The Stage: Top 2025 Illinois Guards
The first live period has wrapped up with the busiest AAU weekend of the year in Indianapolis which included the Prep Hoops Circuit and The Stage. I was in attendance all weekend watching the 15Us at Triton Central, and I…
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Continue ReadingThe first live period has wrapped up with the busiest AAU weekend of the year in Indianapolis which included the Prep Hoops Circuit and The Stage. I was in attendance all weekend watching the 15Us at Triton Central, and I was able to see some of the best talent from teams across the entire country. Let’s take a look at the top guards from Illinois that I saw this past weekend.
Caden Anderson – 5’11” SG – Marmion (M14 Hoops – 2)
Anderson is a smooth guard who finishes well around the rim. He also sees the floor pretty well, and the ball never seems to stick in his hands. He distributes it well and tries to set up his teammates.
Connor Fitzgerald – 5’8” SG – Fenwick (My Journey)
Fitzgerald is a smaller shooting guard who moves incredibly well without the ball. In fact, I don’t think that I ever saw him stop moving. This led to five made triples in the game, with all of them on the catch and shoot. In fact, he may have been the absolute best shooter that I saw all weekend. He never hesitates, and he is always looking to get his shot up. Watch out for this kid!
Bryden Gryzmala – 5’10” PG – Belleville West (Illinois Orange Basketball Club)
Gryzmala is a very good point guard who saw the floor well and made some outstanding passes. He also played well on the defensive end of the floor coming up with steals and deflections to disrupt his opponents. In addition to his passing, Gryzmala also knocked down a couple of threes as well. Overall pretty successful weekend for Gryzmala.
Khalil Jones – 5’11” PG – St. Laurence (Chicago Hoops)
Jones is a quick lefty guard who is fluid with the ball in his hands, and his high basketball IQ allowed him to always be in the right place and make the right play. On his drives, he has crazy touch around the rim with both hands, and his floater game was top notch. He has a ton of offensive talent, and he should be a player to watch.
Elliot Kroeyr – 5’6” SG – Geneva (M14 Hoops – 1)
Kroeyr was lights out from the outside this weekend, and despite his smaller stature, his quick release allows him to get the shot up before the defender gets out to him. The lefty his three triples in this one, and all of them were right off of the catch and shoot from the corner. This pure shooting ability makes him a dangerous player for sure.
Emmanuel Mosley – 5’9” PG – St. Laurence (Chicago Hoops)
Mosely is another smaller guard who was incredibly shifty in the lane. He had some great moves in the lane and finished at the rim with both hands. He also had a pair of nice floaters over the bigger defenders. Mosley can absolutely get up, and his athleticism makes him a fun player to watch.
James Perkins III – 5’6” PG – (Illinois Orange Basketball Club)
Perkins is a small guard who worked incredibly hard to get into the lane and finish around the bigger post players. He had some several strong takes inside and was able to finish. Once he grows, it will be interesting to see what kind of player he develops into.
Braylon Smith – 5’5” PG – Brooks (Old Gold)
Smith is a very small guard who did a little bit of everything this weekend at the point guard position. He is incredibly shifty when attacking the goal, and his court vision allowed him to pull off some remarkable passes. He also shot the ball incredibly well including a trio of triples including a step-back to create space from his defender.