Holiday Tournaments: 2025 Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a great week of hoops across the state for the holiday tournaments.&nbsp; We had our staff all over at various events.&nbsp; I wanted to recap in even more detail what I saw.&nbsp; These are based on purely the 40+ games I evaluated from the tournaments at Jack Tosh, Hinsdale Central, Pontiac, Pekin, and Collinsville.&nbsp; Here is<strong> Holiday Tournaments: Scotty B's 2025 Stock Risers!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545122' first='Caleb' last='Lindsey'] (St. Laurence)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lindsey showed us something we have been waiting to see consistently out of him.&nbsp; He drained four triples in their win against Andrew.&nbsp; The long and lean small forward has always been an excellent defender and transition athlete, but the next step was to be able to be a threat from deep.&nbsp; He shot it with confidence in 12 point outing while still providing his activity on the defensive end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598755' first='Matthew' last='Callahan'] (Nazareth)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continue to like where the game of this 2025 power forward is headed.&nbsp; Face up four that has touch around the basket, loves to work in the mid-range as a shooter or driver, and can knock in threes.&nbsp; Long and rangy frame with some projectability.&nbsp; He scored 16 points against Bolingbrook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766465' first='Ikee' last='Brooks'] (Hansberry)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooks is the under heralded of the twins, but he has continued to progress in his own right.&nbsp; The point guard plays with a ton of speed going end to end in the blink of an eye.&nbsp; Burst in the open floor and his acrobatics finishing are impressive.&nbsp; He had 15 points against a very good defensive Metamora squad.&nbsp; Also continues to progress as a passer dishing off 5 dimes in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385307' first='Cameron' last='Thomas'] (Mt. Carmel)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas is a broad-shouldered combo guard that has returned seamlessly with this Caravan squad.&nbsp; He shot it well from three against Normal West in the quarterfinals knocking in three of them.&nbsp; When he gets his shoulders squared to the basket he is a tough cover.&nbsp; Notched 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545125' first='Dominique' last='Clay'] (Quincy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clay comes off the bench for Quincy, but he might have their second highest ceiling as a prospect.&nbsp; Elite length and a uber smooth game to go with it.&nbsp; In the first round we saw Clay bombing in threes with his feathery stroke in bunches while playing in the open floor throwing down dunks for 15 points.&nbsp; In the semis against Collinsville he was very impactful on the defensive end getting steals and blocks which often led to points on the other end.&nbsp; Can handle it on drives with either hand and stopped/popped from mid-range.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766498' first='Kamren' last='Wires'] (Quincy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wires had a big game in their first round contest as the point guard came off the bench scoring 9 points by hitting three from distance.&nbsp; Kid is a plus passer and solid shot maker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766468' first='Drew' last='Winslow'] (Triad)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Oklahoma State baseball commit had a big time performance leading his team to a one point victory over Carbondale.&nbsp; Wing with size that can win off the bounce, get on the offensive glass, and has a good mid-range shot.&nbsp; Recorded 15 points in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545138' first='Braden' last='Freeman'] (Moline)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Solid outing from Freeman in their second round loss at Pekin vs East St. Louis.&nbsp; Skilled wing that has grit and athleticism.&nbsp; Likes to slash it for spinning layups in the paint and crash the offensive glass for second chance points.&nbsp; He had 16 points in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545132' first='Treyvon' last='Taylor'] (Moline)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor seems to have slimmed down some and be in much better condition as the lefty undersized four has ton of skill.&nbsp; Likes to work facing up with quick moves from the mid and high post area.&nbsp; Runners, floaters, and spinning layups for buckets.&nbsp; Solid rebounder and played good D on ESL best player while scoring 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385310' first='Alexander' last='Vincent'] (OPRF)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vincent is a big bodied five with legit size and height.&nbsp; In their quarterfinal contest against Benet who also has size he did a nice job of garnering deep post position on the block and finishing with hook shots and power moves.&nbsp; Nice touch as he recorded 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385306' first='Colby' last='Smith'] (New Trier)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith is a crafty combo guard that got things going for New Trier in their quarterfinal victory.&nbsp; Kid has a ton of grit and just knows how to play the game.&nbsp; Not the most athletic, but always in the right spot to make a play.&nbsp; Back cuts, threes, gets to the line.&nbsp; He had 11 points in a win over Joliet West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] (Benet)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pauliukonis had a strong showing in the semis after not doing much in the quarters.&nbsp; Long and lanky four man was effective at cutting for scores and handled it very well on drives including a great left handed finish.&nbsp; The growth in his ball handling really impressed us scoring 11 points vs Bloom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545146' first='Matthew' last='Zobrist'] (Metamora)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zobrist definitely had his moments at the Tosh.&nbsp; Quiet first game, but he came up big when we saw him in the championship scoring 13 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.&nbsp; Lefty is a plus shot maker with size that can also pull up from 15 feet with crisp handles.&nbsp; Becoming a very effective defender as well checking multiple spots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->