We held a camp with Agent Zero Masterclass and a group of current college players that featured over 50 high school players. There were two groups, one for 2028/2029 players and one for 2026/2027 players. Here are evaluations of the former group.

2028 Players

Alex Grigorov (6’0 SG, Stevenson)

Grigorov has a solid all-around game at the guard spot and had some nice moments throughout the camp. He handles it well in transition and has confidence attacking closeouts before making the right reads at the rim. During drills and live play, he caught it with his hands and feet ready from three and made quick decisions to move it, drive it, or shoot off the catch. I also thought Grigorov defended well in one-on-one situations and remained active in the gaps to force turnovers.

Bilguun Ankhbayar (6’1 PG, Stevenson)

Among the more skilled players in the younger group, Ankhbayar impressed with his creativity in space to manufacture shots. His mid-range game was on display after using efficient moves to get separation, elevating well around that 15-to-18 foot range at a high percentage. In the scrimmages, he was a key factor for his team as both a scorer and playmaker while getting downhill and setting up other guys. The Stevenson guard had a good showing throughout the day.

Brennan Shannon (6’7 PF, Lake Park)

The MVP of the underclassmen group, Shannon was excellent on both ends throughout the day. The Lake Park product has great hands, sound footwork, and a good blend of touch and physicality inside. His ability to sprint his lanes, catch on the run, and finish in traffic stood out during scrimmages. Shannon is a plus athlete who moves well defensively and gets off the ground with force and quickness, blocking multiple shots and rising up for rebounds frequently. He also showed feel on the block while letting plays develop before using his strength and pivots to find scoring angles. The promising 6-foot-7 lefty may be just as effective facing up long-term, able to knock down open threes with good mechanics, passing well from the high post, and having comfort putting it on the ground. Also a volleyball standout, Shannon has a bright future.

Camden Scroggins (6’2 SF, Lake Forest)

Scroggins just seems to continue growing from a physical and skill standpoint. Playing on the perimeter for much of the day, he made good decisions as a facilitator and ball mover within the flow of the offense. It seemed like he always made the right cut, right pass, or right drive when his team needed it. Around 6-foot-2 now, Scroggins was able to disrupt things defensively and showed solid lateral movement to stay in front of the ball on the wing. He also connected on a few threes throughout the day and used his length to finish inside. He should be an important piece for the Scouts this year.

Charlie Yellen (6’1 PG/SG, Deerfield)

One of the more complete performances of the guards in the group, Yellen was making on-point reads and causing havoc defensively. When he was a primary ball-handler, he operated out of ball screen actions well by manipulating defenders with ball fakes and getting the ball out on time. If defenders gave him space, he made aggressive moves to the paint, where he either finished or made short jumpers in the lane. Yellen also made a few stepback threes that were in rhythm and was anticipating well defensively to jump passing lanes and turn ball-handlers. He’s going to be a good one for Deerfield over the next few years.

Chase Ellis (6’3 SG, New Trier)

Ellis, a talented lefty scorer out of New Trier, made a good impression on the camp coaches with his activity and shooting ability. Any time he was given space during scrimmages, he made the defense pay with several deep threes off of DHOs and kickouts. His mechanics are textbook from three, with an effortless release that extends out to the NBA line. It was also great to see his athleticism getting to the rim, particularly in transition, where he weaved through traffic, played through contact on his drives, and finished plays inside. Ellis was a plus on the defensive end as well while cutting off ball-handlers and using his length to challenge shots. The 6-foot-3 guard continues to trend up.

Cole Christian (6’6 PF, Lane Tech)

Another impressive frontcourt player in the first group, Christian’s defensive impact stood out. The 6-foot-6 forward has a long wingspan and has a high level of competitiveness as a defender, shutting down guards on switches and altering everything in his area around the rim. He has good agility and closing speed as well, and was among the better rebounders in the group while pursuing missed shots on both ends. Offensively, Christian has a fluid outside stroke and had some strong takes to the rim from the perimeter. I wouldn’t be surprised if he emerges as one of the breakout sophomores in the Chicago Public League this year for the Champions.

Connor Crowley (6’2 PG, Downers Grove North)

A consummate floor general, Crowley managed his team well during the scrimmages. Very physical for a sophomore, he never got sped up and was able to get to his spots on command. He was one of the better pick-and-roll players in the group, using his quick first step to regularly create an advantage and his frame to maintain it on his drives. Crowley’s athleticism at the rim led to multiple downhill layups and open looks for his teammates. He put great zip on his passes and always hit guys right in the shooting pocket. All of the physical tools and IQ are there for Crowley to continue being a high-level on-ball defender as well. He should be a force in the West Suburban over the next few years.

Edwin Karnauchovas (6’0 PG, Buffalo Grove)

After having a nice freshman year for Buffalo Grove, Karnauchovas looks ready to take another big step forward. His ball-handling, shooting, and passing were big bonuses for his team during the scrimmages, bringing a level of craftiness and flash as a playmaker that was fun to watch. The lead guard has good positional strength and maintains his balance while taking bumps. He excelled in transition and in high-ball screens, where he was able to pick apart the defense and find room for his own shot at times. Karnauchovas also forced several turnovers with his active hands and converted most of them on the other end. He will be one of the main pieces for BG this year.

Luke Loughlin (5’8 PG, Barrington)

Loughlin’s level of energy and tenacity are in line with what you look for in a winning point guard. His point-of-attack defense caused turnovers, sped up ball-handlers, and made it hard for other teams to get into their actions. Loughlin stays tight defensively and has a knack for stripping the ball and turning defense into offense. His on-ball decision-making on the offensive end was excellent as well, getting frequent paint touches off the bounce and figuring out ways to get open looks for his teammates. He has so much toughness as a driver and finisher to go into traffic and use a variety of floaters, scoops, and contact layups to convert.

Mason Markman (6’2 SF, Glenbrook North)

During the scrimmages, Markman was productive on both ends as a spot-up shooter, rebounder, and gap defender. He always impacts the game with his grit, regularly going up into crowds and snatching rebounds. On several occasions, he ripped the ball from defenders and finished putbacks inside. Defensively, he battled to guard multiple guys, communicated well, and was early to his help responsibilities. Markman shot it well from three during live play, stepping into threes and hitting a good clip. On a young GBN team, he should be a nice piece.

Oliver Gradek (5’11 SG, Hersey)

Gradek shot it very well during the 5-on-5 portions, going on numerous individual scoring runs where he buried a handful of threes. He’s got good range on his jumper once he has his feet set and is a productive spot-up threat to space the floor. During drills, he showed a similar feel for his outside shot and brings decent positional length to the table at the guard spot. Look for Gradek to continue to add to a nice underclassmen class at Hersey.

Reymundo Garibay (5’11 PG/SG, St. Joseph [WI])

The sole out-of-state player in the group, Garibay put on a quality showing. A dynamic guard who has the ball on a string, Garibay understands timing, angles, and flow at a high level for a sophomore. He got to his spots around the mid-range, where he was hitting stop-and-pop shots and stepbacks well in the middle third of the floor. He assessed the help side positioning well when he came off of ball screens and frequently kicked out to shooters on time when defenders loaded up to the ball too much. Garibay is a guard who can go with the ball in his hands.

Ryan Hoste (6’3 SG, DePaul Prep)

A lefty shooter from DePaul Prep, Hoste showed his three-point range during drills to start the camp. During the 5-on-5 play, he was actually more impactful within 15 feet, scoring on some turnarounds, cutting hard for layups, and driving closeouts to get inside. At 6-foot-3, he has the length to finish over smaller guards and see over the defense to make passes. Hoste was active in the paint and ran the floor well throughout the camp.

2029 Players

Adam Schwarz (6’6 PF, Glenbard East)

The Glenbard East big man was a standout defensively as an interior rim protector who rotated over to wall up and kept his feet moving when guarding on the perimeter. At 6-foot-6 already, Schwarz is an above-average athlete who runs the floor hard and makes players think twice about going up for layups. Offensively, he showed good shot mechanics during drills and the ability to use two to three dribbles to get to the rim. There’s a ton to like about Schwarz as a long-term big prospect.

AJ Kroll (6’1 SG/SF, Oswego East)

Kroll is a well-rounded wing who impacts plays on both ends. He has good positional length at his age to defend multiple spots and the athleticism to stay in front of the ball and recover in space. During the scrimmages, his scoring ability really flashed, hitting several threes off of the dribble and getting into the teeth of the defense off the dribble. With other ball-handlers on his team, he did a nice job of spacing with his hands and feet ready to knock down open looks. Kroll will be a nice player for Oswego East.

Alexander Hamilton (5’10 PG/SG, Joliet Catholic)

Hamilton had some tough finishes inside during scrimmages and showed a good ability to convert shots in traffic. Able to play either guard spot, he worked to attack the rim in transition and off of wing catches within the offense. He had several layups where he was able to contort his body and score against some size in the lane. Entering his freshman year, he has some strength and aggressiveness to him that should serve him well.

Beckett Shelton (6’0 SG, Plainfield North)

In the discussion for the best shooting performance of the younger group, Shelton was drilling jumpers throughout the camp. A skilled marksman in catch-and-shoot situations, he ran wide to the wings and corners for spot-up threes and also hit a few tougher stepbacks confidently. There is no wasted motion with his mechanics, producing consistent releases and outcomes. On a few occasions, Shelton drove to the rim when defenders flew by on closeouts and scored with spins and push shots inside.

Chris Jones (5’9 PG/SG, St. Viator)

Jones is a smooth, skilled guard who just knows how to play. It was very clear with his reads and understanding of spacing that he thinks the game well and looks to make the right plays. He never forced anything, knocked down open jumpers when he got them, put pressure on the rim in transition, and facilitated within the actions, oftentimes as a secondary playmaker. I was impressed with how he uses his length and anticipation defensively to be a pest and frustrate other guards. Still with plenty of growing to do, Jones is a young guard in the ESCC to track.

Cody Rader (5’9 PG, Geneva)

Rader has that passing gift that is hard to teach. His vision during the station work and scrimmages was impressive for an incoming freshman, particularly against some players with length. He absorbed help off of drives and kept his head up in transition to deliver some dots to teammates for open jumpers and layups off of skips and dump-offs. While playing off the ball, he sprinted out for layups and hit open threes with good range and comfort off the bounce or catch. Defensively, he anticipated well and stayed in front of his matchups while applying good ball pressure. Rader has excellent instincts and competitiveness on both ends that should make him one of the more complete guards in the area.

Drake Cadle (6’0 PG, Benet)

Cadle brought intensity from the start of the camp with his attention to detail and energy as a cutter, dribble-drive threat, and defender. That carried into scrimmages where he was frequently collapsing the defense with strong takes to the rim, playing off of two feet, and delivering with floaters, step-throughs, and contact layups. He kept the game simple with his reads, snapping the ball to teammates when help came and quickly relocating or cutting for some more open looks. Cadle showed comfort, knocking down long-range shots and making hard basket cuts playing off of it. The Benet guard continues to look like a standout defender, rarely giving any space, hustling to get back in plays, and making plays in the gaps. Cadle has great potential as another one of those two-way guards who have excelled with the Redwings.

Emran Alispahic (6’4 SG/SF, Notre Dame College Prep)

Alispahic has a very high ceiling with his size, skillset, athleticism, and feel. A big guard at 6-foot-4, he spent some time as a primary decision maker in P&R actions where he got to the nail and utilized pivots, stepbacks, and long-striding moves to score in the lane. He didn’t try to do too much on his drives, able to make precise deliveries to guys when the low defenders committed. Alispahic connected on several threes off of the catch and a few off of the dribble with compact mechanics and a good follow-through. At different points of the camp, he scored from all over the floor, even taking smaller defenders to the post, where he used his physicality well. The size, smarts, and agility are there for him to be an impact wing defender who can guard down low at times. Alispahic is a talented, well-rounded incoming freshman for the Dons to keep an eye on.

Israel Sanchez (5’6 PG, St. Patrick)

Sanchez gave up some size to other players at the camp, but held his own with his craftiness. The incoming St. Patrick guard handles the ball well and is a reliable perimeter shooter, which he showed during the scrimmages with a few catch-and-shoot looks. He went through drills with intent and stayed active defensively on the perimeter during the 5-on-5 play. As he continues to grow, Sanchez has a solid foundation of skills to build on moving forward.

Nolan Heard (5’6 PG, Glenbard West)

From a shooting perspective, Heard has a natural lefty release that extends beyond the high school line. When he got his feet set, he was able to show off his ability to space the floor. While shooting is his strength, Heard has some shift off the dribble and knows how to evade defenders when they get overly aggressive. Heard kept the help defense honest during scrimmages and provided quality secondary and tertiary ball-handling. He’s going to be a serious perimeter shot-maker as he matures.

Pat Alvarez (5’9 PG/SG, Loyola)

Alvarez picked his spots during the scrimmages and had one of the highest shooting percentages from three on the day. His pre-shot preparation stood out, getting square and on balance before receiving passes to accelerate the speed of his release. Any time he got a clean look, Alvarez was filling it up on spot-up looks from beyond the arc. His focus and ability to slide his feet while defending other guards gave his team an added bonus as they picked up momentum as the 5-on-5 progressed. Expect Alvarez to fit right in with Loyola’s culture.

Shane Bacon (5’7 PG, Homewood Flossmoor)

A quick on-ball guard at HF, Bacon had good moments defensively during the station work and live play. He gets up into ball-handlers and forces them to feel uncomfortable with his ball pressure. As a creator on offense, he kept the ball moving within the offense and ran his lanes well for some quality looks in the open floor. The 5-foot-7 guard has a nice first step and good pace off the bounce.

Tim Gruenfeld (5’9 SG, Wauconda)

Gruenfeld has some natural scoring instincts on the perimeter that showed up throughout the day. When he put his head down to get downhill, he won a few one-on-one matchups and finished in the paint. He also added in a pull-up and looked comfortable taking jumpers on the move. It looks like he’ll continue to grow and should be in a position to give some offensive boost to Wauconda at some point in the coming years.

Zach Newman (6’5 C, Deerfield)

One of the bigger players in the younger group, Newman made his presence felt as a rebound and low-post option. He scored off of multiple deep seals, where he used his frame to get defenders under the rim to simplify the catch-and-finish. Around 6-foot-5, he played through contact on a few dump-off passes in the dunker’s spot and was a visible target to guards who got downhill. Throughout the scrimmages, he delivered a series of timely passes to cutters and shooters from different spots on the perimeter. Newman will continue to progress and grow.