Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Friday Morning Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday was all about the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.&nbsp; I have always felt day 2 was the best day of this event to see every team play along with four great quarterfinals.&nbsp; We dive into the first four games of the day here in <strong>Pontiac Holiday Tournament: Friday Morning Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Danville 2025 PG Robinson Dynamic in Opener</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first consolation bracket game of the day it was the Jayvaughn Robinson show as he put on a clinic.&nbsp; The senior guard got whatever he wanted all game long.&nbsp; The compact and quick guard shot it very well from three throughout the game both off the catch and creating on his own pulling up from deep.&nbsp; Acrobatic layups in the lane, active defender, and was excellent as a passer.&nbsp; He had a monster game of 33 points.&nbsp; Small colleges should be all over him!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2724394' first='CL' last='Dye'] is a 6'2” 2025 shooting guard that does most of his damage in the paint on drives and tip ins as he had 15 points.&nbsp; Corey Frye is a wing that can shoot it from deep as he nailed a few threes for 10 points.&nbsp; Their highest ceiling long term prospect is [player_tooltip player_id='2395586' first='Amir' last='Beasley'].&nbsp; The 6'7” 2028 four man didn't score, but he had a couple quick passes and snatched rebounds.&nbsp; Long and projectable frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2125687' first='Travis' last='Brown'] was the show for West Aurora.&nbsp; The 2027 top 5 prospect is a slick handling lead guard that wins off the bounce and in the open floor slithering through defenses.&nbsp; Creative finisher at the cup and can make those around him better with his passing.&nbsp; Good soft touch finish game and has range on his shot at times.&nbsp; Went for 23 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plainfield North Wing Duo Shine in Consolation Win over Bloomington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Plainfield North jumped out fast behind their 2025 wing duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2490382' first='Quintin' last='Wiencek'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2411321' first='Pierre' last='Pointer'] and never looked back defeating Bloomington 78-48.&nbsp; Wiencek has been on the radar for a while as a skilled three man with good strength.&nbsp; He is a plus shooter from deep which he utilized in this one connecting on an array of them.&nbsp; Quick and consistent release.&nbsp; Also created his shot at times with step backs and floaters.&nbsp; Went for 22 points.&nbsp; High end small college prospect.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2411321' first='Pierre' last='Pointer'] is a 6'3” two guard who is well built too.&nbsp; Drained a pair of early threes including a four point play on one in the corner.&nbsp; Uses his physicality to score through contact in the lane on and-1s along with getting loose in transition.&nbsp; Got to the foul line at a nice clip.&nbsp; He had 18 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bloomington's top prospect is 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2751058' first='Kyron' last='King-Warr'].&nbsp; He showed flashes with his handles on spinning layups and quick takes off the dribble.&nbsp; The 5'10” lead guard is one to track down the road.&nbsp; Senior wing Evan Reed had a heater in the second half burying three triples in a row for 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Benet's Backcourt and Frontcourt Mesh in Win Over Bloom</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first quarterfinal of the day Benet controlled the contest against Bloom for the majority of the game winning 58-44.&nbsp; Southern Illinois commit [player_tooltip player_id='1598682' first='Daniel' last='Pauliukonis'] had a big showing in the quarters as the stretch four man bombed in an array of threes, was very active on the offensive glass for second chance points, and used his mobility en route to 20 points.&nbsp; His 2026 big man next to him [player_tooltip player_id='2105376' first='Colin' last='Stack'] is one of the tallest prospects in the state.&nbsp; He uses that size to block/alter shots and throw down dunks.&nbsp; Also snatches rebounds and has a nice right handed hook shot which he used to score 11 points and snatch 7 boards.&nbsp; In the backcourt Truman State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1598658' first='Blake' last='Fagbemi'] was conductor with the way he ran the show.&nbsp; Elite vision and leadership at the point getting everyone the ball in positions to score.&nbsp; He also found his spots as he scored in the paint with his body control including off his own defense scoring 14 points and 6 rebounds.&nbsp; Class of 2026 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2105390' first='Jayden' last='Wright'] got off to a fast start finishing with 10 points as a plus shooter from three that pushed the pace in the open floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bloom got a nice game from sophomore big man [player_tooltip player_id='2749967' first='Xavier' last='Martin'] who didn't back down from the Benet twin towers.&nbsp; He continues to emerge this season with his mobility around the hoop as a scorer along with being able to deck it from the mid-post in.&nbsp; Went for 12 points.&nbsp; They also got 12 points from senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1766466' first='Adam' last='Page'] as the long and lanky prospect hit a couple threes and showed activity around the hoop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Simeon Balanced Effort Advances Them to Semis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual might have had the best player on the floor in their matchup with Simeon, but the [program_tooltip program_id='2076046' first='Wolverines' last=''] probably had the next eight.  That was the difference as Simeon advanced over Manual 67-52.  Really liked the effort out of their front court.  Class of 2026 post [player_tooltip player_id='2323288' first='Isaiah' last='Coleman'] was a force up front on the glass getting second chance points, finishing out of the dunker spot, and even hit a three.  [player_tooltip player_id='1439013' first='Julien' last='Doyle'] is a bouncy forward that has greatly improved his skill as a senior.  That was shown by draining four triples in this game on the way to 15 points.  Junior small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2323264' first='Kassidy' last='Nelson'] is a sound three point shooter connecting on a pair while notching 7 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='1385305' first='Lorenzo' last='Shields'] did a nice job pushing in the open floor, using his vision, and knocking in some jumpers for 10 points and 10 dimes.  [player_tooltip player_id='2436956' first='Kamari' last='Hamlin'] is the true x-factor as the big bodied wing scored through contact and can hit a long ball as he had 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Manual combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='1576114' first='Dietrich' last='Richardson'] was playing in front of his future head coach at Bradley on the baseline.&nbsp; The top 5 senior had a solid game recording 18 points in the loss.&nbsp; Took and made some tough jumpers throughout the game including in transition and on the baseline.&nbsp; Crisp mid-range shot and slick driver that got to the rim.&nbsp; Acrobatic finisher at the cup maneuvering his body for scores.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2734423' first='Jaquan' last='Brown'] is a 6'3” junior shooting guard who got off to a strong start with his shot making and athleticism slashing scoring most of his 7 points in the early going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->