Chi-Town Tip-Off: Six Sunday Standouts
In this article:
The Prep Hoops Circuit Chi-Town Tip-Off is now in the rearview mirror. Three days of basketball, primarily split between the Romeoville Athletic Center and the Wintrust Sports Complex, went off without a hitch featuring some outstanding individual performances, excellent overall…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Prep Hoops Circuit Chi-Town Tip-Off is now in the rearview mirror. Three days of basketball, primarily split between the Romeoville Athletic Center and the Wintrust Sports Complex, went off without a hitch featuring some outstanding individual performances, excellent overall team matchups, and plenty for us to break down in the coming days. Before we dive into breaking down the weekend as a whole, let’s take a look at some of the top performers from Sunday’s action specifically.
This smaller, 5’8″ guard picked up right where he left off following an excellent junior season at Andrean. Austin averaged 18.6 points per game while connecting on 75 three-point shots during the high school season. Then, on Sunday morning, he rained in six three-point shots on his way to a team-high 20 points in a blowout win. He is a truly elite shooter that you cannot leave open even for a second from beyond the arc.
We wrote about him on Friday night as well, but this prospect deserves another mention. Brooks Jr. was arguably the best shot blocker and rebounder at the Chi-Town Tip-Off this weekend. He is constantly impacting the game defensively at the rim and can go well outside of his area to clean the glass. Offensively, he handles the ball well enough at 6’7″ to go coast-to-coast and finishes well at the rim. You can see why he is considered among the top prospects in the Illinois Class of 2025.
Graise is a dynamic scoring guard out of Wisconsin that had an excellent weekend for Greater Purpose 2024 National. The smooth left-handed guard went off for 25 points in an impressive win over Pittsburgh Pioneer Elite 2024 on Sunday afternoon. He is an excellent three-point shooter, can get to the rim off of the dribble, and showed the ability to create for himself in the mid-range as well. Big time scorer that college programs will want to take a look at.
Highlights
Alexander Lopez
Alexander Lopez
A talented unsigned senior out of Proviso West, Johnson had his scoring ability on full display Sunday afternoon at the Chi-Town Tip-Off. The long, athletic lefty is excellent in transition, finishes well at the rim, and is a catch-and-shoot threat from beyond the arc. At 6’4″ he has good size on the perimeter too with some upside on the defensive end of the floor. Looking for an opportunity to continue playing at the next level. Could be a solid JUCO pickup.
Noah Pagotto
Noah Pagotto
There weren’t many better college prospect in the gym this weekend in Chicago than this unsigned senior from Australia. Pagotto is a physical, yet skilled, 6’7″ forward that projects as being able to play the 3 or the 4 at the next level. He is at his best when attacking closeouts off of the dribble or using his blend of quickness and strength to score in the post. The Aussie has a smooth turnaround jumper, can face-up, or use brute strength to score through the defense. Division I coaches need to come see him during the live period. Will be at The Stage, hosted by the Prep Hoops Circuit, in Indianapolis April 21st-23rd.
Despite losing to the AUSA Brook team full of unsigned senior Australian’s, Taylor was a standout on the floor for Fundamental U 2024 UA Rise. The 6’6″ left-handed post player showed off his interior skills finishing with a double-double against a team full of bigger guys. Taylor has a soft touch around the basket, excellent footwork in the post, and plays with a super high motor on the glass. Should be a highly sought after prospect for the great college programs in Illinois and the surrounding area.