Show Me Showdown: Scotty B’s Saturday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops was back at it for day 2 of Show Me Showdown in St. Louis!&nbsp; We dive into our favorite games of the day and the prospects that left and impression in <strong>Show Me Showdown: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Prospects Emerge All Over Floor in Gateway 16U win over Slam City Elite</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First game of the day was Gateway Basketball against Slam City Elite at the 16U level.&nbsp; Gateway slowly took control of the game in the second half to win 87-68.&nbsp; St. Charles West (MO) power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2403915' first='Camden' last='Evjen'] was outstanding!&nbsp; Legit size and skill to match.&nbsp; Assertive post moves, high/low finishes, stretched to three, and rebound very well in his area.&nbsp; Went for 24 points in the victory.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2225554' first='Will' last='Grus'] is another big man to watch on this squad.&nbsp; Bouncy athlete that threw down some big dunks rim running and hit a three netting 15 points.&nbsp; Bobby Wyatt of Summit (MO) brought scoring on the perimeter for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockford Jefferson 2028 wing Durant Stokes shined playing up an age level.&nbsp; He is a plus three point shooter that poured them in along with crisp pull ups.&nbsp; Powerful and athletic wing bucket getter that will make his debut in our next 2028 update.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2416443' first='Brayden' last='Petrie'] from Rockford Boylan is another upside play.&nbsp; Fluid wing with length at about 6'5” that can shoot, work in the pick/roll, and is a solid passer.&nbsp; Beloit Memorial (WI) point guard JJ Martin lived in the paint all game long scoring off the bounce along with making solid decisions with the ball in his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] 17U Depth Too Much for Wolf and Mavericks Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up was a 17U contest between the [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] and Mavericks Academy.&nbsp; Early on it was the [player_tooltip player_id='2381379' first='Will' last='Wolf'] show for the Mavericks, but the Bears depth overpowered to w a 80-74 win.&nbsp; Sparta 2027 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2383925' first='Dariontez' last='Monroe'] is a long and athletic guard that impacts on both ends of the floor.&nbsp; Downhill attacking guard that hits the hole and goes!&nbsp; Creative layup maker that likes the mid-range game.&nbsp; He had 17 points in the win.&nbsp; His backcourt mate Nashville's 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1552415' first='Maddox' last='Ritzel'] was his always productive self.&nbsp; Got to the charity stripe, score on soft touch finishes, and finished through contact for 15 points.&nbsp; Stewardson-Strasburg 6'5” power forward made impression in the second half with his ability to shoot it from three, be quick to the glass, and impactful defensively.&nbsp; He had 10 points.&nbsp; Look for Murphysboro 2026 center [player_tooltip player_id='2823657' first='Kemmeon' last='Hale'] to make a big move in our next rankings update.&nbsp; He is a big body that is still coming around, but his tools as a dunker, quick post moves, and snatching rebounds in his area are very intriguing.&nbsp; He went for 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Orchard Farm (MO) 2026 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2381379' first='Will' last='Wolf'] was the show for Mavericks Academy.&nbsp; The smaller scoring guard is a scrappy guard that is an absolutely lethal shot maker from beyond the arc.&nbsp; He made three after three in the first half along with pushing off his defense for scores in the paint.&nbsp; He had 23 points including five triples in the loss.&nbsp; Kirkwood (MO) power forward Witt Troup brings some upside as a bouncy four tht can play above the rim ass he had 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southern Illinois Raptors Inside/Outside 16U Duo Impress in Victory over Bears</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southern Illinois Raptors got nice performances from their point guard and big man in a 75-55 win.&nbsp; Staunton point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2824169' first='Lucas' last='Dillon'] is a 2027 lead guard that absolutely lived at the foul line in the first half.&nbsp; He racked up the trips along with some tough scores in the paint.&nbsp; Vandalia big man [player_tooltip player_id='2383975' first='Lucas' last='Bowers'] is a strong low post presence with broad shoulders and is a solid defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meridian point guard Latarus Johnson did what he does best.&nbsp; Put the ball in the hoop at a high rate.&nbsp; Three balls and straight line takes in both the half court and transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Smith Shows Promise as Creative 2028 Guard for [program_tooltip program_id='2856691' first='417' last='Premier'] Basketball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caught the first half of this one as [program_tooltip program_id='2856691' first='417' last='Premier'] Basketball scored a 78-63 victory over Southern Illinois Raptors at the 15U level.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2857037' first='Braylon' last='Smith'] was the difference maker.&nbsp; The lead guard is a smaller floor general that gets to the line, scores in the open floor, has soft touch float game, and made some mid-range jumpers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christ Our Rock Lutheran forward [player_tooltip player_id='2874753' first='Bradey' last='Diehl'] changed his hair from yellow to purple since Friday night, but he brought the same energy.&nbsp; High-motor forward tht can put it on the deck and plays above the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VIP Kings Continue to Roll After Grit Region Finals Title Last Weekend</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last weekend the VIP Kings out of Kentucky left absolutely no doubt they are legit by winning the Grit Region Finals championship at the 17U level.&nbsp; It was more of the same in St. Louis with a 70-48 victory over Hardwood Elite.&nbsp; It was [player_tooltip player_id='2387589' first='Drew' last='Campbell'] who got them going early and often in this game.&nbsp; Ripped off nine straight to start the contest on euro steps, long balls, and acrobatic layups scoring all of his 15 points in the first half.&nbsp; Their star 2027 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2389668' first='Garrison' last='Gilvin'] was big time as always.&nbsp; He shot it well from three, won off the bounce, and was outstanding as a passer. &nbsp;Finished with 14 points.&nbsp; Combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='2387451' first='Lukas' last='Ladson'] pushed in the open floor and hit a three to close the half in emphatic fashion going for 18 points.&nbsp; Really liked what we saw from their big man [player_tooltip player_id='2388718' first='Elias' last='Daley'] who was a junk yard dog around the hoop working on the boards, sealing on the block, running the floor, and finishing out of the dunker spot for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Francis Howell North (MO) wing [player_tooltip player_id='2717809' first='Eli' last='Bollinger'] was the bright spot for Hardwood Elite.&nbsp; Well built wing that can shoot it well from beyond the arc and finished well in the paint for 14 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] 15U Top Family First in Most Exciting Game of Day</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The [program_tooltip program_id='2075532' first='Illinois' last='Bears'] 15U closed out the night with a thrilling 91-85 win against Family First.&nbsp; There were so many prospects that made their mark in this one.&nbsp; Herrin small forward JJ Gwaitney was spectacular with his perimeter shot making pouring in three after three.&nbsp; The lefty 6'3” wing has long arms and a clean spot up shot from distance.&nbsp; More than just a shooter he mixed in some nifty drives, nice passing, and recorded multiple steals while scoring 28 points including five from beyond the arc.&nbsp; The Carterville brother duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2832359' first='Harper' last='Lustenberger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2832797' first='Max' last='Lustenberger'] are full of intangibles.&nbsp; They make winning plays whether it was diving for balls out of bounds turning them into assists, getting steals, making crazy and-1s.&nbsp; They made impactful plays all game long.&nbsp; Harper had 18 points while his brother Max went for 14 points.&nbsp; Carbondale 6'3” shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2832712' first='[player_tooltip player_id='2398439' first='William' last='']' last='Lehman'] is a strong and physical wing that likes to attack downhill where he converts in both the half court and open floor as he went for 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Family First's top long term prospect is 2029 post [player_tooltip player_id='2872756' first='Bryce' last='Means'].  Out of Jeff City this big man is one to track.  He has a long and lanky frame with flashes of big time skill potential.  Shot fake for a baseline drive, sweeping left handed finish off the bounce, and pushed coast to coast off a steal.  He had 9 points.  Helias (MO) 2028 wing Skyler Jaegers was exceptional in this game.  The long and athletic small forward won off the bounce for explosive finishes, hit an array of threes with a smooth shot, and was effective off the ball cutting netting 30 points in the loss.  Very bright future here!  2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2872764' first='Mason' last='Sipi'] looks physically like he should have been in the 13U games going on, but this kid can ball!  Step throughs, shifty handles, scoop shots, and a three for 12 points.  Gavin Divins is a broad shouldered wing that rim runs, hits mid-range shots, and slashed off the bounce for 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->