The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook

It was a full day of hoops at The Last Dance in Chicago.  The final live period continued and we dive into it here in The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!   Griffin Elite White 17U Opens Day with Victory Over Illinois Bears   We started the day off with a pair of programs that are close by in southern Illinois and Kentucky as Griffin Elite knocked off the Illinois Bears 68-61.  Tamarcus Eaves is an athletic two guard that was a straight bucket getter.  He has good size and the Kentucky product was able to score off the bounce with explosive takes while also hitting an array of pullups for 27 points.  He was incredibly impressive!   Carterville combo guard Caden Hawkins has made such a huge leap over the last year and he drained an array of triples again just like he has all spring.  Mixed in a few layups for 20 points.  McKendree commit Grant Fridley like always made heady plays with his decision making and then notched all 11 of his points in the second half.   Fundamental U 16U Has Successful Day   It was a great day for Fundamental U 16U capturing a pair of wins 67-35 over Big 3 and then 73-52 vs LA Broncos.  Braeden Carlsen and Nate Kasher continued their strong weekend as quite a backcourt duo.  They play well off each other with each being able to handle the ball and shoot.  Inside they got terrific production from Patrick Schaller and Nick Taylor.  Strong and mobile four men that fought on the glass and showed nice skill.   DTO Impresses in 16U Matchup vs EG10   The Michigan squad DTO from UA Rise knocked off EG10 at the 16U level 77-67.  Wow can Joseph Cabana shoot the ball!  The 2024 shooting guard was off the charts in the first half hitting six triples scoring 23 of his game high 28 points.  Such a clean release that he let fly without hesitation.  Good size and has a good basketball feel.  Warren Marshall was another wing from DTO 16U that shined.  Long and lean shooting guard that was slippery with the rock winning on straight line takes for 19 points.   It was the 0 and 00 combo that shined for EG10 once again.  The highlight of the game was combo guard Matthew King’s poster dunk.  The guard got up and threw it down!  Scoring guard that has a good basketball IQ and finding his spots to score.  King went for 23 points.  Malcolm Morris is a big man from Urbana who showed off his quickness in the post and finishing in the paint for 14 points.   Full Package Goes 3-0 in Matchup of 17U Heavyweights   Two of the top PHC squads squared off for a third time on Saturday and it was more of the same as Full Package won 63-51 over Iowa Barnstormers.  Like usual it was the Jake Fiegen show!  The class of 2023 New Trier shooting guard is one of the premier shooters in the country.  He had 26 points including six triples.  Just another day at the office!  Libertyville post Aidyn Boone has been excellent all July!  Thick bodied post rebounds, runs the floor, and shoots it from deep as he netted 11 points.  The defensive pressure at the point of attack from Matas Castillo and Rokas Castillo were a huge reason for the win.  Rokas also hit a couple threes on his way to 9 points.   Skilled face up four man Dallas Bear showed some of why he is a mid-major prospect.  Sound jump shooter that knocks in spot up triples and creates in the mid-range as well ending up with 16 points.  Da’Shon Fisher has been a favorite of mine all spring/summer with his physical game and toughness at the two guard spot.  Plays above the rim and gets to the line.  Saturday he had 15 points.   Minnesota Grizzlies 17U Backcourt Shines Against Vikings United 16U   The Minnesota Grizzlies 17U claimed a game to play against Vikings United 16U in which they won 81-61.  Sam Massaquoi from the Grizzlies was spectacular.  The point guard pressured the ball all over the floor defensively while on the other end put his head down to get to the rim.  He had 22 points in the win.  His running mate Rmoni Warner was a lights out marksmen from beyond the arc as he had 23 points on five triples.   Vikings United 16U is an Illinois squad that has several intriguing prospects.  St. Rita shooting guard Carson Brownfield stands at 6’3” with a with a strong body.  He isn’t much of a shooter, but his ability to get to the rim and finish was on full display.  So impressive with how he maneuvers his body around the rim for finishes as he had 25 points.  Jaden Clark out of Bloom is a long and rangy 6’5” wing that can create his own shot off the bounce finishing with acrobatics in the paint for 11 points.   Flee Club Tops Illinois T-Wolves 17U in In-State Matchup   This was a fun in-state matchup which saw several top 100 caliber prospects make an impact as Flee Club defeated Illinois T-Wolves 58-50.  Marshall big man Joel Brown is just outside the top 100, but has done enough in July to secure a nice bump in our next update.  Five man has a big frame, great hands, and touch around the hoop.  He went for 13 points.  Another Marshall product that has had a strong weekend is Jajuan Cozart who is a bouncy wing that gets on the offensive glass and ran the floor to 14 points.  Proviso East shooting guard Jaloni Johnson is a flat out bucket getter with a silky smooth game off the bounce creating his own shot on the way to 12 points.   For the Illinois T-Wolves Kyle Olagbegi is finishing off the PHC just like he has all spring/summer.  The Lincoln Way East small forward has size and strength.  Love how he gets to the rim maneuvering the ball around defenders for 13 points.  Andrew Soenksen from Plainfield East is a 6’7” power forward that swatted shots in bunches and also used his length laterally as well getting steals while contributing 14 points.   Brook Town Force 17U Scores Huge Win   We heard there was a new name we should check out on Brook Town Force 17U.  There was a new name and an old one that helped them capture a huge 59-53 W over Midwest Basketball Club Gold.  The new prospect that jumped on our radar was Marmion Academy 6’6” power forward Trevor Roots.  Great frame with broad shoulders.  He rebounds well in his area getting on the offensive glass and even hit a three.  Brings athleticism and rim protection on defense dropping 14 points.  Bolingbrook unsigned 2022 wing Danny Walker brought a ton of energy and scoring from all over the floor netting 21 points.       Quick Hitters   One of the top prospects on the PHC showed why once again on Saturday as Trey’Dez Green (LA Broncos 16U) was phenomenal!  The 6’8” power forward is such an explosive and powerful athlete on the interior throwing down dunks and rebounding in bunches as he went for 15 points.   David Cobin (KC Spurs 16U) shined in their in-state matchup as the combo guard was tough scoring in the paint despite his lack of size and had a nice passing game as he went for 15 points.   Bryce Coleman and Collin Wainscott carried the scoring load for IBA Illinois Stars against Gateway.  Coleman got out in transition scoring through defenders while also hitting a baseline jumper.  Wainscott can flat out shoot the rock!  He hit an array of them as he is one of the better pure three point shooters in the rising senior class in Illinois.   Brady Kuehl (Gateway 17U) is a wing with size that can score from multiple levels.  Early on in their game Saturday it was his feathery three point shot that was flowing.

It was a full day of hoops at The Last Dance in Chicago. The final live period continued and we dive into it here in The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!