The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Friday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops kicked off the live period on Friday afternoon at a variety of venues for the 380 team PHC event The Last Dance.&nbsp; I was at Wintrust on Friday night.&nbsp; Check out what we saw in <strong>The Last Dance: Scotty B's Friday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Illinois Bears 16U Outlast ECI Prospects in OT Thriller</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a great game to open the event.&nbsp; The Illinois Bears 16U Barrington squad won in OT 65-63 over ECI Prospects converting a well-drawn up play in the final minutes of OT as Kyrese Lukens drew defenders and then dished it inside to Jayden McCoo for the game winner.&nbsp; We came away very impressed with what Herrin 2025 point guard Kyrese Lukens did in this one recording 21 points and controlling the game in the first half with both his scoring and passing.&nbsp; Was effective as a shooter from three, got to the rim for and-1s along with acrobatic layups, along with being a sound passer getting others involved including the game winning dime at the end.&nbsp; D2s should start taking an early look.&nbsp; The player he threw the assist to Jayden McCoo has seen his stock rise over the last few months.&nbsp; Long and angular combo guard from Mascoutah that moves well on the perimeter both offensively and defensively.&nbsp; Sound shooter from three that can win off the bounce with slippery takes and is a capable shooter both pulling up and off the catch as he had 17 points.&nbsp; Carterville lead guard Drew Barrington ran the show as always.&nbsp; He is the maestro of this team with the way he gets everyone involved making the extra pass while getting to the line for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ECI got a big outing from Carsten Hoff.&nbsp; The sharp shooter brought his team back in this one draining one after another both off the catch and stopping/popping from deep.&nbsp; Quick release and consistent mechanics led to 17 points.&nbsp; Eric Deboer also got it rolling from distance in this one notching 13 points.&nbsp; Pearce Parks is a strong bodied 6'2” combo guard that won on straight line takes downhill with burst along with being a solid distributor.&nbsp; He had 8 points.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Chicago Lockdown 17U Scores Comeback Victory over NAZ Soldiers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It looked like NAZ Soldiers had this one in command as they were hitting shot after shot.&nbsp; Then Chicago Lockdown made a run of its own on both ends finishing with the win 83-76.&nbsp; The closing statement was made on the defensive end by Deshawn Nolan from Oak Forest and offensively by Evergreen Park point guard Nolan Sexton.&nbsp; Nolan got stop after stop by creating turnovers and taking them the other way for transition scores.&nbsp; Athleticism really stood out on the defensive side of the ball and around the rim.&nbsp; Sexton went for 16 points raining them in during the second half from beyond the arc.&nbsp; Fenton duo Xavior Gonzalez and Alejandro Diaz are two to watch.&nbsp; Diaz is a well built two guard that scored at the rim for 10 points while Gonzalez showed quickness with the ball in an 8 point effort.&nbsp; Sandburg wing David Vargas is a thick bodied shooter who notched 13 points.&nbsp; Stagg two guard Connor Williams is another perimeter shot maker that in this one did most of his damage off the bounce getting downhill for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pretty cool story as former Illinois baller Jaylin Fleming brought this group NAZ Soldiers back to his hometown to play against top competition.&nbsp; Overall as a team they can really shoot it and play the right way.&nbsp; From a prospect standpoint their top prospect was Blaine Begay.&nbsp; Long and lanky small forward brought athletic pop with several finishes and made multiple three pointers in the loss.<br><br><strong>Starks Elite Almost Tops Triple Figures in Up and Down Contest vs Illinois Hoop Stars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There wasn't a ton of defense in this one, but it was fun watching these teams put up points as Starks Elite defeated Illinois Hoop Stars 99-80.  Brooks Johnson is a 2025 wing from Minnesota that has a very bright future.  Playing up a year he was clearly the best prospect on the floor with his three level scoring ability.  Great size on the perimeter being able to knock in feathery threes, post up smaller wing defenders, and is a plus athlete that put it on the deck for some big finishes.  One he took a hard fall on his back and wasn't quite the same after.  He had 25 points and before the fall was on his way to 40+.  Super impressive young prospect that has D1 in his future!  Isaiah Kastern from Wisconsin is a strong bodied post player that has a face up game knocking in several from deep, put it on the deck for impressive rips, and was physical scoring in the paint.  Also a good athlete that got up and down the floor for 30 points.  Point guard Abe Anderson is a smaller guard that isn't afraid to pull it from super deep and was a solid passer recording 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trio of players did the majority of the damage for the Illinois Hoop Stars.&nbsp; Lake Zurich shooting guard Nick Popovic is a fun player to watch with his grit and creativity in the open floor as a nifty finisher and spot up shooter for 23 points.&nbsp; St. Patrick combo guard Antoine Thomas is a projectable guard that made plays in the lane off the bounce for 16 points.&nbsp; Hyde Park combo guard Germaine Benson racked up the points dropping 26 in the loss.&nbsp; Big bodied scoring guard that scored from all three levels and in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUSA Sepo Lives Up to Billing in Intense Battle vs LA Broncos with D1 Prospects All Over Floor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was a ton of talent on the floor in this game that was super intense seeing AUSA from Australia defeat the LA Broncos 78-65 in a Pool A 17U contest.&nbsp; Lechlan Brewer really caught our attention.&nbsp; The 6'6” small forward was great at scoring on the move along with sweeping layups.&nbsp; Explosive around the hoop finishing over and over again.&nbsp; Overall skilled game that showed well as a secondary passer while scoring 19 points.&nbsp; Jaylen Pitman is the lead guard for this AUSA squad and he has such an innate feel for running his team and putting his teammates in position to score.&nbsp; Also showed creativity as a scorer around the cup for 6 points.&nbsp; Big man William Mortimore is a five to track with his size and skill around the hoop.&nbsp; Right handed hook shots, finishing out of the dunker spot, and rim running for 6 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LA Broncos of course were paced by LSU football and basketball commit Trey'Dez Green.&nbsp; The superstar power forward is a physical and athletic freak that was completely unstoppable early in the game.&nbsp; Hit a three, got to the rim from the high-post, ran the floor, quick moves on the block, and explosive baseline takes.&nbsp; Also he is an elite rebounder snatching them in traffic with authority.&nbsp; He had 20 points.&nbsp; Broderick Brooks is a D1 prospect in his own right.&nbsp; The shooting guard brings athleticism on the perimeter along with plus shot making as he drained an array of threes for 26 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->