Chi-Town Tip Off: 2027 Illinois Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Annually the Chi-Town Tip Off is a must attend event for competition and coverage for Illinois teams.&nbsp; This year was no different.&nbsp; PHI had all five of our scouts in the gyms for this event.&nbsp; We continue our examination of the prospects here in <strong>Chi-Town Tip Off: 2027 Illinois Top Performers</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2383971' first='Tyler' last='McConnell'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] 17U and 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McConnell had one of the biggest breakout weekends of any prospect at the event.&nbsp; The Pinckneyville 2027 power forward has made significant strides since the end of the season.&nbsp; During the high school season he was playing both varsity and JV to keep getting reps as he has been more of a football player early in his career.&nbsp; He looked like a potential D1 prospect with how well he played against legit competition and size.&nbsp; The Southern Illinois big man wasn't afraid at all.&nbsp; He took it right at opponents off the bounce, shot it very well from beyond the arc, and scored in the post with assertive moves showing touch on a hook shot.&nbsp; Snatched rebounds and was a force defensively swatting shots.&nbsp; The big time athleticism really pops and that combined with his quickly improving skill are going to make him an intriguing prospect to watch moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125612' first='Devin' last='Cleveland'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland is the top prospect in the state regardless of class.&nbsp; The Kenwood combo guard makes it look so easy out there.&nbsp; He is a sharp shooter from three that can hit them both pulling up off the bounce along with off the catch.&nbsp; Smooth ball handler that can get to the rack with ease where he maneuvers his body for scores in the paint.&nbsp; Elite national prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2323622' first='Damari' last='Stephens'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephens had a consistent weekend for the Fire.&nbsp; The Kenwood big and burly small forward is a physical wing that loves to play downhill.&nbsp; He is great at getting in the paint and drawing contact along with finishing through it.&nbsp; Can change gears to keep the defense off balance.&nbsp; Very good in transition.&nbsp; Defends, rebounds, and brings a swagger to his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2532349' first='Owen' last='Kirby'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'] 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kirby is one of the more unknown top 25 prospects in the 2027 class.&nbsp; He is a sharp shooter with size from Normal U-High.&nbsp; Can absolutely fill it up from deep with his quick release and deadly accuracy.&nbsp; More than just a shooter he can attack when closed out on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2490487' first='Torrey' last='Barrett'] ([program_tooltip program_id='2414566' first='Mike' last='Glennon Elite'] 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mt. Carmel 2027 strong bodied 6'3” small forward had a breakout performance on Saturday with the way he shot it from three pouring them in at a high clip.&nbsp; In addition to that he used his quickness getting on the offensive glass for second chance points for scrappy put backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2255121' first='David' last='Showman'] (M14 Gold 16U)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Showman is a skilled and versatile wing that can shoot it from deep, but also showed his skilled handled getting in the paint for scores.&nbsp; Good rebounder for a wing as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->