Rockford Area Postseason Watch List

The start of post season play for Illinois High School basketball teams is only one week out and players and coaches around the prairie state are in well conditioned form to head into well awaited regional action. Through this past week, I had the opportunity to take a closer look at players from the Rockford area who in hopes will give their team a shot at a deep post season run. Follow along with as we take a look at some of the athletes who will garner quite a bit of attention from their competition over the next weeks ahead to finish out the 2024 - 2025 season.    Can play the 1 or 2 at the next level. A well rounded guard who makes a lot of positive plays for his teammates which is obviously working out for a very successful hard nosed Guilford team. Unselfishly likes to give guys on the block post feeds, will screen and pop to create separation for spot up 3's, can drive off the dribble for pull up mid range or get all the way to the cup, will crash the glass on O or D even while being a smaller body with good anticipation of where it's coming off the rim, and can jab step and create space or come off screens for space to get to the rim while forcing body contact to still finish. Overall is multi faceted and and is a good playmaker for the number 1 team in the NIC10.     Makes a lot of high quality moves and plays off his two main guards well in the flow of their offense. Can be utilized as a 3 or a small 4 at the next level because of his tenacity and solid IQ. Has a nice inside out game which deems effective. A few good moves I saw were spinning out of traffic on the bounce to create a good floater, a couple catch and spin moves on the block going through contact while posting hard to retrieve the pass, and also will screen the ball and roll or post up for a feed. While having the ball initially he dribbled off a screen to pull up from 10 feet and also will catch and shoot from 3. Gives his team an advantage in multiple areas of the floor.     Competes well in the paint for a smaller power forward but plays with a bigger presence. Seems to have good anticipation of the ball whether it's on defense for a deflection or it's coming off the rim. Saw him have a couple O boards with putbacks as well as finishes coming from the block. Uses his hands well. Seems to be methodically poised with the ball. Can go through contact and convert or get out of pressure while being trapped to find an open guy.     Has garnered attention from his offensive skill set but it was pleasing to see how hard he can play on defense when he gets his feet going. Can use his stride length and quickness to pressure the ball and beat a dribbler to their spot or help and recover off the ball. Will push the ball in transition while keeping his head on a swivel to create up tempo offense. Found an open man while getting double teamed a couple of times for an assist. Came off a screen and helper was there but then made a hesitation move to finish with a baseline floater. Makes pitches ahead off of defensive rebounds to again push the offensive flow. An overall well balanced attacker with a determined mentality.     Was active defensively in their flathead or 1-2-2 zone where he plays at the top. Creates some tips or deflections in that area for turnovers by using his length to his advantage. Offensively will screen and pop for 3's in the corners or wings or can be utilized coming off single or double screens for catch and shoot attempts. Can pump fake and 1 dribble left or right or pump fake and 1 dribble vertically towards basket to create separation and a shot. Soft release point on his shot gives him a shooter's touch with good precision.     Quick guard that will communicate to teammates on O or D. Talked in transition and pointed spots out to where guys are supposed to be. Will get into the paint with a point guard's mentality to dish for an assist. Likes to penetrate to make the defense collapse and then will kickout. Doesn't mind sacrificing his body to take a charge. Will come off ball screens pretty hard with the ball or can jab and go to create space.     Has a natural feel for the game offensively with the ball in his hands. Made a strong full court take to the rim off a miss to finish with contact for an and 1. Can split defenders on the bounce when in a trap to get into the paint and then kick it for a 3 in the corner for an assist. Had a missed midrange shot but got his own board to drive and then dish for an open big for another assist. Pretty fast with the ball in his hands and can get to where he wants to be on the dribble while creating space or making the defense collapse on him. Has a lot of verticality when utilizing his jump shot.     Stronger sized guard that likes to get into the paint with the ball. Wasn't afraid to secure contact to finish at the rim and seems to possess decently jumping ability. Likes to drive it mostly but will still pull up from 10 feet for a jump shot. Plays an off guard from their primary point but bought it down some and is comfortable with the ball in his hands when gaining pressure. Can run the floor at a good pace and took it coast to coast once for an easy finish in traffic.     A prototypical point guard that's fundamentally sound on both ends of the floor for a 4A team that's well balanced. Likes to share the rock and was very consistent in finding the open man coming off screens or just getting it up the floor against pressers or traps. Against quicker bodies, doesn't seem to lack the determination in creating some space and getting the job done. Tough and fundamentally strong while seeing the floor and fulfilling his role on the team. Will take what the defense provides and makes his teammates better.

The start of post season play for Illinois High School basketball teams is only one week out and players and coaches around the prairie state are in well conditioned form to head into well awaited regional action. Through this past week, I had the opportunity to take a closer look at players from the Rockford area who in hopes will give their team a shot at a deep post season run. Follow along with as we take a look at some of the athletes who will garner quite a bit of attention from their competition over the next weeks ahead to finish out the 2024 - 2025 season.