Ridgewood: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook

The Ridgewood Live Basketball Shootout kicked on Friday with many of the top teams and prospects from the state of Illinois in action. Here we examine what we saw in Ridgewood: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook!   Mullins Shines for OPRF in Win Over Lincoln Park We began the day with OPRF and Lincoln Park on the stand alone court. OPRF 2022 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="1106926" first="Justin" last="Mullins"] came out of the gates with a great performance that impressed the D1 programs who have offered. The athletic wing was especially assertive on the offensive glass early in the game snatching rebounds in traffic and pushing off defensive rebounds either himself or with outlets. Scored in transition and knocked in mid-range jumpers. Also threw down a nasty alley-oop. His running mate 2023 wing [player_tooltip player_id="939068" first="Sam" last="Lewis"] had flashes hitting a three off a flair and the fluid athlete also converted an and-1. On the Lincoln Park side their star 6’9” 2024 power forward [player_tooltip player_id="1157346" first="Jaden" last="Smith"] continues to prove he is among the more intriguing names in the rising sophomore class. Got in foul trouble in the first half, but when on the floor the well built post went to work with mid-range jumpers, spinning hook shots, and put backs. Defensive presence as well at the rim. High-major ability.   Kenwood “Is Who We Thought They Were” While watching Kenwood the old line from former Arizona Cardinals coach Dennis Green resonated “They are Who We Thought They Were.” While Kenwood impressed in central Illinois last weekend Friday was the first time many got to see the new Broncos squad and they were unstoppable. Top 2023 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="939077" first="Javonte" last="Taylor"] was doing his KD impression with feathery jumpers from three along with several monster dunks. One of the truly elite rising juniors in the country and the scary part is he just keeps getting better. Their 2023 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="939050" first="Darrin" last="Ames"] was so smooth with the rock having it on a string. He lived in the lane all day long converting acrobatic layups and scoring in the open floor. His step back shot was falling as well. The third in the Kenwood trio was [player_tooltip player_id="939069" first="Davius" last="Loury"]. #3 ranked 2023 prospect in state used his power on straight line drives along with threes. The senior star [player_tooltip player_id="1210369" first="Trey" last="Pettigrew"] is fitting in excellent with his new group. The top point guard in Illinois is an athletic scorer that gets buckets. They have a ton of depth and young talent as well!   Arnett Has Another Strong Outing Leading DePaul Prep DePaul Prep 2022 power forward [player_tooltip player_id="863618" first="Dylan" last="Arnett"] has been outstanding over the last week. He continued his momentum on Friday with a nice performance against Tinley Park. Arnett ran the floor hard, made quick post moves, and got on the offensive glass for put backs. The athleticism continues to improve along with his production. He is picking up offers on a daily basis. DePaul Prep 2024 sharp shooter [player_tooltip player_id="1157225" first="Payton" last="Kamin"] drained several threes in the victory. Projectable two guard that college coaches are going to love as a sniper!   Joliet West Gains Transfer to Strong Backcourt The Joliet West backcourt got a little bit deeper on Friday. No its not the one you are thinking of coming back in Jeremy Fears. Rather [player_tooltip player_id="1049092" first="Toby" last="Onyekonwu"] who was a scoring machine last weekend at RB with Plainfield East. He came off the bench and the athletic combo guard was impactful with his scoring pop. [player_tooltip player_id="1048319" first="Jayden" last="Martin"] is a well-built combo guard that consistently produces and is shooting it at a higher rate. Class of 2025 point guard Jeremiah Fears continues to open eyes of fans, coaches, and scouts with his dynamic ball handling putting his opponents in spin cycles.   Rubin Twins and Griffith Assert Themselves for Simeon Simeon struggled last weekend going 0-4, but they looked like a different team in the contest we saw against Ridgewood. At the point it all started with [player_tooltip player_id="939059" first="Jalen" last="Griffith"]. The Wolverines 2023 lead guard is a quick and shifty floor general that wins off the bounce and was electric with his passing. Got after it on the defensive end and pushed the other way for scores. HF transfer twins did the damage inside. [player_tooltip player_id="1048306" first="Miles" last="Rubin"] is the left-handed wiry and more athletic brother. He had a ton of dunks converting slams off dump off passes, alley-oops, and in the pick/roll. [player_tooltip player_id="1048305" first="Wesley" last="Rubin"] is a right-handed, thicker, and more skilled four man. He hit a three, excellent passing in the paint to his brother, and showed touch. [player_tooltip player_id="1056104" first="Chikasi" last="Ofoma"] is another intriguing 2023 post that intrigues with his strength and athleticism combination. [player_tooltip player_id="863622" first="JayQuan" last="Adams"] threw down several big dunks while [player_tooltip player_id="925193" first="Avyion" last="Morris"] brought his usual intensity on the defensive end.   Skilled Wings/Forwards for St. Charles North The St. Charles North trio brought it on Friday. Their top ranked prospect [player_tooltip player_id="925225" first="Ethan" last="Marlowe"] is a player that sometimes gets overlooked in this class, but with where the game is going he fits it. Stretch power forward that can shoot it from three and brings athleticism finishing around the rim. Low-majors and D2s should get in here. [player_tooltip player_id="1106928" first="Max" last="Love"] is a 2022 wing that has good positional size and knocked in threes at a super high clip. His brother [player_tooltip player_id="1210420" first="Jude" last="Love"] is a thicker guard that has some skill as well.   Niles Notre Dame Backcourt [player_tooltip player_id="939079" first="Sonny" last="Williams"] is a 2023 point guard from Niles Notre Dame that can really go. After his play over the last two weekends we feel he has more than proved he is worthy of mid-major and low-major consideration. Speed and burst with the ball in his hands as a playmaking guard that can shoot it. His running mate Anthony McGhee is a prospect that has jumped on our radar over the last couple weeks as a 6’2” off guard with a clean looking jumper that can play at the small college level.   Glenbard West Picks Up Right Where They Left Off The most impressive team last week was Glenbard West. They are off to another flying start at Ridgewood. The fab five were dominant again with the all senior starting five doing most of the damage. It was the two less touted starters that might have had the best games. [player_tooltip player_id="1106936" first="Ryan" last="Renfro"] is going to make the small college that lands him very happy. We were aggressive with our ranking of him after a nice junior campaign and he still might be too low. Plus athlete that is tenacious on the boards. He owned the offensive glass and ran the floor hard for buckets. [player_tooltip player_id="996070" first="Paxton" last="Warden"] is a versatile senior wing that defends, shoots, and scores in transition. Their 2022 transfer from Hinsdale South [player_tooltip player_id="863598" first="Bobby" last="Durkin"] is fitting in seamlessly. He is a plus shooter from three that passes it well and length plays on the defensive end. The two returning stars on this team are [player_tooltip player_id="925183" first="Braden" last="Huff"] and [player_tooltip player_id="996060" first="Caden" last="Pierce"]. Huff is an ultra skilled 6’9” four man that finishes in the high/low, sweeping post moves, and is a good passing post. Pierce is a perimeter weapon who impacts the game even when he isn’t scoring with his passing and defense.   Lake Forest’s Thomas Continues Sizzling Play Despite the loss to Whitney Young in the game most high-major coaches had circled last weekend’s star 2023 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id="989263" first="Asa" last="Thomas"] of Lake Forest continued his fantastic play. The 6’6” two guard opened up with 8 quick points getting his team out to an early lead. Plus shooter with an ultra-clean three point stroke. Went for 20 points against one of the nation’s premier programs.   Bolingbrook Sleeper Prospects We wanted to highlight a couple senior sleeper prospects for Bolingbrook. [player_tooltip player_id="1048730" first="Jaydin" last="Dunlap"] is a prospect we have been writing about for a while. Good mid-range game on pull ups and floaters. Competitive point guard that makes plays. [player_tooltip player_id="1210405" first="Michael" last="Osei-Bonsu"] is a big bodied undersized post that rebounds in his area and mauls on the offensive glass.   Top 2022 Casey With Statement Performance in Finale on Friday #1 saved the best for last. Whitney Young 2022 power forward [player_tooltip player_id="771516" first="AJ" last="Casey"] was about as good as we have seen him in his career in their finale on Friday night. The Dolphins five-star prospect had a stretch of a couple minutes where he absolutely took over the contest. He had four dunks in that run including an amazing spin move on the block that went right into a dunk. Was active on the offensive glass with his quickness and ran the floor hard. When he plays with that kind of intensity, he is a dominant player. [player_tooltip player_id="863585" first="Xavier" last="Amos"] is consistently putting performances together one after another. Amos brings strength and athleticism up front. Pick/roll finishes, baseline jumpers, spin moves on the block, and being a force on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id="1048717" first="Marcus" last="Overstreet"] has established himself as a no doubt D2 post with upside as a shot blocker and rim runner. Matt Sommerville knocked in shots from beyond the arc in their first win. Class of 2023 duo [player_tooltip player_id="939057" first="Dalen" last="Davis"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1048324" first="Daniel" last="Johnson"] also contributed to the 2-0 day. Davis ran the show in the first game pushing it in the open floor and making sound decisions with the rock. Johnson is the new age 3 and D wing with such a feathery touch from distance and is a high-level perimeter defender.   New Names Quick Hitters Trent Warren (St. Charles East) Warren shot it well against Kenwood. The St. Charles East 2022 small forward was money from three shooting it with a ton of confidence.   Shaheed Solebo (Lane Tech) Solebo stands at 6’3” and the 2024 wing with a physical body was productive while displaying upside. Powerful slasher that gets downhill and has a nice mid-range game.   Julian Triffo (Maine South) Triffo is a crafty small forward that was their key weapon against Glenbard West. Nailed three triples along with several nifty finishes in the lane.   Nasir Young (North Chicago) Young is a 2022 forward from North Chicago that jumped off the floor at us when we saw how he played against St. Rita with his freakish athleticism and physical tools on both ends.