Highland Shootout Notebook

The Highland Shootout has become one of the premier one day high school basketball events in the country.  It lived up to the hype with close games throughout the day and huge performances!  See what all happened in Highland Shootout Notebook!   Highland Scores Home Win in Crazy Ending to Kickoff Day   In the first game of the day it was host Highland and Quincy Notre Dame.  It was a close one to the final seconds.  It ended in a crazy sequence with the game tied Highland drew up a great play executed equally as well with [player_tooltip player_id='939049' first='Cade' last='Altadonna'] throwing a back cut pass on the money for a dime to Braxdon Decker for a layup.  With 3 seconds left Highland fouled to send QND to the line.  Always that question to foul or not to foul when up 3.  One thing go right (make a 3) vs four things go right (make first, miss second, rebound, put back) to tie the game.  In this case QND made first, missed second, got rebound, and made a three….after the buzzer.  At least according to the refs on a super close call as Highland won 56-54.    Junior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1157347' first='Jake' last='Ottensmeier'] was very good in this one for Highland.  The scoring guard has such a crisp pull up game from both two and three.  Solid athlete also had a tough and-1 and euro step for 15 points.  At the point senior [player_tooltip player_id='939049' first='Cade' last='Altadonna'] was rock solid running the show.  In addition to that key assist to end the game he had 9 points and finished with 4 dimes.  Breakout player was 2025 Braxdon Decker.  Hit the game winner, but the 6'2” two guard popped with his scoring off the bounce and confidence as a young player netting 12 points.   Quincy Notre Dame was led by senior Alex Connoyer.  The strong bodied 6'4” forward sealed well around the hoop and slashed from the mid-post on his way to 17 points and 6 rebounds.   Belleville East Senior Duo Leads to Victory over Hillcrest   The second game was a good one with a pair of teams who had a combined 29-3 record coming into the contest.  Hilcrest led at the half, but the last two quarters were dominated by Belleville East as they went on to win 65-59.  Just like all season for Belleville East it was their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='939071' first='Jordan' last='Pickett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1371087' first='Antwine' last='Wilson'] who did the damage.  SIU-Edwardsville signee Pickett shot it very well from distance going 4-8 from three while mixing in some slices getting to the line for 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 dimes.  Small college or JUCOs should take a serious look at [player_tooltip player_id='1371087' first='Antwine' last='Wilson'].  Good size at 6'4” and is effective scoring in transition and drawing contact as he had 15 points.  Fellow senior Alex Jackson was impactful in their win as well recording 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.   Hillcrest got a big game from [player_tooltip player_id='939078' first='Bryce' last='Tillery'].  The smaller scoring point guard had it rolling with his lethal jumper.  One of the better pull up mid-range games in the state that he extended to three as well finishing with 22 points.  Akron commit [player_tooltip player_id='939051' first='Darrion' last='Baker'] had moments of brilliance with his athleticism and physicality on the interior.  Love how he finishes through contact for and-1s.  Really liked how he passed it as well out of the mid-post.  He had 17 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='1537985' first='Tolu' last='Samuels'] is a small college name to track as the lanky four man went for 13 points including a pair of threes.   Small School Elite Juniors Tangle   Fun game here of two smaller schools that have star players!  Both squad got big games from their potential high-major 2024s and another junior was spectacular as New Madrid Central won over Bloomington Central Catholic 65-54.  New Madrid Central 6'5” power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1160651' first='Jadis' last='Jones'] is a long and angular combo forward that operates best as a small ball four.  He did all his damage in the paint scoring 22 points and grabbing 8 rebounds.  Quickness in the paint along with a couple dribble moves from the mid-range were his forte.  Absolutely loved what we saw from junior point guard BJ Williamson.  He scored 25 points and had 9 steals in the game.  He followed Certa wherever he went all game long.  So much so that you would have thought they were connected to each other!  Frustrated him throughout the game defensively.  On the other end he proved he can shoot it from three, push in transition off his defense, and dish the rock.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157235' first='Cole' last='Certa'] from Bloomington Central Catholic is a top 5 junior in Illinois.  Started off hot with a slick take and NBA three.  Was quiet for the next couple quarters before coming alive late trying to get his team back in the game.  Struggled shooting it which is usually his forte only going 3-11 from distance.  Liked what we saw as a scorer off the bounce with spin moves and pull ups from 15-18 feet as he had 22 points and 8 rebounds.   Staley 2023 D1 Trio Flexes Against East St. Louis   This was my first time seeing Kansas City Staley and wow were they impressive in a 67-48 W over a very good East St. Louis squad.  Their three D1 seniors were awesome scoring 55 of their 67 points.  Colorado State signee point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1070094' first='Kyan' last='Evans'] was one of my favorite players all day.  He had the ball on a string controlling the pace of the game while dishing out 9 dimes in addition to 14 points.  Inside they had too much as Iowa State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1161279' first='Kayden' last='Fish'] went to work in the second half for 20 points and 9 rebounds while Indiana State signee [player_tooltip player_id='1440454' first='Cameron' last='Manyawu'] dropped 21 points and 11 rebounds.  They improved to 9-0.   East St. Louis came off a loss the previous night at O'Fallon and outside of [player_tooltip player_id='939073' first='Macaleab' last='Rich'] didn't look all there.  The Kansas State signee did his part as he was dominant attacking downhill over and over again for tough finishes in the paint recording 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.  Like his growth as a playmaker with the ball which we hadn't seen previously.  Cal State Fullerton commit [player_tooltip player_id='1537979' first='Antwan' last='Robinson'] dropped 11 points in the loss.   SHG Continues to Roll to 14-0   Sacred Heart Griffin didn't have any let down after their big win over Decatur Macarthur the night before winning 74-62 over CBC.  [player_tooltip player_id='1113521' first='Zack' last='Hawkinson'] had another monster outing going for 33 points including 13-15 from the line and grabbed 17 rebounds.  He was a flat-out man among boys!  He physically dominated with his play inside on both the glass and finishing with quick moves in the paint.  His running mate Quincy commit [player_tooltip player_id='989267' first='Jake' last='Hamilton'] had a nice game of his own.  Such a skilled and versatile player.  Sound spot up shooter that can hit corner threes and also did a nice job of scoring in the lane and getting to the line at a high rate for 22 points.  Air Force football commit [player_tooltip player_id='1537990' first='Keshon' last='Singleton'] was great dishing the rock for 6 points and 6 dimes while [player_tooltip player_id='1476137' first='Will' last='Hamilton'] came up big on the defensive end all game.   CBC was led in scoring by [player_tooltip player_id='1544599' first='Landon' last='Schlanger'] who went 5-7 from the field for 11 points including a three.  Skilled forward with size.  There were a couple of younger prospects that caught our attention including 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2376270' first='Semaj' last='Stampley'] as the shooting guard scored 7 points showing athleticism off the bounce and a solid jumper.  [player_tooltip player_id='1164069' first='Anthony' last='Gause'] is a junior wing with potential as a shooter from distance going for 9 points.   Chaminade Scores Win over St. Rita in Tight Game   This was close all game long as neither team won a quarter by more than three points.  Neither squad could get much of a lead.  Chaminade closed strong winning 60-57.  SEMO commit BJ Ward scored 12 points, but it was more his passing that made the difference as he dished out 10 dimes.  Capable three point shooter with a strong frame will be a good player for SEMO.  Nilavan Daniels continues to be a small college gem!  High level shot maker that makes them in bunches including 5-9 in this game from beyond the arc.  Also mixed in runners for 21 points and 7 rebounds.  Class of 2025 big man [player_tooltip player_id='1419870' first='Ben' last='Winker'] is one to track.  He didn't back down from the St. Rita twin towers as the 6'10” five man had a nice game recording 14 points (7-8 FG) and 7 rebounds.   St. Rita was led by their dynamic big men.  Illini commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] does what he always does.  Plays with such a high motor on the interior rebounding at a high rate being relentless with his quick second jump.  Good post defender swatting shots.  Liked how he looked comfortable hitting a mid-range jumper for 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks.  North Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157228' first='James' last='Brown'] was very good in this one netting 17 points, 11 rebounds, and blocking 3 shots.  As always it was skilled scores inside on seals, short slashes, and powerful finishes through defenders.    Simeon Defeats Imhotep in National Powerhouse Clash   The game of the day lived up to its primetime slot.  Simeon scored a 53-51 win to remain undefeated in a matchup of top 15 teams in the country against Imhotep (PA).  The Rubin twins once again were spectacular!  [player_tooltip player_id='1048306' first='Miles' last='Rubin'] won the MVP of the game by going for 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks.  He finished out of the dunker spot, got on the glass, and swatted shots.  Brother [player_tooltip player_id='1048305' first='Wesley' last='Rubin'] is proving to be a huge fall get for Northern Iowa.  His mid-range game was on point including shaking a defender on a jab step.  Like how he uses his hands to get steals and has a lethal turnaround J.  He had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks.  Toledo commit [player_tooltip player_id='939068' first='Sam' last='Lewis'] played a very strong game as well.  Did a nice job on the Kentucky commit defensively.  Offensively he scored in transition, slashed, hit a three, and passed it very well for 12 points.  High IQ lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='939059' first='Jalen' last='Griffith'] ran the show at the point with on the money passes while making key plays over and over netting 11 points and 4 dimes.   Imhotep got a big game from junior combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1281786' first='Ahmad' last='Nowell'].  Strong bodied guard that makes sound decisions with the ball in his hands.  Really liked his mid-range game pulling up on a dime over and over.  Pushing in the open floor going coast to coast.  He has that “it” factor and will be impactful at the high-major level.  Went for 15 points.  Kentucky commit [player_tooltip player_id='991341' first='Justin' last='Edwards'] had a couple of impressive dunks in transition and a tip in for 13 points.  Would have liked to seen more aggressiveness out of the 5-star despite his foul trouble.   Iowa Commits Too Much as Moline Tops Vashon   The finale was another Illinois vs Missouri battle as state title contenders battled with Moline knocking off Vashon 49-36.  As usual it was the Iowa commits who did the most damage.  Top senior post in Illinois [player_tooltip player_id='989265' first='Owen' last='Freeman'] was dominant inside scoring on lobs, out of the dunker spot, and mauling on the offensive glass.  He had 24 points and 14 rebounds.  Really liked how he snatched rebounds in traffic playing with toughness in the paint.  His future Iowa teammate [player_tooltip player_id='989274' first='Brock' last='Harding'] made several spectacular passes in this one.  Shifty ball handler had some turnovers and struggled shooting it but was still very impactful in the win with 9 points, 5 dimes, and 5 steals.   In front of his future assistant coach Southern Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='1362685' first='Kennard' last='Davis'] is a versatile player that will be a nice fit in the MVC.  Tough kid that can score inside and out.  Runners, 15 footers, and threes.  Also pushes well in transition and rebounds for 13 points and 5 boards.  [player_tooltip player_id='981142' first='Jayden' last='Nicholson'] also had a solid outing hitting a couple threes for 10 points.

The Highland Shootout has become one of the premier one day high school basketball events in the country. It lived up to the hype with close games throughout the day and huge performances! See what all happened in Highland Shootout Notebook!