National Open Championship: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook

Prep Hoops National Open Championship is powered by VKTRY - the world's best performance insoles. Jump higher. Run faster. Reduce injuries. <a href="https://vktry.com/?utm_source=Prep+Network&utm_medium=Tournament&utm_campaign=Indy_July">Shop the insoles trusted by 500+ pro/college teams. </a>   It was over to Pacers Athletic Center for 16U and 17U action on Saturday at the National Open Championship!  One of the best days of hoops I watched all year.  Check out the recap in National Open Championship: Scotty B's Saturday Notebook!   Charleston 2026 Wing Shoots Lights Out Leading Illinois Mavericks 17U to Win   The Illinois Mavericks 17U group came out scorching the nets in their 83-76 W over MWBC Chaffin from Ohio.  The show was Tyler Oakley as the strong bodied small forward absolutely was working it in the first half with his shot making from all over the floor.  Plus shooter off the catch from three along with stopping and popping for deep threes.  He made it look effortless scoring 23 of his game high 25 points in the first half.  Got help from Lawrenceville guard Zander Cessna as the 5'11” creative playmaker was regularly converting circus shots around the cup for scores as he had 14 points.  Also in the backcourt Hayden Mulvey shot it well from three racking up 13 points.  Lawrenceville long and lanky four Jayden Goff is an intriguing prospect because of his shot blocking and ability to stretch the floor with his shooting as he dropped 10 points.   For Midwest Basketball Club Chaffin Cole Brewer stood out as one to track.  Two guard dropped 22 points in the loss.  He is a versatile inside and outside scorer that hit some tough threes along with nifty finishes inside.  Harrison Reppart is a 6'3” wing that was at his best putting his head down for scores at the cup or getting fouled as he notched 13.  Caden Dunlevy is a two guard that was at his best as a sniper from deep making four of them en route to 16 points.   Perimeter Duo Leads Way in Milwaukee Young Bucks 17U Victory   This one was all Milwaukee Young Bucks from the start as the 17U team won 60-39 over Illinois Outwork.  Tyler Price is an unsigned senior wing that should get some small college attention with his slithering game off the bounce and passing on the move.  Amare Nixon is a prospect that popped for us with his positional size and ability to handle it along with rebound at a high level.  Demetrius Taylor is a lead guard that made an array of threes along with flashing as a passer.   Ricardo Garcia of Morton High School was the lone standout for Illinois Outwork.  Smaller guard that shot it well from distance and the 2027 guard is pesky on the defensive end with some soft touch finishes.   Illinois Bears 17U Advances in In-State Match Up with Capital City Teamwork   The Illinois Bears Walker team won 73-55 against Capital City Teamwork.  The Bears were paced by Nashville 2026 shooting guard Maddox Ritzel.  Strong bodied two guard got to his spots and knocked down threes along with crashing the glass and getting to the line for 20 points and 7 boards.  Max Tanner from Kentucky was a new name for us as he showed versatility scoring on hook shots and threes a like for 10 points.  Cash Brooks had a nice outing as the guard banged in several jumpers for 12.  Rock solid game for Luke Smith as the Althoff combo guard stuffed the stat sheet as always with 6 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 dimes.  Centralia guard Jaxson Hancock was also a nice table setter with 9 points and 3 assists.   Gavin Peppenhorst from Breese Mater Dei is a skilled 6'3” wing that slashed and posted up along with crafty finishes in transition.  Camarie Richmond is a 5'9” 2027 guard from Springfield Lanphier that shot it well from both mid-range and three for Capital City Teamwork.   CBE Oklahoma 17U Guard Trio Carries to Victory   Next up we saw CBE Oklahoma take down Illinois Bears Tucker 77-67.  At 6'1” Bridge Barrett was very good as a slick ball handler and shot maker with IQ for CBE Oklahoma.  Caymen Smith is a smaller guard who lit the nets on fire with his perimeter shot making.  So did 2028 guard Jaxon Trimmer.  Upside play on this team is power forward Elite Cooper who has a long and rangy frame with quickness on the offensive glass.   Steeleville guard Connor Brown had a nice outing for the Bears.  The 6'2” point guard has solid size and creativity scoring on tough slashes.  Max Reeder of Nashville is a solid shooter to look at for small colleges.  Big man Amareon Adams was good on the glass snatching rebound especially on the defensive end.   UTC Fire National Stuns Minnesota Fury in Opening Round of 16U   In what was one of the larger upsets of the day in the first round Ultimate Team Camps (UTC) Fire National 16U beat Minnesota Fury 74-68.  The guard play and rebounding was the difference.  Lucas Auner was fantastic for UTC with his straight line takes and consistent nose for the basketball going for 19 points.  Jackson Riley was his partner in the backcourt making every key play in the victory.  Up front Brayden Reinke was a tough defender, cut off the ball, and made a pair of threes.  William Ketterer was effective scoring in the paint on seals along with getting important rebounds.   Kolby Thompson gave Minnesota Fury a burst off the bench in the first half.  He was relentless attacking the paint for scores.  They got sharp shooting from Griffin Carroll off the bench as well with a trio from beyond the arc.  Starting guard Maxwell Beeninga had flashes in the second half of what he can do as both a scorer and facilitator.  Raymond Brau is a big bodied 6'6” five who works well in the high/low game with his frame and skill.   Overall was just really impressed with the team ball both these groups displayed.  Passed it, cut off the ball, and shared the wealth.   Indiana Basketball Club 17U is STACKED and Impress Tons of D1 Coaches   The Indiana Basketball Club vs ND Phenom 17U game attracted the largest crowd of coaches on the day.  Indiana Basketball Club left a big time impression on them with a statement 78-44 win against ND Phenom.  Jashawn Ladd was my favorite player that I saw all day.  He was throwing down some Jason Richardson early 2000 type dunks including reverse hammers on the other side of the rim and skying for tip dunks almost hanging in the air while he waited for the ball to come down.  Elite level athlete that can really slash with burst and is and explosive second jump guy on the offensive glass as he had 16 points.  Sherman Moss and Nick Shrewsberry were also excellent in the win.  Moss is a two guard at 6'5” that has good strength which he used to post up and be physical scoring on drives.  Feathery mid-range jumper and has athletic pop at the cup notching 18 points.  Shrewsberry is a 6'4” wing from South Bend that is a sound spot up shooter, rim runs, and rebounds very well.  Lewis Harvey brought them an inside presence with his bounce out of the dunker spot and quick second jump.  Maverick Young and Eliss Sego were the floor stretchers combining for 5 triples in the win.   Colton Reinke was the standout for ND Phenom.  The shooting guard with positional size at 6'6” did damage in the lane on several drives finishing through defenders and got to the charity stripe notching 14 points.  Carter Evanson flashed as a perimeter shot maker with skill at the lead guard spot.  Inside it was Jonathan Roubideaux that brought some physicality moving bodies and scoring 10 points.  Big man Sage Hanson is one to watch at 6'9” with solid mobility as he had 9 points.   Indiana Elite Team Indiana Edges Past EG10 in Hoosier State 17U Clash   Another outstanding Indiana squad here with Indian Elite Team Indiana winning against EG10 81-73.  Keaton Lawson jumped off the floor to us as the 6'6” small forward has the prospect look.  Long and lanky southpaw that can handle the rock and be creative with it.  Most impressive play was swatting a three then throwing down a dunk at the other end.  Most of his damage was done at the rack scoring 17 points.  Jamar Thomas is another wing worth monitoring.  Well built two guard that is an efficient finisher around the cup making difficult shots maneuvering his body.  He plays well in an up and down game along with rebounding and passing for an off guard as he had 15 points.  Lucas Weemer is a 6'5” inside outside threat that scored in the paint on hook shots along with hitting from three for 26 points.   Hudson Horvath was a monster in the first half as the guard got pretty much whatever he wanted with his short area quickness in the lane along with acrobatic finishing moves.  He had 21 points.  Gavin Petty is a pogo stick athlete that threw down a 2 handed poster dunk along with using his long strides to get second chance points.  Flashed a three ball late for 15 points.   In Land of Lincoln Battle Illinois Warriors Top 1 Dream 17U   It was quite a show for Illinois Warriors in their 75-54 victory against 1 Dream.  Let's start with MacArthur 2027 lead guard Damonte Phillips who is so fast with the ball in his hands pushing the pace constantly having his head up to make a play.  Also can really shoot it from three as he had a trio for 15 points.  Dietrich 2027 shooting guard Brye Bohnhoff had a breakout performance as he lived in the paint, went from defense to offense quickly off his steals, and played with a super high motor for 17 points.  Eisenhower guard Khamari Dennis got hot from distance as the 2027 prospect made four of them for 12 points.   1 Dream was never get into their usual rhythm with several players showing up late.  It just never clicked.  Still a huge believer in Bishop McNamara 2025 unsigned guard Willie Felton.  Smooth ball handler with athleticism that plays the game the right way as he had 12 points.   Indiana Elite Team Tradition 16U Controls Win Against Hoop Nation   Then we saw a masterpiece performance by Indiana Elite Team Tradition in a 67-30 W over Hoop Nation.  Maxwell Vise caught our attention as a 6'6” long and lanky four that is overall very skilled with his game while showing some pop too with one of the posters of the day going down the lane for a strong one handed jam en route to 15 points.  On the perimeter Andrew Riethman showed promise as a 6'2” two guard with broad shoulders and a knack for getting buckets. Rylon Gore shot it well from the perimeter as the 5'10” 2027 guard notched 13 points.   Couple guys to keep tabs on over the next year in the 2027 class for Hoop Nation out of Ohio were Zalieya Martin and Jaetyn Levy.  Martin is a 6'5” wing that has positional size, finishing ability, and a mid-range jumper.  Levy is 6'4” wing that will grow into his frame over the next year.  Dropped 9 points including a couple threes.

Prep Hoops National Open Championship is powered by VKTRY - the world's best performance insoles. Jump higher. Run faster. Reduce injuries. Shop the insoles trusted by 500+ pro/college teams.