Grit Region Finals: 2028 New Names Emerge

PHI was covering this past Memorial Day weekend's Grit Region Finals in the Chicago Land Area. Full of stacked competition and tight games, fans and spectators got to witness tons of talent from across the Midwest. I was in Northbrook, IL covering the 15U division and saw some new faces that I had not seen yet during this Spring Circuit season. Let's go ahead and break down over a half dozen players who are ones to keep tabs on over the next few years of their high school basketball careers.    Caught him in the teams' first game of the tournament on Friday. Plays in the forward 4 position with another solid big. Got on the glass on both ends and runs the floor at a good rate at his size. Deceptively moved feet quicker than anticipated defensively. Hit a spot up 3 in the ½ court phase of O.     A Proviso West combo guard that took point responsibilities at times through the weekend with solid handling ability. Watched 1st game of the tournament on Friday and had a team high 13 in the first half against an athletic opponent. Uses his broader size to his advantage. Can get on the glass and had an O board put back on more length. Made a couple penetration dish offs once help was there. Shooting wise made a jab step to create space on defender and then banged in a 3.       Showed a lot of energy and grit in the afternoon game on Saturday. Slashed through the paint hard on drives or in the primary offense. Had multiple takes in the lane to draw a whistle or to kickout to his guards on the perimeter. Makes smart decisions with the ball. Runs the floor well and even keeled. Has ability to utilize ball screens and make a good read. Posted up back to the basket and make a good move to finish. A well-balanced attacker.     Filled primarily the point position over the weekend for a team that made it to the Quarter Finals on Sunday. A quick guard that can get downhill to the cup in a hurry. Made a sweet fadeaway jumper in the lane off the dribble from 8 feet. Has good anticipation on both ends. Hit a cutter going through the lane for an assist. Defensively moves his feet well and can put some pressure on the ball. Possesses good bounce and natural feel for the game.       Played with a lot of activity in the team's last game of the tournament on Sunday morning. Helped squad finish at a 3-1 mark. Liked the way he shared it in the ½ court setting. Made a couple dish offs to his post on the drive to let his big go to work. Had a couple other takes utilizing a ball screen and another baseline drive for an And1.  Pitched it ahead multiple times on the primary break to gain offensive opportunities. Can catch and shoot from 3 and got on the glass as well on both ends.     Consistently was balanced in his driving abilities to the rim in the last game of the weekend. Had a team high 16 points. Went off the bounce in traffic to dish off for assists multiple times. Likes to get out and run the floor on turnovers. Made multiple pitch aheads for early offensive flow and went coast to coast solo for a finish. Good overall mobility in the open court and possesses smart IQ.     Competed tough in the first early afternoon game on Sunday. Finished with 10 points and was a part of team's main crew that finished with a 4-1 record. Got to the stripe a handful of times by drawing contact on defenders down low. Defensively had a takeaway and finish off a turnover and a block in the half court setting. Drew a tough And1 as well. Liked his strength and physicality to battle down low and mobility wise run the floor at a fast pace.

PHI was covering this past Memorial Day weekend's Grit Region Finals in the Chicago Land Area. Full of stacked competition and tight games, fans and spectators got to witness tons of talent from across the Midwest. I was in Northbrook, IL covering the 15U division and saw some new faces that I had not seen yet during this Spring Circuit season. Let's go ahead and break down over a half dozen players who are ones to keep tabs on over the next few years of their high school basketball careers.