Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook
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Prep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off began on Friday night in Romeoville with a big slate of games. Here I breakdown what I saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook! Team Rose 3SSB 17U Tops AUSA Brook in Competitive…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off began on Friday night in Romeoville with a big slate of games. Here I breakdown what I saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook!
Team Rose 3SSB 17U Tops AUSA Brook in Competitive Opener
In the first game we caught it was a comeback win for Team Rose as they knocked off the top program out of Australia AUSA Brook in a 17u contest 62-56. Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL had it cooking for Team Rose. The Perspectives transfer will play his senior season at Homewood Flossmoor. One of the better lead guards in the Illinois 2024 class. Jet quick with the rock in his hands winning on straight line takes and using his speed to get to the cup in transition. Has body control shielding defenders finishing or getting it up on the rim drawing a foul. Also mixed in some mid-range jumpers and floaters. Their other two highly ranked wings showed flashes as well. Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL from Mt. Carmel is a high-motor small forward that crashes the offensive glass, scored on cuts, and put it on the deck. De La Salle wing Richard Lindsey Richard Lindsey 6'5" | SF De La Salle | 2024 State IL is a strong bodied wing with a feathery perimeter game knocking in jumpers while showing athleticism. St. Rita shooting guard Graham Lathan showed two way potential as a spot up shooter with a sweet stroke and defending well on the perimeter. Michigan combo guard Daniel Smythe caught our attention as a plus three point shooter with feel as a secondary ball handler/passer.
AUSA Brook had several prospects that made impressions on college coaches. The group from Australia full of 2023 unsigned prospects boast a quality group of players that will play at the college level. Really liked the play of point guard Tyler O’Neil. The strong bodied O’Neil showed an excellent feel for the game as a distributor and making those around him better. Inside Tasman Goodrick used his 6’10” size to pound the offensive glass for put backs and showed touch around the hoop. Also blocked several shots. D2s should take a look. Lucas Morgan is a high-motor wing that impacted on both ends of the floor. Sound shooter, nifty finisher at the cup, and was a gritty wing defender.
Pair of Unranked 2025s Go Back and Forth
Next up we saw Fundamental U UA Rise against M14 Adidas Gold 16U. In this one there were a pair of prospects that jumped off the floor. Prairie Ridge 2025 shooting guard Ben Gablenz put his name on our radar with a strong performance. Shot it well from three, won on straight line takes, and was outstanding as a defender. Moved his feet and got steals. We saw Batavia’s Jax Abalos Jax Abalos 6'7" | SF Batavia | 2025 State IL the night before at a M14 workout. It was more of the same as he will make a nice debut in our next update. Plus shooter with size at 6’6”. Quick release and is automatic off the catch. Also is a decent athlete the can make plays off the move.
Davis and Brooks Jr Live Up to Billing
I was very much looking forward to this matchup coming into the event. Illinois Central Elite vs Chicago Grit N Grind 17U. The interesting part is the top prospects on both sides were playing up. Illinois Central Elite’s star Jaxson Davis Jaxson Davis 6'1" | PG Warren | 2027 IL is a 2027 incoming freshman at Warren while for Grit N Grind it is top 10 2025 Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr. The game wasn’t very close as Illinois Central Elite won 72-40.
I had been told by reliable sources that Davis is the top 2027 to watch. He showed it recording 40 points playing up three age levels. It was one of those wow moments as a scout. It was my first look at him and he put on a show! Started off hitting a corner three right in front of me banking it in. The perimeter jumper was on point as he hit a couple other threes along with getting in the mid-range for multiple pull up twos. The lefty has a quick release and repeatable mechanics every time off the catch or pulling up. Shifty ball handler that showed creativity scoring at the rim in both the half court and transition. Very high IQ player that makes sound decisions. Changes gears and directions on a dime. Also is a good passer that had several dump off passes and moved the ball in the half court.
Also for ICE in their win we liked what we saw from Davee Flowers Davee Flowers 6'1" | SG Niles West | 2024 State IL of Niles West. The two guard was effective with his all-around game as a scorer, passer, and rebounder. Solid athlete that showed handles off the bounce getting to the cup for 10 points. Niles North 6’6” power forward Aidan Ashley was a prospect that caught our attention as a rebounder and shot blocker while finishing out of the dunker spot for 6 points.
Grit N Grind was led with a massive outing from top 10 2025 Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr. He went from unknown to a major buzz about him after a massive sophomore campaign. As always he stuffed the stat sheet for 23 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks, and 2 steals. The size at 6’6” with broad shoulders and plus athleticism jump off the floor to you. Totally looks the part and then he plays up to his physical tools. As a scorer he can get you a bucket in almost any way possible. Very effective putting it on the deck from the high-post, loves to play in transition, and is a major factor as an offensive rebounder. His quick second jump got him quite a few points. Defensively he is a force as a shot blocker and has all the tools to be a monster defender at the college level. Mid-majors should be involved NOW! High-majors need to monitor him. His brother Ikee Brooks Ikee Brooks 5'11" | PG Hansberry | 2025 State IL is a scoring point guard that can shoot it as he hit several jumpers going for 15 points. Flashes passing feel, but is best as a scoring guard.