Sunday Top Prospects: DePaul Prep Rolls, St Ignatius Upsets Benet

***Use Code “BLACKFRIDAY2025” for 50% off your annual subscription THIS WEEK ONLY***   PHI took in a pair of games on Sunday featuring the preseason #1 and #2 teams in DePaul Prep and Benet.  DePaul Prep would take care of Hyde Park on their home floor by a final of 60-28.  In the second game for their Thanksgiving Tournament St. Ignatius would upset a highly ranked Benet squad for the second year in a row winning 69-65.  We look at it all here!   They Are Who We Thought They Were……DePaul Cruises vs Hyde Park   In our first look at DePaul Prep the preseason #1 team is every bit what we thought they were as they beat a solid CPS program in Hyde Park 60-28.  There defense is always a strength, but it seems they have taken it to another level this year.  The 1-2 punch of [player_tooltip player_id='1845360' first='Rashaun' last='Porter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1435692' first='Rykan' last='Woo'] are the perfect duo with [player_tooltip player_id='2323334' first='AJ' last='Chambers'] being whatever they need him to be as the third option.  We look at the prospects here!    The Toledo commit and highest ranked big man in the senior class brought it with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists.  It was actually his passing that caught our attention the most early on as he had a high/low dish, dime to cutter, and pass to shooter all for buckets.  He then started working with Woo who set him up for pick/roll flushes, lobs and pick/pop triples.  Such a physical presence around the hoop and the improved athletic pop continues to show.  Dominant rebounder that snatches them in traffic.     Woo is a PHI favorite with his off the charts basketball IQ and feel for the game.  He was making on the money passes over and over again particularly to Porter off ball screens with his pinpoint passing.  Shot it pretty well in this one draining a trio from beyond the arc along with a baseline jumper.  Creativity finishing at the rim.  Such active hands on the defensive end creating turnovers.  He had 17 points, 5 dimes, and 2 assists.     The Michigan Tech commit is going to be an awesome D2 player!  As an off guard it is so impressive how well he passes the ball off live dribbles.  Worked well backing in to the mid-post for floaters, shot fakes for runners, and won on a couple downhill takes for 9 points and 8 dimes.     The newest addition to DePaul Prep is this transfer from SHG.  He fits their culture perfectly as he excels on the defensive end with his length covering up so much ground.  Uses it both laterally and vertically.  He got a few buckets around the basket and a baseline jumper en route to 8 points.     Bright future for this 6'7” four man.  Good length and mobility on both ends of the floor.  Finished out of the dunker spot, cut for a finish, and had a sweet hook shot that went down for 6 points.  Best basketball is ahead of him.     Leflore brings the juice for this team at the lead guard spot.  Slick ball handler that got in the lane for euro steps, came off ball screen for scores, and hit a triple en route to 7 points.     The junior guard from Hyde Park goes 5'10” with a rangy frame.  Liked how he can knock down shots from distance as he nailed a pair of threes for 6 points.        Tucker and Harris Shine Again Leading St. Ignatius to Championship   In a toss up game down the stretch St. Ignatius made all the big plays.  [player_tooltip player_id='2734415' first='Napolean' last='Harris'] hit a three, two big free throws, then [player_tooltip player_id='2531962' first='Amir' last='Tucker'] had a massive and-1 to give them the separation they would ultimately need as St. Ignatius knocked off preseason #2 Benet 69-65.    In his first major action on varsity Tucker has proven he is a big time player living up to his lofty ranking.  The Iggy guard shot it with a ton of confidence in this game as he poured in three after three nailing four of them in the victory.  Also had a sweeping layup and a huge and-1 late.  His passing was on display as well making good reads off live dribbles along with finding shooters.  He had 18 points.     Nico continues to bring veteran guard play to this team.  He is a tough as nails guard that won on straight line takes, crossed his man over, sweeping layups, and hit a couple threes.  There is a toughness about him that is a major factor for Ignatius as he had 14 points.  Going to make some small school very happy!     The Ivy League commit was held under his usual average, but still contributed in the win.  Bolte had a few strong straight line takes from the high and mid-post for scores.  Spinning layups at the rim.  Played with more assertiveness in the second half including a few really nice passes which led to points.  He had 11 points.     Ross was a prospect that we saw potential in early in his career and he is starting to show it as a key role player for Iggy.  He brings size and crafty handles to the table as he got in the lane for several scores.  Knocked in a deep ball and we really liked what he did as an off ball passer.  Went for 10 points.     Caldwell is a long and rangy sophomore wing who continues to have helium after a strong summer and fall.  For this team he is best utilized as a spot up shooter that banged in three from distance netting 10 points.     The Eastern Illinois commit showcased a pretty well rounded game despite the loss.  He had 18 points as he displayed his quickness off the dribble getting in the paint for multiple layups.  Burst with the ball in his hands.  Can also really shoot it burying multiple deep threes.  His growth as a playmaker was evident as well hitting teammates over and over in the right spot off live dribbles for points.  Works especially well finding Stack inside putting him in position to throw it down.     Stack is the top center in the senior class.  He showed some of the reasons why in this game as he hammered dunk after dunk home.  Finished out of the dunker spot, rolled to the hoop, spin moves into slams, and more.  One of the best finishers in the state that was very effective on the glass throughout their win along with big block in the 4th quarter.  He had 14 points with the majority of them on dunks.     We saw major strides in Stasys this summer as he moved into the top 10 overall of the junior class.  A massive reason for that was his defense and ability to rebound at a high rate which were both on display in this game.  Athletic post that snatches rebounds and is a mobile tough defender.  On the offensive end most of his points like Stack were on slams including a sweet spin move into a dunk.  He had multiple dimes as well hitting cutters and Stack for scores when he had the ball in his hands.  Scored 8 points.     One of the more intriguing long term guards in the junior class Tchienge played limited minutes, but when in there we saw some of the tools that make him an interesting prospect.  Rangy guard is crafty around the hoop getting points on and-1s and tough conversions.  Good perimeter defender.  Role will grow as season progresses.  He had 6 points.

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