PH Live: 2026 Saturday Stars
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Batavia High School opened its doors Saturday morning for a jam-packed day of grassroots basketball. The Prep Hoops Illinois team was scattered throughout different venues, but I was at Batavia soaking in all the action. To kick off the end…
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Continue ReadingBatavia High School opened its doors Saturday morning for a jam-packed day of grassroots basketball. The Prep Hoops Illinois team was scattered throughout different venues, but I was at Batavia soaking in all the action. To kick off the end of the three-day event, I provide you with a few rarely talked about players who stood out with their play in PH Live: 2026 Saturday Stars!
Christian Bonner
Christian Bonner
Bonner made a name for himself and definitely increased his stock. The bruising power forward from north-central Indiana was a machine on the boards. Bonner was like a tracking device linked to the ball on the offensive glass. He consistently fought and created numerous second-chance opportunities with that hustle. He’s not afraid to put his body on the line and dive on the floor, and that’s something you cannot teach.
The 6’5″ Kampas, out of York High School, brings a big body to the court and uses his size advantage wonderfully well. He has gentle feet and patience when the ball enters the post, and when he makes a move, he does it effectively and strongly attacks the rim. Kampas is a big reason for his Big 3 team’s success, as he is a key piece to run the offense through. Defensively, he did a fine job of contesting by not falling for shot fakes and maintaining a straight-up position.
The point guard from Carl Sandburg carried additional roles as his Chicago Lockdown team was missing a couple of key players. He’s the type of guard who likes to get the ball and go with it. In transition, he puts pressure on the defense with his vision, as Perkins can speed his way to the basket or find teammates in the open floor. His change of direction with the ball in his hands is a noteworthy skill. Perkins is a vocal leader as well, conducting the offense and alerting teammates on the defensive end.
Highlights
Alford was a quick and energetic point guard who brought much entertainment to the live event, and he was playing up one level too. He’s a lead player on a Fueled By Faith Athletics team. Offensively, he does the most damage with the ball in his hands. He has a solid crossover package, which suits him well to drive past defenders. He showed the intelligence to attack, squeeze through defensive gaps, and finish at the rim with some craftiness. He displayed a pull-up three game and also made some off the catch.
Highlights
The Brandywine, Michigan guard displayed a fine all-around effort for Team Soil. He first gained my attention on the defensive end with the way he flew around and covered space. Not only did he cause havoc for his matchup, but he also rotated well and was a distraction from sideline to sideline. Richard got his hands on plenty of steals and turned those into breakaway points. Offensively, he’s a good dribble penetrator and spots up nicely with a good release from three.