Riverside Brookfield: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook

Sunday closed out the Riverside Brookfield Shootout with another great day of games which saw prospects elevate their stock.  Dive into what we saw in Riverside Brookfield: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook!

Simeon Backcourt Shines in Win Over St. Patrick

We started the day with our first look at the new version of Simeon.  After the graduation of almost all their key players and legendary head coach Rob Smith from last season’s team the Wolverines are ready to move forward behind new head man Tim Flowers.  They scored a big transfer this week in Dekwon Brown Dekwon Brown 6'3" | PG Simeon | 2024 State IL from Peoria who is the top combo guard in the rising senior class.  Brown and RJ McKinnie RJ McKinnie 6'2" | SG Simeon | 2024 State IL carried the Wolverines to a 68-61 win over St. Patrick on Sunday morning.  Brown is a scoring guard that plays on the ball.  Pushed in transition, knocked in threes, showed growth as a passer, and was a solid defender in a 16 point outing.  McKinnie is a lefty guard that can also be effective playing both on and off the ball.  He was lights out with his three point game as he notched five of them while crashing the offensive glass and being a force defensively in a 20 point performance.  Class of 2025 guard Lorenzo Shields Lorenzo Shields 6'3" | PG Simeon | 2025 State IL has some helium heading into the season.  A lengthy guard can defend, rebound, and score as he had 8 points.

St. Pat’s once again was led by senior shooting guard AJ Thomas AJ Thomas 6'3" | SG St. Patrick | 2024 State IL who had 14 points.  Creative finisher at the cup that got to the rim.  Their 2025 point guard EJ Breland EJ Breland 6'0" | PG St. Patrick | 2025 State IL had a better day today shooting well from distance and mixing in mid-range shots for 14 points.

Illini Commit Looks Like 5-Star in Very Impressive Performance for Transfer Led Thornton

New addition to Thornton Morez Johnson Morez Johnson 6'9" | PF Thornton | 2024 State #35 Nation IL is going to elevate them tremendously.  The Illini commit looked like a bona fide five-star recruit with his play on Sunday in their 64-50 win vs Romeoville.  Four man has great size, strength, and elite athleticism.  He had a few massive jams including rips on baseline takes and takes from the mid-post finishing with his off hand.  Split double teams, finished through contact, and showed continued growth as a shooter hitting a top of the key three and a 18 foot jumper.  Snatched rebounds in bunches with his strong hands in traffic and tenacious motor.  Stat line ready 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks.  He got some help from a pair of transfers.  They got a big one on Friday with the new addition of Isaiah Green Isaiah Green 6'1" | PG Thornton | 2024 State IL who is one of the better combo guards in the class.  Fit in well with his new team sharing the ball passing it as well as we have seen him including lobs and pick/roll dimes.  Knocked in a pair of threes and floaters.  Got after it defensively showing a very complete game for 12 points.  Chase Abraham is another key get in the portal.  The 6’1” combo guard is a shot maker from two and three with a wiry frame that can get to the cup on slick takes racking up 20 points in efficient manner.

Romeoville got a solid outing in this one from 2026 strong bodied wing Mickeis Johnson Mickeis Johnson 6'2" | SG Romeoville | 2026 State IL .  The physically built wing maneuvers the ball at the cup, hit the offensive glass, and drained a pair of jumpers for 12 points.

Benet Young Core Shows Stellar Potential

We were really looking forward to seeing the young core for Benet.  After a historic season and a runner up trophy Benet has reloaded with even higher end prospects long term in the 2025 and 2026 classes.  They showed out in a 71-54 win against Lindblom.  Gabriel Sularski Gabriel Sularski 6'6" | SF Benet | 2026 State IL is a 6’6” small forward that brings size, athleticism, and elite skill to the table.  He was fantastic in this one scoring 20 points and that might not have been close to the best thing he did.  Loved his passing from the wing as the lefty has such an advanced passing feel in the open floor and is a connector offensively.  Plus shooter that knocked in a couple threes while also showing burst and explosion on smooth takes to the rim in half court and transition.  Contender for top spot in 2026.  Class of 2026 five man Colin Stack Colin Stack 6'9" | C Benet | 2026 State IL is a big man that already stands at 6’10” while high-pointing rebounds, finishing out of the dunker spot, and having a sweet right handed hook shot.  Class of 2025 6’8” post Daniel Pauliukonis Daniel Pauliukonis 6'8" | SF Benet Academy | 2025 State IL has such a bright future with his elite length and mobility.  Sweeping scores, up and unders, lob finishes, and a big dunk en route to 12 points.  They have a really nice young backcourt as well in 2025 point guard Blake Fagbemi Blake Fagbemi 5'8" | PG Benet | 2025 State IL (8 points) and 2026 guard Jayden Wright Jayden Wright 5'11" | PG Benet | 2026 State IL (6 points).  Combine these five with veterans tough senior guard Patrick Walsh Patrick Walsh 6'1" | PG Benet | 2024 State IL and grity senior post Parker Sulaver Parker Sulaver 6'6" | PF Benet Academy | 2024 State IL and this is going to be a fun team to watch!

Lindblom’s senior guard duo had solid games.  Jeshawn Stevenson turned it up in the second half.  The D1 2024 prospect is a scoring guard that when hitting threes takes his game to the next level.  Hit a couple and was fouled on two others in a 20 point outing.  Sleeper senior guard Quentin McCoy seems to fly under the radar, but this is a good player.  Combo guard that can shoot it and is a solid ball handler.

Mt. Carmel Looks Like State Contender Behind Fab 5

The Caravan lost a legendary player in their program’s history in DeAndre Craig, but they have plenty of talent left especially with their starting five which was outstanding in a 66-39 win against Burlington Central Catholic.  Top 10 2024 small forward Angelo Ciaravino Angelo Ciaravino 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL is playing the best hoops of his career.  Pushing 6’7” the jumbo wing was so bouncy in this one as he threw down dunks with force off the bounce that we had not seen before.  The frame is starting to fill out and athleticism is matching.  Also did what he always does with his jumper connecting on an array of threes and was a switchable defender scoring 20 points.  His running mate Lee Marks Lee Marks 6'6" | SF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL is also a D1 prospect on the wing.  Versatile player that impacts defensively, gets to the line, handles in the open floor, and is great in transition as he scored 10 points.  A pair of new additions from the portal are fitting in nicely.  Stevenson transfer Christian Uremovich Christian Uremovich 6'5" | PF Mt. Carmel | 2024 State IL is a strong bodied four that can shoot it from his four man spot, and is a tough rebounder that had 10 points.  Cameron Thomas Cameron Thomas 6'3" | PG Mount Carmel | 2025 State IL is returning to Mt. Carmel for his junior campaign after playing in South Carolina.  The 6’2” guard has a thick frame and a plus mid-range game.  Plays with good pace for 13 points.  The x-factor for this team is Grant Best Grant Best 6'1" | SG Mt. Carmel | 2025 State IL as the 6’2” shooting guard does all the little things while scoring 9 points.

Top 5 Prospects Duel and Impress Coaches as Yorkville Tops St. Ignatius

Two of the best handful of prospects in the state clashed in this one as Yorkville won 54-53 against St. Ignatius.  Yorkville big man Jason Jakstys Jason Jakstys 6'10" | C Yorkville | 2024 State #149 Nation IL went for 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks.  He continues to add strength and the athleticism pops.  Baseline spin for an and-1 early, pushed off rebounds, and is an elite rim protector with his timing and length.  High-majors are starting to take a long look here.  Rising senior shooting guard Jory Boley Jory Boley 6'3" | SG Yorkville | 2024 State IL is a thick bodied wing that can flat out score it as he had 10 points.  Liked what we saw from Bryce Salek as the wing has added significant strength and can really shoot it for 12 points.

Phoenix Gill Phoenix Gill 6'2" | SG St. Ignatius | 2025 State IL of St. Ignatius was special once again on Sunday.  He scored 15 points, but it was how he did it that was so impressive.  Two guard is efficient with his movements, makes shots, and lived in the lane finishing well with either hand.  Plus passer and defender as well.  One of the best 2025s in the class.  Phillip Erickson Phillip Erickson 6'2" | PG St. Ignatius | 2024 State IL is a rising senior that should be getting looks at the small college level with how well he shot it from three.  Poured in six triples for 18 points.

St. Laurence Meshing Well Early in Process

New power St. Laurence was one of the most anticipated teams to watch and they lived up to hype with a 4-0 weekend.  It was really impressive to see how well the two top 10 transfers meshed with their core 5 of ranked junior guards/wings.  That was on display in a 75-54 win against Westinghouse.  Iowa State commit Nojus Indrusaitis Nojus Indrusaitis 6'4" | SF St. Laurence | 2024 #57 Nation NLG had it rolling again scoring on baseline takes, transition and-1s, and three balls for 15 points.  It was a big game for combo guard Josh Pickett Josh Pickett 6'5" | SG St. Laurence | 2024 State #228 Nation IL as the transfer dropped 19 points in the win.  Strong guard that can play both on and off the ball being able to create off the bounce.  Finished very well at the cup in this one.  Class of 2025 guard Zerrick Johnson Zerrick Johnson 6'2" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL has a strong frame and excelled as a passer along with getting downhill with his shifty handles for 9 points.  Smooth two guard Jacob Rice Jacob Rice 6'4" | SG Western Reserve Acadmey | 2025 OH had 15 points while showing off his three ball hitting a trio of them.

Westinghouse has a couple of bucket getters of their own who showcased it in the spring and had a strong game here against St. Laurence as Treyvon Ali Treyvon Ali 6'3" | SG Westinghouse | 2024 State IL had 20 points including four from distance.  DJ Bolden DJ Bolden 6'2" | SG Westinghouse | 2024 State IL can also put the ball in the hoop as the scoring guard notched 14 points.

Valpo Commit Puts Joliet West on Back in Front of Future Coach

The last full game we saw was one with a lot of talent on both sides as Joliet West recorded a 43-42 victory against Bloom.  Joliet West got big performances from their backcourt.  Valpo commit Justus McNair Justus McNair 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2024 State IL took over the game in the second half in front of his future head coach Roger Powell as he was great in transition, draining step back twos, and being active defensively while netting 13 points.  Class of 2026 scoring combo guard Rajan Roberts Rajan Roberts 6'2" | PG Kenwood | 2026 State IL displayed what we saw this spring as he was making crisp pull ups all over the floor while using his crisp handles to get in the lane for buckets en route to 12 points.  Early on in the game we were impressed how 2024 center Drew King Drew King 6'10" | C Joliet West | 2024 IL rebounded well in traffic snatching every board while also swatting shots in bunches!

Bloom got a big outing from Jaden Clark Jaden Clark 6'5" | SF Bloom | 2024 State IL .  The 6’5” small forward is a projectable three man that plays off his athleticism and shot making.  Crashed the offensive glass as well for 16 points.  Another senior to track is Santana Flowers Santana Flowers 6'4" | SF Bloom | 2024 State IL .  The uber athletic 6’5” wing is a rising senior that is an absolute force in transition as he had 7 points.