Freshman Showcase: Team 6 Top Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Freshman Shootout was a resounding success this past weekend, offering a glimpse of the emerging talent in the 2028 class. We encountered several new names that are sure to become familiar standouts in the future. In this article, we'll be evaluating Team 6 and highlighting the prospects who made a strong impression. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2366141' first='Owen' last='Towne'] (Oak Park-River Forest)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Towne is a long, athletic wing who stood out early in his first 5v5 game, thanks to his hustle and effort on the boards. His persistence paid off as he often followed his own missed shots, and converted put-backs at the rim. He runs the court at a high pace, and his defensive length proves valuable in disrupting passing lanes and causing deflections. Towne's energy and activity kept him involved in every play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2531980' first='Cole' last='Dean'] (Benet Academy)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'7" point guard from Benet demonstrated composure while handling the ball, both against full-court pressure and in tightly guarded half-court situations. In his first game of the day, Dean perfectly executed a pick-and-roll action, coming off the screen, drawing two defenders, and delivering a precise pocket pass off the dribble to the roll man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2396333' first='Sean' last='Souter'] (Walter Payton)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Souter displayed a lead-guard mentality, seamlessly balancing the roles of creator and scorer. He attacked the rim with confidence, finishing consistently with either hand. His offensive game is well-rounded, as he can step behind the arc to hit threes and score from mid-range. In transition, Souter's vision stood out; he kept his eyes up and identified ideal passing lanes. Despite being a smaller guard, he also proved to be a solid rebounder.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2436757' first='Nithin' last='Kamal'] (Barrington)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kamal, a 5'11" wing, caught my attention with several standout moments in the first game I watched. He delivered a perfect pass from the top of the arc to a cutter on the baseline, resulting in a made floater. In another sequence, he passed to the corner and immediately spotted an open cutting lane, gliding to the rim for an easy two. Kamal also grabbed a couple of hustle offensive rebounds, showcasing his effort on the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532009' first='Konstantino' last='Polizois'] (Hinsdale South)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Polizois showcased solid fundamental skills during the event. He consistently ran the floor and occasionally cut behind the defense to create opportunities. One standout play was his strong drive from the extended right wing, where he blew past his defender and finished smoothly. Defensively, Polizois excelled with high-hand closeouts, getting a hand in the shooter's face.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2512383' first='Ethan' last='Murillo'] (Lockport)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'11" forward Murillo wasn't shy about playing physically in the paint, battling on the glass in both games I watched. He showed flashes of his ability to attack the paint and demonstrated composure by making clean passes out of a few double teams. One notable play was a well-executed give-and-go, where he made a sharp pass out of the corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->