Windy City War: Top Unranked Illinois Stock Risers

Prep Hoops Illinois was in Batavia this weekend covering all of the action from the 15U, 16U, and 17U divisions. Teams from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana were all in attendance from the Midwest. It was great to see top level programs from different states compete against one another. Let's take a look at a handful of guys specifically from the Prairie State that showcased their skills over the three days worth of play.    Plays in one of the two off guard positions at the 2 or 3. Moves very well without the ball in his hands on the offensive end. Cut hard for a dribble handoff from his big full speed and took it right to the rim for a bucket. Made another hard back door cut off a SLOB for an easy deuce. Did a lot of the little things correctly. Gets out and runs the floor off turnovers and can get up. Had a dunk off a breakaway. Played with good energy in the over time segment. Split defenders on the handle for another solid take.     A strong frame that plays with a toughness attitude. Really liked how aggressive he was getting to the rim on penetration drives while going up against taller size. Uses his body effectively once in the thick of the defense. Stayed active on the glass with a hefty amount of boards on both ends of the floor. Made some smart movements away from the ball on the offensive end to create action. Had a good cut to a gap in the zone D for a retrieval and finish.     Watched team's 1st game of the day on Saturday. Helped squad start 3-0 on the weekend. Played aggressively throughout the game and remained active crashing boards consistently. Made necessary plays at crucial times to maintain momentum. Can handle the ball well playing in the 3 or 4 man role and runs the floor at a solid rate. Had some nice footwork down low on the catch to then convert on finishes.     Class of 2028 guard to look out for over the next 3 years. Playing in the 16U division this weekend. Watched team's third game of the day but it looked like he just started his based on his energy level. Scored it a lot but can play the 1 as well with his smooth handles. Offensively was successful in differentiating ways. Made an And 1 from 3, catch and shoot 3, a spin move in traffic finish, a couple O board put backs, and multiple steals that turned into transition buckets. Hands were active defensively to create turnovers. Overall has a natural good feel for the game.     Caught team's third game of the day on Saturday. Has good length at the 4 or 5 man spot and finishes well around the basket. With his agility he can create some mis match opportunities offensively because of size. Moves his feet well at the wing spot and can guard in different areas of the floor. Runs the floor at a solid pace keeping up with the primary phases. Will be a contributing value at both ends of the court over the next three years.

Prep Hoops Illinois was in Batavia this weekend covering all of the action from the 15U, 16U, and 17U divisions. Teams from Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana were all in attendance from the Midwest. It was great to see top level programs from different states compete against one another. Let's take a look at a handful of guys specifically from the Prairie State that showcased their skills over the three days worth of play.