Riverside Brookfield: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook

The Riverside Brookfield Shootout kicked off on Friday with a great opening day of action.  PHI has you covered as our full staff was on hand.  Here I break down what I saw in Riverside Brookfield: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook!

Bolingbrook 2027 Dazzles in Win Over Downers Grove North

The first game of the day turned out to be one of the best.  Coaches were lined up all along the baseline to see Downers Grove North 2024 Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL who lit up the state tournament and is racking up offers left and right.  Stanton would duel with a freshman from Bolingbrook in an awesome contest which saw Bolingbrook win 59-55. 

Most people thought it would be a rebuilding year with how much Bolingbrook lost.  Never the case with Rob Brost’s program.  They reload.  Particularly with a superstar freshman in Davion Thompson.  The 6’2” shooting guard was spectacular in the win scoring 18 points with a lethal pull up game from deep draining five triples in the win while showing some slashing potential as well as kicking to shooters.  He got help from small college 2024 gem DJ Strong DJ Strong 5'9" | PG Bolingbrook | 2024 State IL .  The long and angular combo guard is a plus shooter that has a good runner game and competes defensively.  He had 13 points. Also like what Jason Lawani Jason Lawani 6'5" | SF Bolingbrook | 2024 State IL brings from an energy, toughness, and defensive standpoint.

DGN got a big outing as usual from Jack Stanton Jack Stanton 6'2" | SG Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL .  Two guard missed some shots early, but in the second half it was on as the jumper was falling hitting them from deep.  Pure form and great elevation on the shot.  Mixed in a couple acrobatic layups and was a solid passer for an off guard as he had 16 points.  Like what 2024 center Jake Riemer Jake Riemer 6'7" | C Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL brings to the table as a five man that rebounds high-pointing in traffic.  Was most effective getting on the offensive glass for put backs.  Small college prospect Owen Thulin Owen Thulin 6'0" | PG Downers Grove North | 2024 State IL is a tough lead guard that runs the show and can hit open shots.  Went for 14 points.

Baldwin Leads Hyde Park to Dominant Win in Battle of Top 10 Prospects

Next up we caught Hyde Park led by the #10 2024 prospect and Bradley Bourbonnais which features the #10 rising junior Nick Allen Nick Allen 6'9" | C Bradley Bourbonnais | 2025 State IL .  It was all Hyde Park in this one as they won 55-32 over Bradley Bourbonnais.

Early on Hyde Park got a lift from their backcourt in 2024 Germaine Benson Germaine Benson 6'0" | PG Hyde Park | 2024 State IL and 2026 Amare Pryor Amare Pryor 6'0" | PG Bloom | 2026 State IL .  Benson is a well built guard that is relentless attacking, hits the glass, and can hit a shot.  Went for 11 points.  Pryor is a slick rising sophomore guard that has a clean looking jumper and is cat quick on the defensive end with his hands.  Their star Jurrell Baldwin Jurrell Baldwin 6'6" | SF Hyde Park | 2024 IL turned it up in the second half as he drained in an array of threes including some tough step backs while rebounding at a high level for 16 points.

Bradley Bourbonnais center Nick Allen Nick Allen 6'9" | C Bradley Bourbonnais | 2025 State IL showed flashes for sure.  Especially on the offensive glass cleaning up his own misses on more than one occasion.  Sealed pretty well and rebounded in his area for 10 points.  Fives with his size and skill are rare.  Would like to see him finish a little better.

Thornwood Tops Marian Catholic Behind Emerging Upperclassmen

Heard some buzz about Thornwood so we wanted to check them out.  It was a fun one against Marian Catholic as they won narrowly 54-51.  Class of 2024 guard Tyler Wooten Tyler Wooten 6'2" | SG Brother Rice | 2024 State IL had a breakout performance netting 20+ points connecting on pull ups one after another.  Long and lanky combo guard also impacts defensively and plays with poise.  A lot of intriguing tools to track with 2025 6’4” shooting guard Arden Eaves Arden Eaves 6'5" | SF Thornwood | 2025 State IL .  The two guard has a great frame and long arms.  Opened up with a three and showed some stuff on the defensive end.  Bit of a quiet game offensively, but the tools are there.

Marian Catholic 2024 post James Bullock James Bullock 6'7" | PF Marian Catholic | 2024 State IL is a long and rangy five that can stretch the floor and high-points rebounds in traffic.  Also showed he could put it on the deck from the high-post.

Kankakee Scores W Without Star Behind Senior Sleeper

We were really looking forward to this underrated matchup of talented wings between Lincoln Williams Lincoln Williams 6'5" | SF Kankakee | 2026 State IL (Kankakee) and Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'5" | SF West Aurora | 2025 State IL (West Aurora).  Williams was fighting through an injury and clearly not close to 100%.  Despite Smith showing out it was Kankakee who won 58-45 over West Aurora.

A huge reason for that was the play of 6’2” point guard Larenz Walters Larenz Walters 6'2" | PG Kankakee | 2024 State IL .  He controlled the game with his shot making and passing from the lead guard spot finding his bigs inside while hitting threes of his own.  Eli Stipp was often the recipient of those dimes as a mobile four man that has soft hands.

West Aurora dual sport star Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'5" | SF West Aurora | 2025 State IL was special in the loss.  The 6’5” small forward showcased all of the upside we have seen for years.  Slashed with his long and athletic frame for explosive dunks, made threes with clean mechanics, and was a force in transition.  Looked every bit the part of a mid-major prospect in this game.

Starwood Sizzles in Oswego East Dub vs St. Charles East

We have heard a lot of positive reviews on the play of 2024 Jehvion Starwood Jehvion Starwood 6'3" | SG Oswego East | 2024 State IL from Oswego East during June.  He showed out during their 68-48 win against St. Charles East.  The lefty is a uber athlete that has hops and quickness.  Pushes coast to coast with the best of them in the class.  Couple impressive one on one slashes including a jump stop he converted for an and-1 in traffic.  Banked in a three.  Displayed creativity with the rock and showed secondary playmaking ability.  Mason Lockett is a 2026 to track.  Lot of tools here with his length and athleticism finishing around the cup along with being able to check multiple positions.

Kenwood Looks Like Top Team in State vs Rolling Meadows

This game started out pretty close as it looked like Rolling Meadows was going to make it close.  Then Kenwood turned it up a couple notches and it was over as they won 77-56.  They come into the season looking like the preseason #1.  Couple things with this one.  Kenwood was without the services of D1 post Calvin Robins who is out with an injury.  They did have Davion Hannah from Wisconsin who it isn’t fully clear if he is coming to Kenwood, but if he does he has made a strong case in the last 10 days for the #1 spot in 2025.  In this game Hannah was explosive off the bounce using his long strides, crisp handles, and bounce at the rim.  Also connected on a pair of threes for 16 points.  Really liked how Chris Riddle Chris Riddle 6'5" | SF Kenwood | 2024 State #163 Nation IL played in this game.  The top 10 rising senior is a strong bodied small forward that when aggressive is unstoppable.  That he was in this one getting downhill with power moves, burst, and crisp handles.  Scored in the open floor and mixed in a three for 20 points.  Like what we saw from 2024 big man Jaden Smith Jaden Smith 6'9" | C Kenwood | 2024 State #249 Nation IL on the defensive end in this one.  He was an effective rim protector and cleared the defensive glass while scoring 8 points.  Class of 2025 star Aleks Alston Aleks Alston 6'9" | PF Kenwood | 2025 State IL drained a pair of threes and had a sweet transition dunk for 8 points.  Class of 2027 Devin Cleveland impressed in his first big stage debut with Kenwood.  Scored 15 points with soft touch finishes along with triples.

With the Christie’s gone next up for Rolling Meadows is Ian Miletic Ian Miletic 6'5" | SF Rolling Meadows | 2025 State IL .  The point forward in the 2025 class has great size, playmaking, and can shoot it.  The last was on full display as he rained in seven from distance with his sweet lefty shot en route to 23 points.  High release with a lot of arc on shot.  Really like his passing flair at his size as well. 

Defending Champs DePaul Prep Look Primed for Another Run

DePaul Prep returns the majority of their 2A state title team from last year.  They looked ready to defend their crown with an 81-53 victory over Lindbloom.  Class of 2024 power forward Jaylan McElroy Jaylan McElroy 6'7" | PF DePaul Prep | 2024 State IL was efficient using his athleticism finishing around the hoop on reverse layups and a nice 15 foot J.  Their guard play was great behind point guard duo Robert Walls Robert Walls 6'2" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL and Makai Kvamme Makai Kvamme 6'0" | PG DePaul Prep | 2025 State IL .  Walls was knocking in shots from three and getting in the lane racking up the points.  Kvamme is a heady guard that makes sound decisions with the rock, drains open shots, and gets after it defensively.  A young prospect to watch is 2026 power forward Rashaun Porter Rashaun Porter 6'6" | PF DePaul Prep | 2026 State IL .  The four has a good frame and fluidity scoring around the basket on several nice moves.

Lindblom was led by 2024 standout Jeshawn Stevenson who is gaining quite a bit of D1 interest.  Burst to the rim and was in attack mode early converting through contact.  Pushes in the open floor and flashed passing as a secondary playmaker.  Shot wasn’t consistent in this one.

St. Patrick Wins in Double OT Despite Stellar Show by Marist 2026

Final game of the day was a double OT win by St. Patrick 50-47. Liked what we saw from AJ Thomas AJ Thomas 6'3" | SG St. Patrick | 2024 State IL from St. Patrick as the 6’3” 2024 guard notched 13 points in the win displaying slick handles and three level scoring pop.  Nevaeh Hawkins Nevaeh Hawkins 6'7" | SF St. Patrick | 2025 State IL flashed athleticism on both ends in this one as a 2025 to track.

Marist got a massive showing from their 2026 star Stephen Brown Stephen Brown 6'6" | PF Marist | 2026 State IL as he had 28 points.  The 6’6” power forward drained a couple threes , but it was his elite athleticism and motor around the hoop that made the difference.  Threw down some nasty dunks and was the best rebounder we saw all day long!  One of the best 2026s in the state.  He has a nice rising sophomore guard running with him in Adoni Vasilakis.  Lefty is a plus three point shooter that has a feel for running a team at a young age.