Summer Challenge: 2025 Illinois Top Peformers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Summer Challenge was held over the weekend in Chicago.&nbsp; I was at Wintrust all weekend taking in the action on Saturday and Sunday.&nbsp; Which rising juniors made the biggest impression?&nbsp; Here we examine them in <strong>Summer Challenge: 2025 Illinois Top Performers</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157224' first='Mike' last='Jones'] (Mac Irvin Fire)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones was fantastic in both games we saw with the Fire.&nbsp; The Chi-Prep 2025 power forward was physical and athletic rebounding well on both ends of the floor with his combination of toughness and quickness.&nbsp; Finished on pick and rolls, hit mid-range jumpers, and ran the floor for dunks in transition.&nbsp; Overall played with a very high-motor and was extremely active on both ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tristain Ford (Mac Irvin Fire)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ford is the other Chi-Prep product who had a big outing.&nbsp; In my first eval of him in almost 14 months he was fantastic.&nbsp; The lefty has a smooth handle being able to create off the bounce for acrobatic layups.&nbsp; Plus shooter both off the catch and creating space on a sick step back triple.&nbsp; Sound passer that made several nice dishes to his rollers and was excellent defensively with his length along with anticipation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385296' first='Yaris' last='Irby'] (Mac Irvin Fire)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Niles North point guard that is shifty with the rock in his hands.&nbsp; Burst with the rock in transition with the ability to change gears.&nbsp; Good shooter from three that has microwave scoring ability.&nbsp; Smaller lead guard is an active defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1550741' first='Jacob' last='Rice'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076904' first='Chicago' last='Hoops'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rice lit up the nets against All In Athletics for 25 points.&nbsp; The St. Laurence two guard is a prospect that we are very impressed by with his combination of size, strength, and scoring ability.&nbsp; Plus shooter with a feathery shot from both two and three which was shown in a major way during this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076904' first='Chicago' last='Hoops'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindsey is a long and rangy small forward that is a versatile defender being able to check multiple spots.&nbsp; Plus athlete that is a great finisher in transition along with being able to knock down threes which he did at a better clip than we had seen previously on Sunday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1544818' first='Bradley' last='Stratton'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2076904' first='Chicago' last='Hoops'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marmion Academy shooting guard burst on our radar with his shot making from distance hitting several threes and crisp mid-range shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766478' first='Achillies' last='Anderson'] (All In Athletics Gold)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong bodied small forward from Marist that can play some small ball four in a pinch.&nbsp; Versatile and skilled forward that finishes well through contact at the rim playing bully ball getting downhill.&nbsp; Posts up weaker defenders and is a sound passer.&nbsp; Rebounds well too!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372556' first='Luke' last='Smith'] (All In Athletics Gold)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith had a big showing for AIA with his sharp shooting from the perimeter.&nbsp; The Addison Trail guard dropped 23 points against [program_tooltip program_id='2076904' first='Chicago' last='Hoops'] behind a big shooting performance making an array of threes along with several sweeping layups. &nbsp;Effective playing both on and off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105287' first='Braylon' last='Gray'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075479' first='Full' last='Package'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray came out of nowhere with a strong performance.&nbsp; The Grant shooting guard is an athletic two that won off the dribble consistently getting downhill for acrobatic finishes at the cup.&nbsp; Finished well through contact and was relentless!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545144' first='Samuel' last='Hirsch'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075479' first='Full' last='Package'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hirsch is a wing from Fremd that presents good size and multi level scoring pop from his wing position.&nbsp; Can make threes and was very good using his strength getting downhill for scoop shots and transition scores with either hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1439013' first='Julien' last='Doyle'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075957' first='The' last='Work Foundation'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Doyle is an emerging talent from Simeon.&nbsp; The long and rangy small forward is most impactful on the defensive end with the way he blocks shots and gets steals with his length.&nbsp; Offensively he is quick to the glass for put backs, throws down out of the dunker spot, and can hit an open three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105267' first='Dillon' last='Fountain'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075957' first='The' last='Work Foundation'])</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perspectives two guard that can really shoot it from distance.&nbsp; Plus shot maker that can really let it fly especially from the corners.&nbsp; One to monitor going forward as a combo guard that can make shots from three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766472' first='Donte' last='Montgomery'] (M14 Adidas Gold)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montgomery was impressive in his debut for M14.&nbsp; The long and rangy shooting guard from Oak Lawn is a born bucket getter.&nbsp; Three level scorer that loves to get loose in transition using his athleticism to score.&nbsp; Can take a bump at the rim and still score shielding the ball away from defenders.&nbsp; Smooth looking three point shot as well.&nbsp; Lot of potential here!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dasean Patton (M14 Adidas Gold)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patton is an emerging talent in the 2025 class.&nbsp; Silky smooth two guard that can get buckets from multiple levels.&nbsp; Did a great job at getting downhill consistently getting fouled and making trips to the charity stripe.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->