Midwest Melee: Saturday 2026 Guards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>West Suburban Sports Complex welcomed an athletic crowd of 15U programs. Action started Saturday morning with a bunch of new faces stepping on to the court, demonstrating their unrecognized skills and talents. Check out the athletes below from around the state of Illinois who received their inaugural addition to Prep Hoops! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1963628,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Norman Loechel","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Glenbard East ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"M14 Hoops 2026 National 1","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Left-handed shooter with a smooth looking stroke who can light it up from three point land if he warms up. Creates a nice open pocket ready for catch and shoot opportunities. In his first game on Saturday, Loechel laced greater than four three pointers against Athletics Inc. 2026-2, and his two triples midway through the second half sparked a momentum shift for his M14 Hoops squad. Showed positive signs of backdoor cutting when his defender fell asleep. Delivered a couple of passes through tight passing windows. All out hustle by jumping out of bounds to save a possession and fighting for 50/50 balls. Promising next three years for Loechel.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":1963638,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Ethan Petrillo","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"St. Ignatius College Prep ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Full Package 2026 White ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Petrillo was an exciting young athlete to watch perform this weekend. Smart ball-handler capable of poking and prying his way into open defensive gaps. Converted a selection of unique layups either through contact or bending his body around defenders. Against a Milwaukee Young Bucks (WI) full-court press, Petrillo calmly took care of the ball for Full Package 2026 White, placing passes in vacant areas of the zone, or advancing the ball up-court himself. Another area of his game which caught my eye was his unselfish play. There were times when Petrillo had an open shot, but out the corner of his eye he would zip a pass to a wide-open teammate leaving the defense gazing. Always seemed like he was one step ahead of the opponent. Excited to watch him progress as an athlete.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":1963652,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2133089' first='Jerome' last='Delaney']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"AR Elite 2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Lefty with a smooth stroke on his jump shot. Cannot leave him open along the perimeter otherwise it's a knockdown three. Showed flashes of creating separation with a fluent step back jumper. Showcased his package of ball-handling skills by crossing over defenders, getting them off-balance, and attacking with a purpose. Confident shooter who doesn't show frustration if he misses some of his early shots. Nonchalant behavior on the court and controls his emotions. Played more of the four and five position over the weekend as he is the tallest player on the team, but Delaney displayed strong knowledge in the paint by contesting shots vertically. Leader and communicator for a young AR Elite team.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1552435"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Arce is a competitor, and don't let his height fool you as he'll easily provide jaw-dropping plays. One of the quickest and shiftiest players I enjoyed watching this weekend. Arce has a legit quick first step to blow by defenders, and he can finish inside the key while absorbing contact or dropping in a gentle floater. Turns the corner tightly on screens converting a layup or gracefully delivering a pocket pass to cutting teammates. Can spot up and shoot the three or quickly pull-up behind the arc. Superb ball-handling and passing skills. Uses his eyes to trick defenders into where he's passing. Showcased a nice euro-step when penetrating into the paint which froze the defense just long enough to pass through a tight window. Arce goes all out on the defensive end as well for Outlook Illinois, playing atop their 2-3 zone and 2-2-1 full court press putting constant pressure on his opponents offensive flow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":1963653,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Landon Gayle ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"New Trier ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"Full Package 2026 Black ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Gayle is a long-range deadeye with a fundamentally sound jump shot. His eyes are always on the ball and is ready to shoot whenever he has a slight opening. Places himself in excellent positioning along the perimeter to receive easy catch and shoot opportunities. Gayle is confident in his shot. He doesn't become discouraged when his shots are not falling, instead he keeps shooting to find his rhythm. Attacks lazy closeouts ending in a teardrop over taller defenders or finishing softly at the rim with either hand. Starts transition by making a quick outlet pass or sprinting ahead of defenders for an easy fast break layup. Loud communication on the floor directing teammates, talking through screens, and providing help side defense.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":1963665,"_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2734444' first='Marc' last='Harvey']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Argo","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"AR Elite 2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Harvey demonstrates a strong work ethic and determination by consistently fighting for loose balls. His willingness to dive on the floor and play physical shows a high level of intensity and competitiveness. Shows the tendency to keep the ball high when securing offensive rebounds, and a quick burst off the floor, presents valuable put-back opportunities. Harvey possesses excellent court awareness and has a knack for always being around the ball. This innate ability allows Harvey to anticipate rebounds, loose balls, and deflections providing crucial second-chance opportunities for AR Elite. On the defensive end, his active hands are an asset for the team. The ability to disrupt passing lanes and create deflections shows defensive prowess. Harvey's continued development will provide potential to be a key contributor on both ends.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646ac0ee9013c"} /-->