#PHChiTownTipOff: Max’s Saturday Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seven of the top performers I saw on Saturday at the Prep Hoops Chi-Town Tip Off!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2510585"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000a8fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We already saw Cooper have a bit of a breakout junior season for Whitnall, bumping his scoring average up to 11.4 ppg, while growing from 6'2 to now 6'5, and we could see him take another leap next winter. The 2026 guard has a silky smooth pull-up jumper, and was getting to his spots early on against Chapman Academy-South on Saturday morning. He moves with a fluidity not many guys his size can, so he's difficult for teams to matchup with. Defend him with size and he's too quick off the dribble, but put a smaller guard on him and he has no problem shooting over the top.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2834050"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000a95e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jaivyn may have been the most entertaining player I watched yesterday. Listed at 5'8, he was the smallest guy on the court, but wasn't backing down from anyone. He mixed flashy handles with a quick first step to get to pretty much anywhere he wanted to in the half-court. He could pull up for a mid-range jumper or floater, drop a dime in the lane, or go right at bigger players and finish over the top. He competes with an edge on both ends of the floor, and that toughness helped lead his team to a big win over Wisconsin PGC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561870"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000a9a7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1561870' first='Kayden' last='Travis'] was one of the standouts defensively yesterday. The 5'8 point guard is an absolute pest on the ball, not giving opposing point guards a second to breathe when the ball is in their hand. Kayden sits deep in a stance, is so quick laterally, and fights to get over screens out on the perimeter. I saw him play in two games on Saturday morning, where his defensive efforts combined for a handful of steals, while forcing a number of other errors out of opposing guards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1289145"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000a9ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a relatively quiet first half, Ahmir came alive in the second half in a matchup with [program_tooltip program_id='2391400' first='Team' last='Herro']. The 6'3 senior hit a couple of threes, got to the rim for a handful of transition buckets, and after bringing his team back into the game, drove through just about the entire defense for a go-ahead bucket with under a minute to play. Woods would then hit a pair of free throws to secure the win for his team. Ahmir has such a long frame, with a high release point that makes it difficult to contest when he's able to get to his spots for a pull-up jumper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2830547"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000aa29"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malachi is a gritty and physical wing who thrives around the basket. Throughout the game he was flying in for offensive rebounds, showcasing a quick second leap to go right back up for two points. Although at 6'2 he may not be the tallest wing on the floor, his strong frame and toughness allow him to play even bigger than his size. Just about every missed shot seemed to end up in his hands, and he was constantly looking to push the tempo in transition. Impressive body control to finish through contact repeatedly around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2830591"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000aa67"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sam Golden was shooting the lights out in the first half last night for [program_tooltip program_id='2076267' first='Powerhouse' last='Sports']. He's one of those guys who just knows his spots on the floor, and when he's able to get to them, he's not afraid to pull the trigger. Whether from beyond the arc or from mid-range, if Sam found himself in space, a shot was likely connecting. He has the balance to hit shots off the catch or dribble, and was active off the ball looking for pockets of space out on the perimeter. Someone who you have to keep a hand up on at all times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552461"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fba7000aaa6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite the loss to [program_tooltip program_id='2452456' first='Mac' last='Irvin Fire'], I came away impressed with Ethan's passing vision. He seemed to have eyes in the back of his head at times as he spotted openings that not many players would, dishing out a number of assists throughout the game. One play saw him block a three point shot, push the ball up the floor, and then deliver a no-look assist to a trailing teammate. Ethan was zipping in passes from the perimeter, and also had a nice alley-oop pass to his seven foot teammate off the drive. Showcased shooting range beyond the arc as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->