Summer Challenge: 2025 Illinois Top Peformers
In this article:
The Summer Challenge was held over the weekend in Chicago. I was at Wintrust all weekend taking in the action on Saturday and Sunday. Which rising juniors made the biggest impression? Here we examine them in Summer Challenge: 2025 Illinois…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Summer Challenge was held over the weekend in Chicago. I was at Wintrust all weekend taking in the action on Saturday and Sunday. Which rising juniors made the biggest impression? Here we examine them in Summer Challenge: 2025 Illinois Top Performers!
Mike Jones Mike Jones 6'7" | PF Chi-Prep | 2025 State #164 Nation IL (Mac Irvin Fire)
Jones was fantastic in both games we saw with the Fire. 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. Finished on pick and rolls, hit mid-range jumpers, and ran the floor for dunks in transition. Overall played with a very high-motor and was extremely active on both ends.
Tristain Ford (Mac Irvin Fire)
Ford is the other Chi-Prep product who had a big outing. In my first eval of him in almost 14 months he was fantastic. The lefty has a smooth handle being able to create off the bounce for acrobatic layups. Plus shooter both off the catch and creating space on a sick step back triple. Sound passer that made several nice dishes to his rollers and was excellent defensively with his length along with anticipation.
Yaris Irby Yaris Irby 5'10" | PG Niles North | 2025 State IL (Mac Irvin Fire)
Niles North point guard that is shifty with the rock in his hands. Burst with the rock in transition with the ability to change gears. Good shooter from three that has microwave scoring ability. Smaller lead guard is an active defender.
Rice lit up the nets against All In Athletics for 25 points. The St. Laurence two guard is a prospect that we are very impressed by with his combination of size, strength, and scoring ability. Plus shooter with a feathery shot from both two and three which was shown in a major way during this game.
Caleb Lindsey Caleb Lindsey 6'5" | SF St. Laurence | 2025 State IL ( Chicago Hoops )
Lindsey is a long and rangy small forward that is a versatile defender being able to check multiple spots. 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.
Bradley Stratton Bradley Stratton 6'1" | SG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL ( Chicago Hoops )
Marmion Academy shooting guard burst on our radar with his shot making from distance hitting several threes and crisp mid-range shots.
Achillies Anderson Achillies Anderson 6'4" | SF Marist | 2025 State IL (All In Athletics Gold)
Strong bodied small forward from Marist that can play some small ball four in a pinch. Versatile and skilled forward that finishes well through contact at the rim playing bully ball getting downhill. Posts up weaker defenders and is a sound passer. Rebounds well too!
Luke Smith Luke Smith 6'1" | PG Addison Trail | 2025 State IL (All In Athletics Gold)
Smith had a big showing for AIA with his sharp shooting from the perimeter. The Addison Trail guard dropped 23 points against Chicago Hoops behind a big shooting performance making an array of threes along with several sweeping layups. Effective playing both on and off the ball.
Braylon Gray Braylon Gray 6'1" | PG Grant Community | 2025 IL ( Full Package )
Gray came out of nowhere with a strong performance. The Grant shooting guard is an athletic two that won off the dribble consistently getting downhill for acrobatic finishes at the cup. Finished well through contact and was relentless!
Samuel Hirsch Samuel Hirsch 6'3" | SG Fremd | 2025 State IL ( Full Package )
Hirsch is a wing from Fremd that presents good size and multi level scoring pop from his wing position. Can make threes and was very good using his strength getting downhill for scoop shots and transition scores with either hand.
Julien Doyle Julien Doyle 6'4" | SF Simeon | 2025 State IL ( The Work Foundation )
Doyle is an emerging talent from Simeon. 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. Offensively he is quick to the glass for put backs, throws down out of the dunker spot, and can hit an open three.
Dillon Fountain Dillon Fountain 6'0" | SG Perspectives | 2025 IL ( The Work Foundation )
Perspectives two guard that can really shoot it from distance. Plus shot maker that can really let it fly especially from the corners. One to monitor going forward as a combo guard that can make shots from three.
Donte Montgomery Donte Montgomery 6'2" | SG Oak Lawn | 2025 State IL (M14 Adidas Gold)
Montgomery was impressive in his debut for M14. The long and rangy shooting guard from Oak Lawn is a born bucket getter. Three level scorer that loves to get loose in transition using his athleticism to score. Can take a bump at the rim and still score shielding the ball away from defenders. Smooth looking three point shot as well. Lot of potential here!
Dasean Patton (M14 Adidas Gold)
Patton is an emerging talent in the 2025 class. Silky smooth two guard that can get buckets from multiple levels. Did a great job at getting downhill consistently getting fouled and making trips to the charity stripe.