We had our fall showcase camp on October 4th with over 60 players across all three groups. The senior group featured all unsigned seniors from around the area, many of whom are flying under the radar for a variety of reasons. Highlights and pictures from the event have been released periodically throughout the last week, and we are now releasing the write-ups of every player who was in attendance.

Alex Ortega (5’10 PG, Wauconda)

Ortega had a solid showing as a scorer, hitting a few deep threes and looking to get to the rim throughout the day. His quickness off of the dribble is a nice strength to this point and he does a nice job of figuring out angles to attack. Generally speaking, Ortega has a nose for the ball defensively and shows solid hands to generate turnovers. It was a quality day for the Wauconda guard.

Charlie Ellis (6’2 SG, Loyola Academy)

A shooter who is probably a bit under the radar at this point, Ellis looked good, hitting shots off the catch during the drill portion. He carried that over to live portions, hitting several catch-and-shoot threes and off-the-dribble jumpers. Ellis regularly gets his feet set and has great shot preparation prior to getting the ball kicked his way. He was also productive moving off of the ball and finding lanes to straight-line drive. With a decent frame and good instincts, Ellis is in a good spot to draw some D3 interest.

Connor Kimme (6’2 PG/SG, Kaneland)

Kimme, who has pulled in an array of D3 interest to this point, had some nice moments during the camp. The 6-foot-2 guard is a true combo who is a willing and capable defender, solid spot-up shooter, and sound passer. His mid-range game was working well, hitting some shots in that 12-to-17 foot range off of the dribble and using his body to create some space. He played off of the ball for stretches of the 5-on-5 play and looked confident off of wing catches. Likely to step into a more prominent role as a senior, Kimme is a quality 3-and-D guard.

Daylyn Porter (6’5 SG/SF, Romeoville)

The 6-foot-5 wing flashed a variety of skills during the camp. He looked best during the live portions as a passer, initiating offense, throwing lead passes, and looking for others off of dribble penetration. Also a talented downhill driver, Porter got up around the rim for finishes in traffic and was very good in transition as a wing runner. He hit a few mid-range pull-ups off of the bounce and remained rock solid on the defensive end. The physical tools and discipline are there for Porter to be an excellent defender at the college level.

Drew Lundberg (6’4 SG/SF, West Aurora)

Lundberg is a versatile wing who has seen his interest rise over the last few months from Division 3 programs. Around 6-foot-4, he showed the ability to get up and apply pressure on the ball, getting a few steals and tips with his long reach. Offensively, he can do multiple things, from pushing the break to hitting open threes, or using his base to back down players inside and use his pivots to score. Lundberg’s best basketball is ahead of him.

Jake Love (6’2 SG, St. Charles North)

Love is one of the better spot-up shooters in the class and was showing that throughout drills and live play. A strong, well-built two-guard with a quick release, he stepped into threes out past the NBA line and was able to hit movement shots off of away screens and lifts. On the defensive end, Love was stout, holding his ground and recovered well to block a few shots during 5-on-5 play. The ability to unload the clip from beyond the arc will be his ticket, but Love has shown toughness getting to the rim off of the dribble and an ability to make plays in the flow of the offense. A very good D3 recruit with a good academic profile.

Jake Ryan (6’4 SF, Naperville North)

Another excellent student, Ryan has a nice blend of size and perimeter skill. He wore multiple hats for his team during live play, running the wings well and hitting open jumpers when he got clean looks. Ryan is able to put the ball on the ground once he catches it on the wing, and has a soft touch inside of 15-feet with the size to convert. He is a solid athlete who rebounds the ball and can facilitate as an off-ball player. Ryan is a high-academic D3 recruit.

Luca Stella (6’3 PG/SG, Lake Park)

Among the more impressive players throughout the senior camp, Stella had a calm, collected performance that showed a ton of game. The 6-foot-3 guard was running the point for stretches, where he has innate vision and is tough as a passer and the frame and skillset to manufacture his own shot. In a few sets and isolation situations, Stella got to his spots, lifted up, and hit jumpers with defenders on him. His use of bumps and pivots is masterful, particularly for a kid who hasn’t been overly recruited to this point. Stella showed range past the college line and was a plus defensively in space. Also a premium student academically, Stella should be a much more coveted D3 recruit.

Mac Irvin IV (6’7 SF/PF, Larkin)

It’s always great to see kids seize the moment at showcases by playing the game the right way. Irvin made winning plays throughout the scrimmages, hitting guys on target and on time as a passer while being a presence defensively as a shot-blocker and on-ball defender. At 6-foot-7, Irvin changes ends of the floor well and capitalized on running the court with putbacks and layups off of dump-offs. His passing and quick decisions off of catches was notable, picking the right times to get to the rim or distribute. Irvin is also a capable shooter who projects well as a stretch forward with the defensive capability to boot. Irvin is a prospect who will continue to grow exponentially.

Marcus Johnson (6’1 PG, Sycamore)

Johnson hasn’t slowed down his momentum from a strong junior season, working his way into the event as a sound passer before looking for his shot more down the stretch. The new Sycamore guard collapsed the defense on command and flashed deep shooting range that is likely to serve him well at the college level. He doesn’t need much space to get his shot off and is a solid decision maker when defenders overcommit. An increasingly popular D3 guard recruit.

Mark Render (6’0 PG, Antioch)

Another guard who made a good impression, Render was competitive and precise throughout the day. Both in drills and during scrimmages, the Antioch point guard stepped into threes comfortably, made extra effort plays defensively, and fought for positioning on both ends. When he was off of the ball, he let it fly from three and probably shot over 40 percent during live play on outside looks. He’s a win-first guard who contributes where needed to affect the outcome of games. That showed up as the games progressed, looking to take a leadership role and connect with his teammates. Render looked the part of a small-college guard recruit.

Price Macon (6’4 SF, Maine West)

The lefty wing looked best while driving is to his strong hand, converting on a couple of tough drives inside. Macon has some positional size at 6-foot-4 and is able to hit open shots with time and space. He turned defense into offense at times and was giving some effort on the ball. Macon will be a key piece for Maine West this year.

Robert Sansone (6’1 PG, Montini)

Sansone was borderline brilliant at times during the showcase as a shot maker. The level of difficulty on some of his pull-ups and threes was negated by the confidence and skill that he has as a perimeter scorer. From one-dribble pull-ups to stepbacks to NBA-range threes, Sansone was putting on a shooting clinic with good defenders trying to stay attached to him. And all of that came without him having to force anything. What also stood out was how engaged and active he was defensively, forcing turnovers and disrupting things with his ball pressure and rotations. It’s clear that Sansone is going to be one of the better guards in the Catholic League this year. But his college prospects continue to take off, as Sansone looks like the type of scorer who could be a 15-plus point per game guy at the D3 level as he adds strength.

Samson Averehi (6’4 SF, Jacobs)

From a physicality standpoint, Averehi jumped out, even in this group. He has the strength, quick-twitch athleticism, and agility to impact the game on both ends, and he did that at points throughout the day. The 6-foot-4 wing had a few chasedown blocks off of the backboard, shed boxouts for second chances, and played through bumps as a finisher. During drills, he also showed some feel as a spot-up shooter with sound mechanics. Averehi has plenty of upside as he puts the tools together.

Stefan Meseldzija (6’4 SG/SF, Central)

Meseldzija has prototypical height and reach on the wing, covering ground and able to get into passing lanes well. He turned one of those steals into a dunk during the scrimmages and caused problems for other perimeter players looking to score at the rim. The 6-foot-4 wing has a high-arching three-point shot that fell at times during the day and some athleticism when putting his head down for direct line drives.

Timi Ogunsanya (6’3 PG/SG, Evanston)

In terms of sheer energy and want-to, Ogunsanya was one of the more exciting players to watch during the showcase. On top of having a jet-quick first step, he attacks the rim with a level of aggressiveness and fearlessness that is admirable, often leading to contact finishes or acrobatic counters inside. With his speed and length at the guard spot, there weren’t many defenders who could consistently keep him out of the lane. When they did, he dished to open teammates or showed off a reliable outside shot that looks primed to be reliable at the college level. Defensively, Ogunsanya was terrific at times turning ball-handlers and cutting guys off. Entering a big senior year with a heightened role, there should be a long list of college coaches pursuing him.

Tommy Blyth (6’6 SF/PF, Lyons)

Blyth stood out with his athletic ability, versatility, frame, and endless energy. He impressed coaches with his willingness to make second effort plays defensively to block shots, attack the glass, and beat guys to loose balls. Blyth has good bounce off of two feet and has the closing speed to really affect offensive plays both on the ball and when rotating over from the help side. He showed his offensive balance, hitting a few deep threes, attacking closeouts with intent, and regularly keeping the game simple as a ball-mover and connector within the offense. Though Blyth has a quieter demeanor, his motor spoke volumes. After missing the back half of the summer with an injury, Blyth should be seeing a spike in recruiting activity soon.

Tony Salemi (6’1 SG, Wauconda)

A multi-year starter for Wauconda, Salemi was one of the premier athletes at the event. His run-and-jump explosiveness separates him, getting well above the rim for dunks, blocks, and other finishes amongst the trees. He plays so much bigger than his listing, also using his physical strength to redirect players defensively or to bully his way to the rim as a driver. Salemi’s outside shot looked great during drills and he has the footwork and shot-making ability to be a weapon in the mid-range as well. We loved how he guarded and competed throughout the day as well. A big-time JUCO recruit in the north suburbs.

Torey Baskin (6’2 PG, Hoffman Estates)

I don’t think losing a game or drill affected a player as much as it affected Baskin, and that says a ton about his competitiveness. Baskin was producing as a dribble-drive threat, showing great pace and patience, oftentimes blowing by defenders and then playing off two feet before letting the defenders fly by. His interior touch is impressive, with flip shots, euros, swing steps, and floaters all going in on a consistent basis. As a passer, he orchestrated well off of the bounce and was vocal as a leader. Baskin connected on several outside shots as well and took pride in taking the toughest defensive assignments. The football background is evident in how he pursues the ball, takes great angles while sliding, and the speed at which he recovers. The value continues to go up for Baskin, who will be one of the top guards in the area this year.

Wyatt Henson (6’5 SF, Hononegah)

Henson was quietly one of the big winners from the showcase, putting on a good performance from end to end. The 6-foot-5 wing has a clean, effortless release from the perimeter and buried spot-up threes to the college line, pull-up threes, and stop-and-pop shots on the move. His height and frame are both very projectable, particularly with how well he moves and can shoot the ball. On several occasions, he made nice passes to cutters and shooters as well, never seeming to force anything or play out of character. Henson competed on the defensive end and has the build that should allow him to guard two or three spots at the next level. Another kid who should be hearing from more D3 programs in the Midwest.