Our second group for our Spring Showcase Camp featured 30 underclassmen from around the state. Similar to our older group, we will release updates by team for these posts.

Green

Andrew Engro (5-10 PG/SG, Loyola – 2029)

As the camp progressed, Engro became increasingly more aggressive on the offensive end. He showed good range on his shot and hit some threes off of movement for his team during the scrimmages. The Loyola guard wasn’t afraid to get into the paint and figure out ways to evade helpside defenders. His skillset as a ball handler and shooter was clear from the early going, looking like a player who is going to continue to make an impact as he fills out physically.

Brooks Franks (6-4 PG, Wheaton Warrenville South – 2029)

One of the all-around standouts from the day, Franks was controlling pace and making great reads as a primary decision maker. A legitimate point guard at 6-foot-4, Franks used his frame to hold off defenders, get deep into the paint, and either power up for finishes or throw skips on a rope to teammates. His feel for the game stood out, particularly when getting his team into actions and picking apart different levels of the defense. When he had open looks, his range was clear and his mechanics were compact and efficient, generating good results off the catch during games. Franks proved to be a plus athlete who measured in with a 6-foot-5 wingspan that complemented his strength on the defensive side of the ball. He was getting deflections and guarding multiple spots during the scrimmages well. Only a rising sophomore, Franks has the frame, length, IQ, and versatility that will make him one of the better point guard prospects in the area.

Duain Johnson (6-5 PF, Yorkville Christian – 2030)

The camp coaches couldn’t believe that Johnson was a true 2030, and for good reason. His combination of a developed frame, a serious wingspan (6-foot-11), and a mature motor and approach made it hard to tell. Johnson showed a diverse set of traits that make him a tough cover at his size. He was a force inside as a rebounder, made opposing guards second guess themselves on drives, and balanced taking it hard to the rim from the perimeter and scoring on the block. Johnson went up in traffic for catches as a roller a few times before finishing strong. In transition, he was able to push the break off of misses and make some timely passes or initiate offense from the middle third of the floor. During drills, he was confident shooting it out to the arc and looks to have the touch to be a threat from distance. For a freshman, his constant pursuit of the ball really made a good impression on the camp coaches.

Frank Battaglia (6-5 SF/PF, Lake Park – 2029)

Battaglia is growing exponentially, both physically and with his on-court game. The 6-foot-5 face-up forward displayed a smooth release from three with the ability to attack closeouts off the dribble. He used his length well to get a step on defenders before shooting over them or getting into the paint, where he had good touch on push shots inside. Battaglia also was impactful as a passer from the high post, with some nice deliveries off of the dribble, and as a rotation defender with the length to affect shots. He measured in with a 6-foot-7 wingspan, which suggests some potential growth for a player who has taken big strides with his athleticism since the winter.

Jayde Wyett (6-4 SG, Lockport – 2028)

Wyett was aggressive during the scrimmages as a scorer for his team. The lanky lefty has a high release on his shot and was able to dribble into pull-ups and rise up from three throughout the day. He also has the length and activity to be an impact defender in the long-run, showing good anticipation and activity as an on-ball and helpside defender. Wyett should be in a position to add another weapon to a rising Lockport team this year.

Matt Cowen (6-3 SG, Plainfield East – 2028)

Cowen is a natural bucket getter. During both the drills and scrimmages, his perimeter scoring ability stood out. He is adept at working out of the triple threat to create advantages and has that stop-and-pop game to score effectively from the mid-range area. In live play, he was unaffected by closeouts and showed extended range past the high school three-point line. Cowen has excellent balance on his outside shot and gets tight rotation from distance, which should translate well. He also slashed to the rim well and used his length to extend up to the rim. Another player on this team with a big wingspan (6-foot-5), Cowen has the physical profile and projectable frame to be able to guard multiple spots on the perimeter. He is an under-the-radar guard who should have a huge summer.