Ronnie Fields Elite Showcase: Scotty B’s Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PHI was in La Grange on Friday night for the Ronnie Fields Elite Showcase.  A lot of new names emerged and several highly ranked prospects showed out.  Check out what we saw here in <strong>Ronnie Fields Elite Showcase: Scotty B's Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 25 Sophomore PGs Square Off</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The headlining matchup of the evening was between [player_tooltip player_id='1598743' first='Keshaun' last='Vaval'] (Marist) and [player_tooltip player_id='1385296' first='Yaris' last='Irby'] (Niles North).&nbsp; The pair both check in as two of the premier lead guards in the 2025 class.&nbsp; Early on it was Irby who had it flowing.&nbsp; The lefty has a strong core and great handles.&nbsp; He was shaking and baking defenders including one where he did a spin move into a step back three.&nbsp; Won off the bounce and got in the lane for runners/floaters.&nbsp; Liked what we saw from him as a passer making quick decisions finding teammates for better shots.&nbsp; Vaval is a smooth guard with length that plays with flair.&nbsp; He was at his best using his athleticism off the bounce and acrobatic finishing around the hoop on soft touch finishes.&nbsp; Flashed some passing flair and was streaky as a shooter.&nbsp; Both should be on the early watch list for D1 programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fenwick Has Young Core of Talent</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This event had quite a few talented prospects from Fenwick featuring their young core.  They have a potential star in Darshan Thomas.  The 2024 6'5” small forward put on a show at the PHI Top 250 and proved here that was not a fluke!  Super long strides allow him to cover so much ground in transition along with getting to the rim off a couple dribbles in the half court.  Showed he could knock in corner threes and made several nice reads as a passer.  Defensively all the tools are there as he had a chase down block and changed the game with his length.  In the class of 2025 Matt Callahan is a 6'5” face up four that can stretch the floor with his shooting while also running the floor for finishes and put backs.  Has some projectability.  Matt Peterson and Oliver De Santiago are gritty shooters who did the little things and really competed.  Their 6'5” 2025 big man Zion Young is still growing into his body, but has some tools to work with.  Right now best as an area rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Niles Notre Dame 2025 Wing Primed to Break Out</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Third time seeing Niles Notre Dame wing [player_tooltip player_id='1434463' first='Brady' last='Sehlhorst'] this fall and he brought it once again.  The 6'5” 2025 small forward is a technically sound wing that is an elite three point shooter spotting up and off movement.  He can also get out in transition for scores and has athletic pop.  With all the movement at Niles Notre Dame expect him to be their next star!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Montgomery Leads Way for Emerging 2025s at Event</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Lawn 5'10” 2025 combo guard Donte Montgomery is a long and lanky prospect that should continue to grow.  He was active defensively getting steals.  Good looking shot and is a slick ball handler that lived in the lane for layups and soft touch finishes.  [player_tooltip player_id='2321421' first='Kendall' last='Cutler'] is a 6'3” two guard from Bolingbrook that is a big time athlete.  Quick to the offensive glass and excelled in the open floor.  Bright future ahead as a two way wing!  OPRF's [player_tooltip player_id='1598693' first='Dominick' last='Hale'] is a smooth 2025 guard that was at his best putting it on the deck for scores in the paint.  Alex Gossett from OPRF is a 6'4” small forward who screams upside!  Bouncy wing with size and explosiveness who threw down some big dunks early on in the first session.  The overall skill level needs to come along, but he is very intriguing! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026s Put Name on Map</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big part of this weekend in La Grange is finding the next group of prospects in the 2026 class.&nbsp; Several freshman made an impression Friday at the Ronnie Fields Elite Showcase!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1552462' first='Mickeis' last='Johnson'] was an absolute force!&nbsp; The 6'2” powerfully built wing played bully ball getting to the rim over and over again.&nbsp; This Romeoville freshman is a crafty finisher completing an array of euro steps and crafty finishes with either hand.&nbsp; Also shot it pretty well from distance.&nbsp; Marist 5'6” point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2323300' first='TJ' last='Tate'] was such a pesky on ball defender creating quite a few turnovers and taking them the other way.&nbsp; He is a blur with the ball in his hands playing with so much speed.&nbsp; Gets in the lane for scores and pushes ahead in transition.&nbsp; Solid stop and pop mid-range shooter.&nbsp; Karsen Thomas stands at 6'2” with a good frame and plus athleticism.&nbsp; The Lincoln Way East slashing guard got on the offensive glass for put backs and was a quality perimeter defender.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->