Chi-Town Tipoff: Illinois 2024 Standout Shooting Guards

<p>The talent of the Midwest was on full display in Chicago over the weekend, and our scouts saw a little bit of everything all weekend. I was at Wintrust Sports Complex all weekend, so let’s take a look at the standout shooting guards from Illinois that I saw this past weekend.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Daniel Cash -  5’10” SG - Pekin (Next Generation Academy 2024)</strong></p> <p>Cash is a true catch-and-shoot guy. He was lights out from the outside, and he hit four threes in the game that I saw. I would have liked to see him put the ball on the floor more to try to create, but Next Gen has several creators as well. I think Cash has a strong two years ahead of him.</p> <p><strong>Jayden Hall - 6’0” SG - Grayslake (Illinois HoopStars 2024)</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hall is an insanely quick guard, and he always plays under control. He scores it from all three levels by getting to the rim, stopping on a dime for the pull-up mid-range, and behind the arc as well. </span></p> <p><strong>Preston Kaplan - 5’11” SG - Stevenson (Kessel Heat 2024)</strong></p> <p>Kaplan is primarily a catch and shoot guard, and he might have had the quickest release of everyone that I saw this weekend. As soon as the ball hits his hands, the ball is on the way to the goal. Just his shooting ability will make him a player to watch.</p> <p><strong>Quinn Krueger - 5’8” SG - Plainfield Central (Illinois Storm 2024)</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Krueger was the best shooter of the tournament that I saw, and he shot with a ton of confidence all day. He was 6-7 in the game that I saw, and he was lights out off of mainly the catch and shoot. He was able to create his own shot as well though. Top notch performance.</span></p> <p><strong>Gabe Munoz -  6’0” SG - (Next Generation Academy 2024)</strong></p> <p>Munoz is another catch and shoot guard who was lights out this past weekend. He knocked down four triples in their game against Mac Irvin Fire on Friday night, and he continued that over the next two days. Munoz also showed the ability to put it on the floor and run the point when he needed to. He is a versatile player though shooting is his obvious calling card.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1285483" first="Niko" last="Newsome"] - 6’5” SG - Bloomington (Mac Irvin Fire 2024)</strong></p> <p>Newsome is a big, athletic shooting guard who can really do it all on the basketball court. He is tough on the boards. He also scored the ball incredibly well in many ways. He hit a nice little floater in the lane as well as some outside shots. He has got a very bright future ahead of him for sure.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1157226" first="Josh" last="Pickett"] - 6’5” SG - West Aurora (Mac Irvin Fire 2024)</strong></p> <p>Pickett is a big guard who is smooth with the ball. He gets to his spot, and he looks to score it. He also sees the floor well and plays off of two feet which allows him to be patient and make the right play. He has been a little under the radar, but he is getting ready to make a huge name for himself.</p> <p><strong>Preston Shute - 6’2” SG - Glenbrook South (All in Athletics - Paramore 2024)</strong></p> <p>Shute is a bigger shooting guard, and he can score it consistently at all three levels. He had some very tough takes to the hole, and he had good touch around the rim. He also shot the ball incredibly well from the outside. Shute had 26 points in the opening game of the weekend.</p> <p><strong>Antoine Thomas Jr. - 6’0” SG - St. Patrick (Mac Irvin Fire 2024)</strong></p> <p>Thomas is a very good rebounding guard who made his living in the paint. He was dominant on the offensive glass which led to several easy putbacks inside. He also had very good body control inside which allows him to be patient with the ball in his hands.</p> <p><strong>Tyler Wooten - 6’2” SG - Rich South (Team Rose Adidas 2024)</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wooten is a big guard who plays more of a combo guard role. He can score it well from both the mid-range as well as floater and layups inside. He is also smooth with the ball, sees the floor, and he seemed to make every single pass right on the money. </span></p>