Teddy’s Friday Ridgewood Notebook

Glenbrook North Rolls Past Christie-less Meadows I Started the day with rolling. Meadows facing Glenbrook North. I had only watched each team once the previous week. Rolling Meadows superstar Cam Christie was sitting out today. Glenbrook North got off to a hot start. Pat Schiller had some great plays on both ends early. He showed off some excellent footwork in the paint, and had a great touch at the rim. His defensive awareness was also tremendous. [player_tooltip player_id="1371066" first="Ryan" last="Cohen"] had two three’s early too. So many players contributed early. They were up 21-5 at one point. Not having Cam Christie, who had just traveled back after seeing his brother Max get drafted last night, was costly. He averaged 30 ppg the previous weekend at riverside brookfield. The spartan defense was extraordinary. The Spartans led was 27-7 at halftime. [player_tooltip player_id="1371066" first="Ryan" last="Cohen"] had 8 points. Meadows went on a little run to start the 2nd half. Their other top controvutors, [player_tooltip player_id="1048317" first="Foster" last="Ogbonna"], [player_tooltip player_id="1385299" first="Ian" last="Miletic"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1215298" first="Mark" last="Nikolich-Wilson"] were making plays. Ogbonna showed me towards the end his ability to take advantage of his build. He has underrated potential and displays lot of quickness and explosiveness with his feet. But Rolling Meadows would still fall 38-22. The all-around effort from Glenbrook North was terrific.   Cooper, Younger lead Bolingbrook Past North Lawndale [player_tooltip player_id="989271" first="Mekhi" last="Cooper"] and [player_tooltip player_id="939035" first="Donaven" last="Younger"] did so much right from the very beginning for Bolingbrook. They never seem to make bad plays and have lots of trust in their teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="989271" first="Mekhi" last="Cooper"] has contributed all over the offensive end to give Bolingbrook an early lead. He displayed tremendous speed cutting to the basket for an easy layup, made two three’s, and played very unselfishly. Cooper closed out the half grabbing his own rebound and finishing an and-one through contact. [player_tooltip player_id="939035" first="Donaven" last="Younger"] opened the game with a dunk and got a contested midrange bucket. He also made some nice passes and forced tough shots on defense in the first half. He’s surely more than just a big for the Raiders. Meanwhile, the guard trio of [player_tooltip player_id="939081" first="Damarion" last="Wyatt"], [player_tooltip player_id="939054" first="Ronald" last="Chambers"], and Jemarje Winfield were been super explosive for Lawndale. Wyatt’s showed off some terrific ball handling as he dribbled pst an opponent and exploded down the paint for a difficult basket through contact. His layup package is also one to watch. Winfield and Chambers showed they can score from all three levels through contact. Winfield had a very difficult 3-pointer falling down early in the 2nd half. His speed in transition allowed for other easy baskets. But Bolingbrook was the better team throughout. [player_tooltip player_id="989271" first="Mekhi" last="Cooper"] hit two threes and continued to share the rock. Younger continued to take advantage os his size. Crashing the glass on both ends and had a really nice dunk over a smaller defender. He also did a terrific job cutting towards the basket. Young Marist Beats Waubonsie Valley I got to take a look at 2026 F Stephen Brown for the first time. The 6’8” Marist product has a great frame and build. Two early buckets and rebounding well. He stripped the ball away from a player and finished it home with a two-handed slam. His hands and playmaking abilities are also noticeable Guard Mason Ross knocked down several shots for Marist in the first half. He showed some great off ball movement and distribution. Made several no-look passes and quick decisions.6’6 F Jackson Langendorf responded well for Waubonsie. Foufjt through contact down low for a couple baskets. He ended the first half with a smoothe left- handed layup. The 3-pointer was dynamite for Waubonsie in the first half. I saw several players hit shots from long range to give them a close advantage. 2024 wing [player_tooltip player_id="1295644" first="Treshawn" last="Blissett"] was one of those players who let it fly. He made an early impact on both ends, and knocked down two 3’s in the first half. Waubonsie led 26-21 at half. They continued to let it fly with two more 3’s to start the second half. But Marist would respond. Forward Marquis Vance has quietly impressed. Plays super physical in the paint and fights for tough baskets. He responded with a second chance basket. Mason Ross also knocked down an open look to keep it close. They regained the lead off another Ross triple with 8 mins to go. It was followed up by an and-one by Marquis Vance. Marist 2026 PG Adonis Vassilakis is another Freshman to look out for. He hit several shots today, including two 3’s in the 2nd half. He came through clutch at the end. Vassilakis Had a 2nd chance bucket down low with about 3 mins to go to hold the lead. It was 44-42 Marist with a minute and a half left. Eric Chtlianov hits a big 3 for Waubonsie. But Vassilakis responds to regain the lead with 6 seconds to go. Marist would win 47-45. Rita Big 3 Outlast Benet in Debut [player_tooltip player_id="1157228" first="James" last="Brown"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1157230" first="Morez" last="Johnson"] returned after sitting out of the R-B shootout last week. It was the first time I saw Indrusaitis, Brown, and Johnson all played together live. They faced a tough test to start against a tough, well-coached Benet squad. Nonus Indrusaitis started things with an and-one layup in transition. He also scored off a baseline drive to the hoop a few minutes later. [player_tooltip player_id="1157228" first="James" last="Brown"] followed up the opening backet with a Second chance bucket down low off a tough rebound. He took advantage of his size well with several tough boards and nice post-ups in the first half. [player_tooltip player_id="1157230" first="Morez" last="Johnson"] had a block and midrange jumper early. For Benet, G [player_tooltip player_id="1371085" first="Brady" last="Kunka"] hit a few shots and got to the line early. Niko Abusara, who’s stock has heavily risen lately, displayed great physicality. He fought hard for rebounds and got his teammates involved. It was mostly defense in the first half, as St. Rita led 18-15 at halftime. Brown had another post-finish to begin the 2nd half. St. Rita slowly grew their lead as Brown continued his strong play down low. Benet wouldn’t quit. Different players hit shots and they made it a 5 point game in the closing minutes. [player_tooltip player_id="1157230" first="Morez" last="Johnson"] continued his terrific defensive outing with a clutch block in the final minute. St. Rita won 32-29. [player_tooltip player_id="1157228" first="James" last="Brown"] was terrific in the paint was was surely the game’s MVP.   DePaul Prep Defense Dominates Downers Grove North It’s always nice to catch my alma mater play. Tom Kleinschmidt has built a tremendously successful program the past 10 years. The Rams had just completed an impressive OT comeback over Springfield Lanphier. 2025 Makai Kvamme is an underrated point guard to look out for. Has a great feel for the game and displays excellent ball control and footwork. Opened the game with a spin-move layup. 2023 PG [player_tooltip player_id="1113517" first="Maurice" last="Thomas"] showed off some great awareness with two assists and an intercepted pass on defense to start. [player_tooltip player_id="1157352" first="Jaylan" last="McElroy"] contributed even more down low. He does a terrific job beating defenders down low with his off ball movement and rebounding abilities. There’s lots of upside to his game. But what stood out was their defense. They didn’t allow a basket for the first 10 minutes of the game. But They led only 11-6 at half. [player_tooltip player_id="1113517" first="Maurice" last="Thomas"] hit two three’s and McElroy converted free throws to start the 2nd half for DePaul. Thomas has a great release and a nice build. Thomas really exploded in the 2nd half as he added an and-one to his scoring totals. Another McElroy basket down low made it a double-digit game. DePaul was rolling. Then, Thomas exploded in transition an assisted McElroy down low on two possessions in a row. DePaul led 30-11 at this point. Young 2025 star [player_tooltip player_id="1385297" first="Jonas" last="Johnson"] blocked a shot and hit a three to extend the lead into the 20’s. DePaul would 40-21. [player_tooltip player_id="1157225" first="Payton" last="Kamin"] was out with an injury.