The first group from our fall showcase camp included underclassmen and a few talented 2030 players from around the state. Here are the evaluations from the group.
Albert Lee (6’0 SG, Vernon Hills 2028)
Lee is a highly skilled off-guard who shot the ball well during drills. He has a clean, consistent outside release that comes out with great rotation. During scrimmages, Lee knocked down a few threes and acted as a ball-mover throughout the event. For a sophomore, he has a serious level of shot-making skill that should translate well to varsity basketball. He is going to be a good one at Vernon Hills.
Andrew Engro (5’9 PG/SG, Loyola 2029)
There is a toughness and confidence about Engro that you love to see with a young guard. He got into the lane well with some crafty moves off of the bounce and cut off of the ball for a few easy looks. Engro also facilitated within the offense off of those drives when help came and knocked down a couple of long-range threes. As he continues to fill out and grow, the skill and agility are there for Engro to have a bright future at Loyola.
Bennett Meier (6’2 SG, 2030)
Meier is a talented wing for his age with a unique blend of length, shot-creation ability, and athleticism. The 6-foot-2 guard generated space on several stepbacks, pull-ups, and drives before hitting some tough shots over defenders. He’s got a nice, high release and has range out to the NBA line already, as he showed during scrimmages. Meier also has good lateral quickness at this stage with the athleticism to rise up and challenge shots on the defensive end. Also an unselfish player, Meier is going to be a name to track in the 2030 class.
Caleb Kruse (6’1 PG, Wheaton Academy 2028)
Kruse had a really good showing, playing with poise and aggressiveness throughout the day. I appreciated how hard he played on the defensive end, looking to frustrate opposing guards, jumping passing lanes, and fighting through screens all day. Kruse shot the ball at a high clip from the perimeter, making spot-up threes and a few one-to-two dribble shots in 5-on-5 play. He plays with a ton of energy and has the shooting ability to open up games. Also a very good student, Kruse already looks to be on the trajectory of a quality high-academic recruit.
Camden Scroggins (6’3 SF, Lake Forest 2028)
It was quite the performance from Scroggins, who was as impactful defensively as any player across the three groups. He was piling up blocks, switched across the board to get stops, and was always around the ball to make a play. At 6-foot-3, he has excellent timing and great length that suggests plenty of growing to do. Offensively, Scroggins had some strong takes to the rim from the wing, ran out in transition well, and hit the open threes that he had. Even in the last 12 months, Scroggins has taken a huge leap in his body and game.
Carson Gruber (6’1 SG, Bureau Valley 2029)
It didn’t take long for defenders to realize that Gruber was a productive outside shooter. The 6-foot-1 guard has ideal mechanics from the perimeter and made the defense pay when they gave him space. Even during drills, Gruber hit a high percentage of threes off of pick-and-pops and traditional spot-ups. Gruber is also a plus athlete who has a frame that will develop well with time.
Colton Baudino (6’2 SG, Seneca 2028)
Baudino was another one of the deadeye shooters in the group, taking advantage of any openings he had past the arc. A lefty with a quick release, Baudino was almost exclusively operating from the three-point line, where he did a ton of damage for stretches. Already at 6-foot-2, he has the length to project out on the wing position with time.
Cristian Benavides (6’1 PG/SG, St. Francis 2028)
An attacking guard from St. Francis, it was great to see Benavides playing with a ton of confidence and assertiveness throughout the day. His downhill drives were working well with his quick first step and acrobatic finishes inside. He shoots it well off of the catch as well, though his dribble penetration was the primary source of production at the event. Benavides has the ability to be a nice player for Francis.
Cullen Katzfey (6’8 PF/C, St. Francis 2028)
Another Spartan at the event, Katzfey is long, mobile, and capable of doing some nice things on the perimeter. Though still developing, he was pulling in rebounds in traffic, making good kick-out passes, and scoring off of dump-offs inside. He covers a lot of ground with his strides and gets open on several rolls throughout the day. The 6-foot-8 sophomore also has soft touch and range to the three-point line to monitor. I really like his defensive profile with how he moves and can challenge shots around the paint.
Duain Johnson (6’4 SF/PF, 2030)
You would have to check the roster to know that Johnson was only an eighth grader, with how physically imposing he is at this point. Already 6-foot-4, the powerful forward showed a variety of skills and good footwork while playing up with the high schoolers. He was dominant on the glass all day, snatching misses as well as anyone in the group, and made an impression with his ability to push the break and make plays for others. He sets solid screens and finishes through contact when he gets touches inside. But he truly excelled at contributing to winning across the board.
Eamon Lynch (6’5 PF, Metamora 2029)
To this point, Lynch is one of the most impressive freshman bigs that I have seen in the state. His IQ, feel, physicality, and skillset are already advanced, being able to orchestrate actions and communicate from the back line of the defense. He excelled in the ball screen game, where he rolled hard for layups, made sound decisions on short rolls, and showed the ability to pop for threes. Oftentimes playing in a two-big lineup, he was also a sound facilitator in the high-low game, with confidence putting it on the ground. Lynch added value defensively as a rim protector who seemed to always to in the right helpline spots as well. He is going to be the next great frontcourt piece for Metamora.
Edwin Karnauchovas (6’0 PG, Buffalo Grove 2028)
Probably the single most impressive offensive showing of the group, Karnauchovas was on a heater from the start of the camp. Whether he was using ball screens, spotting up off of the ball, or creating in isolation situations, he continued to find space for open jumpers. And the proficiency that he hit them with was eye-opening, shooting well over 50 percent on the day from three with some high-difficulty looks in there. The playmaking and vision were evident as well, particularly in P&R situations where he delivered dimes to rollers and hit shooters when the taggers overcommitted. Probably three or four inches taller and stronger than a year ago, I would anticipate Karnauchovas being a problem in the MSL this year.
Evan Lemons (6’3 PG/SG, St. Laurence 2029)
It is rare to see a freshman with the level of IQ and situational awareness of Lemons, who impressed camp coaches all day with his ability to diagnose coverages and make the right reads. Oftentimes working in ball screens, Lemons was calm and collected against aggressive ball screen defense. He made quick passes to the screener, let the play develop before hitting threes off the bounce, and converted on athletic downhill drives on other occasions. Lemons has the ball on a string and plays with the head up to make the right play. The same intelligence was evident defensively, where he welcomed tough assignments and used his length and explosiveness to affect other offenses. Lemons is going to be a special player for Laurence.
Evan Neal (6’0 PG/SG, 20230)
Neal is another promising 2030 prospect who showed some flashes as a dribble-drive threat and perimeter shooter. Around 6-foot, Neal has good ball control and is confident taking and making shots off of the bounce as he did at times during the event. He also has the potential to be a solid defender down the line as he continues to gain experience.
Jon Romano (6’0 PG, 2030)
From a skill standpoint, Romano is already ahead of some high school kids. The ability to shift defenders and hit a high percentage of perimeter shots in the flow of offense was evident at the showcase. Romano used a good change of pace to get guys off of balance and scored with a variety of alternative finishes inside. Where he looked best was outside of the arc as a long-range sniper with a reliable release and deep range on his shot, both off the catch and on the move.
Luke Beran (6’2 SF, 2030)
Beran is a walking mismatch at 6-foot-2 with a developed frame, good agility, and the ability to play on the perimeter or on the block. The physical lefty was productive when putting his head down to get to his strong hand, scoring through bumps at the rim. He also hit a few threes and was consistent during drills, stepping into shots from the three-point line. Beran just plays with a level of tenacity and aggression that translates across levels, willing to battle for rebounds, slide his feet on the perimeter with some of the talented guards at the event, or go to the block when needed. He is going to be a fun player to track at the high school level.
Mikey Schaechter (6’0 PG, Vernon Hills 2028)
Decision-making is always at a premium, and Schaechter continues to show great growth in that area. He got everyone organized offensively and may have been the best passer at the event with the ability to throw guys open and make decisive plays off of the dribble. In situations where he was off of the ball, Schaechter put his shooting ability on display with a series of threes off of kickouts. The game just looked easy for him offensively. Defensively, he was equally as locked in, making sure other guards felt his presence with ball pressure and active hands. Schaechter already seems like the type of player who college coaches could be keeping tabs on.
Noah Young (5’7 PG, Lincoln Park 2029)
Young was electric at times with the ball, using start-and-stop moves, crossovers, and counters to perfection before completing plays at the rim or from three. Even when defenders cut off his first move, he had the feel and skillset to create a crevasse to score. The floaters and stepbacks were impressive, but his vision on a few of his passes was just as notable. Young is a sound lead guard who can balance scoring in bulk with setting others up. He was also able to step in front of a few passes and get the break going, where he did a masterful job of finding bodies early to negate the threat of shot-blockers. Young is an exciting player to watch.
Reid Gabuzda (5’9 SG, York 2029)
Sometimes you need to actually watch a player in person to understand the value they bring. For a deadeye sharpshooter like Gabuzda, that’s not always the case. But he did an excellent job of being a connector offensively, getting guys wide open looks, and doing a lot of the dirty work that doesn’t show up on the statsheet. All while showing in drills and the scrimmage that he only needs a glimmer of space to hit threes at a high level. Gabuzda was energetic in guarding the ball and fought on the glass as well. He is a true floor spacer at this stage, but his willingness to do the little things suggests a much larger future.