showed getting to the paint were notable with so many likely high-major players on the other side of the ball. He also hit a three in the game for Breakaway, who was right there for the majority of the first half. Expect that defensive mindset and high-motor approach to pay dividends with time.

Lamari Carpenter (6’5 SG, Glenbard North)

Carpenter’s talent has been clear in every game I’ve seen from this Breakaway team this spring. Seemingly getting taller since the winter, the long-armed guard has a blend of three-point range, pull-up ability, and crafty touch and counters around the rim to evade rim protectors. Carpenter has some shiftiness with the ball that allows him to create advantage situations that can lead to quality looks for himself or others. During the game, his body control and desire to go right at guys in space stood out. There is no reason why he can’t continue to be a plus on-ball defender down the line as well with his reach, quickness, and recovery.

Mason Martin (6’4 SG, Neuqua Valley)

It is probably not advisable to let Martin get a clean catch on the perimeter. The Neuqua Valley marksman was knocking down threes from all over the floor for Breakaway, putting that high release to good use against some rangy defenders. He gets his shot off so quickly with no wasted motion and steady mechanics, regardless of the time and space. In addition to being a high-level shooter, Martin made some nice layups inside off of hard takes to the rim in transition, and once the word got out to make he put it on the floor. Martin hit well over ten threes on the weekend and remains a big-time perimeter shot maker for Breakaway.

Big 3 16U

Owen O’Reilly (5’11 PG/SG, Downers Grove North)

O’Reilly was on a heater for Big 3, pouring in a series of threes in the first half as one of the primary sources of offense for them. He gets good rotation on his shot and has a good base to create some lift. Even once the defense went zone, he was finding the soft spots and letting it rip. The DGN sophomore is a hard-nosed kid who didn’t seem to be negatively affected by a missed shot. There is always value in being able to hit outside shots the way that O’Reilly did, but he competed in other areas as well.

Illinois Wolves 15U

Chase Kasten (6’5 SG, Normal)

Kasten has size, athleticism, skill, and the type of win-first mindset that you look for in a young wing. He knocked down several threes off the catch with a fluid, one-motion release. When he wasn’t stretching the floor, Kasten drove hard in direct lines and showed some physicality around the rim. He’s got a great frame for a freshman and seems to have a ton of potential as a run-and-jump athlete. Kasten’s level of competitiveness as a versatile defender, rugged rebounder, and hustle guy when attacking 50/50 balls increases his long-term outlook. Kasten is one of the 10 best prospects in the freshman class.

Tommy Hills (6’2 PG/SG, Carmel)

Hills was the leading scorer for the Wolves and made an impact with his playmaking and on-ball defense. Physical and athletic at 6-foot-2, Hills got into the lane off of the bounce and was looking to spray it out to teammates. He also knocked down a pair of threes, with one coming from a few feet beyond the line. Defensively, Hills was stout, picking up at half court and staying in front of the ball. As he continues to show consistent outside shooting and that toughness as a dribble-drive player, the arrow will continue to point up.

Power Five 15U

Noah Corro (6’0 PG, St. Laurence)

Corro shined for stretches as a creator for Power Five. He read defenders well and seemed to have a counter for everything that was thrown at him. With the ball on a string, he got enough space for multiple pull-ups and finishes. He’s got a shift to him with textbook shot mechanics and range. Corro competed on the defensive end as well and looks primed to emerge as one of the better lead guards in the class.

Breakaway 15U 3SSB

Ben Ojala (6’1 PG, Evanston)

Ojala brings a level of excitement and confidence to the floor that you look for at the point guard spot. He once again showed up in a big matchup with multiple threes and several on-time passes off the bounce. Very mature from a feel perspective as a freshman, he knows when to keep his dribble alive and when to give it up within the flow of the offense. Ojala is a natural tough shot-maker who remains among the more productive and dynamic guards in the class.

Joey Jakstys (6’7 PF, Yorkville)

Among the more high-upside, unique players in the class, Jakstys impressed as a ball-handler in the open floor, bringing it up to initiate offense at times as well. The ball control and ability to flex out to the perimeter will separate him as he matures, but he also showed the soft touch from the outside with a couple of makes from beyond the arc. He’s a threat as a roller and rim runner with how well he sprints in space and elevates above the rim. He has shown improvement as an interior defender as well, while still showing good flashes moving his feet out in space. You’d be wise to buy stock early in the ever-improving Yorkville forward.

Kelechi Enyia (6’1 SG, Providence)

The powerful guard from Providence helped will Breakaway back into the game with his energy and explosiveness as a finisher. He showed his athletic pop on a few hard right drives off of handoffs and while going up to challenge shots above the rim at 6-foot-1. Enyia did a nice job of turning defense into offense and continues to show signs of being an elite on-ball defender and slasher at his size. There are a lot of reasons for optimism after Enyia’s standout freshman year at Providence.

Luke Loughlin (5’6 PG, Barrington)

In a tight game with multiple swings, Loughlin came in and made an immediate impact with his playmaking and defense. When opposing guards tried to initiate offense, he sped them up, was active with his hands, and gave continuous effort on the ball. As a passer, he was excellent with the touch on a few of his deliveries to backdoor cutters, bigs, and shooters. Loughlin plays with joy and competitiveness that seems to have a positive, calming impact on the team at this stage.