Highland Shootout: Saturday Notebook

The Highland Shootout is one of my favorite days of the year.  It brings high level teams and players to the metro east from around the state of Illinois, Missouri, and this year Kentucky to showcase their skills in front of a sold out crowd for seven straight games.  It is an atmosphere unlike any other.  In our first of many stories on the event we discuss what we saw in Highland Shootout: Saturday Notebook!   Breese Central Squeaks by Highland as Small School Forwards Duel   The day began with a low scoring, but competitive contest as host Highland fell to Breese Central 34-31.  Interestingly in this game it wasn't the prospects that were well known that shined the most.  For Breese Central it was 6'5” combo forward Zane Schrage who dropped 15 points (6-8 FG) and 7 rebounds in the win.  Versatile player that can get on the glass and is efficient scoring.  On the other side Highland 6'4” power forward Garrin Stone is a strong and skilled undersized four that displayed touch around the paint going for 12 points (5-10 FG).   Quincy's 2025 Duo is Sensational in Win over Cardinal Ritter   We saw Quincy twice before the New Year's at the Collinsville Holiday Classic.  They looked good in a 62-49 victory against Cardinal Ritter on Saturday.  In particular it was their inside/outside 2025 pair of [player_tooltip player_id='1385298' first='Bradley' last='Longcor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] that made the most noise.  Longcor has such an excellent feel for the game setting others up while also using his lethal perimeter jumper as he had 17 points (5-11 FG), 8 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.  Inside strong bodied big man [player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] went to work scoring 19 points on 8-12 from the field.  Great positioning and touch from the big fella while also grabbing 10 boards.  Unsigned senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1750594' first='Camden' last='Brown'] didn't have the biggest scoring game, but he showed an all-around skill set especially passing off the ball with four assists in the win.  Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1373449' first='Ralph' last='Wires'] shot it well from deep going 3-4 from distance for 11 points.   Cardinal Ritter got a solid outing from [player_tooltip player_id='1427981' first='Clayton' last='Jackson'].  The scoring two guard didn't shoot it as well as he usually does with the jumper, but the toughness and athleticism off the bounce were evident as he stuffed the stat sheet for 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.   Vashon Guards Too Much Despite Dominant Performance by Rutgers Commit   Richwoods might have had the best player on the floor in this game, but Vashon had the depth that was just too much to match as the [program_tooltip program_id='2076046' first='Wolverines' last=''] cruised to an 86-60 victory.  Vashon is used to playing in big time environments and it showed.  Their guards defense was off the charts in this one as they turned Richwoods over 20 times and it felt like a lot more.  Class of 2025 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552480' first='Trey' last='Williams'] was the star.  He shot it well from deep going 3-6 along with getting to the line where he was 8-8.  The Vashon junior had 23 points and 4 dimes in the win.  Athletic shooting guards [player_tooltip player_id='1557386' first='Dehrio' last='McCaskill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1262562' first='Nassir' last='Binion'] jumped off the floor in this one.  McCaskill had 12 points and 6 rebounds while Binion went for 15 points and 9 rebounds.  The 2025 big man for Vashon [player_tooltip player_id='1422770' first='Nicholas' last='Randall'] had flashes especially in the second half displaying his immense potential.  Finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds.   Richwoods got a monster effort from the top center in the state [player_tooltip player_id='1978576' first='Lathan' last='Sommerville'].  The Rutgers commit is a massive 6'9” five that is light on his feet for his size utilizing spin moves on the regular throughout the game.  He had a huge stat line of 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 dimes, and 4 blocks.  [player_tooltip player_id='1598683' first='Daquan' last='Little'] was a surprise for Richwoods in this one as the guard made some plays in transition and at the rim for 12 points.   Vianney's Big 3 All Shine in Win over Whitney Young   This one was close early, but a big second quarter by Vianney would be the difference as they stretched their lead and never let it go against Whitney Young winning 85-70.  Three of the top prospects in Missouri showed why they are so highly thought of.  First lets start with the 7-3 sophomore center [player_tooltip player_id='1850525' first='Symon' last='Ghai'].  Wow was he impressive.  Such great length and fluidity around the basket for his size.  He threw down some big dunks, grabbed seemingly every rebound, and altered shots all game long.  Finished with 20 points (8-10 FG) and 15 rebounds.  The other highly ranked sophomore on this squad is [player_tooltip player_id='1790001' first='Eddie' last='Smajic'].  Well built wing only hit 1-4 from deep, but did a good job on straight line takes and getting to the foul line racking up 16 points.  Their junior [player_tooltip player_id='1419873' first='Luke' last='Walsh'] is a combo guard that can really shoot and pass.  Displayed both in this one as he drained 3-6 from three, while getting to the line for 11-12 FT, and dishing out dimes at a high rate going for 20 points and 6 assists.   Whitney Young didn't have the height to go up against Ghai inside, but it was their 6'1” strong bodied power wing [player_tooltip player_id='1157220' first='Sean' last='Brown-Coley'] who was effective using his body to score through and around defenders in the paint in this one.  Also hit a couple threes.  Kid just plays so hard and gets everything out of his ability.  He had 22 points (8-10 FG) and 8 rebounds.  Thought there were some nice moments for a couple young prospects for the Dolphins.  Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1552476' first='Nasir' last='Rankin'] used his athleticism and explosiveness off the bounce for 9 points.  Highly touted freshman wing [player_tooltip player_id='2323647' first='Howard' last='Williams'] rebounded well, got after it defensively, and hit a three for 7 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals.   Dawson Emerges as Star for Great Crossing (KY) in Victory   We came into this game excited to see a star for Great Crossing out of Kentucky.  We did, but it wasn't the nationally ranked prospect that led them to a 72-46 win against Chaminade.  Instead 6'5” 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1110323' first='Vince' last='Dawson'] stole the show.  The shooting guard has size on the perimeter with an effortless shooting stroke hitting threes and pull ups making it look EASY!  Also mixed in drives and post ups for 27 points (11-19 FG) (5-7 3 PT).  Their nationally ranked prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1130310' first='Malachi' last='Moreno'] showed glimpses in the second half.  At 7'1” the big man likes to play as a face up big.  Had a couple nice low post moves along with put backs for 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks.   For Chaminade we liked what we saw from twins [player_tooltip player_id='1873523' first='Jamison' last='White'] and Jahadi White Jr.  Jamison is more of a wing that has a good shooting stroke with a nice form finishing with 8 points including a pair of threes.  His twin Jahadi is more of a big bodied post that plays with physicality on the interior netting 10 points and grabbing 7 rebounds.  Athletic guard [player_tooltip player_id='1557432' first='Jacob' last='Robinson'] was a surprise player for us as the point guard with shifty handles made several jumpers especially from mid-range for 13 points.   Normal Community Looks Dominant Behind 2024 Class   Normal Community checked in at #4 in the overall state rankings this week by our Teddy Bahu and did they ever look the part in a 57-43 win against Kenwood that wasn't as close as the score would indicate.  The jumped out early being up 31-14 at the half and never looked back.  Wright State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157233' first='Jaheem' last='Webber'] is a grown man on the interior!  He mauled with his physicality and deep post position for 15 points (7-13 FG), 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks.  Next to him [player_tooltip player_id='1285481' first='Noah' last='Cleveland'] continues to impress as a senior as the big man cleaned up on the glass and despite not his most efficient night racked up 10 points (4-13 FG) and 14 rebounds including eight on the offensive end.  Unsigned senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1285483' first='Niko' last='Newsome'] is a microwave bucket getter type guard that needs to be getting more looks at the low-major/D2 levels.   Displayed multi layered scoring punch in an 11 point (5-10 FG) and 5 rebound night.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105203' first='Kobe' last='Walker'] is a name to watch in the 2025 class as the 6'8” big man went to work when backing up the seniors.  Great size and touch around the hoop along with a good free throw stroke finishing with 7 points and 6 rebounds.   For Kenwood the bright spot was [player_tooltip player_id='2125612' first='Devin' last='Cleveland'].  The freshman phenom guard made his return over the holiday's after an early season injury.  Such an athletic and smooth scorer that has a dynamite floater game.  He had 11 points and 3 dimes.   Thornton Tops Metamora as Battle Lives Up to Hype   The marquee matchup was a show!  The top two players in the senior class in [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'] (Thornton) and [player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] (Metamora) were on the floor as #6 Thornton topped #2 Metamora 63-62 with a comeback in the final minutes that was finished off on a block by ace defender [player_tooltip player_id='1285479' first='Isaiah' last='Green'].   In front of a pro Illini crowd cheering on their commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157230' first='Morez' last='Johnson'], he delivered.  After shining on ESPN last night he did it at Highland Saturday.  His non stop motor and relentlessness is so admirable.  He is an elite rebounder that knows how to score down low and continues to show the face up game.  In the win he had 17 points (7-11 FG), 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 steals.  Impacts the game in so many ways!  The three headed guard trio for Thornton did it once again.  [player_tooltip player_id='1158757' first='Meyoh' last='Swansey'] drained an array of mid-range shots while also using his athleticism on the glass for 18 points and 8 rebounds.  [player_tooltip player_id='2083269' first='Chase' last='Abraham'] shot it well from three going 4-8 on his way to 17 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals.  [player_tooltip player_id='1285479' first='Isaiah' last='Green'] had 8 points, 4 dimes, and the game winning block.   For Metamora their hot hand in this one was [player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'].  The 2025 wing is primed for a massive leap in our 2025 update in a few weeks into the top 20 and inching toward the top 10.  Lefty wing with size, shot making, athleticism, and defense.  He went 5-9 from distance while also showing he can attack close outs scoring 25 points in a narrow loss.  Winona State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1750712' first='Tyler' last='Mason'] brings so much athleticism and juice to the table.  Creative ball handler that can also cut off the ball and really pass it.  He had 20 points (9-14 FG).  Iowa commit [player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] was held to just four shots in this game by Johnson and the Thornton defense.  The state's #2 player impacted the game though getting to the foul line, rebounding, and set up others with his passing.  Finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

The Highland Shootout is one of my favorite days of the year. It brings high level teams and players to the metro east from around the state of Illinois, Missouri, and this year Kentucky to showcase their skills in front of a sold out crowd for seven straight games. It is an atmosphere unlike any other. In our first of many stories on the event we discuss what we saw in Highland Shootout: Saturday Notebook!