Holiday Tournaments: Scotty B's Top 2024 Performers

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 Holiday Tournaments: Scotty B's Top 2024 Performers!   [player_tooltip player_id='1157226' first='Josh' last='Pickett'] (St. Laurence)   Pickett came up big when his team needed him in the first game of the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic.  The Denver commit led them to an OT win with 17 points and 9 rebounds.  Did a nice job of attacking off the dribble getting to the line and cup for scores.  Finished through contact at the rim using his size effectively.   [player_tooltip player_id='2318139' first='Grantas' last='Sakenis'] (Andrew)   What a show this 6'10” old school five man put on in the opener!  Big bodied five that anchors down low and was stellar in the first half with his low post scoring.  Spin moves, soft touch, and good hands in the paint.  Plays with power, but is surprisingly light on his feet for his size.  Seals well and has a nice right handed hook shot.  Went through his man several times for and-1s on his way to 27 points and 10 rebounds.  Should be priority NAIA and D3 recruit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1558357' first='Liam' last='Taylor'] (Lyons Township)   Taylor had a massive breakout performance at the Tosh on the first day of action.  The 6'7” face up four who is headed to Denison had a big outing in an upset against St. Patrick in the first round.  Excellent spot up shooter that drained them with consistency throughout the game hitting three from distance.  Also loved how he was willing to shot fake and step into mid-range pull ups on the regular.  Solid athlete that showed some pop in transition while notching 23 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1285496' first='Jason' last='Jakstys'] (Yorkville – Illinois)   The Illini commit came out firing in their first game at Jack Tosh.  The skilled center has added strength since the summer and impacts the game in so many ways.  Offensively he was outstanding as a low-post scorer with his touch around the hoop along with throwing down several big dunks.  Can also hit mid-range jumpers and threes.  Runs the floor effortlessly, rebounds well in traffic, and is a very good passing big man.  Defensively he covers so much ground blocking shots, getting deflections, and covering in the pick/roll game.  Final line read 14 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks, and 4 dimes.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157231' first='Cooper' last='Koch'] (Metamora – Iowa)   Koch absolutely scorched the nets in the first quarter against Hansberry in their opener at Jack Tosh.  He scored 17 of his total 20 for the game in the first 8 minutes.  Array of soft touch moves around the basket followed by a plethora of threes.  One of the best big men shooters in the country.  He also displayed solid passing feel making quick reads on the move for assists.  Four days later in the championship game Koch hit the biggest shot of the Jack Tosh with a pick/pop three to win the game by one.  The floor spacing was still evident as was his touch around the hoop as a roller.  Went for 19 points.  Iowa is getting a good one!    [player_tooltip player_id='1978579' first='Camden' last='Lathos'] (Conant)   Lathos was a favorite of ours over the summer and he brought the tools that we saw on the PHC to the Jack Tosh notching 25 points in their first round win against Glenbard North.  Strong bodied five that can really shoot the ball off the catch from three and loves to catch and turn in the mid-range for 15 footers.  Touch and footwork around the hoop and rebounds well in his area.  High level small college recruit!   [player_tooltip player_id='1541218' first='AJ' last='Levine'] (York – Penn)   Levine completely controlled the opening round game for York against Hinsdale South.  The Penn commit is a stocky lead guard that did it in every way imaginable!  He started off by throwing dime after dime to teammates in the open floor or finding his big man.  Then he got it rolling himself with multiple threes, a couple big dunks, and steal after steal on the defensive end.  He was outstanding in the game going for 16 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157355' first='Jaeden' last='Rush'] (O'Fallon)   Rush was outstanding in their opening game victory at the Collinsville Holiday Classic.  Slick handling lead guard that is creative with the rock in his hands weaving through traffic doing a nice job of manipulating the ball to get it up on the rim.  Plus ball handler that loves to get out and run or just blow past his defender in one on one situations.  He had 21 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1619364' first='Decarl' last='Payne'] (Carbondale)   Payne was outstanding in the game we saw the Terriers play.  Well built two guard that is a shot maker from all over the floor.  The senior was pouring in pull ups from two and three.  Brings athleticism and physicality on the wing with plus shot making.  Went for 21 points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1429541' first='Zachary' last='Chambers'] (Collinsville)   Chambers was an absolute force in both games we saw him play for the host Kahoks at Collinsville.  The 6'9” wide bodied five man is much more athletic than we remember a year ago.  He displayed excellent footwork and knowing how to use his body to seal off defenders for dunks.  Quick and assertive moves over and over again.  Physical rebounder that snatches them with two hands.  Should be a priority D3/NAIA/JUCO prospect for teams that use the old school big man.  He had 17 points in both games we saw.   [player_tooltip player_id='1285492' first='Lee' last='Marks'] (Mt. Carmel)   Liked what we saw out of Marks in their quarterfinal win at Pekin against Normal West.  He is a Swiss Army knife type player that does a little bit of everything.  Good rebounder, defender, and plays his role.  In this one he was able to get loose scoring 13 points in 3 quarters of action.  Finished dump offs, handled in open floor, crashed the glass, straight line take, and hit a three.  Low-majors need to be on him!   [player_tooltip player_id='1373452' first='Robert' last='McCline'] (East St. Louis)   McCline lit up the nets from distance with his consistent lefty stroke in the quarterfinals vs Moline racking up 23 points.  Plus shooter hit five from beyond the arc.  Explosive transition player as well that can play in the open floor.  Small colleges and JUCOs are going to be increasing interest here!   [player_tooltip player_id='1764717' first='Camden' last='Cerese'] (Lake Park)   What a show Cerese put on in their quarterfinal win against host Pekin.  The senior point guard is one of the better uncommitted prospects remaining on the board.  He got it going early with his passing setting others up.  Then he took over scoring with mid-range jumpers, floaters, quick takes off the bounce, and a three.  Leans back a bit on his perimeter jumper.  Most impressive play was when he inbounded a pass then got it right back for a lob.  Went for 28 points (11-17 FG).   [player_tooltip player_id='1285522' first='CJ' last='Savage'] (West Aurora)   Savage put on a clinic in West Aurora's first round win against Peoria Manual at Pontiac dropping 25 points in the victory.  Strong and compact scoring guard that loves to get downhill and use his strength to finish through defenders.  Also is a capable three point shooter especially pulling up.  Microwave type bucket getter!  Good small college or JUCO prospect.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157211' first='Carlos' last='Harris'] (Curie – UIC)   This is a guy you want to have on your team at the end of the game.  Against West Aurora he was a huge difference maker as the UIC commit made intangible plays one after another.  He scores in the paint, rebounds, defends, and has greatly improved as a passer.  In their quarterfinal win Harris had 16 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds.  In the semis against New Trier it would be more of the same for Harris.  The combo guard had his mid-range game flowing and willed his team to the final recording 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='1285524' first='Jack' last='Stanton'] (Downers Grove North – Princeton)   We caught the Princeton commit against Palatine in the 3rd place game at Jack Tosh.  The shots weren't falling in the first half, but they sure did in the second.  Despite being hampered by an ankle injury he still managed to score 17 points and lead his team to a win.  State's premier shooter hit 4 from distance in the win.   [player_tooltip player_id='1541230' first='Connor' last='May'] (Palatine – Wash U)   May couldn't find his usual touch from beyond the arc in the 3rd place game.  The well built small forward is known as an elite shot maker, but the Wash U commit only hit one triple in the game.  He still scored 17 points showing off his continued versatility as a scorer netting buckets inside and getting on the glass.   [player_tooltip player_id='1157352' first='Jaylan' last='McElroy'] (DePaul Prep)   McElroy took home MVP honors of the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic after leading his team to the championship.  The state's top uncommitted senior was excellent running the floor for scores, crashing the offensive glass for put backs, and was a monster on the defensive end swatting shots while using his quickness all over the floor.  Best play was when he rose up for a one handed alley oop.  In the championship he had 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

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 Holiday Tournaments: Scotty B's Top 2024 Performers!