Holiday Tournaments: 2024 Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a great week of hoops across the state for the holiday tournaments.  We had our staff all over at various events.  I wanted to recap in even more detail what I saw.  These are based on purely the 40+ games I evaluated from the tournaments at Jack Tosh, Hinsdale Central, Pontiac, Pekin, and Collinsville.  Here is<strong> Holiday Tournaments: 2024 Stock Risers!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1428908' first='Brady' last='Chambers'] (Lyons)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chambers had a great game for Lyons against St. Patrick in their win.&nbsp; What we like about Chambers is he plays taller than his height knowing how to use his body to score in the paint.&nbsp; Spin moves, hook shots, seals, up and unders on the interior.&nbsp; Later in the game he stretched hitting a 15 footer along with a pair of threes.&nbsp; Finished with 18 points and 10 boards.&nbsp; Going to Michigan State for baseball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750597' first='Luke' last='Hopp'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hopp was the top scorer in a first round matchup filled with star prospects at the Jack Tosh.&nbsp; Against Hansberry he recorded 24 points finishing everything around the rim with efficiency.&nbsp; Seals, baseline takes, put backs, hook shots, rim runs, and finishes out of the dunker spot.&nbsp; He had it all working!&nbsp; Competes on the defensive glass and in our eyes has earned a D2 opportunity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750712' first='Tyler' last='Mason'] (Metamora – Winona State)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mason already has got that opportunity at the D2 level as the shooting guard has signed with Winona State.&nbsp; He looks like an ideal fit for their program after and excellent week at Jack Tosh which included scoring 23 points in the championship game.&nbsp; Hit four triples, crisp passing all over the floor, and the athletic pop has greatly improved over the last year.&nbsp; Kid is a baller!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545137' first='Jalen' last='Crues'] (Glenbard North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't a dominant performance in their first round loss, but we saw a lot we like with Crues.&nbsp; Built like an outside linebacker the combo forward is super bouncy on the offensive glass for second chance points.&nbsp; He also finished out of the dunker spot and plays with such a high-motor.&nbsp; Went for 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1541242' first='Yusuf' last='Cisse'] (Conant)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big outing for Cisse in their first round win against Glenbard North.&nbsp; The lead guard was tough as nails sneaking in for rebounds in bunches.&nbsp; Pressure on ball defender that creates turnovers.&nbsp; He is also a threat from three shooting it and was a solid passer.&nbsp; A small college is going to get a steal in this kid!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373443' first='Rini' last='Harris'] (O'Fallon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really liked what we saw out of Harris in the two games we saw at Collinsville.&nbsp; Harris came into the event as one of the best senior wings in the metro east and is certainly that.&nbsp; The first thing that jumped out about Harris in this event was his consistent impact on the defensive end as he was racking up massive amounts of steals and had several emphatic swats.&nbsp; Offensively he is a shot making guard especially in the 15-18 foot range with his jumper.&nbsp; Strong and powerful wing finished well around the cup on his slashes and in transition.&nbsp; In the first round he had 14 points and followed that up with another 14 point game in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750594' first='Camden' last='Brown'] (Quincy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still do not quite understand why there is not more attention for Brown at the D2 level.&nbsp; Long and rangy small forward that can score it from all three levels.&nbsp; Posted up smaller defenders, drained mid-range jumpers off the bounce, and his feathery jumper from three was flowing.&nbsp; The smooth ball handling was evident winning on drives finishing with either hand at the rack.&nbsp; Smooth athlete with a great feel for the game.&nbsp; He had 13 in their opener followed by 16 points in the semis.&nbsp; D2 prospect no doubt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1285528' first='Jamorie' last='Wysinger'] (Collinsville)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wysinger had a big tournament for Collinsville leading his team to the crown.&nbsp; Athletic combo guard that is more of a score first guy particularly with his jumper.&nbsp; He was launching them from well beyond NBA range on occasion.&nbsp; High arcing shot that he made with regularity in both games that we saw.&nbsp; In the first round he dropped 18 points (4-7 3 PT) and followed that up with 21 points in the semis on 7-10 from three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1874870' first='Tallis' last='Lowery'] (Belleville East)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lowery didn't shoot it great, but he still stuffed the stat sheet in their first round win.&nbsp; Got to the rim on euro steps, runners, and sweeping layups.&nbsp; Like how he contributes across the board as a utility guard doing a little bit of everything as he had 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295649' first='Jeffrey' last='Fleming'] (Plainfield North)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liked Fleming over the summer and he had a strong outing in their early morning game in the consolation round.&nbsp; Dropped 26 points in 3 quarters of play.&nbsp; Gritty wing that can really shoot the ball especially from three.&nbsp; Good small college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rashad McKinnie (Simeon)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before going down with a shoulder injury McKinnie had an excellent showing in the quarterfinals for Simeon.&nbsp; The senior southpaw carried the [program_tooltip program_id='2076046' first='Wolverines' last=''] scoring on drives finishing with soft touch buckets on the regular for 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750614' first='Gus' last='Rugaard'] (Morton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rugaard is a scoring combo guard that brings a lot of toughness and grit to the position.&nbsp; Can really shoot it from distance as he connected on four triples in their victory against PND.&nbsp; Good small college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1468249' first='Santana' last='Flowers'] (Bloom)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It wasn't a wow game, but productive effort for Flowers in their quarterfinal win.&nbsp; Liked the activity that the bouncy combo forward played with around the hoop finishing and on the glass.&nbsp; High level athlete that excels playing off his athleticism in the paint.&nbsp; Had 7 points and 9 rebounds while flying around defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1194776' first='Max' last='Johnson'] (OPRF)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson consistently puts up rock solid outings one after another.&nbsp; Against Benet the senior point guard scored 17 points working well around ball screens either driving to the rim for finishes or pulling up for mid-range jumpers and threes.&nbsp; Good at manipulating defenders and getting where he needs on the court to do damage!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157209' first='Will' last='Gonzalez'] (Curie)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big time outing for Gonzalez in the quarterfinals against West Aurora.&nbsp; The long and lanky small forward impacted the game on both ends.&nbsp; Shot blocks and used his length laterally on the defensive end.&nbsp; Offensively he has the passing feel he has always had while using long strides in the open floor for finishes.&nbsp; The area he has made the biggest growth in is his jumper which was on full display connecting on four of them in a 20 point performance.&nbsp; Low-major programs should be all over him late in the process!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104959' first='Ian' last='Brown'] (New Trier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New Trier sharp shooter continues to do what he is best at!&nbsp; Brown was money from three against Joliet West in their second round matchup.&nbsp; Drained 3-5 from distance with a clean stroke for 14 points.&nbsp; Shooters with size are always a commodity!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978593' first='PJ' last='Chambers'] (DePaul Prep)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chambers is a two guard that always produces.&nbsp; The senior guard has proven to be a productive go to scorer for DePaul Prep as the season has went along.&nbsp; Poured in mid-range twos and threes all game long always shooting it in rhythm.&nbsp; Finished with 22 points leading his team to the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic title.&nbsp; Would be a nice addition at the small college level late.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->