Holiday Tournaments: New Names Upperclassmen
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<p>One of the best parts of watching volume games at holiday tournaments is the uncovering of new prospects. 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: New Names Upperclassmen!</strong></p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1544818' first='Bradley' last='Stratton'] (St. Laurence – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Stratton continues to emerge early in the season. The sharp shooter from St. Laurence will make his debut in our next update. Plus shooter from beyond the arc that drained four of them in a 16 point performance against Andrew.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321417' first='Lazar' last='Lazarevic'] (Rolling Meadows – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Liked what we saw out of this 6'5” small forward. Long and lean build, but does have broad shoulders to where he should be able to add some strength. Liked what he showed as a shot maker draining and array of threes with a feathery stroke hitting them in contested situations. Also had a put back, shot fake where he let his man blow by for a mid-range jumper, and flashed defensively. Went for 13 points.</p>
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<p><strong>Mike O'Connell (Glenbard West – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Big bodied 6'7” center that plays with power on the interior. Rebounds well in his area high pointing them in traffic. Also flashed as a passer with a couple nice dishes in the paint. Probably will play football in college, but one to track as a hoops player.</p>
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<p><strong>KJ Cathey (Bolingbrook - 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>With all the quality guards on Bolingbrook it was this unknown guard who caught our attention as an x-factor in their opening round game against Nazareth. Stocky guard that scored in the paint and rebounded well notching 13 points.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318217' first='MJ' last='Murphy'] (Decatur MacArthur – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>Murphy was a prospect that made an impression in the first game of the event at Collinsville. The MacArthur point guard stands at 5'10” being able to hit from three draining a pair, but it was his burst off the bounce getting to the rack that shined as he had 16 points vs Granite City.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1502194' first='Evan' last='Salvador'] (Mundelein – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>The lefty sharp shooter is a spot up marksmen that lets it fly from three. He is at his best shooting it off the catch as he drained three in a 12 point game against Althoff.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318134' first='Nick' last='Horras'] (Collinsville – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>We had heard quite a bit of buzz about Horras after the numbers he was posting the first half of the season. In their first round victory against Eisenhower the senior guard had 19 points. At 6'3” he presents good size and solid athleticism. Plays with some flair as well. Solid jumper especially from mid-range. Has a feel for finding lanes to get to the basket on drives or cuts. It was more of the same in the semis as he had 12 points.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318169' first='Will' last='Brown'] Jr (O'Fallon – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>Brown is a consistent presence for O'Fallon. Strong bodied wing that can knock down open shots, play tough defense, and seems to always have a nose for the basketball. Big game for him in the semis dropping 17 points against Quincy.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2245713' first='Peyton' last='Hess'] (Pekin – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Not really a totally new name as he emerged in the fall at the Prep Hoops Top 250, but he showed flashes again in the second half of their loss to Lake Park scoring 11 points. Lengthy 6'4” combo forward that has broad shoulders and good length. Put it on the deck some in the contest.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2452449' first='Daniel' last='Finley'] (Peoria Manual – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>This was my first look at the 6'0” point guard from Manual who was the spark for them in their loss to West Aurora. Plus mid-range game stopping and popping over and over for 17 points.</p>
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<p><strong>JayVaughn Robinson (Danville – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Lead guard from Danville was the only thing working for his team in their consolation loss to Plainfield North. Like what this lengthy 6'1” combo guard brings to the table as a speedy slasher that has some shot making ability. Notched 19 points. </p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598653' first='Anthony' last='Kosi'] (Lockport – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Kosi opened our eyes with a strong performance in their loss to St. Charles North in Pontiac. The 6'2” 2025 wing is a solid athlete that has a clean looking shot from deep as he drained 5-9 from distance for 27 points.</p>
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<p><strong>Jake Furtney (St. Charles North – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>The undersized five man from St. Charles North came up huge for his team to advance in the consolation bracket. He had 25 points (9-14 FG) and 13 rebounds.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2321406' first='Amare' last='Breedlove'] (Peoria Manual – 2025)</strong></p>
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<p>Breedlove came off the bench for Manual as a high-energy power forward that plays taller than his height at 6'4”. Super lanky post that is quick to the glass, active defensively getting in passing lanes, and can stretch hitting a corner three notching 10 points against St. Rita.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2318128' first='Riley' last='Weber'] (Pontiac – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>Weber was a monster in their consolation game against Bloomington as the long and lanky 6'4” small forward was bombing in threes over and over again. Love the quick release with elevation off the floor. He had 28 points and 10 rebounds looking like an excellent small college recruit.</p>
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<p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1571918' first='Gerrell' last='Trapps'] (Peoria Manual – 2024)</strong></p>
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<p>Trapps will move back into the rankings after playing in Arizona briefly. Lefty combo guard was in attack mode against host Pontiac. Angular guard that has a burst with the rock in his hands. Good slasher that has active hands on D. Went for 13 points</p>
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One of the best parts of watching volume games at holiday tournaments is the uncovering of new prospects. These are based on purely the 40+ games I evaluated from the tournaments at Jack Tosh, Hinsdale Central, Pontiac, Pekin, and Collinsville. Here is Holiday Tournaments: New Names Upperclassmen!
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