Collinsville Holiday Classic: Wednesday Notebook

It was quite a marathon day at the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic! 13 hours of hoops, 8 games, and 16 teams. PHI gives you the run down of day 1 in Collinsville Holiday Classic: Wednesday Notebook!   Wilmoth Anchors Inside for O'Fallon Win vs Mundelein   O'Fallon played the opener winning over Mundelein 62-51 in the first game of the day.  Class of 2023 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1476094' first='Koby' last='Wilmoth'] was the difference inside.  The strong and skilled power forward did pretty much whatever he wanted inside against an undersized Mundelein squad.  Quick spins, short jumpers, and put backs.  Also hit a three from the top of the key en route to 21 points.  He got some help from their point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1157355' first='Jaeden' last='Rush'].  The junior pushed the pace and scored in transition with slick takes for 12 points.   Mundelein got a big outing from 2023 6'0” shooting guard Emmanuel Willoughby.  He operated effectively as a guard out of the post with his angular frame along with connecting on a pair of triples for 18 points.   Decatur MacArthur 2023 Post Breaks Out   A pair of big men with upside emerged in Decatur MacArthur's victory over Madison 67-39.  MacArthur 2023 6'7” center Makhi Wright was a force on the defensive end blocking shots one after another.  Good size and strength with mobility on both ends.  Offensively that was shown finishing out of the dunker spot, hitting short jumpers, and converting through contact as he had 20 points.  Their other 2023 prospect to track is Azarion Richardson.  Thick bodied shooting guard stands at 6'3” with a relentless downhill attacking game where he got to the free throw line in bunches for 10 points.   Despite only scoring a couple points we came away very intrigued with what 6'7” 2024 center Ernest Davenport flashed.  Long and lanky five that protected the rim defensively.  Very good shot blocker with good movement skills.  Madison guard Kerwin Baker was their top scorer with 19 points including four triples.   Belleville East Starts Out Slow Before Senior Guards Turn It Up   Early on Belleville East was kind of sleep walking through their first game.  Coach lit them up and they responded particularly senior backcourt [player_tooltip player_id='939071' first='Jordan' last='Pickett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1371087' first='Antwine' last='Wilson'] knocking off McCluer North 49-40.  Pickett is a combo guard that is committed to SIU-Edwardsville.  He netted 18 points in the win by using his burst getting in the lane for floaters, and-1s, and making trips to the line.  Also had an impressive second jump as rebounder.  Wilson is an under the radar 6'4” small forward that has quality size for the position and can be an impactful get at the small college or JUCO level.  Did all of his damage off the bounce and scoring in transition.  Plays above the rim catching a couple lobs on his way to 19 points.   Lincoln Advances Behind Big Game from Cook   The Railsplitters always run a precise offense with their back cutting and on point passing.  They showed it off in a 52-43 win over Granite City.  Really liked what we saw from Lincoln 6'7” 2023 combo forward Payton Cook over the summer.  In this game he had a huge physical advantage against his opponent and he utilized it over powering defenders with slashes, spin moves out of the post, and rising above defenders for jumpers as he scored 20 points.  On the other end of the height spectrum was 5'6” junior Ki'on Carson.  The spark plug guard used his quickness and athleticism getting to the cup over and over in the half court and transition for 14 points.   A pair of Granite City guards in the 2024 class caught our attention.  Their 6'3” two guard Mario Brown has a lot of intriguing tools with his long arms and rangy frame.  Can really score the ball from all over the floor.  Athleticism at the rim on reverse layups and baseline rips.  Pull ups from mid-range along with floaters.  Hit a pair of threes as well for 21 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='1598777' first='Trevon' last='Bond'] is a smaller scoring lead guard at 5'9” that was most effective as a spot up shooter hitting four triples for 12 points.    Rockford East Survives Comeback Attempt by Althoff   Rockford East looked like they were going to cruise to a win in the first game of the bottom half of the bracket against Althoff.  Then Althoff's Jordan Lewis went on a run of his own to get his team back in the game.  Rockford East had to bring their starters back in while still barely holding on 67-64.  Their 6'7” five man Carl Harris popped to us in this one.  High pointed rebounds getting several put backs on second chance opportunities.  Liked what we saw as he had several spin moves and reverse layups out of the post.  Rim runs and finished well out of the dunker spot.  Shot blocking presence as well.  He had 16 points.  Another 2023 that emerged was Antonio Lewis.  The 6'3” two guard is a lefty that can shoot it off the catch and finish with strength at the hoop for 15 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='1537984' first='Matthew' last='Hoarde'] is a long and rangy small forward that made his debut in our most recent update of the 2023 class.  Hoarde had a wrap on his right hand and struggled in the first half.  As the game went on he started to assert himself putting it on the deck, showing passing flair, and even hit a couple jumpers finishing with 17 points.   Jordan Lewis was the story for Althoff.  The 5'10” senior guard dropped 32 points hitting pull ups from two and three at a high rate.  Got elevation off the floor and found ways to get away from defenders to get his shot off.  He gave it everything he had!   Collinsville Trio Flexes in Home Win   Host school Collinsville had no problems against Oakville cruising to an opening round victory 71-41.  Jake Wilkinson led the way for Collinsville as the 6'4” small forward dropped 22 points.  Thin 2023 wing that can really shoot it from distance with a feathery jumper off the catch.  Has some projectability especially if he can add strength.  In the junior class they had a pair of prospects in 2024 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1285528' first='Jamorie' last='Wysinger'] and center Zach Chambers.  Wysinger is a smooth guard that passed well in the half court, scored with athleticism at the rim, and drained a trio of threes showcasing good form for 17 points.  Chambers is a 6'8” big bodied five that garnered deep post position on the regular scoring on seals, rim runs, and on the offensive glass for 11 points.   Collierville (TN) Tops Triad Despite Big 2025 Performance   The lone out of state team to pick up a victory on the first day was Collierville over Triad 56-47.  The Tennessee squad has a 6'9” center Elijah Lussier who is worth monitoring.  Lanky post that hit several shots from inside 5 feet including short jumpers and hook shots for 11 points.  Their star senior Alex Vandenburg is a strong bodied undersized four that out gritted his opponents inside and got to the line for 15 points.   Triad got a big night from 2025 6'5” small forward Drew Winslow.  Displayed a burst to the rim both in the half court and transition.  He was extremely aggressive all game long trying to get his team back in it while netting 24 points.   Quincy Has So Much Talent Winning Big Over Alton   The last game of the night featured the team we were most excited to see in Quincy as they rolled over Alton 67-41.  They didn't have their full A game, but it was more than enough as this team is so talented in the 2024 and 2025 classes.  Quincy's top prospect is 2025 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1385298' first='Bradley' last='Longcor'].  He was a bit streaky from distance, but still managed to connect on a trio from deep.  Liked what we saw as a secondary ball handler making several outstanding reads as a passer.  Slick ball handler and was active on the defensive end creating turnovers as he had 18 points.  Another 2025 was dominant at the beginning of the contest.  [player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] is a strong bodied and high-motored post that was relentless on the glass and scoring on second chance buckets for 10 points.  The physical tools for 2025 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1545125' first='Dominique' last='Clay'] jump off the floor.  Feathery jumper along with his defensive versatility presents upside!  Camden Brown is a 2024 prospect primed to make a big debut in the January rankings update.  Scored 10 points breaking down defenders for floaters, 15 footers elevating over opponents, and posting up smaller defenders.  He had 10 points.

It was quite a marathon day at the Collinsville Prairie Farms Holiday Classic! 13 hours of hoops, 8 games, and 16 teams. PHI gives you the run down of day 1 in Collinsville Holiday Classic: Wednesday Notebook!