Romeoville Live: Scotty B’s Sunday Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday was the final day of the Romeoville Live event and the end to a long month of high school basketball.&nbsp; We dive into the seven contests we evaluated in <strong>Romeoville Live: Scotty B's Sunday Notebook</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Akoro Leads O'Fallon to Win vs Hazelwood East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First up was a border battle between O'Fallon and Hazelwood East out of St. Louis.&nbsp; O'Fallon scored the victory 51-46.&nbsp; Their star is 2026 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='1501486' first='Ben' last='Akoro'].&nbsp; Intriguing prospect because of his size, skill, and ability to impact in a number of ways.&nbsp; Scored on sweeping layups off the bounce, in transition, and hit a three.&nbsp; Also used his length on the defensive end of the floor.&nbsp; He had 14 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2454165' first='Lawson' last='Bynum'] is a big and physical wing that brings shot making and power to the table as he knocked in a couple long balls for 8 points.&nbsp; Maddox Blaha is a spark for O'Fallon as the smaller point guard always seemed to have a nose for the ball making scrappy plays.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hazelwood East was without star Tyran Frazier who appears to be on the move.&nbsp; It was Javon Pringle and Aaron Brown who led the way for Hazelwood East as Pringle knocked in mid-range jumpers and Brown was connecting from 15 feet out to three.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top 2027 Post Dominant for Wheaton Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next up we saw Wheaton Academy get a 59-40 win over Brown County.&nbsp; Wheaton Academy 2027 post [player_tooltip player_id='2125634' first='Hayden' last='Schroeder'] completely took over the game doing pretty much whatever he wanted on the interior.&nbsp; Mobile big man that is so adept at reverse layups, hook shots, and using his quickness around the basket.&nbsp; Can also push in the open floor and is a very good offensive rebounder for second chance points.&nbsp; Closed the day off with a massive one handed jam.&nbsp; Jackson Snider also caught our attention for Wheaton Academy.&nbsp; The 2027 6'5” small forward has good size and a nice frame.&nbsp; Plus shooter that has some toughness to his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few young prospects to track for Brown County that we had heard some buzz about coming in.&nbsp; Bradley Markert is a 6'4” 2028 wing that loved to go to the spin move for scores off the bounce.&nbsp; His running mate in that 2028 class Michael Kassing hit a tough jumper and got to the line.&nbsp; Jack McNeff caught our eye as a power forward with long arms and versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Guards Duel in Richards Win over Thornton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richards beat Thornton 47-41 a guard controlled game on both sides.&nbsp; Really liked what we saw from Messiah Horton out of Richards.&nbsp; The 6'2” combo guard had a big game scoring 20 points in the victory.&nbsp; Silky smooth with the rock in his hands creating off the bounce for soft touch finishes along with a plethora of mid-range jumpers.&nbsp; Travion Goudine is a 2026 guard to track as the point guard is a capable shooter and ball handler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thornton 2027 5'9” guard [player_tooltip player_id='2869260' first='Kobe' last='Stevenson'] is a slick ball handler that can get wherever he wants on the floor.  Spin moves, euro steps, and pushes off his defense.  Dakari Nesbitt is a 5'8” lead guard we have heard buzz about in 2029.  Capable shooter from three and is effective in the drive and kick as a passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rock Island Looks Like State Contender Against One of Fastest Rising Seniors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We said coming into the summer Rock Island could be one of if not the best teams in central Illinois and that continues to look like the case.&nbsp; They were impressive in their 59-36 W against Lane Tech.&nbsp; Their trio of guards were exceptional on both ends.&nbsp; Rising senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2823476' first='Lawson' last='Zulu'] had the best performance we have seen out of him.&nbsp; Slender guard is so slippery through the defense pushing in the open floor.&nbsp; Athleticism plays on both ends as he scored 16 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2455389' first='Arthur' last='Abbey'] is a 2027 guard that was a monster on the defensive end creating turnovers left and right.&nbsp; Gets to the rim off the bounce and is a quality passer.&nbsp; Their top prospect is 2027 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2712818' first='Deven' last='Marshall'].&nbsp; The rising junior brings skill, athleticism, and shot making at the guard spot.&nbsp; Was active crashing the glass, banged in several jumpers, and played above the rim throwing down an alley oop.&nbsp; Good IQ for the game as he scored 15 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2876529' first='Aris' last='Morgan'] is a 2026 post that had a strong month as a physical presence inside rebounding and finishing out of the dunker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lane Tech is led by 2026 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='2297870' first='Matthew' last='Szafoni'].&nbsp; The rising senior has grown since we last saw him, gotten stronger, and his overall game has taken a big step forward.&nbsp; Primed for a big jump in our next update.&nbsp; Had a lot of mid-major and low-major coaches watching.&nbsp; Seals on the block, has touch on a turnaround J, can stretch to three, and rebounds well in his area.&nbsp; He had 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richwoods Finishes Summer with W vs Christ the King</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richwoods got a nice win against Christ the King in a competitive game 54-48.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2531961' first='Amarion' last='Smith-Holley'] is the #3 2028 prospect in the state.&nbsp; The Richwoods rising sophomore took a bit to get going, but he used his burst and speed to get downhill and to the charity stripe consistently down the stretch.&nbsp; Very athletic and twitchy lead guard that can really score.&nbsp; His fellow 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2362360' first='Anfernee' last='Moore'] played with physicality around the hoop finishing out of dunker spot and on the glass.&nbsp;&nbsp; Darion McClendon put his name on our radar with a strong performance as the 6'6” center has a good frame with broad shoulders.&nbsp; He was a major factor getting put backs on a regular basis.&nbsp; Good athlete that plays with a high-motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Michael Thomas is a 2026 point guard that had a rock solid outing for Christ the King.&nbsp; Solid athlete that can knock down shots and displayed burst with the ball in his hands in a 16 point outing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Look HF Squad Edges Past Crane to Close Summer in Thriller</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last game of the summer had a lot of distractions away from the game play, but when it came down to that it was a really fun contest with Homewood Flossmoor winning 63-61 against Crane.&nbsp; Class of 2028 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2467517' first='Darrius' last='Hawkins'] is one of the most fun players to watch.&nbsp; Compact guard that is quick and shifty with the rock in his hands.&nbsp; He is a plus shooter that creates space and gets to the rim for difficult layups.&nbsp; Also like how he puts pressure on the ball defensively.&nbsp; High level passer that made the key dish that led to an open three for the win.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2540205' first='John' last='Brown IV'] played the best game we have seen out of him in his young career.&nbsp; Long and lanky 2028 four that is oozing with upside.&nbsp; He drained three spot up threes in the win along with using his bounce around the hoop.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2829613' first='Danny' last='Ruffin'] put his name on our radar in 2027 as a strong and stocky 6'0” two guard that brings burst off the bounce and is a capable shooter.&nbsp; Marvin Douglas in the 2026 class is a 6'5” power forward that plays off his athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crane 2027 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125641' first='Jamier' last='Montgomery'] was on fire in the first half.&nbsp; The quick and dynamic ball handler can really shake and bake defenders for scores in the paint.&nbsp; Explosive scoring guard that is just scratching the surface of his potential.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2454169' first='Brad' last='Blackmon'] was fantastic in this game recording 18 points.&nbsp; He is excellent at using his size and length to slice through the defense and maneuver his long arms for scores at the cup.&nbsp; Also love the quick second jump on the offensive glass.&nbsp; Defensively he has a chance to be dominant with his length both laterally and vertically.&nbsp; Excellent shot blocker that anticipates so well for a wiry wing.&nbsp; Jarrett Swift showed some potential as a guard that can knock in shots from deep and get out in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->