I was out in Waukegan for the final day of the Fundamental U fall league, one of the mainstays in fall basketball in Illinois over the last few decades. Of the games that I watched large chunks of, here are some of the players who stood out.

Warren
Jaxson Davis (6’1 PG, 2027)

The reigning Mr. Basketball controlled everything for Warren, setting up teammates throughout the day and making life easy on those around him. He’s got as good of a feel as any player in the state, dissecting the defense while playing off of two feet and making sound reads inside. He scored on push shots, inverted post ups, and opportunistic drives while providing high-end defense as well. A clear high-major point guard who is one of the country’s top floor generals.

Braylon Walker (6’2 SG, 2026)

Walker is always just solid and productive for Warren. He worked off the ball at times to drive closeouts and use his frame to score around the lane. Always a tremendous defensive presence, he was tasked with guarding multiple spots as well. Expect another all-area/all-state type of year.

Niles North

Mustaf Rexhipi (6’4 SF/PF, 2026)

Well-built and versatile on the wing, Rexhipi helped keep Niles North in the final game with his rebounding and interior presence.. The leader of the Vikings has good feet, nice touch, and comfort advancing the ball in transition himself. Despite some key losses to graduation, Rexhipi and Niles North are going to be contenders in conference again.

Collin Tobin (6’2 SG, 2027)

The junior had a great day, shooting the laces off of the ball and helping give the Vikings another productive scoring weapon. He stepped into rhythm threes on numerous occasions, burying shots at a high clip and flashing the type of long-range ability that will be critical in a conference moving to shot clocks. Tobin also has a solid build and some run-and-jump athleticism that he can lean into when the outside shots aren’t there.

Waukegan

Simereon Carter (6’4 SG, 2026)

One of the more impressive players all day, Carter looks great after returning from injury. He has a college-ready frame with the explosiveness and motor to make an early impact. Throughout the day, he was relentless getting to the rim, playing in crowds, and finishing above the rim. A natural slasher and dribble-drive threat, Carter was having his way in one-on-one situations. He showed well as a wing and perimeter defender to cut guys off and use his physicality. It may be later in the recruiting process, but he is a scholarship-level player with great energy.

Jaali Love (6’7 SF/PF, 2026)

Another productive returner for Waukegan, Love used his length to finish inside and disrupt shots defensively. He has made some progress as a perimeter shooter, stepping out for a few jumpers during the day to complement his confidence of straight-line driving. Look for Love to have a big senior campaign.

Carter Newsome (6’0 PG, 2026)

A four-year performer for Waukegan and a steadying force with the ball, Newsome had a well-rounded day scoring, distributing, and guarding the ball. There is a level of competitiveness and joy that he plays with as a lead guard that is ideal, making extra effort plays and working for quality looks. He can shoot the three or get into the lane regularly for Waukegan. An underrated PG prospect.

McHenry

Adam Anwar (6’7 PF, 2026)

Anwar may be the best pure floor spacing forward in the state and it might not be that close. He has continued to shoot the ball well, knocking down an array of NBA range threes off the catch and in transition. He required constant attention and tight coverage that you wouldn’t normally see at a fall league. Anwar didn’t force the issue and made timely passes to teammates when doubles came or to initiate offense. He will have added responsibility as a ball-handler this year with some of their backcourt departures and seems well-equipped to carry a heavy load. A premium high-academic recruit at this point of the recruiting cycle.

Cary Grove

AJ Berndt (6’1 PG, 2026)

Berndt was a catalyst in Cary winning their side of the league, getting to the paint at will and mixing in some deep threes during the day. The 6-foot-1 senior is an efficient, creative finisher inside who gets the ball up to the backboard quickly and understands angles well. He has some positional length to shoot over smaller guards and is very good in the ball screen game with the outside shooting, floaters, and vision to make the right plays. Berndt is going to be a really good guard at the D3 level.

Adam Bauer (6’7 PF, 2026)

Bauer was a load inside, taking it to the rim with power and force. When he sealed on the block, he went over his left shoulder well and had the strength to discard defenders at times without having to make a move. An effortless athlete vertically, Bauer had several dunks inside and other above-the-rim finishes. He’s a strong rebounder and interior defender as well who has the frame and activity to make an impact at the college level.

New Trier

Chris Kirkpatrick (6’3 PG, 2026)

Kirkpatrick let the game come to him in both of their matchups, picking his spots for when to look to score. His ability to create offense when plays break down is something special, using a combination of slick footwork, deceptive handles, and well-positioned ball placement on his pickups to hit shots with defenders in his vicinity. When he got a few clean looks from distance, he knocked them down. But he worked in the ball screen game effectively as well, finding rollers in the two-man game effectively. The 6-foot-3 Princeton recruit had some nice flashes guarding the ball in space to hold his ground as well. He’s in my early top 5 candidates for Mr. Basketball this year.

Matthew Logue (6’5 SF/PF, 2027)

I’m not sure the last time I saw one player with that many dunks in a day of fall league. Logue was outrunning defenders in transition and throwing down a variety of flushes with two-hands. The exponential growth continues to show, as the active forward was contesting shots, flying in for rebounds, and working off the ball for 45 and baseline cuts well. He fits so well with the perimeter weapons of New Trier with how he cleans up mistakes defensively and makes plays without the ball offensively. A rising junior prospect.

Denym Wallace (6’7 PF, 2029)

I still view Wallace as the most impressive freshman that I have seen in the state. Even over the last few months, his handle has improved, his confidence and efficiency knocking down threes is up, and there is a level of elevated patience compared to the summer. What that lead to was several sound decisions as a short and deep roller, a few jumpers on kick outs, and some strong takes to the rim off of face-ups. Wallace is uniquely gifted as a fluid athlete at his size for a 14-year-old with great hands and high character to boot. Very bright future.

Deerfield
Jake Pollack (6’9 PF, 2026)

The Dartmouth commit was the best big in the gym. Pollack was effective defensively on the back line of their zone and worked on the perimeter and block well offensively. Despite facing extra attention from the defense, he went up in traffic to score or draw fouls. He also showed the outside stroke that will make him an intriguing piece in the frontcourt in the Ivy League over time. All signs point to Pollack being one of the best two-way players in 3A.

Glenbrook North
Nate Fridman (5’10 PG, 2027)

Fridman had a strong showing as a ball-handler versus pressure and decision maker. He shook off some tight defense and managed to get GBN into their stuff while finding some time to attack for himself. Fridman facilitates on the move at a high level already, seeing openings a few frames ahead. He also is a committed and active defender who took a charge and had a nice showing at the point of attack. Fridman will take a big jump after a strong sophomore season.

Stevenson
Donovan Williams (6’0 PG, 2026)

Williams is a dynamic scoring guard who is one of the more promising high-academic prospects in the state. With deceptive length and legitimate explosiveness, Williams got to his spots, rose up, and hit several pull-ups throughout the day. His speed gave him and edge in one-on-one situations where he got point touches and scored with touch shots inside. He is in a good position to have a breakout senior year.

Aidan Albrecht (6’3 SG/SF, 2026)

Albrecht has the type of athletic pop and energy that can change the momentum of a game. He powered up for dunks off of two feet and was playing up around the rim throughout the day. Also a solid mid-range shooter, the compact wing shot it fairly well on rhythm shots. He projects as a plus perimeter defender who should be getting targeted by way more programs in the area.

Vernon Hills

Brady Larsen (6’4 SG/SF, 2026)

Larsen impressed most on the defensive end, where he made it a focus to guard with physicality and toughness while using his athleticism to recover. Now back from an injury, the senior looked good putting his head down to get inside to finish or make extra passes to teammates. Larsen is a solid spot-up shooter who has the frame and mobility to add value at multiple positions. He will be an all-conference player this year.