We held our annual Spring Showcase Camp over the weekend, which featured players from around the state across classes. The varsity group featured a majority of 2027 players with a handful of 2028 players. Here are the evaluations from that group.

AJ Enyia (6’7 PF, OPRF 2027)

Enyia has a ton of upside at 6-foot-7 with his ability to move, protect the rim, and make some things happen from the face-up position. He did a nice job in the dunker’s spot, working around the rim to catch and finish with dunks and other layups near the rim. The OPRF forward separated well when his teammates penetrated to find open space around the short corners and showed his hands to give them a target. At his size, he really runs the floor well and provides value as a rebounder who rotates over to protect the rim.

Alexander Enyedi (6’0 PG, Wheaton Academy 2027)

During the scrimmages, Enyedi pushed the pace well and was a table setter as a playmaker. His speed gave him an edge when turning the corner to collapse the defense, and he made numerous drop-off passes and skips after absorbing the help. Enyedi plays with flair with the ball, making quick crossovers and counters to put primary defenders on their heels. It was great to see him guard the ball with such tenacity, an area where he regularly stands out. When guards tried to take him in one-on-one situations, he cut them off and forced pickups. As a scorer, he got out in transition well and kept it on some drives when bigs were late to help.

Archie Goewey (6’3 SG, Centralia 2028)

Goewey was one of the best freshmen in the state last season and showed glimpses of why. Well-built and athletic at 6-foot-3, he shined from the perimeter, hitting numerous pull-ups at high speeds and knocking down a couple of threes out to the NBA line. During the shooting stations, he made 19 of 20 mid-range pull-ups as well, with good elevation and pace. What stood out most was Goewey’s feel and IQ on both ends. His help line positioning was on point while talking, stunting, and using his upper body strength to hold his ground. The same understanding showed up offensively with quick, sound decisions as a cutter, ball mover, or dribble drive threat. Goewey is one of the most productive players in the class.

Ben Gillmar (6’5 SF/PF, Wheaton North 2027)

The versatility and force that Gillmar plays with continue to set him apart. During drills, he shot it well from three, with good mechanics coming off of DHOs and spot-ups. When live play began, his aggressiveness as a rebounder stood out, shedding box outs well and high-pointing missed shots on both ends. Gillmar is a very good athlete who has a nose for the ball, can defend wings or bigs, and has that quick second jump to beat guy to the glass. He was impressive making decisions offensively, both as a high-post passer and as a straight-line driver and cutter who is adept at scoring with either hand and playing above the rim. College coaches are going to love what he brings to the table with his athleticism, motor, and flexibility.

Bennett Kammes (6’2 SG, Glenbard West 2027)

Kammes is a gifted three-point shooter with textbook mechanics and a ton of range. During scrimmages, he did a lot of his damage from beyond the arc, making a couple of threes from about 25 feet out and a few others off of kickouts and quick away screens. The 6-foot-2 guard is always ready to shoot off the catch but also avoids forcing things if he’s not open. He found cutters and made the extra pass when two guys would fly at him to run him off the line. Kammes also got to the rim off of a few right-handed drives, where he played through contact well. Entering his first varsity season, Kammes has a game-changing trait to build around.

Charles Schlicht (6’1 SG, Grant 2027)

There aren’t many 6-foot-1 guards who are punching it like Schlicht. On any fast break or open lane, he got above the rim with force, either dunking it or making a physical, athletic finish inside. That part of his game has always impressed, but he showed added layers as a jump shooter that will help his long-term outlook. Schlicht made several dribble pull-ups during the live segments, with a few coming over the contesting hands of defenders. He handled it well in space in half-court actions and in transition to find openings and battled on the offensive glass. Schlicht was solid on the ball defensively and showed a willingness to guard bigs if needed.

Chase Kasten (6’5 SG, Normal 2028)

Kasten impressed camp coaches with his ability to process and make reads. The tall, athletic guard spent time playing on the ball where he used screens well, got downhill in straight lines, and either made stop-and-pop jumpers or timely passes to teammates. He showed excellent pace and patience using his frame to get to his spots. Throughout the day, hit well over 50 percent of his threes on a good volume. Kasten has a high release, consistent footwork, and range to the NBA line. He drilled a couple of looks off of staggers sets while also finishing at the rim on lobs, well-timed cuts, and turnarounds where he showed some mid-post prowess. Kasten communicated well, showed his hands defensively, and was a big-time rebounder defensively. He looked every bit like one of the top prospects in the class.

Cohen Ottaviano (6’2 SG, Stevenson)

In the last year, Ottaviano has made notable gains in his strength, and it paid dividends on both ends during the camp. His camp coaches put him on the other team’s best player, and he did a great job of competing, showing his hands, and getting his chest back in front of guys as they tried to drive. During the drills, Ottaviano made some tough shots off the dribble and showed a consistent lefty shot off the catch that he was able to capitalize on a few times. He generated good looks on his dribble penetration as well when he got a step, delivered bumps, and made the right play inside of 15 feet. Ottaviano should be a solid player for the Patriots.

Joey Cwik (6’1 PG, Bartlett)

Cwik is a scoring guard who did just that throughout the camp. Speed and deception off the dribble were key in his ability to get so many good looks, either from the perimeter or at the rim. Cwik was best when creating off the dribble in the middle third of the floor, where he could pick a driving angle to score himself and kick to shooters. As the day went on, he really got going as a jump shooter, hitting threes off of stepbacks and DHOs to give his team an extra boost. For stretches, he was an irritant on defense who made life tough on other guards as well. Cwik is entering his third varsity season and should have a good shot to go over 1,500 points.

Kayden Turner (6’3 SG, Peoria 2028)

The smooth, rangy guard has so much long-term potential. In the early part of the camp, he showed a quick, effortless three-point stroke with good range from three and confidence in the mid-range. The growing, 6-foot-3 guard also showed improved athleticism in straight lines and vertically at the rim. During the scrimmages, he made a few tough jumpers on the move and took a long-stride approach to get around defenders before using his long arms to extend to the rim for layups. Turner’s demeanor never seems to change, and he remained composed and aggressive even as defenders tried to take away his airspace. Now at Peoria and back at full strength, Turner joins one of the most promising young core in Central Illinois as one of the better prospects in the area.

Kye Parker Peterson (6’4 SG, Hersey 2027)

Peterson is a knockdown shooter with great length on the wing. His mechanics are pure from the release with the height to get it off with little impact from defenders who are closing out. The dual-sport standout had the highest total score on the shooting station, hitting 33 of 40 perimeter shots, which was in line with how he looked during the drills as well. Peterson was a threat on lift actions and as a general spacer off of the ball during the scrimmages. Now at Hersey, the lanky shooter should fit in well with a strong upperclassmen group.

Leo Brinias (5’10 PG, Wauconda 2027)

In the scrimmages, I don’t know if anyone shot it better than Brinias from three. It was nearly automatic when he got space from the perimeter, showing a quick trigger on handoffs and away screens with a ton of range. That small sliver of space was all he needed to get off looks that seemed to be hitting all net for much of the day. On a few occasions, he also got inside as a cutter and straight-line driver with his floater. I would expect Brinias to have an elevated role in his second full varsity season for Wauconda.

Luke Alvarez (6’1 PG/SG, Loyola 2027)

Alvarez was a standout on the defensive end as a perimeter stopper throughout the scrimmages. Now at 6-foot-1, Alvarez has some added length to aid his constant ball pressure, energy, and smarts to close out under control and slide his feet in space. When players tried to take him off the bounce, he redirected them back out towards half court and got guys out of their rhythm. As a shooter, he made a few difficult threes from the perimeter and hit a good number of looks during drills after being one of Loyola’s best shooters as a sophomore. Look for Alvarez to take on more of a leadership role.

Nathaniel Rouse Jr. (6’6 PF, St. Viator)

The inside-out game of Rouse showed a lot of signs of promise during the event. He’s got a nice outside stroke that comes out cleanly in standstill or pick-and-pop situations. At the shooting station, he hit a good percentage from three and on dribble pull-ups as well, which is an area that will continue to add appeal to his game. On the interior, he rebounded the ball well and was stout defensively in holding his ground and contesting shots. A legitimate 6-foot-6, Rouse made plays on the wing and also had an impact inside of 10 feet at moments. On a guard-heavy St. Viator team, Rouse could have a nice role adding size and versatility.

Nick Brzezniak (6’4 SF/PF, Lincoln-Way West 2027)

In terms of energy, Brzezniak was near the top of the list for the varsity group. The all-around wing was sprinting the floor for layups, switching across the board effectively, and fighting for rebounds inside. His defensive impact was critical during the scrimmages, standing up ball-handlers and rotating over to block multiple shots. He took rebounds coast to coast for layups and showed some promising mechanics during drills. Brzezniak is able to flex to different roles on a team and should continue to fill out physically.

Noah Emmanuel (6’9 PF, Chi Prep 2027)

Emmanuel has the potential to be a modern, face-up forward who can stretch the floor, put it on the ground, and add some value inside. He was excellent shooting it during drills and hit 75 percent of his jumpers at the shooting station. In live play, he impressed with a couple of deep threes as a pop guy or trail option. On a few occasions, he scored on drives from the perimeter as well, where he used his size to spin into shots inside. Now, back in the area, Emmanuel is a player with a ton of talent if he can put it all together.

Noah J. Corro (6’1 PG, St. Laurence 2028)

Corro did a lot of notable things at the event, but the one thing that every camp coach raved about the most was how well he applied ball pressure defensively. The shifty sophomore was relentless staying in front of the ball and had great footwork and technique when sliding in front of the guards and wings he defended. Offensively, Corro’s skill set is already approaching a college level with how well he handles the ball in space, sees the floor, makes passes on the move, and shoots it from distance. Even when defenders stayed solid on him, he found creases to get space for stepbacks, pull-ups, and acrobatic finishes inside. Corro shot it well all day, tying the highest percentage for the pull-up shooting drill and spraying in threes throughout the scrimmages. Corro should emerge as one of the best guards in the Catholic League.

Phoenix Fisher (6’4 SG, Niles West 2027)

Fisher’s explosiveness caught some of the camp coaches by surprise, but he brings a different dimension as a slasher who can be a force when he builds up a head of steam. As scrimmages got going, he became increasingly more aggressive, putting his head down and putting pressure on the rim, where he made some difficult layups in traffic look routine. The wing scorer found space to hit long-range shots from the wings and corners and was a mid-range threat in some of the half-court situations. His ability to anticipate passes and generate steals remains an asset as well for Fisher, who should be an all-conference player this season.

Sean Reese (6’1 SG, Glenbard South 2027)

In contention for having the highest motor of the group, Reese was very good defensively during all of the live portions. He never seemed to get worn down, always getting back in front of guys and working to turn ball-handlers whenever possible. Reese was all over the offensive glass as well, despite giving up some height in the crowd. Those second chances led to multiple quality looks on his kick-outs. Reese also got going with a few pull-ups, hit threes when given space from the perimeter, and made some pinpoint passes in the open floor. He continues to improve his skillset to complement what is already an excellent level of competitiveness and energy.

Tommy Hills (6’3 PG/SG, Barrington 2028)

Another promising sophomore who was in the varsity group, Hills was very active throughout the live segments as a defender, driver, and rebounder. You never have to question his motor or energy, getting up into ball-handlers and forcing tough shots or rushed decisions. The physical strength and quickness that Hills possessed were noteworthy, even in a group of mostly juniors. It allowed him to get into the paint regularly and hit short jumpers or get all the way to the rim for layups. Also a good pull-up shooter with compact form, he shot it well during the drills and shooting stations. Hills is going to be an instant-impact transfer for the Broncos and has a bright future to track as a big, athletic guard.

Tristan Trotter (6’5 SG/SF, Hersey 2027)

Trotter is a big, shot-making wing who can be dangerous from 15 feet and out. The reliable, high release on his shot yielded good results during drills and helped him shoot 90 percent on pull-ups during the shooting station. As live play started, he got some quality looks on pick-and-pop and ghost screen actions in the middle of the floor. At 6-foot-5, Trotter has a good frame and the type of shooting ability that opens things up on the wing.