Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook
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The Chi-Town Tip Off continued on Saturday as we were at Wintrust for 12+ hours for more hoops than you could ever want! Now it is time to dive into what we saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Saturday…
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Continue ReadingThe Chi-Town Tip Off continued on Saturday as we were at Wintrust for 12+ hours for more hoops than you could ever want! Now it is time to dive into what we saw in Chi-Town Tip Off: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook!
Illinois Bears 15U Open Day in Narrow 8 AM Win
Day began with a fun one as the Illinois Bears 15U scored a 46-42 victory against Illinois Attack . Big fan of what Sparta 2027 combo guard Dariontez Monroe brings to the table. Long armed and strong guard that plays with power off the bounce and crafty finishes around the hoop along with solid shot making. He had 12 points. Vandalia 2027 power forward Lucas Bowers Lucas Bowers 6'5" | PF Vandalia | 2027 IL had a breakout performance scoring 10 points on seals and using his touch around the basket. Fairfield small forward Jaylen Maners Jaylen Maners 6'3" | PF Fairfield Community | 2027 IL rim ran and finished around the hoop along with some solid passing. McCracken County (KY) point guard Garrett Miller Garrett Miller 5'10" | CG South Bend John Adams | 2026 IN is a smooth lead guard that scored on slick takes off the bounce for 9 points.
Illinois Attack was led by Nonye Onuchukwu Nonye Onuchukwu 6'1" | SF Waubonsie Valley | 2027 IL . The Waubonsie Valley 2027 is a long and rangy wing that can knock down shots from beyond the arc and play in the open floor. Also has a lot of potential as a defender both laterally and vertically.
Brother Rice 2025 Duo Lead Mike Glennon Elite 17U to Win over Pac Elite
Mike Glennon Elite scored a 65-62 W against Pac Elite in our first look at the 17U division on the day. It was Brother Rice duo Max Justic and Caden Workman Caden Workman 6'5" | SF Brother Rice | 2025 State IL who did the damage. Caden Workman Caden Workman 6'5" | SF Brother Rice | 2025 State IL is a prospect that really broke out as a junior. He has legit size to be a three or four man at the next level. Can push off the glass in the open floor while displaying great passing and feel. Rim runs, can score on the block with skill, and stretches the floor with shooting. He had 16 points. Justic went for 18 points as the lefty lead guard plays with great pace. Knocked in pull up jumpers and threes along with being very active with his hands defensively. Big bodied shooter Stagg unsigned senior Yousef Jared knocked down several shots from three. Mt. Carmel 2026 guard Vic Guaramato is one to track long term as an athletic combo.
Colin Brodzik Colin Brodzik 6'2" | SG Woodstock North | 2025 IL had his own personal three point contest in this one as the Woodstock North 2025 guard was lethal for Pac Elite. He drained seven of them in the narrow loss hitting tough ones time after time. Moves so well off the ball. He had 27 points in this game. Brandon Alexander Brandon Alexander IL is an unsigned senior from Woodstock that also poured in buckets racking up 14 points.
Saunders Big Game Pushes Flight Athletics 17U against Chicago Lockdown
Flight Athletics got a big performance from Joliet West combo guard Tristian Saunders Tristian Saunders 6'3" | SG Joliet West | 2025 State IL in their 51-31 win against Chicago Lockdown . The 2025 guard dropped 16 points pouring in threes nailing four of them in the win along with several transition finishes. Kareem Parker Kareem Parker 6'6" Plainfield South | 2025 IL is a Plainfield South 2025 6’6” athletic power forward that brings energy on the glass and is a very good defender.
Keon Maggitt from Downers Grove South was the top performer for Chicago Lockdown . Lefty combo that can hit a three off the catch, score through traffic, and is a solid passer.
Team Herro 16 Looks Dominant Loaded with Talent Across Board
What an impressive showing from Team Herro 16U on Saturday afternoon with the 54-39 victory over Chicago Grinders . The top ranked 2026 in Wisconsin Yusef Gray Jr was very impressive. Big combo guard with high level athleticism and shot making from beyond the arc. Got to the line and on the glass for 14 points. Vaughn Karvala Vaughn Karvala 6'5" | SF Oregon | 2026 State WI had the crowd on their feet with the play of the day on a windmill jam. Athletic forward that plays in the open floor and puts it on the deck with so much explosion. Also really liked what we saw from Principia (MO) 2026 power forward Ben Akoro. The 6’7” power forward totally looks the part of a high-major prospect with his long and athletic build. Rim runner, shot blocker, finisher in the paint along with some handles.
Sleeper Prospects Emerge in Illinois Elite Victory against Big 3 17U
Next up we saw Illinois Elite Amaya 17U score a 54-47 win against Big 3. Hinsdale Central guard Cole Bero Cole Bero 6'0" | SG Hinsdale Central | 2026 IL is a sharp shooter from three that knocked in shots at a high rate from beyond the arc. He tallied 15 points in the win. Like the upside of Rockford Jefferson rangy forward Drey Black Drey Black 6'6" | SG Rockford Jefferson | 2025 IL with his length and defense blocking shots and scoring off the bounce.
Logan Arteaga Logan Arteaga 6'5" Palatine | 2025 IL of Palatine was Big 3’s top performer. Skilled 6’5” power forward that has a right handed hook shot. Can shoot it a little from three and got on the glass.
Meanstreets ‘ last=”] 2027 Puts on Show Behind High-Major Talent Playing Up at 16U Level
Meanstreets ‘ last=”] loaded 15U group played up at the 16U level and had no problem at all winning 66-45 over Wisconsin Crusaders and then 73-52 against All-In Athletics Adidas Gold. They boast four prospects who will most likely be in the top five of the first edition of the PHI 2027 rankings with three still being in the conversation for the top spot. Warren point guard Jaxson Davis Jaxson Davis 6'1" | PG Warren | 2027 IL is such an advanced player. The freshman guard was shifty off the bounce, scored in transition, knocked in threes, and made those around him better. Bolingbrook shooting guard Davion Thompson Davion Thompson 6'2" | SG Bolingbrook | 2027 IL was very good particularly in the second game. Silky smooth with the ball knocking in shots and making plays in the open floor. His passing also impressed us. Whitney Young small forward Howard Williams Howard Williams 6'5" | SF Whitney Young | 2027 IL sometimes flies a bit under the radar among the stars of 2027, but he is elite in his own right. Best day we have seen out of him in his young career. The strong bodied wing is a plus athlete that poured in threes off the catch and pull up jumpers in the mid-range all day along with being impactful defensively and getting on the glass. The fourth star from Illinois is Quinton Kitt Quinton Kitt 6'4" | SF East Peoria | 2027 IL of East Peoria. Kitt has a great frame and does a little bit of everything passing, defending, rebounding and has a sweet shooting stroke. A notable out of state product was Iowa 2027 product Josiah Harrington. In the first game he was so explosive off the bounce slashing over and over again along with scoring in the open floor. Very bright future for this Iowa standout!
Meanstreets ‘ last=”] 2026 Falls to Indiana Game 16U and Chicago Grinders 16U
On the other side it wasn’t as successful of a day for Meanstreets ‘ last=”]’ 2026 group as they dropped a pair of games to Indiana Game UA Rise 65-62 and Chicago Grinders 56-43.
In the first game for Meanstreets ‘ last=”] they were pushed by New Trier 2026 small forward Danny Houlihan Danny Houlihan 6'4" | SF New Trier | 2026 State IL . Big time shot maker that has size which projects well to the next level. That is what Houlihan brings with his three point marksmanship along with scoring off movement inside the arc notching 14 points including four triples. Assumption (IA) 6’4” wing Navon Shabazz had a strong showing notching 17 points. Power wing that can attack downhill and is a solid shooter from three. In the second game they got a good outing from Whitney Young combo guard Marquis Clark Marquis Clark 6'2" | PG Whitney Young | 2026 State IL . Silky smooth guard that handles it with such ease. Gets to his spots and makes difficult layups. Notched 14 points in the loss.
Indiana Game was carried in the second half by Jarvis Tolbert. The strong and athletic wing could not be stopped going downhill. He was absolutely relentless off the bounce winning in one on one situations racking up 24 points. Seemed like he either scored or got to the line on every single occasion. It was an epic show! Logan Pokorney Logan Pokorney 6'4" | SG Chesterton | 2026 State IN was the star early on with his three point shot making. The shooting guard has a quick release and can shoot it very well off the catch. Rangy guard AJ Avery also made key plays in the Indiana Game win. Sliced for scores, quick passes, and can hit an open shot.
In the Chicago Grinders win it was the coming out party for Crane shooting guard Brad Blackmon! He dropped 17 points in the win. Long and lanky wing that impacted on both ends of the floor. Blocked shots and got steals defensively. On the offensive side of the ball he slithered to the rim for scores in the paint for acrobatic finishes. Also got on the offensive glass for second chance points. Lindbloom point guard Zion Wilkins Zion Wilkins 5'8" | PG Lindblom Math And Science | 2026 IL is one to watch. Smaller point guard plays with a lot of confidence running his team and can score with his handles when needed!
Full Package Black Has Strong Performance against All-In Athletics 17U
It was another strong performance from Full Package Black with a 54-39 victory against All-In Athletics. Hinsdale Central small forward Vincas Buzelis Vincas Buzelis 6'5" | SF Hinsdale Central | 2025 State IL once again showed he is primed to breakout this spring! Big, physical, and athletic wing showed out in front of his brother and 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis. Vincas displayed he can get stops on the defensive end, rebound, throw down dunks, and use his burst to the rim. Also was impressed with their guard trio of Liam Hanson (Libertyville), Braylon Gray Braylon Gray 6'1" | PG Grant Community | 2025 IL (Grant), and Jayden Jayden WI Hunt (Grayslake North) who all contributed to the win with their defense, playmaking, and finishing in the paint.
Couple guards to track for All-In Athletics Bradyn Michaels (St. Viator) and Luke Smith Luke Smith 6'1" | PG Belleville Althoff | 2026 State IL (Addison Trail). Michaels bombed in threes while Smith was adept at finishing with nifty layups.
More Notes
Valin Ramberg Valin Ramberg Marshfield | 2026 WI of the Wisconsin Crusaders 16U was impressive in their loss against Meanstreets ‘ last=”] 2027. The wing was excellent putting it on the deck for an array of reverse layups, scoop shots, and transition dunks racking up 18 points.
For All-In Athletic Adidas Gold 16U Thomas Moffett Thomas Moffett 6'4" | SF William Fremd | 2026 IL and Timi Ogusanya were the standouts. Moffett shot it very well from the perimeter draining four triples in the loss. Ogusanya is a wing from Evanston that shined with his athleticism, shot making, and soft touch finishing game.
Top prospect on the Illinois Heat 17U group was Zion Young Zion Young 6'6" | C Fenwick | 2025 IL . The Schaumburg big man has legit size and he knows how to use his frame to get on the glass rebounding well in his area and is a good post defender.
Caught the first half of the Chicago Hoops 17U game. St. Laurence 2025 wing Caleb Lindsey Caleb Lindsey 6'5" | SF St. Laurence | 2025 State IL is a long and lanky wing that can really defend both laterally and vertically. He blocked shots, used bounce on glass, and has shown improvement on his three ball. His high school teammate Khalil Jones Khalil Jones 5'11" | PG St. Laurence | 2025 State IL controls the pace and dropped an opponent on a cross behind his legs for a score. New name that burst on the scene late in the night was Ayden Farrare of Hinsdale South. Big and strong wing that has athletic pop taking his man off the dribble with authority!