Grit Region Finals: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook

Sunday concluded the games at the Grit Region Finals in Indianapolis.  It was a fun day of action with exciting games and prospects playing at a high level.  We dive into it all here in Grit Region Finals: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook!   [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] 17U Wins Tough Quarterfinal over [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last='']   Started the day off with two of the better independent programs in the Midwest as we saw [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] pull away late to win their 17U semi final against [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''].  Lyons 2025 combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='2442145' first='Ian' last='Polonowski'] is a plus shot maker from three that can really knock down shots from deep.  Free and easy release that comes off his hand so quickly.  The 6'7” forward drained five triples in the win on his way to 22 points for the game.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105166' first='Vincas' last='Buzelis'] brought the toughness and athleticism on the wing with his tough shot making and physicality on drives notching 10 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] controlled the inside as the Benet 2026 post stretched with his shooting hitting a couple threes and was a good post defender as always.  [player_tooltip player_id='2442146' first='Mac' last='Doyle'] is a high IQ guard that makes those around him better with his passing, defense, and mid-range shot.   [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] got a big outing from [player_tooltip player_id='1297034' first='Hudson' last='Horvath'] who is a gritty two guard that can really shoot the basketball.  Hit multiple threes off the catch and turnaround jumpers en route to 17 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='1749499' first='Tavion' last='Williams'] is an athletic wing that finished around the hoop with his pop out of the dunker spot and getting on the offensive glass for second chance points.  Finished with 12 points.   [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] 15U Advances to the Final Four over [program_tooltip program_id='2076265' first='Next' last='Level 24']   This game was full of guards on both sides as [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] knocked off [program_tooltip program_id='2076265' first='Next' last='Level 24'] to advance to the semis. [player_tooltip player_id='2140420' first='Nash' last='Sigmund'] proved to be a lights out shot maker for the Indiana squad. He can really make shots from the perimeter drilling six of them for 18 points in the win. [player_tooltip player_id='2140324' first='Bles'sed' last='Thomas'] is an athletic lead guard that has a lot of upside. Wins off the bounce and gets to the rim on sweeping layups and transition finishes. Active defender and solid passer that notched 17 points in the [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] win.   [program_tooltip program_id='2076265' first='Next' last='Level 24']'s top prospect was Homewood Flossmoor 2027 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2403028' first='Jeffrey' last='Cade'].  Liked what we saw out of this guard as he can score off the bounce, has a crisp mid-range shot, plus shot maker from three, and has some projectability.  Scored 17 points in the win.  Couple other guards to track on this team are David Dobbins from Marian Catholic and Sammy Childs who each scored 11.   [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] Moves on to Finals with Win over Team Mayo   We thought that [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] had a chance to make a deep run in the event this weekend with the loaded roster they had.  Won in the 17U semis 72-62 over Team Mayo.  The stars brought it in this one carrying the scoring load as Jeremiah Fears scored 18 points while Joliet West 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2045857' first='Ethan' last='Hillsman'] had 16 points.  Fears was his usual self scoring on slick takes, tough jumpers, and getting to the line while running his team with pin point passing.  Hillsman is a broad shouldered combo forward that was extremely explosive finishing around the cup.  Tip ins and converted dump off passes for jams.  Can also deck it in the half court and push end to end in transition.   Jaden Stewart was the standout for Team Mayo.  Stewart has nice size on the wing at 6'5” with a good looking jumper from two and three.  His overall smoothness being able to create off the bounce was what stood out along with how well he converted in the paint through and around contact as he notched 24 points.  Joey Gollihue is a small forward that can shoot it from distance with some projectability as he had 13 points.   Corey Graham Elite 16U Storms Back in Semis   It looked like early on the VIP Kings were going to pull off the upset and advance to the 16U championship game.  It was not the case however as Corey Graham turned it up a notch in the second half storming back to win 69-62.  It was their two headed monster that led the way in guard [player_tooltip player_id='2360064' first='Amir' last='Moye'] and wing Jaydian Johnson.  Moye is an athletic scoring guard that plays with a ton of speed and burst.  Really like how he puts pressure on the rim in both the half court and transition.  Makes acrobatic finishes and euro steps look easy along with mixing in some mid-range jumpers as he had 26 points.  Johnson is a strong bodied wing that plays with a ton of physicality.  Gets in the lane powering through opponents where he is either fouled or scores and sometimes does both.  It was quite an impressive second half as he scored 23 points.   For VIP Kings out of Kentucky Garrison Gilvan was the player that caught our attention.  He was excellent in the first half with how he used crafty moves to get in the lane and to the charity stripe.  Lived at the line in the first half while scoring 20 points.  Drew Campbell and KB Braziel each had 11 points.  Campbell with his shot making while Braziel scored on hook shots and powerful finishes inside.   Indiana Ambition 2025 Duo are Small College Gems   Over the last couple years I have really enjoyed checking out Indiana Ambition's 2025 group.  This weekend there were a pair that stood out for them.  [player_tooltip player_id='1297123' first='Jay' last='Summitt'] is the heart and soul of this Indiana team.  Powerful wing that can hit an open three, is good with the mid-range, and finishes well through defenders in the paint.  At the end of the day he is a winner that does all the little things as well rebounding and playing defense.  Josiah Sloss made a major impression as he stretched with his shooting all weekend including on Sunday.  Plus athlete that projects as a face up four at the small college level with his ability to shoot it and rim run.   In that same game on the Illinois Mavericks side a new name emerged in [player_tooltip player_id='2407868' first='Tyler' last='Oakley'] from Charleston.  The 6'3” well put together wing has nice size in the 2026 class and is a good shot maker from three and on turnarounds.  One to keep tabs on moving forward.   [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] Takes Home 17U Crown for 2nd Time in Past 3 Years   The 17U championship was an all-Illinois contest between [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] and [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'].  Both squads lived up to their potential coming into the event as two of the favorites.  There are multiple D1 players on both sides and they proved it throughout the event.  In the championship it was all [program_tooltip program_id='2078374' first='Full' last='Package'] right from the jump as they got out to an early 10 point lead and never relented it winning by a final of 63-39.   It was the trio that throughout the week played at a high level that once again proved to be the difference.  Benet 2026 seven footer [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] was the difference maker on the interior.  The five man was outstanding being a force inside altering and blocking shots.  Offensively he finished out of the dunker spot, was mobile in the pick/roll game converting at the cup, and high pointed rebounds for second chance points.  Finished with 18 points.  Hinsdale Central 2025 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2105166' first='Vincas' last='Buzelis'] continues to see his stock rise with each outing.  The small forward brought the intensity on the defensive end in his head to head matchup with Fears.  While he did get his Buzelis made it difficult on him with his size, strength, and defensive instincts.  On the other end he was in attack mode getting downhill, to the line, and drained a couple of key threes on his way to 13 points.  Lyons combo forward [player_tooltip player_id='2442145' first='Ian' last='Polonowski'] once again did what he is best at which is bombing in threes.  Has really elevated his stock as he had 13 points.   [program_tooltip program_id='2075515' first='Hoops' last='4 Health'] was led as they were all weekend by Jeremiah Fears.  It took him a bit to get going as a half court shot to close the half seemed to give him some energy heading into the second half where he scored with his speed to the rim and shot making from three netting 16 points in the loss.

Sunday concluded the games at the Grit Region Finals in Indianapolis. It was a fun day of action with exciting games and prospects playing at a high level. We dive into it all here in Grit Region Finals: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook!