Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook

Saturday was another fun day of hoops at the Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes.  One of the premier spring non-live period events in the country had a ton of talent in the house.  Let's dive into what I saw in Battle at the Lakes: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!   Mass Rivals 3SBB 16U Comes Back to Top PLUTO Prospects For Mass Rivals it was 2024 6'2” lefty shooting guard Umari Seney that caught our eye in their 67-63 comeback win.  He is a slick ball handler with a thin frame.  Fluid winning off the dribble for floaters and was a crisp passer.  Solid ball rebounder for a guard as well.  Electric with it in his hands!  Ty Tabales is a 2025 that caught our attention.  Good distributor that read the pick/roll well.  Pesky defender and athletic layup maker.  Bright future ahead. The Colorado squad was led by their combo guard Torian Gasaway.  The 6'1” guard is a slick ballhandler that won on straight line takes and consistently got to the rim.  Also liked what we saw from 6'5” power forward Reid Finch.  Thick bodied forward has skill being able to put it on the deck and hit a corner three.   FVV Elite Dominates In-State Matchup Against Chicago Grinders 16U What a show put on by FVV Elite 16U in their 67-45 victory over fellow Illinois squad Chicago Grinders. Collins combo guard Antoine Glasper got it rolling with his three level scoring.  Capable shooter from distance who looked comfortable scoring off the bounce as well.  This squad has several Illinois 2024 ranked prospects who are primed to breakout.  Simeon's Richard Lindsey is a big bodied wing that can score with his strength at the rim and has touch on a three point shot.  Leo 2024 small forward Tavariyaun Williams has all the physical tools you could ask for as a slasher, defender, and also hit a pick/pop three.  A new name that put his name on our radar was Latin wing Ryan Mbouombouo. Plus defender that got out in transition and was a consistent finisher at the cup.  For the Chicago Grinders the prospect that made us take notice was Christ the King 6'6” power forward Calvin Worsham.  Big and strong four that was tough on the glass, competed inside defensively, and could put it on the deck from mid-range.   Robins Leads Way for Mac Irvin Fire 16U in W Over Iowa Barnstormers This was an exciting game between two very talented squads.  The Mac Irvin Fire took home the 68-57 win over the Iowa Barnstormers.  Kenwood power forward Calvin Robins continues to be the story of the spring.  I don't care that he is 6'5” at this point!  Kid has elite hops and can play at the D1 level because of this athleticism and motor.  Threw down an array of dunks on rim run and tip slams.  Edwon Duling also from Kenwood had a rock solid outing.  Good ball handler did a nice job scoring and setting others up.  West Aurora 2024 combo guard Josh Pickett has emerged as a no doubt mid-major target.  Plus shooter with a great frame that continues to make strides as an all-around playmaker. Caden Wilkins led the way as usual for the Barnstormers.  The top 2024 in Iowa is a strong 6'5” wing that can really shoot it from three and pulling up from 15-18 feet.  Also does a nice job of getting to the charity stripe.  The flashes were also there from their other star Kareem Earl with a clean looking three and a fantastic left handed layup finishing around traffic.  Continue to be intrigued with big man Asher Wade.  The five man is a solid screener that works well in the pick/roll along with hitting the glass.   D1 Minnesota 17U Wins Over Mac Irvin Fire in Battle of High-Major Combo Guards This game featured two of the top combo guards in the Midwest dueling it out.  D1 Minnesota scored an 83-76 victory over Mac Irvin Fire 17U.  Taison Chatman was fantastic.  The state champion from Minnesota and coveted high-major recruit scored from all over the floor including putting his head down for aggressive scores in the paint, tip dunks, and several threes.  Looked ultra smooth with the rock in his hands.  His backcourt mate Jack Janicki is a prospect I enjoyed watching last summer as the lefty combo can really shoot it both off the catch and creating on his own.  Nifty ball handler as well. For the Mac Irvin Fire it was the Darrin Ames show.  He backs up his top spot in the Illinois 2023 rankings every time he steps on the floor.  Ames had all the tricks in his bag working in this one.  Threes, step backs, and was magnificent as a ball handler putting defenders in spin cycles over and over again.  His backcourt mate Xavier Nesbitt from Chicago U-High had one of his better performances knocking in shots consistently from multiple levels and playing within himself.  Continue to be so intrigued with John McCrear from Kentucky.  The face up four bombed in a pair of threes and was a mobile defender.   Heard Leads the Way in Mac Irvin Fire 15U Win Kenwood 2025 shooting guard Bryce Heard is one of the top scorers in the Chicago area regardless of class.  He had that on full display in their 68-38 win over EZ Work.  It was pretty much automatic every time he touched the rock that it was going through the net.  Array of threes and pullups from all over the floor.  Such an effortless perimeter scorer that rises up to get his shot off with such ease.  Mixed in some drives and was active on the defensive end.  He had 30 points.  Like how the game of Christian Cummings is trending in the right direction as his breakout spring continues.  The Rockford Christian 2025 point guard is a good passer that can score when needed but in this one kind of got out of the way and let Heard do his thing.   Mass Rivals 3SBB 17U Has Dunk Show on Saturday Afternoon The Boston squad left no doubt in their 68-44 win over Team 1848 on Saturday.  George Turkson was absolutely sensational in their victory.  The Bradford Christian Academy 2024 star was a dominant force on the offensive glass with put back after put back in the first half.  Rim runs, plays above the rim, defends all over the floor, and overall brings so much energy to the table.  Another 2024 playing up that impressed was Bryce Dortch.  The 6'8” big man is everything you could ask for in a new age big man with his versatility on the defensive end as a rim protector and switchable perimeter defender.  Plus rebounder that runs the floor and is a dive threat.  Sebastian Wilkins and Andre Mills also got involved in the dunk party!  This squad is absolutely loaded with talent which our Prep Hoops team will be talking about all weekend and into next week.   Quick Hitters Jordan Wagner from Chapman Basketball 15U looked good early on Saturday morning.  The 6'3” young wing has size and can finish well through contract.  Overall very skilled player that rebounded well in an impressive performance by his squad. We caught part of the Illinois Hoopstars 17U game in the afternoon.  Von Steuben five-man Kevin Anthony has all the tools to be an upside pick up at the D2 or JUCO level with his size, athleticism, and explosion as a finisher along with protecting the rim.  He does something each time we see him that makes us saw WOW!  Former Buffalo Grove small forward Adidas Davis had a nice showing he had his lefty shot going from distance.  Will attend The Skills Factory for a prep year.