Holiday Tournaments: Glue Guys

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We wrap our look at the holiday tournaments by diving into the glue guys that make everything go doing the little things.&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: Glue Guys!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1766469' first='Khalil' last='Jones'] (St. Laurence – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is the glue that holds the St. Laurence group together.&nbsp; The point guard in the junior class is a southpaw that makes quick reads as a passer and uses his soft touch finishing game to score around the cup as he had 9 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athan Berchos (Andrew – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Berchos came up big for Andrew early and late in their opener against St. Laurence.&nbsp; Point guard that can knock down threes and crisp mid-range shots.&nbsp; Handles it pretty well and is just rock solid all-around going for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1545134' first='Jack' last='Duffer'] (Rolling Meadows – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duffer is a perfect glue guy for Rolling Meadows.&nbsp; The lefty point guard is a crisp ball handler that has a nice pull up game, hits spot up threes, and makes sound decisions with the rock as he had 12 points in their first round win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2104971' first='AJ' last='Thomas'] (St. Patrick – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas is a rock solid scoring guard for St. Patrick that is pretty consistent game in and game out.&nbsp; In their first round loss at Jack Tosh to Lyons he had 11 points displaying his soft touch finishing and acrobatic conversions in the paint.&nbsp; Also dished out 4 dimes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2049703' first='Bryce' last='Salek'] (Yorkville – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Salek is an athletic wing that plays hard on both ends of the floor.&nbsp; Like how well he cuts off the ball and scores in transition.&nbsp; He had 11 points against. St. Ignatius.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1541243' first='DJ' last='Strong'] (Bolingbrook – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong is a high level on ball defender that puts constant pressure on opposing guards.&nbsp; Offensively he is a shifty downhill slasher that finishes through taller defenders or can stop and pop over them from 10-15 feet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1750705' first='Braden' last='Richardson'] (York – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richardson is the definition of this list.&nbsp; He rebounds, plays defense, and finishes with such a high efficiency rate inside.&nbsp; He had 10 points in their opener.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105302' first='Bryden' last='Gryzmala'] (Belleville Althoff – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like what this point guard brings to the table running the show.&nbsp; Scrappy guard that can get out in transition and is a solid shooter.&nbsp; He had 12 points in their opening round win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385308' first='Keshaun' last='Thomas'] (Quincy – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong and physical post that plays to his strengths.&nbsp; Love how well he passes it for a big man.&nbsp; Scores in the paint, rebounds in his area, and is a solid positional defender.&nbsp; He had 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 dimes, and 3 steals in their opener.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321456' first='Chase' last='Reynolds'] (Collinsville – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Really have been impressed with this physical point guard that isn't concerned about scoring.&nbsp; He wants to set his teammates up as he displayed pin point passing in both games we saw especially in the half court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1978595' first='Christian' last='Jenkins'] (Belleville East – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jenkins is an athletic senior guard that brings a spark for his team.&nbsp; Gets to the rim with burst making acrobatic finishes as he had 9 points in their opener.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2105179' first='Grant' last='Best'] (Mt. Carmel – 2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Best plays to his role for the Caravan.&nbsp; The shooting guard is a sound three point shooter that has improved his athleticism and ability to make plays in the open floor.&nbsp; He had 7 points in the Mt. Carmel blowout win in the semis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derrion Enlow (East St. Louis – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Enlow is a tough guard that can hit open shots from distance and rebounds extremely well for his size recording 8 points and 11 boards against Moline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] (Benet – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fagbemi is the guy that makes Benet go!&nbsp; With all their scorers and big men this is the floor general that controls everything.&nbsp; Love how he runs a team getting everyone involved while still finding spots to score himself as he had 11 points against OPRF.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295535' first='Jordan' last='Brooks'] (West Aurora – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooks is the third scorer on a West Aurora squad that can make noise come March.&nbsp; What we like about him is he gets his buckets when they present themselves while doing all the little things along the way.&nbsp; He had 14 points vs Curie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157229' first='Taevion' last='Collier'] (Curie – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collier continues to come on strong as a senior.&nbsp; Broad shouldered big man is a force rebounding, blocking shots, and finishing out of the dunker spot.&nbsp; Against West Aurora he had 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will LeeMaster (New Trier – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This strong and tough combo forward was the glue that held New Trier together in a rout against Joliet West.&nbsp; He is a physical offensive rebounder, skilled passer, and efficient finisher in the paint.&nbsp; In that game he had 11 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Henry Brummel (Pontiac – 2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brummel is a thick bodied and undersized four man that does all the dirty work for Pontiac.&nbsp; Hits the offensive glass, solid passer, and is a good shooter hitting three from distance in a 17 point performance vs Manual.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295497' first='Josh' last='Aniceto'] (Bolingbrook)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aniceto just makes Bolingbrook go!&nbsp; The senior is a high IQ floor general that loves to pass and make others better while picking his spots to score.&nbsp; Makes everything go for the Raiders.&nbsp; He had 9 points in the championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->