Loyola/New Trier Tournament: Rising Underclassmen

Continuing our coverage from Loyola and New Trier earlier this week, it's time to shift the focus. After highlighting the senior standouts, we now turn to the underclassmen — prospects from the 2027–2029 classes who stepped up in a big way and certainly didn't disappoint.   Note: I was only able to attend the first two days of action, so Wednesday matchups are not included.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Participating Teams</h2>   Loyola   New Trier   Lake Forest   Lake Forest Academy   Niles West   Lake Zurich *   Bulls Prep *   Mt. Carmel (Chicago)   * = Teams Not Covered    Against tough competition from Loyola and New Trier, Haas proved to be a reliable scoring option. He led the Scouts in scoring in both of the first two games, showing a smooth touch on mid-range pull-ups and controlled handles with either hand to create space. His strength allowed him to absorb contact and finish when attacking the rim.   In the second game against New Trier, Haas came out on fire, knocking down three threes in the first quarter to jump out to an early lead. He also made his presence felt on the glass, securing misses and generating second-chance opportunities. With his scoring versatility and activity on the boards, Haas is poised for a strong junior season.     One of two freshmen featured — both from the Caravan — Johnson is a lengthy, wiry point guard who made a strong impact in wins over Niles West and Lake Forest Academy. His ball-handling is purposeful, consistently getting him somewhere in the halfcourt. He uses strong rip-throughs to generate quick lane touches, where he's able to find kickouts and drop-offs. Makes the extra pass to create better scoring opportunities.   Johnson has runners and floaters in his arsenal, along with the bounce to elevate and play at the rim. He also showed touch in the mid-range. Defensively, he brings pressure from the moment the ball is inbounded, picking up full court and pestering handlers for entire possessions. Add in his rebounding mindset, and Johnson already looks like a freshman guard with varsity-ready tools and upside.     The junior didn't start for a senior-heavy Caxys squad, but Johnson delivered valuable bench minutes in a highly competitive matchup against Mt. Carmel. He made winning plays across the floor, showing the poise to knock down catch-and-shoot threes and the quickness to slip behind defenders for finishes at the rim. He read the defense well, finding open teammates within the flow of the offense, and brought defensive energy that disrupted actions and created turnovers. Another undersized guard who was present on the glass too. Johnson ultimately led the Caxys in scoring with 13 points, making a strong case for an expanded role moving forward.     The other freshman for the Caravan, Heard's athleticism jumps off the floor and will be a crucial part of Mt. Carmel's success this season. At 6'5", his long frame was a constant defensive disruptor, getting into passing lanes to shut down actions and generate steals and deflections. His vertical pop added another layer, helping him time blocks and contest scoring attempts at the rim. His overall activity in the paint was hard to miss.   The biggest takeaway came in the matchup against Lake Forest Academy: Heard's effort on the glass. I charted five offensive rebounds for him, each contributing to second-chance points, extended possessions, and trips to the free-throw line. He fights for position, gets off the floor quickly, and consistently high-points the ball. Heard's motor, length, and athletic tools give him real impact now — and even bigger upside moving forward.     In the matchup against Mt. Carmel, Lethunya's frame was a constant force. He displayed the fundamental tools every big should have, flashing to open areas in both the high and low post to keep the ball moving and free up cutters. His size played a key role in the screen game, making it difficult for defenders to fight through, and he showed strong footwork on rolls to the rim — finishing one with a powerful dunk after a perfectly executed setup. His athleticism allows him to be a true force above the rim.   Defensively, Lethunya contributed on the glass, positioned himself well for block opportunities, and used his length to make passing lanes difficult for opponents to navigate. His combination of size and activity gives him real impact on both ends.     Alvarez did a little bit of everything in a tight opening-night win against Lake Forest. He moved well along the perimeter to free himself for three-point looks, knocking down two on the night. He showed confidence attacking closeouts, using a controlled jump stop in the lane and making timely feeds to teammates — which also helped him draw fouls.   Defensively, Alvarez was active and disruptive, pestering ball-handlers and positioning himself to take charges, something he excels at. He also showed a guard's instinct for rebounding, consistently looking for and attacking opportunities to secure boards.

Continuing our coverage from Loyola and New Trier earlier this week, it's time to shift the focus. After highlighting the senior standouts, we now turn to the underclassmen — prospects from the 2027–2029 classes who stepped up in a big way and certainly didn't disappoint.