Holiday Tournaments: Scotty B’s Top 2025 Performers
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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+…
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Continue ReadingWhat 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 2025 Performers!
Ian Miletic Ian Miletic 6'5" | SF Rolling Meadows | 2025 State IL (Rolling Meadows)
Miletic was outstanding in his team’s first round victory at the Jack Tosh. He has excellent positional size for a small forward and has a flame thrower from distance. That was displayed in this game draining six from beyond the arc with his quick and consistent release point. He showed the athleticism on a big dunk, high-points rebounds, and is an excellent passer in almost a point-forward type role. He had 24 points and has established himself as a clear mid-major prospect.
EJ Breland EJ Breland 6'0" | PG St. Patrick | 2025 State IL (St. Patrick)
Breland was not afraid to let it fly from distance in their first round game against Lyons. He started off slow, but then the combo guard got it going as he launched 9-17 from distance in the game. Hit some from super deep along with side steps to get open. It was an impressive shooting display for Breland. Would like to see him not settle as much for threes and attack or dish more, but he shot over 50% from three in this one. D1 prospect.
JT Pettigrew JT Pettigrew 6'8" | C Bolingbrook | 2025 State IL (Bolingbrook)
Pettigrew continues to boost his stock in a major way as a junior. He is in the best shape of his life after transferring into Bolingbrook and it is paying off with production. He was a beast on the glass high pointing rebounds in traffic and keeping the ball alive on the offensive end for himself and others. Good finisher in the paint with strong hands and displayed a sweet turnaround jumper. Went for 13 points and 9 rebounds in their opener vs Nazareth. When we saw him four days later in the championship game he continued his excellent play. Against a big Metamora squad he swatted five shots and defended well in space. Also had his right hand hook shot working along with getting on the offensive glass as he had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Al Brooks Al Brooks 6'6" | SF Hansberry | 2025 State #239 Nation IL Jr (Hansberry)
This was a big test for Brooks! How would the Hansberry star look against one of the premier teams in the state in Metamora? His team didn’t have enough, but the flashes of his immense potential were certainly there in a 23 point outing. Early on he impressed making a pair of threes. When he takes his time and gets into his shot he actually has a chance to be a pretty good shooter. After that it was an array of finishes in the paint on put backs, shielding the ball on drives off the bounce, and short shots. Was solid on the boards. Didn’t quite rack up the numbers in the other areas that he usually does in this one although he did have 3 steals. Mid-majors should be all over him!
Dierre Hill Dierre Hill 6'0" | PG Belleville Althoff | 2025 State IL Jr (Belleville Althoff)
Hill will be playing football in college as he is one of the top running backs in the country, but he would most definitely be a D1 hoops recruit if he chose to go in that direction. Strong and physical guard that loves to slash downhill. Got to the rim over and over again putting pressure on the defense. Then on the other end he was a standout with his pressure on ball defense finishing with 22 points in their opening round game at Collinsville against Mundelein.
Derek Bishop Derek Bishop 6'2" | PG Mundelein | 2025 State IL (Mundelein)
Bishop crossed the career 1,000 point mark in the game we witnessed him play. The scoring combo guard played one of the better contests we have seen of him in his career vs Althoff. Best play came grabbing a long rebound, crossing man in traffic, and converting an and-1. Shot it pretty well from three the game we saw and can post up weaker guards. He had 25 points.
Bradley Longcor Bradley Longcor 6'3" | PG Quincy | 2025 State #337 Nation IL (Quincy)
Longcor put on a show in their first round win at the Collinsville Holiday Tournament. Combo guard that is much more comfortable now than a year ago playing on the ball. Good passer with excellent instincts finding shooters and dishing to his big man inside. Stellar three point shooter with one of the best releases in the state. Looks effortless each time it is coming off his hands. Handles are smooth and he has a sense of how to manipulate the defense to get what he wants. In the first round game we saw he had 18 points. Followed that up in the semi finals the next night with 14 points.
Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'5" | SF West Aurora | 2025 State #299 Nation IL (West Aurora)
The top 10 junior has ideal size and athleticism on the wing. Elite athlete that threw down some nasty dunks in the two games we saw. Against Curie he had 15 points crashing the glass for tip slams, getting out in transition, and shows smooth mechanics on his three point shot. Mid-majors should be on him!
Dietrich Richardson Dietrich Richardson 6'6" | PG Peoria Manual | 2025 State #177 Nation IL (Peoria Manual)
Richardson will see his name somewhere in the top 10 of our next PHI 2025 Rankings update in January. The long and rangy 6’6” combo guard had a workman like 15 point performance against St. Rita. Got to the line at a high rate, smooth ball handler through traffic, and has a ton of projectability. The next day we saw him against Pontiac where he absolutely put on a show scoring 30 points doing whatever he wanted. The jumper was falling as he was creating space hitting step back threes. Slick takes off the bounce weaving through defenders with ease. Also like his potential on the defensive end.