The Swinnie Report: Illinois Top 250 Expo Underclassmen Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With over 250 athletes in attendance trying to play for college scholarships these young men made it look easy and took full advantage of the opportunity to showcase their talents as Underclassmen at the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo Located in Romeoville Illinois. Here are some of the top Underclassmen from this event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1604025,"width":492,"height":656,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3186-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3186-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1604025" width="492" height="656"/></a><figcaption>Machi Nelson </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Machi Nelson</span></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> Fenwick High School 2025</strong></span> With the ball in Machi's hands you know the right play is going to happen regardless if it is assisting his teammates or putting the ball in the basket this young man is a 2 Way Playmaker that coaches loved. Playing at his pace controlling the game and picking his spots with the added ability to make his teammates better, how can you not love this young man's game? Machi gave his match-up a hard time each game on the defensive end showing he is a 2 Way player that is in shape to play big minutes. I'm looking forward to seeing how Fenwick uses Machi for the next three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606197,"width":459,"height":612,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3241.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3241-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1606197" width="459" height="612"/></a><figcaption>JT Pettigrew</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">JT Pettigrew Fenwick High School 2025</span></strong> JT got a chance to showcase he is an inside out 3 level two way glass cleaner that does it all for his team. With the ability to guard 1-5 JT has become a match-up nightmare who is going to make a living at the line for The Friars this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1604090,"width":443,"height":591,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3181-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3181-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1604090" width="443" height="591"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] Benet Academy 2025</span></strong> At a legit 6'7 Daniel showed me a little bit of everything Saturday. With his sneaky strength and quickness, Daniel used his athleticism to take advantage of mismatches and make plays on both sides of the court. Hitting some big buckets down the stretch when his team needed him most did nothing but boost his confidence walking out of the gym. The East Suburban Catholic Conference is in trouble!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606203,"width":499,"height":665,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3231.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3231-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1606203" width="499" height="665"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] Benet Academy 2025 </span></strong>A patient floor general who kept the ball moving on offense to find shooters and made a lot of great reads off screen and rolls without turning the ball over. I am excited to see him and [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] together in action for Benet Academy for the next three years I think they are going to complement each other very well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1604220,"width":407,"height":305,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3232.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3232-1024x768.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1604220" width="407" height="305"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1434463' first='Brady' last='Sehlhorst'] </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id='1434463' first='Brady' last='Sehlhorst'] Notre Dame College Prep 2025</span></strong> Brady is a 6'6 pick and pop stretch that will fit into any offense and impact that game, not just with scoring. With a nose or the ball, Brady consistently put himself in the right place and at the right time cleaning the glass on both ends of the court and knocked down the three ball consistently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1604217,"width":527,"height":702,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3184-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3184-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1604217" width="527" height="702"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1545143' first='Mikai' last='Harris']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id='1545143' first='Mikai' last='Harris'] St.Rita 2025</span></strong> Pick and roll, off the dribble, spot up however you want it Mikai is a shooter you can not leave open! If you go under the screen he is going to knock your nose off from three, and if you switch your big off he will make you pay. Either way, this young man is a High IQ Scoring Machine. Makai put on a show hitting 6 threes in the games I saw him perform showing me this young man is a bucket!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1604219,"width":467,"height":623,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3185-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3185-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1604219" width="467" height="623"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1385290' first='Amari' last='Edwards']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385290' first='Amari' last='Edwards'] St.Rita 2025</strong></span> With the ability to shoot the three constantly in transition defenders had no choice but to attempt to pick Amari up full court and he took full advantage by using his speed to blow past defenders and finish a number of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1606204,"width":515,"height":687,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3172-scaled.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/IMG_3172-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1606204" width="515" height="687"/></a><figcaption>[player_tooltip player_id='1598738' first='Kaiden' last='Taylor']</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id='1598738' first='Kaiden' last='Taylor'] Bradley-Bourdonnais Community 2025</span></strong> Kaiden made sure to set himself apart by not letting anyone outwork him. Running rim to rim he made the game really simple and Kaiden got the job done on both ends of the court. Communicating on defense, boxing out, and also diving on the floor made Kaiden a standout. He is a glue guy that's willing to sacrifice his body to help his team get the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The future is bright for IHSA basketball at all levels with so much talent all around the state and so many unrecognized athletes not in the limelight I am looking forward to seeing who brings home a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->