The Last Dance: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was day 2 action at Prep Hoops The Last Dance on Saturday at Wintrust. We caught prospects from all over the world on Saturday! Dive into what I saw in <strong>The Last Dance: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook</strong>!<br><br><strong>AUSA Ed 17U Scores W over ECI to Open Day<br></strong><br>At times in this one it looked like Australia's AUSA Ed was going to break this game open but ECI Prospects kept hanging around snd would just never go away. AUSA did win 72-60. Eden Hobbs on the wing was terrific for his team as the athletic two guard used his burst in transition and half court to score at the rack and line for 15 points. Low-Majors and D2 take notice! Lead guard Benjamin Tweedy once again impressed after opening eyes a week ago. He has great feel as a passer. Crafty scorer that has some Ginobli type finishing moves. Went for 10 points and numerous dimes. Inside 2024 post Liam Switzer is a gritty rebounder that has touch scoring 10 points. Huge fan of 2025 6'11” five Nate Hargrave. Mobile for his size and bulk converting pick/roll, hook shots, and is a plus post defender.<br><br>ECI was pushed by NDSU football commit Isiah St Romain. Athletic two guard got them back in game with multiple triples and a soft touch finishing game. Undersized post Carter Zeller is a high motor four that was efficient around the hoop and rebounded well against taller opponents.<br><br><strong>Pro Skills San Antonio 16U Wins on Controversial Call at End<br></strong><br>You hate it when the refs decide the game and that is what happened as Enrique Torrez was barely touched throwing up a heave in OT and then was rewarded with three free throws. The Pro Skills San Antonio star stepped up to line and made 2/3 to win the game 61-59 over Illinois Bears. Really liked what Torrez brings as a plus shot maker draining four from distance in a 16 point outing.<br><br>Balanced effort from the Bears who were led in scoring by floor general Drew Barrington with 13 points getting in the lane for soft touch finishes.<br><br><strong>Wisconsin Crusaders Premier 16U Shoots Lights Out vs Meanstreets EYBL<br></strong><br>There was a lot of talent on the floor in this one as Wisconsin Crusaders 16U topped Meanstreets 64-57. The story was the elite three point shooting from wing Keegan Van Kauwenberg and Drew Daoust. Keegan made five from distance en route to 19 points. Shooters with size are always a valuable commodity at the next level! Daoust is a lead guard that made four beyond the arc while mixing in crisp passing and some difficult layups for 22 points.<br><br>It was the Whitney Young 2026 trio of Marquis Clark, Nas Rankin, and Rico D'Alessandro all playing up an age that led the way. Clark with his smooth handles, creative finishes, active hands on D, and passing in a 10 point effort. Rankin showed off his uber athleticism flying to the cup for 10 points. D'Alessandro is a skilled forward that rim runs and has a nose for the ball netting 14 points.<br><br><strong>Minnesota Lightning 17U Balance Rolls Them to Win<br></strong><br>After getting down early Minnesota Lightning turned up the intensity and never looked back defeating Team 1848 77-49. In the first half strong bodied 2024 guard Tyler Connelly was in all out attack mode getting to the rim on straight line takes while also racking up trips to charity stripe for 12 points. They got some instant offense from 2023 wing Dylan Omweno who had 19 points by half including five from deep. JUCOs take a look! During the second half strong and skilled guard Landon Dimler took over with his three level scoring 16 of his 20 points in the second half.<br><br>For Team 1848 Jayden Schoen caught our attention as a smooth scorer with a feathery jumper, good size, and plus athleticism going for 20 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Niles North 2025 Duo Paces Powerhouse 16U to Victory<br></strong><br>Powerhouse 16U has had a great run on the PHC this spring and summer.&nbsp; That continued on Saturday with a 70-67 win against Wisconsin Playmakers Eau Claire.&nbsp; Kaiden Chatham is a 6'2” lead guard from Niles North that has a long and lanky build.&nbsp; Creative off the dribble scoring on a variety of drives and getting loose in transition for 16 points.&nbsp; Hunter Gawron from Niles North made an impression on us last season in a small sample size.&nbsp; The power forward has a good frame, finishes well in traffic, and hit a nice baseline J in a 16 point outing.&nbsp; Defensively he closed it out with a pair of swats on the last two shot attempts of the game.<strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aiden Hawkinson had a big outing for Wisconsin Playmakers.  The guard is a crafty wing that can really shoot it from deep as he scored 20 points.  Syclair Byus is a 6'3” two guard that was letting his southpaw shot flow from 15 feet for 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Meanstreets 2026 Bounces Back Behind Sularski</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After not clicking all the way earlier in the day it was a much better outing for Meanstreets 2026 group playing up on the 16U level as they defeated Texas Takeover Elite 66-61.&nbsp; Benet standout Gabriel Sularski looked like the wing that we saw all June with his high school team.&nbsp; The long and lanky small forward has so much skill and functional athleticism along with great physical tools.&nbsp; Put it on the deck on the regular with acrobatic finishes including a reverse layup.&nbsp; Got loose in transition and shot it well from three in a 14 point outing.&nbsp; Whitney Young point guard Marquis Clark was great with his smooth handle getting wherever he needed on the floor for finishes on reverse layups, euro steps, and displayed good feel in transition as a passer while notching 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb Fountain is an undersized post that shined for Texas Takeover Elite.&nbsp; He carved out space on the interior, played bully ball, rim ran, and crashed the glass for 23 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Illinois Orange Flexes Depth Against AZ Gremlins</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Illinois Orange have a great group of prospects from the metro east in southern Illinois.&nbsp; They knocked off AZ Gremlins 66-53 on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp; East St. Louis 2024 small forward Taylor Powell was the best player on the floor recording 19 points in the win.&nbsp; Broad shouldered wing first started with takes from the mid-post and then stretched it with a mid-range jumper.&nbsp; Was a quality wing defender making impactful plays on that end as well.&nbsp; Belleville West small forward David Marshall is a strong wing that can shoot it banging in 3 from distance along with rebounding well.&nbsp; Freeburg point guard Cole Stuart brought a spark off the bench with his relentless ability to put pressure on the rim in transition for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prospect that caught our attention for the Gremlins was Lamont Johnson.&nbsp; Listed as a 2023 unsigned senior a small college or JUCO should take a look at him.&nbsp; Good size and was a force in transition along with a solid pull up game for 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Morgan Shows Out in Minnesota Select Victory</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the Jaden Morgan Show for Minnesota Select 17U in their win against Team Ten Jabari Parker as they won 74-53.&nbsp; Morgan is a 6'4” shooting guard that was phenomenal with his shot making creating off the bounce hunting jumpers from three along with using his athleticism around the hoop.&nbsp; Went for 25 points including 5 from deep on 10-13 shooting!&nbsp; Would think that low-major programs and D2s will be all over him!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Team Ten Jabari Parker was pushed by a pair of 13 point performances from Team Ten vets Jet Jones from Plainfield East and Whitney Young wing Sean Brown-Coley.&nbsp; Jones is a quick and shifty guard that drained a few pull up threes.&nbsp; Brown-Coley is a thick bodied wing that plays bully ball and is crafty finishing around the hoop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>INB Elite Comes Back to Knock Off IBA Illinois Stars</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a fun border battle between Indiana and Illinois squads.&nbsp; The Illinois Stars led most of the game, but then Austin Ford got it rolling late and INB picked up the pressure defensively creating turnovers to win 70-67.&nbsp; Lets start with Reis Butcher their 2024 standout who was excellent in the first half.&nbsp; Smooth shot creator with a feathery jumper from mid-range and three.&nbsp; Showed more toughness on a couple drives through contact and competed defensively scoring 19 points.&nbsp; Austin Ford is a 2026 guard that was their spark late as he couldn't miss in the second half with his jumper and using his athleticism.&nbsp; Had a nose for the ball on the defensive end as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Illinois Stars were paced by 18 points from Alex Miller.&nbsp; Downers Grove North small forward is a plus spot up shooter that also hit a pull up from deep.&nbsp; Sneaky athlete that has toughness.&nbsp; Scored 18 points.&nbsp; Andrew 6'4” small forward Kaleb Sims made a name with his size for position and three level scoring ability in a 15 point performance.&nbsp; Bouncy power forward Victor Brown is a high-motor and undersized post that gets on the offensive glass, rim runs, finishes out of the dunker spot, and even hit a pick/pop three for 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->