Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook
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Sunday closed out the Chi-Town Tip Off with a fantastic day of basketball. We recap the last day in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook! Capital City Teamwork Wanted The Game and Got the Win Over Team Rose 3SSB…
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Continue ReadingSunday closed out the Chi-Town Tip Off with a fantastic day of basketball. We recap the last day in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!
Capital City Teamwork Wanted The Game and Got the Win Over Team Rose 3SSB
A team dropped out of the 8 AM Sunday morning game against Team Rose 16U. Capital City Teamwork 16U said they wanted the smoke and so they were given the opportunity and man did they take advantage of it. The squad out of Springfield jumped out fast behind Shaunassey Hatchett Shaunassey Hatchett 6'4" | SF Springfield Lanphier | 2025 State IL (Springfield Lanphier) and Lucca Asanaka (La Lumiere) as they each scored 10 points each in the opening 7 minutes of the game to race out to a lead. Team Rose cut it to one at the half, but Capital City Teamwork held them off in the second half to win 61-57.
Hatchett is a strong bodied wing that had it all working. Powerful slasher that has a quick second jump at the rim. He got to the rack with strength and if he missed got rebounds for second chance points. The other area of his offensive game we saw growth was the confidence in his jumper as he drained several of them en route to 24 points. Asanaka is a skilled two guard that plays with flair and can hit open shots. Notched 10 points in the win. It was a big second half out of led guard duo Amaree Burries Amaree Burries 5'11" | PG Jacksonville | 2025 State IL and Torioun Rice Torioun Rice 6'1" | PG Springfield Lanphier | 2025 IL . Burries got loose in transition along with knocking in several threes for 12 points. Rice is a slick ball handler that can create off the bounce for 10 points.
Team Rose was led by a big outing from St. Laurence combo guard Zerrick Johnson Zerrick Johnson 6'2" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL . The strong bodied sophomore was in attack mode using his physical frame to put pressure on the rim over and over again scoring the majority of his points in the paint. Also proved to be a willing passer when the gap closed or their was a big man to get it too. He had 17 points. Long and rangy Crete Monee small forward Zion Gross Zion Gross 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2025 State IL excelled as a rim runner and displayed a smooth stroke from three for 12 points. Lincoln Park small forward Chayse Turner Chayse Turner 6'4" | SF Lincoln Park | 2025 State IL emerged in this one with his quickness around the hoop, overall skill potential, and finishing ability in the paint as he had 9 points.
Illinois Storm 2024 Trio Impresses
The second game of the day Illinois Storm 17U zoomed past Sky Ice Elite to a 73-56 victory. They were led by a trio of prospects in Plainfield Central wing duo Avery Rogoz Avery Rogoz 6'3" | SF Plainfield Central | 2024 State IL and Quinn Krueger Quinn Krueger 6'1" | SG Plainfield Central | 2024 State IL along with Bolingbrook big man Xander Estacio. Krueger was lights out in the first half when we were watching as he nailed five triples in the first half. Plus shooter off the catch that has grit to his game at 6’1”. Rogoz has size at 6’3” with a strong frame. Crashed the glass, passed it, and had range on his shot. Big man Xander Estacio is an undersized post that played very hard and had a good feel for scoring around the basket with seals, pick/roll finishes, and touch.
Team Rose 3SSB Knocks off Fundamental U UA in Illinois 17U Battle
This was a clash of two of the better programs in the state of Illinois as Team Rose 3SSB got the win over Fundamental U UA 70-61. Homewood Flossmoor 2024 point guard Gianni Cobb Gianni Cobb 6'0" | PG Homewood Flossmoor | 2024 State IL was outstanding once again. He is a smaller guard that has dynamic speed in the open floor and a burst getting to the cup in the half court. Also has a soft touch finishing package and an improving jumper. Solid passer as well. Finished with 16 points. Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL finished off his excellent weekend strong with a 12 point outing. Put it on the deck and finished around the basket. Daniel Smythe is a plus shooter from Michigan that was lights out all weekend. Went for 14 points.
Glenbrook South power forward Nick Taylor Nick Taylor 6'6" | PF Glenbrook South | 2024 State IL displayed his toughness and grit as a skilled four man. Can stretch the floor knocking in pick/pop threes along with playing physical around the hoop as he lived at the line in a 20 point outing. Larkin 2024 point guard Jakob Blakley Jakob Blakley 6'1" | PG Walter Payton | 2024 State IL has one of the best mid-range games in the class. Notched 14 points in the loss.
Illinois Central Elite 1-2 Duo Top Flight Athletics 17U
This was another fun clash of Illinois squads as Illinois Central Elite 17U defeated Top Flight Athletics 78-69. Niles West shooting guard Davee Flowers Davee Flowers 6'1" | SG Niles West | 2024 State IL went off in the first half scoring 25 of his game high 29 points. He had it working off the bounce with runners and splashing in threes one after another. Silky smooth scoring guard that has helped his stock this spring. Warren 2027 phenom Jaxson Davis Jaxson Davis 6'1" | PG Warren | 2027 IL went for 40 points on Friday and after a slow scoring start still managed 23 points against players three years older than him on Sunday. The lefty point guard has star written all over him with his crafty handles, high IQ, shot making, and pesky hands on defense.
Carson Brownfield Carson Brownfield 6'5" | SF Homewood Flosmoor | 2024 State IL had a strong effort on the other side for Flight. The wing from Homewood Flossmoor is a power player that is like a running back getting downhill with his broad shoulders. Dishes out punishment at the rim on and-1 conversions. In this game he also flashed a bit of a jumper netting 26 points. Bolingbrook high-motor forward Jason Lawani Jason Lawani 6'5" | SF Bolingbrook | 2024 State IL is one to track. Good rebounder and tough defender that finishes out of dunker spot.
Lockdown Brand of Basketball Continues
Over the years Chicago Lockdown has consistently produced college players at all levels and plays team basketball. That was evident in their 17U’s 54-45 win over OPS Blue. They shared the basketball, cut off the ball, and made shots. Stagg 6’3” shooting guard Connor Williams Connor Williams 6'2" | SG Stagg | 2024 State IL is a plus marksmen that gets open off movement and has a quick release off the catch. Joliet West 2024 center Drew King is the top prospect on this team as the five man is fluid running the floor and has touch around the hoop as a legit five.
Illinois Stars Knocks Off Chicagoland Grit N Grind 17U
The Illinois Stars 17U recorded a 54-36 victory against Grit N Grind. Stars were led by Downers Grove North wing Alex Miller Alex Miller 6'5" | SF Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL . The 6’4” 2024 small forward was tough fighting inside against an athletic top 10 sophomore on the other side. Good length and has some projection to his game as he netted 17 points. Unsigned senior 6’5” forward Alex Lopez Alex Lopez 5'11" | SG York Community | 2024 IL should find a home at the small college level with his size and game scoring 12 points in the win.
It was another big outing for Grit N Grind star Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr from Hansberry as he notched 17 points. One of the fastest rising prospects in the 2025 class.
Quick Hitters
Donte Montgomery Donte Montgomery 6'2" | SG Oak Lawn | 2025 State IL of Oak Lawn had a big day for The Work Foundation playing up as a 2025 on the 17U level. Silky smooth scoring two to track!
Spartan Sports got a 17 point outing from their go to 2024 wing Joe Pantazis in an OT win. It was capped with a Danny Petkovic Danny Petkovic 6'3" | SG . | 2023 IL put back in sudden death to win the game.
Full Package Gold 17U fell to Team Rose but we liked what we saw from Carmel point guard Kaleb Jackson Kaleb Jackson 6'2" | PG Carmel Catholic | 2024 State IL . Smoothness to his game as he gets in the lane off the bounce for floaters and scoop shots. Also is a pretty solid three point shooter finishing with 13 points.
Noah Pagotto from AUSA Brook has a lot of upside with his size at 6’8” along with his athleticism. That was shown off in their final game as he threw down nasty dunks in transition playing above the rim.