Friday Frenzy: Jack Tosh Holiday Classic’s Opening Day Thrills

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your annual subscription***</em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The massive 32 team <strong>Jack Tosh Holiday Classic</strong> began on Friday with everyone playing!&nbsp; We were able to check out six games evaluating a ton of prospects!&nbsp; Check out what we saw and the prospects that made noise!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Perspective Seniors Travis and Flowers Lead Way in Win Over Fenwick</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their first game of the event at the Jack Tosh Holiday Classic Perspectives knocked off Fenwick 65-52.&nbsp; It was all about their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1845364' first='Morgan' last='Travis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2391336' first='Ian' last='Flowers'] that got the job done!&nbsp; Travis is a transfer from De La Salle that has been on the radar since his freshman season.&nbsp; This might have been the best shooting performance we have seen out of him.&nbsp; He was straight money from three pouring them in over and over from beyond the arc.&nbsp; The on ball lead guard can play effective with it in his hands along with spotting up.&nbsp; Crisp ball handler getting in the paint.&nbsp; Good small college prospect that had 20 points on 5-6 from distance.&nbsp; Flowers is a wing with size and strength.&nbsp; He is starting to come into his own this year after making the move over from Julian.&nbsp; Legit three level scorer that knocked in threes off the catch, crisp pull ups from 15 feet, and got to the rim for scores along with trips to the line going for 18 points and 5 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Star football 2027 recruit Jake Thies led the way for Fenwick with 9 points.&nbsp; He is a creative ball handler that can knock in a shot and consistently got fouled where he went 4-5.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2398356' first='Garrett' last='McNally'] is a thick bodied forward that carves out space inside and has touch as he notched 9 points and 6 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Palatine Stars Help Them Move to 10-1 over Walter Payton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the fun stories of the early part of the season has been Palatine who only has one loss coming into the Tosh.&nbsp; They rolled in their opening win against Walter Payton getting the victory 60-40.&nbsp; Big man [player_tooltip player_id='2823585' first='Tony' last='Balanganayi'] is headed to Illinois to play football, but he is a legit force on the high school basketball level.&nbsp; The wide bodied big man carves out space and is so light on his feet.&nbsp; Seals well on the interior, spin moves on the block, and drop steps for finishes.&nbsp; Extremely athletic for an under the rim big man that also impacts on the glass gobbling up rebounds and is a solid post defender.&nbsp; He had 21 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2821321' first='Brady' last='May'] is a 2027 wing that we are really high on.&nbsp; Plus shooter with size that has an effortless release.&nbsp; He poured in five of them in the game along with doing a very nice job rebounding in and out of his area.&nbsp; One of the better pure catch and shoot guys in the junior class netted 17 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2823617' first='Abram' last='Williams'] is a senior wing that is the perfect glue guy for this team.&nbsp; Defends at a high level getting both steals and blocking shots.&nbsp; Made multiple mid-rage jumpers and scored on cuts along with put backs for 11 points.&nbsp; &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='2405377' first='Darrin' last='Dick'] is a lead guard who knocked in a couple threes for 6 points, but it is more his leadership and being a floor general that is his biggest value for the Pirates.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton got one of the better games we have seen from their big man [player_tooltip player_id='1552474' first='Patrick' last='Irvin Jr'].&nbsp; The senior big man attacked from the mid-post on a couple drives, poured in feathery 15 footers, and had a nice hook shot.&nbsp; The Grizzlies were most effective in this game getting him the ball in the paint and letting him go to work as he had 18 points.&nbsp; Star sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2531979' first='CJ' last='Pittman'] was quiet for most of the game, but came alive late with a couple threes and straight line takes finishing with 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wheaton North's Defense and Passing Shine in Round 1 Win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was an impressive showing for Wheaton North in their opening round win over Lake Forest 54-29.&nbsp; Their defense was outstanding as they consistently got in passing lanes for steals and deflections.&nbsp; Lake Forest could never really get in a rhythm in the half court with hands flying all over the place.&nbsp; Offensively point guard Henry Schlickman was the leader and catalyst for everything they did.&nbsp; Got others involved with is slick passing.&nbsp; Acrobatic layups and made plays off the bounce.&nbsp; Went for 10 points, 4 assists, and 4 rebounds in the win.&nbsp; A couple of juniors caught our attention.&nbsp; Their 6'5” 2027 big man [player_tooltip player_id='2125586' first='Ben' last='Gillmar'] is a crafty four man that backs in for scores and can take it from the mid-post.&nbsp; Rebounds well in area and was an impactful defender who had 13 points and 6 rebounds.&nbsp; Burke Neibch was a 6'0” junior guard that gave them a spark in the first half on both ends going for 9 points.&nbsp; Ryder Froebe and Will Channing were impactful defensively racking up 3 and 4 steals respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Forest was led by Alex Picek with 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nazareth Gives Metamora All They Got but Redbirds Survive and Advance</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In their first round matchup Metamora was a heavy favorite over Nazareth Academy, but they kept hanging around and got it down to a one possession game in the fourth quarter.&nbsp; Metamora would never let them get over the hump though as they made key plays with their pressure defense and sharing the ball late to win 56-46.&nbsp; Their top prospect and player is 2028 small forward [player_tooltip player_id='2751060' first='Brady' last='Jones'] who had 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 steals in the win.&nbsp; Tough and physical forward that can play inside and out.&nbsp; Sweeping layups off the bounce, assertive takes in transition, pick/roll conversions, and was critical defensively getting steals along with deflections all game long. &nbsp;Their junior point guard Briggs Bucy put his name on the map as the gritty floor general has a great passing feel especially in the half court.&nbsp; Mixed in some tough finishes as well for 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.&nbsp; Major props in this game to guards Logan Vasquez and [player_tooltip player_id='2927807' first='Collin' last='Morrison'] who stepped up in key moments as they had 9 points and 8 points respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nazareth's star is 2026 wing [player_tooltip player_id='2848654' first='Sawyer' last='Holstine'].&nbsp; He gave it everything he had scoring on threes off the catch, tough fadeaways, taking it coast to coast, and jump stops in the lane for 13 points.&nbsp; Oliver DeSantiago is a fun playmaking guard who had 10 points in the loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Abushunab Too Much for Young Yorkville Squad in Glenbard West Win</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Veteran players win in these tournaments and that is exactly what happened as Glenbard West got the win over Yorkville 53-43 to advance to the sweet 16.  Their star [player_tooltip player_id='1552441' first='Josh' last='Abushanab'] put on a show in a 23 point and 8 rebound outing!  The big, strong, and athletic wing is among the top uncommitted prospects remaining on the board.  He showcased why in the first round at Tosh with his versatile game on both ends.  Offensively he covered out space inside, went coast to coast off defensive rebounds, drained a couple threes, and pounded the offensive glass.  Was impactful on the defensive end as well with his length and tenacity.  Glenbard West got contributions across the board doing the dirty work next to their star with [player_tooltip player_id='2125588' first='Bennett' last='Kammes'] draining a trio of threes for 9 points.  Chase Cavan (5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals) and [player_tooltip player_id='2415571' first='Brady' last='Johnson'] (9 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists) brought the toughness on both ends in the win stuffing the stat sheet.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yorkville 2028 star [player_tooltip player_id='2194655' first='Braydon' last='Porter'] didn't shoot it particularly well in this game, but he still notched 15 points and 9 rebounds with his relentless nature attacking the paint.&nbsp; Slashed for scores with his broad shoulders and elite athleticism along with being a great wing rebounder on both ends.&nbsp; Bright future for Porter.&nbsp; Another 2028 emerged for Yorkville in shooting guard Graham Martinson who connected on four triples in the loss recording 16 points.&nbsp; One to watch moving forward with his clean shot off the catch.&nbsp; Bouncy 2028 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2532003' first='Joey' last='Jakstys'] grabbed 11 rebounds including five offensive.&nbsp; Alonn Flint is a small guard that is a pest defensively as he had 6 points and 5 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Senior Downers Grove South Backcourt Carries Team to Win Against Oswego</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the final game we saw of the night from Jack Tosh Downers Grove South scored a victory against Oswego 57-53 in what was one of the more heavily anticipated matchups of the first round.&nbsp; They were led by their defense and senior backcourt.&nbsp; Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2323275' first='Adam' last='Flowers'] is among the better uncommitted wings in the senior class.&nbsp; Wing that can score from anywhere on the floor is a very slick ball handler weaving through defenders getting to the cup for scores.&nbsp; Despite going down early with an injury he was very good off the bounce finishing with either hand, banking in floaters, and spin moves in the paint.&nbsp; Showed he can pass off live dribbles as well notching 14 points.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1552395' first='Sean' last='Day'] is another senior guard that gets after it on both ends.&nbsp; Pesky defender with his length and anticipation getting steals and deflections.&nbsp; Slick passer, creative finisher, and capable lefty spot up shooter had 13 points.&nbsp; Sharp shooting sophomore Gavin Cingrand hit a couple long balls for 8 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oswego star 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2125627' first='Ethan' last='Vahl'] had a tough night shooting it, but he still got 15 points and kept his team in the game.&nbsp; Also showed willingness to set others up in the half court with some nice feeds to his teammates.&nbsp; On this night their go to player ended up being Graham Schwab with 21 points.&nbsp; He is a physical guard that makes plays off toughness and energy.&nbsp; Crashed the glass, dove after loose balls, and won every hustle play.&nbsp; Also made a couple threes.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2890100' first='Brayden' last='Borrowman'] is a plus shooter for Oswego that can drain them from deep.&nbsp; He had three in the loss with his quick release finishing with 13 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->